Stand out from your competition

Stand out from your competition

Recently, the job market has become more in favour of candidates than ever before, with most organisations working to find and hold on to top candidates in the industry.

Making an unforgettable impression on employers will help land you the job that you want, but with the job market rising, how can you stand out from all the other job seekers?

In this article, we will be covering some of our top tips to increase your chances of success when interviewing and writing a resume.

1.      Sell yourself: Relevant skills and experience

To stand out to employers, you need to ensure that your cover letter and resume highlight your relevant skills and experience. They should match up to the essential criteria included in the job description or advert.

Employers are looking to hire someone who is a proven performer, someone who will add immediate value to the organisation – that’s why “relevant experience” is almost always the first dot point in the job requirements.

Get an advantage over your competitors by explaining how you can meet the needs of the company and how the position aligns with your career goals.

2.      Do your research

There’s no better way to prove your passion, commitment, and overall competency than by thoroughly preparing for the interview. You should research the organisation, its size, competitors, and reputation before you even apply for the job.

This preparation will help you to tailor your own interview questions, based off your research, job responsibilities and the company culture. It can also pay to follow the company’s social media pages to keep up with the latest news.

3.      Provide references

References can be an essential part to your job application, because if done correctly, it can give you an edge over other applicants. You should include a reputable and reliable source in your resume to provide a positive character reference for you.

Include their name, job title and contact details and make sure to notify them that you are going to use them as a character reference. The person chosen should be able to vouch for your skills, performance and work ethic. This gives employers and recruiters a sense of reassurance during the hiring process.

4.      Look the part

It takes just 7 seconds to make a first impression on someone, so presentation is extremely important when you reach the interview stage. Dress professionally and be well groomed, but don’t go over the top with makeup, perfume and cologne.

Regardless of whether it is face-to-face or virtual you must look, act and dress in an appropriate manner. As previously mentioned, you have one chance to make a first impression, so don’t ruin your chances of securing a job with poor attire.

5.      Prepare insightful questions

Use the interview process to cultivate your own personal questions about the organisation and its culture. It’s best to use open-ended questions to get the employer talking more, your informed and intelligent questions will prove that you have done your research and are interested in the position.

Some good examples of interview questions include:

-         Can you describe the working culture of the organisation?

-         Will there be opportunities for professional development?

-         Why did this position become available and why did the person before leave?

-         What does the onboarding process look like?

-         How long have you been with the company?

-         What do you like about this company, why is it different to others?

-         What are the organisational values and how do you ensure that they are upheld?

-         What qualities does the company look for in an employee and how can I make a positive impact in the first few months?

-         What are your expectations of me? (short and long term)

-         How do you measure success and progress here?

-         Can I answer any further questions for you?

6.      Send a thank you or follow up

After an interview, a follow-up message or email is a simple courtesy that’s so often forgotten about by job seekers. All you need to do is include the date and time of your interview, your job title, name and thank them for their time and consideration.

It’s also a good idea to follow-up during the application stage, you can do this by contacting the relevant recruiter to introduce yourself and confirm that they have received your resume. By putting in the additional effort and demonstrating you’re genuinely interested in the role, you’ll have more chance of securing the position.

Common interview mistakes to avoid:

 -         Arriving too late or too early, 15 minutes is enough.

-         Failing to prepare and providing unresearched answers.

-         Inability to actively listen or losing focus.

-         Inappropriate use of social media.

-         Lying on your resume.

-         Lacking enthusiasm and speaking negatively about previous jobs.

-         Checking your phone – always put it on silent.

-         Displaying negative body language.

-         Discussing personal or private topics.

-         Forgetting to bring your resume or other important documents.

-         Overestimating your own abilities.

-         Asking presumptuous questions.

-         Not collecting contact details and failing to follow-up.

-         Fidgeting and being distracted or uninterested.

-         Asking no questions.

-         Trying to run the interview.

-         Asking about money and leave arrangements.

-         Unexplained absence or tardiness.