Starting a career is a tedious process that will require a lot of your time and effort. Before you can land one, you have to try your luck in applying to several companies, ace your job interviews and convince the recruiter that you have the necessary skills for the job. The bigger the scope of the career is, the more requirements you’ll have to meet to stand out against other applicants.
Having a career is not an easy feat, but it’s not something impossible to do. There are many ways how you can land a career, and one of these is by impressing potential employers. This hack will enable you to showcase your skills and personality, and convince employers that you are the best person for the job. But how do you exactly attain this goal? Are there specific dos and don’ts that you have to follow whenever you’re in front of them?
To help you out, listed below are some ways for you to impress potential employers:
1. Carry Out Thorough Research
One of the biggest mistakes people commit when they apply for jobs is sending out their resumes to as many employers as possible. They think that this will increase their chances of landing a job because if they’re turned down by the first employer, they will always have options. However, this tactic doesn’t always guarantee the best results because applying for a job that you don’t qualify for will only waste your own and the employer’s precious time. This will surely create a negative impression on the employers’ eyes.
Make sure that this doesn’t happen by only applying for jobs for which you qualify. If you’re planning to apply to a specific company, do some research about the nature of the business and the position they’re looking for. The information you can gather from your research will help you assess whether your skill set matches the employer’s requirements.
Moreover, the information you can gain through research can help you create a very effective resume on paper or online platforms such as Standard Resume. If you know what qualities the employer is looking for, you can mention these in your resume and leave a positive impression the moment you hand over your documents to them.
2. Carefully Plan Your Answers
The documents you’ll send to employers can give them an idea about your character and skills, but your behavior and answers during the interview can make or break your chances of getting the job. Employers will likely consider other options if your answers differ from the information stated in your resume or if you possess behavior that doesn’t fit their company culture.
Steer away from this direction by carefully planning your answers days or even weeks before your scheduled interview. This process will require time and effort, but everything will be worth it as planning your answers can help you keep nervousness at bay and ensure that you successfully make a positive impression once you’re in front of the employer. When you know what to answer, you’ll prevent stuttering on the day of your interview.
For you to plan your answers, research on common interview questions, and come up with effective answers. Avoid memorizing your answers as this can only result in a mental block once you forget a single word. Instead, format your answers in bullet points and in phrases. In this way, you will have the opportunity to answer questions as accurately as possible without sounding and being too stiff during the interview.
3. Tell Stories
The person who will facilitate your interview has likely gone through the same process with hundreds or thousands of applicants in the past. More often than not, experienced interviewers have already memorized the most common answers applicants give to them.
For you to be different and memorable, tell stories whenever you answer questions. For example, if the interviewer asks how committed are you, don’t merely answer that you’re “the most committed person for the job.” Instead, tell stories that can give credence to your answers.
After letting them know that you are committed to the job, cite examples on how you were able to show your commitment in the past. You can talk about how you picked up the work of your co-worker as they were sick for a month, or how you worked for longer hours just to meet your previous employer’s deadlines. Telling stories will make it very easy for the interviewer to envision how your skills will benefit their business and convince them why they should hire you.
4. Arrive Early, But Not Too Early
Showing up to your scheduled interview on time is one of the easiest ways to impress your employer. This will imply that you’re truly committed to the job. However, showing up one hour early for your job interview is not the best way to go. This will put undue pressure on your interviewer and make you feel fidgety. The longer you wait in a room for your interviewer, the more nervous you can get—and this nervousness can be obvious during your interview.
If you don’t want to get on the wrong side of the interviewer, arrive ten minutes early for your scheduled interview. Make sure to plan your route ahead of time and allocate extra time for possible delays such as traffic or canceled public transportation. If you haven’t visited the location in the past, do so days before the interview. This will prevent you from getting lost on the day of your scheduled interview.
Doing all of these in advance can ensure that you won’t look and feel stressed the moment you arrive for your interview.
5. Stay Professional All The Time
Your behavior by the time you step in the employer’s office can speak a lot about your character. It’ll be very challenging for the employer to believe that you’re someone who is respectful if you’re heard yelling at the guard or the janitor in the building.
Even if your interview hasn’t started yet, don’t forget to remain professional all the time. If you’re instructed to wait in a specific room for your interviewer, follow instructions, and approach the receptionist in a friendly manner if you have any questions. Put on a smile or greet everyone that you meet in the building. These simple habits will surely make you feel more comfortable as you’re waiting for your interview while showcasing how professional you are towards other people.
6. Dress Appropriately
What you wear is the first thing that the employer will see once you step into the building. Your clothing serves as the “book cover” by which most employers will judge you. Arriving at your scheduled interview wearing sloppy clothes will make potential employers think that your output at work will also have the same results—sloppy. Wearing something too flashy or being overdressed, on the other hand, will only intimidate and not impress your employer.
If you don’t want any of these to happen, dress appropriately based on the job you’re applying for. You should exert some time to research the company culture so you’ll have a better idea of whether they follow a formal or relaxed dress code.
To stay on the safe side, ask what you should wear when you are called or informed about your scheduled interview. This will give you sufficient time to prepare the appropriate attire and ensure that you’ll have a successful job interview.
7. Ask Strategic Questions
Sitting in a room with your potential employer can be very nerve-wracking. This is especially true if they are accompanied by other key personnel of the company. However, if you want to impress them, you should muster up your confidence and take the time to ask strategic questions. This is a great way for you to set your expectations about the company and learn more about the job you’re applying for.
Ideally, you should ask questions after the interview. The interviewer will usually ask you if you have any questions for them once they are done conducting the interview. You can maximize this time by asking about the schedule flexibility and growth opportunities once you are accepted for the job. You can also inquire about the structure of the team you will be working with and the individual responsibilities you will have when you start working with this team. Asking strategic questions can be an indicator that you’re an applicant who is communicative, respectful, and open.
If you’re not confident about asking questions, practice at home. List down all of the possible questions you can have for your employer and practice saying them out loud.
Consistency Counts
Different employers will look for different things in applicants. While some employers will look after an applicant’s technical skills, others are keener on an applicant’s experience in customer service. Some employers might even pay more attention to your willingness to learn over your professional experience.
Regardless, you can impress all of them by using this article as your guide. As long as you’re consistent with your efforts and show passion for the job you’re applying for, it won’t be long before the employer will invite you to work with them!