Tips on getting noticed during a job interview

September 26, 2012|employees, How to find a job, Job interview| No comments yet

With a large amount of candidates applying for jobs today, it’s imperative that once you’ve landed an interview, you need to make sure the attention stays on you as a candidate. An interview is a “make or break” situation and it’s more than just answering questions. It’s about preparing for the interview, understanding the organization’s needs, and responding to those needs.

There are several ways to prepare for an interview and make yourself noticed. All of these tips need to be researched and prepared before you attend your interview if you want to be noticed.

Understand the Roles in Interviewing
Most people don’t realize that many recruiters dislike the interview process as much as the interviewee. A recruiter tries to do three things during the interview: Sell the organization, assess your interest in the organization, and determine if your qualifications match those on your resumé. Likewise, your role during the interview is to sell yourself, understand the company’s needs and respond to those needs.

Know the Prospective Employer
You’ve heard this a million times but if you’ve done your homework and researched the prospective employer, your efforts will stand out. Know what the organization is about by reading their mission statement and any other information you can find about them. Understand what they sell or what services are offered to their client base.

Sell Yourself
Now that you know the business of the prospective employer, take a look at your background and choose 3-5 achievements or abilities that will be an asset to this organization. Choose instances that show initiative, good performance, and/or leadership. Write down those specific items and take them with you to the interview. Rehearse them to the point that you can comfortably discuss them without your notes.

Dress Appropriately
Research the prospective company to determine what the appropriate business attire is. It could be jeans or suits and whatever it is, you’ll need to wear clothes geared towards their dress code.

What Do Recruiters Look For?
Recruiters will look for several behaviors during the interview process. Each recruiter is different but if you realize the following behaviors, your chances are better at getting noticed.

Assertiveness: This attribute wins job offers. Assertiveness is a good balance between self-assurance and cockiness. Your goal as an assertive candidate is to draw others to you and your thoughts or words. When you come across as an assertive person, that means that you’re confident in who you are as a professional.

Experience: Recruiters like to hear responses that are focused on results. Gear your responses to the end result. This will make you more appealing.

Versatility: Candidates that are adaptable and versatile are more apt to succeed in an organization and recruiters know this.

Ask Questions
If the recruiter is doing all the talking during the interview, it’ll be assumed that you have no interest in the open position. Ask questions throughout the interview to gain a better understanding of the position. Show enthusiasm and interest.