How to make yourself an unforgettable job candidate
By Joanna Mascarenhas, HiredHippo contributor
Many job candidates are under the mistaken impression that having a resume filled with impressive accomplishments is only what interviewers look for. The reality is more complicated in that interviewers and hiring managers look beyond what is on your resume.
Making the right impression in the first few minutes of an interview is critical. Research has found that close to 60% of hiring decisions are made within the first 15 minutes of an interview.
Now the question that most job seekers have at this point is: what possibly could they do in such a limited time to create an effective impression in the interview to position themselves as the best person for the job?
With that in mind, here are five ways to stand out in any interview:
Go in with your research already done: It’s best to go in educated about the company you’ll be interviewing at — but a surprising number of candidates don’t do this. This includes gathering information before the initial screening call from the company’s website and social media accounts about the organization’s core values, business processes, current happenings and the job profile you are interested in. Many candidates are unable to demonstrate familiarity with basic facts about the organization they’re interviewing for, and it does them no favours in a process where interviewers are simultaneously auditioning several — if not many — candidates with similar resumes.
In addition, knowing yourself is essential. Surprisingly (or perhaps not), numerous candidates stumble when asked questions about them in terms of their future goals and ambitions. Having done a self-assessment of your interests and goals prior to the interview will ensure that you are able to answer these types of questions with confidence and clarity.
Generate confident body language: It’s said that the vast majority of communication — as much as 65% — is non-verbal. Therefore, getting your body language right is almost as — if not more — important as what you say. This includes good posture, confident movement, the ability to maintain good (but not creepy!) eye contact, and being able to self-regulate and correct unhelpful behaviours (eg. crossed arms or fidgeting with objects) on-the-fly.
The good news is that confidence can be generated with power poses, a concept brought into the mainstream by Harvard professor Amy Cuddy in her well-known TED Talk. By putting the body into expansive and open poses traditionally associated with power and self-assurance (eg. standing taller, putting hands on your hips) you can actually create increased confidence on-the-spot. As The New York Times journalist and best-selling author of The Social Animal: the Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement David Brooks stated, “If you act powerfully, you will begin to think powerfully.”
Manage your internal state: Being in the right state of mind is definitely a necessity in an interview. Individuals may come across as either too overwhelmed or overly confident (even cocky). The key is having some level of congruence between your internal state and your outer presentation. For example, if you are nervous, then first acknowledge your anxiety, and then lean into it — while still actively moving towards your goal of putting the best version of yourself forward. Why is acknowledging your emotional state important? It’s because actively resisting or denying how you’re currently feeling in the hopes of forcing outward behaviour antithetical to your internal state has the counterproductive effect of creating psychological dissonance that leads to discernible tension in the face and body.
Dress and style appropriately: Your attire speaks more about yourself even before you open your mouth. While your dress is one way to represent your personality to the world, be mindful that you’ll need to calibrate your presentation to the overarching company culture where you are interviewing. This might mean dressing up (for example, if the role involves lots of interaction with a traditionally conservative client-base such as financial institutions or law firms) or down (if you’re interviewing at a B2C start-up). If you plan on adding accessories, make sure you wear types (and numbers) that are appropriate to the company’s work culture. Consider wearing mild perfumes or colognes given some people’s sensitivities and allergies to scent — or, ideally, don’t wear any fragrances at all.
If in doubt, the general rule of thumb is to err on the side of dressing one notch higher in formality than what you anticipate the company culture to be, while keeping in mind ways you can tone down your dress on-the-fly if needed (by removing jewelry, blazers or ties, for example). The key is being able to correctly pitch your presentation to the professional culture where you are interviewing.
Smile…and Listen: A genuine smile not only makes you happier — it’s contagious and brightens the moods of others too. Best of all, unlike choices around interview dress that are open to debate and interpretation ( Eg. “Will brown shoes be appropriate? Or should I play it safe and stick with the black shoes?”) — it’s never wrong to kick off any job interview with a smile.
And of course…just like any good salesperson or customer success specialist — active and engaged listening goes a long way towards building a solid relationship with the other side so that everyone gets what they want.
These are five ways to leave an interview as an unforgettable candidate. What are some ways you make sure you leave interviewers with a positive impression about your performance, and you as a person? Share them with us over our Instagram or LinkedIn!
HiredHippo is a job platform that matches top talent to the best companies — all without resumes or cover letters. Visit www.hiredhippo.ai to get started and connected to the 90% of jobs making up the hidden job market. We work with top companies such as Telus, Coinsquare and Vend.
