Written by Kara Detwiller
Job hunting can be tiring, and it’s easy to feel like your application will be lost in a sea of other job seekers. However, there are currently more open jobs — 11.5 million in March 2022 — than there have been in the past 20 years. To make sure you stand out among other applicants and secure your next role, follow our simple tips.
4 Ways To Stand Out In Your Job Search
1. Be Courteous and Professional
Common courtesy can go a long way with hiring managers and recruiters. To stand out from other job seekers, be respectful and professional. This includes:
- Have an appropriate, professional email address
- Respond to hiring managers’ messages in a timely manner
- Don’t ghost a recruiter or bail on an interview that has already been scheduled — if you decide a role isn’t a good fit, let them know
- Dress neatly for interviews — even virtual ones
- Show up on time for interviews
- Send a follow up message to thank the interviewer for their time
2. Do Your Homework
You don’t have to be an investigative journalist to show you know a bit about the company you’re applying with. Browse their website and incorporate keywords from the hiring post in your resume and/or cover letter to show why you’re a good fit for the role. An interviewer will be impressed if you can demonstrate your understanding of the company and the position. Doing some research will also help you ask good questions during the hiring process.
3. Ask Questions
An interview is a two-way street: the employer is looking for someone with a particular set of skills and experience to join their team, and the candidate is looking for a job that will be a good fit for their lifestyle, schedule, interests and career ambitions.
Asking questions signals your interest in the role and your genuine effort to decide whether it would be a good fit. Some examples of good questions to ask during an interview include:
- Ask them to describe their ideal candidate
- Ask them to describe the workplace culture
- Ask about potential advancement and long term growth opportunities within the company
4. Give Specific Examples of Your Skills and Experience
On your resume and in your interviews, give specific examples of your skills and experience. The “STAR” (Situation, Task, Action and Result) method is a great technique for answering interview questions with relevant details:
- Situation – Set the scene, describe the circumstances or problem
- Task – Describe your responsibilities or role
- Action – Explain how you tackled the problem
- Result – Talk about the outcome or how the problem was resolved
This technique provides the interviewer with concrete evidence of your problem solving skills and will help you stand out among other candidates.
QuickHire Helps Candidates Stand Out and Get Hired
Our proprietary matching technology and mobile-friendly platform make it easier than ever for job seekers to find a job. To differentiate yourself from other job applicants and find the perfect role, sign up for QuickHire for free!
If you’re an employer, the above tips are great attributes to look for in your QuickHire Matched candidates. In your neck of the woods, it can be difficult when a candidate ghosts or no call no shows you for an interview. With QuickHire, we send an automated text message to all booked interviews to confirm the appointment. We have an 80%+ response rate which drastically reduces no call no shows, giving you the best opportunity to find and hire great talent. This is among many of the benefits of the platform.
Reach out to book a free demo today!