Standing out in an interview is easy if you know what to do and follow the proper interview etiquette. You need to prepare, practice your answers, and be confident when the time comes! It might seem like standing out shouldn’t be tricky- but it can be for some people. In this blog post, we’ll help you to stand out so you can get the job of your dreams!
Do Your Homework
You need to know what you’re talking about in an interview, so do your homework! Spend time researching the company and finding out more information than just what they put on their website. You can also go through some of their social media accounts to understand who runs them and the type of tone used in their posts.
How does the company portray itself? Are they formal and professional or informal and relaxed? Understanding the company culture, job description, and style of the company will help you know how to make your own work history relate to the job you’re applying for. This shows employers that you’re not only excited about the position, but you’re knowledgeable about their company culture and values.
Don’t Forget About The Pre-Interview
While you might assume that the interview starts when you enter the office, it actually begins in the lobby of the company. Make sure you’re standing out in the lobby by wearing nice clothes, arriving on time (or even early), and smiling! Don’t be afraid to connect with the receptionist or start a conversation with other applicants in the waiting room.
This will help you to make a good impression before you even get to your interview. These small actions can be the difference between getting the job and failing to move forward in the interview process.
Be Excited About The Role
If you’re not enthusiastic about the job you’re interviewing for, the interviewer will know! Make sure to spend some time thinking about what makes this role so perfect for you. What are your interests? How do they relate to the company’s values and goals?
Show your excitement in the interview by talking about how you can help their company succeed. Of course, you’ll also want to make sure that your passion is evident in every answer during the interview.
Don’t Be Fake
If you’re trying to be someone you are not, the interviewer will see right through it. As a result, you’ll appear insincere, and they won’t want to work with you.
Don’t try too hard by pretending to have all of the answers or exaggerating your experience in a particular field if you aren’t exactly sure how it applies. This kind of fakeness can cause an employer to lose trust, which puts you at risk of losing out on this job opportunity!
The best thing you can do is be yourself and answer as honestly as possible- even if those answers make you seem like a less than perfect candidate (you never know, standing out might come from showing some vulnerability). The key here is staying confident while being honest about your skills and abilities.
Don’t Be Negative About Your Former Employer or Colleagues
There are many reasons why you might have left your former job. You might have felt like you weren’t growing or advancing fast enough. You might not have liked your boss or coworkers and decided it was time to move on. Whatever the reasons were for leaving, don’t say anything negative about them!
This can cause employers to worry that you’ll do the same thing at their company if they hire you- which of course, is something they want to avoid. So even if there are things about your previous work experience that didn’t sit well with you (or even made you feel miserable), be careful when discussing these issues in an interview situation!
For example, if you left your job because you weren’t paid enough, you might say something like “there was no opportunity for growth at my prior company” instead of “they don’t pay me enough.”
Dress Appropriately For The Interview
You might think that standing out means wearing something flashy or standing out in a crowd. But this isn’t true! Instead, the best way to stand out is to wear clothes and shoes that are clean, pressed, and professional-looking.
This shows the interviewer that you put time into preparing yourself for your interview- making them more likely to think of you as someone who will do the same thing with their job if they hire you.
If you’re unsure of what to wear, it’s always a good idea to research the company. This will give you an idea of their style and how they present themselves as a company. For example, at a laid-back company where everyone wears leggings, you might not fit in well if you showed up in a full suit. So instead, you’d want to wear an appropriate outfit that mixes with their company cultures, such as a nice blouse and pants.
Be Confident Without Being Cocky
It’s essential not only to seem like an excellent fit on paper but also in person during your interview. You want employers to know how excited you are about this opportunity without coming across as arrogant or entitled (which often comes off when people talk too much about themselves).
Make sure you show your excitement when they ask questions about what makes you an excellent fit for this role. But don’t go overboard by talking too much about yourself or bragging.
Provide Examples In Your Answers
When you’re standing out in an interview, it’s essential to show the interviewer examples of your skills and abilities. This will help them see what kind of worker you are instead of just reading words on a page or listening to how great you might be at this job (which can sometimes sound like fluff).
For example, if they ask why you think you’d make a good fit for this role- don’t give cliché answers like “I’m hard-working” or “I’m punctual.” Instead, provide specific examples from previous work experience. For instance, say something like, “While I was interning at Acme Corporation, my supervisor told me I would’ve made an excellent project manager because I always stayed ahead of my schedule and showed up prepared.”
This answer provides a specific example of how you are a good fit for this role- which is exactly what stands out in an interview is all about!
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
You should always ask at least one question during your interview. This shows the employer that you’re interested in learning more about their company and have researched them before attending this interview. If you don’t have any questions for you, it could leave them with the impression that you’re not very interested in this opportunity.
Some popular questions you might want to ask during the interview include asking about the company’s culture, asking what they like most about working at their firm or asking them some questions about the product/service.
Don’t Forget to Follow Up
Once you’ve had your interview, it’s essential that you follow up with a thank-you note or an e-mail to your recruiter. Even if the interviewer seems really uninterested in hiring you, don’t give up! Thank them for their time and consideration. If they do move forward with an offer of employment, taking the time to make this simple gesture could be helpful later on when negotiating salary or benefits. It shows that not only were you interested in the job but also willing to go above and beyond what was asked of you (which is never a bad thing).
Match The Attitude Of Your Interviewer
Since standing out in an interview can be difficult, you must find a way to relate with your interviewer. This will help them feel more comfortable while hiring you and might even give them the impression that they’d enjoy working alongside you on a regular basis!
If your interviewer seems laid-back, try being humorous or lighthearted during this time. You don’t have to go overboard by joking around but just show some personality, so they know how excited you are about the opportunity at hand! On the other hand, if they seem really formal, take your lead from their behavior and keep things professional (without coming across as too stuffy).
Practice Common Interview Questions
Before standing out in an interview, it’s essential that you practice answering some common questions. This will help reduce your overall stress levels and might even give you a better sense of what to expect during the actual interview! Here are a few of the most common questions you might experience during an interview.
Tell Me About Yourself
This is a very common question for standing out in an interview. Try not to go into too much detail about your life- like talking about your family or interests. Instead, try focusing on what you’ve done professionally and why this opportunity would benefit both parties involved (which will help them see how passionate you are).
What Are Your Biggest Strengths?
Don’t say something generic like “I’m a hard worker.” Instead, think about your biggest strengths and how they might be beneficial for this role. For instance, if you’re applying at a marketing firm where creativity is key to standing out in an interview, try saying something along the lines of” I pride myself on being creative and coming up with unique solutions for any problem.”
What Are Your Biggest Weaknesses?
Many employers ask standing out in an interview because they want to see how well you answer tough questions. If you say something like “I’m a perfectionist” or “I work too hard,” this might not be the best response and could hurt your standing with the company. Instead, try saying something along the lines of “I’m still working on building my professional network” or “I would like to work on getting more comfortable speaking in public.”
Why Do You Want This Job?
This standing out in an interview question is similar to “Why should we hire you over other applicants?” but it’s still very different. Try using this opportunity to show them that you’re passionate about the company and why working there would benefit both parties involved! You could also try saying something like,” I feel as though this position aligns with my interests and career goals.”
Do You Have Any Questions For Me?
This interview question is an excellent opportunity for you to show your interest. Try asking about company policies or the day-to-day tasks of the job to prepare yourself better! This also gives them a sense that you’re interested in standing out.
Conclusion
By standing out in an interview, you’ll be setting yourself apart from other applicants and showing your potential employer that this opportunity is one worth investing in! If you’re ready to find the job of your dreams, contact us today or search through our open positions!