Times\r\nare tough out there, and it seems that there are an ever growing number of\r\npeople competing for an ever shrinking number of jobs. Many people send off\r\nCV's by the dozen, and rarely get to the interview stage...
"},"body":{"body":"Times are tough\r\nout there, and it seems that there are an ever growing number of people\r\ncompeting for an ever shrinking number of jobs. Many people send off CV's by\r\nthe dozen, and rarely get to the interview stage, but those that do need to\r\nthink long and hard about how they are going to stand out from everyone else\r\nwho will be going for the same job. The interview is the best chance that you\r\nhave to put across who you are and what you are about, and how you perform on\r\nthe day is the single largest contributing factor to winning the job, or losing\r\nout to another.
It can certainly\r\nbe a hard task, trying to stand out in a crowded field of applicants for a job,\r\nbut there are several ways that it can be done. Before describing them, though,\r\nthe most important thing to do for any job interview is to prepare. You will\r\nneed to find out as much as possible about the role on offer, as well as the\r\ncompany it is with. Who are their customers? Who are their suppliers? How are\r\nthey regarded within the industry? This type of background knowledge is crucial\r\nin not only showing that you have done your homework, but will also provide\r\nconfidence in knowledge in the interview itself.
In terms of standing\r\nout at a job interview, it is vital to remember that first impressions count.\r\nThat initial few seconds are critical, whether it be your general appearance,\r\ndemeanour or even the handshake. When in the waiting area for an interview, you\r\nshould be ready to be called in at any moment, so remain composed and prepared,\r\nas opposed to nervously flipping through the pages of a resume. Greet your\r\ninterviewer with a warm, friendly smile, and speak confidently when spoken to.
Once inside the\r\nroom where the interview is held, the interviewer will begin to ask a series of\r\nquestions. This is the time for your passion to shine through, and you will\r\nneed to make the interviewer feel this. Answer questions with a degree of\r\nenthusiasm and positivity that shows you have the dedication and focus for the\r\njob that they are looking at. Projecting a “can do” air of positivity is a\r\ngreat way to get interviewers onside, who will recognise that they will be able\r\nto use your energy for the benefits of the company.
What you say is\r\nof course as important as how you say it, and speaking in a way that will leave\r\na lasting impression is a fundamental aspect to standing out from the crowd in\r\njob interviews. Sometimes, there are dozens of people in the interview stage\r\nfor just one job, and whilst an interviewer will always make notes, anyone that\r\nis remembered for the right reasons without them stands a better chance of\r\nemployment. Rehearsing what to say may sound a little over the top, but an\r\ninterview is all about selling yourself, but a few choice sound bites that an\r\ninterviewer can hone in on will certainly make you stand out over those that\r\ndon't.
Whilst the\r\nmajority of the time spent in an interview will be the interviewer asking\r\nquestions, with the candidate answering them, it isn't necessarily all a one\r\nway street. There will be a section, where the interviewer will ask candidates\r\nif they have any questions. This is the ideal moment to again make yourself\r\nmemorable by posing some tough questions of your own. If the company has been in\r\nthe news recently, ask some questions relating to that, or if a competitor has\r\nbeen making redundancies, ask how this will have an impact on the company. The\r\nmore insightful and knowledgeable you appear, the more likely you are to stand\r\nout.
Finally, work\r\nout (preferably beforehand) what sort of a person an interviewer is looking\r\nfor, and adapt your answers so that they will meet their needs. If they are\r\nlooking for team players and you happen to play team sports regularly then\r\nmention it; or if they are looking for team leaders and you are a referee for\r\nexample, mention that also. The type of person you are in your private life can\r\nhave a degree of relevance in an interview, and using examples from it in an\r\ninterview can again help you stand out from the crowd and win that all\r\nimportant job.
"},"authorName":"Richard McMunn","authorBio":{"authorBio":"Richard McMunn is the founder and director of the leading career website How2become.com. His aim is to help as many people as possible pass the recruitment process they are applying for to secure the job they really want. The website offers a wide range of books, dvds and courses for those who want to ensure they have every stage of the process covered. You can also connect with Richard and How2become on YouTube"},"publishedOn":"2014-04-08T12:11:48.013Z"}},"pageContext":{"id":"857838d2-d4d0-55b2-bd98-dae3599ae272"}}, "staticQueryHashes": []}