How to Make Recruiters Sit Up and Notice You
Interviewing has never been an easy part of the job hunting process. But these days, with competition for new openings as fierce as it's ever been, new graduates face an especially tough challenge. To get noticed as more than a face in the crowd can see seem next to impossible, especially when recruiters are seeing a dozen or more candidates for each opening.
After interviewing more than two thousand young people in my own career, however, I can tell you that it is possible to actually make a strong impression. In fact, there are usually one or two candidates who separate themselves from the pack very quickly. Here's how to emulate their success:
Remember that first impressions matter. While hiring decisions aren't made in the first few seconds, the way you present yourself in the beginning of an interview carries a lot of weight. All the old advice about dressing like a professional, having a good handshake, and looking your interviewer in the eye still applies. It's not so important that you come across as a polished professional as it is that you seem like you're happy to meet your interviewer and be given an opportunity, so let your enthusiasm come through.
At the same time, remember that your interview begins the moment you drive into the parking lot. Receptionists and other staff can -- and usually do -- pass along their opinions, and these can go a lot farther than you think toward determining who they’ll be working with in the future. Treat everyone you meet as if they had a say on hiring you, because they might.
Confidence is key. It's normal to be nervous in an interview setting. After all, it might be your one shot to get closer to a job you really want. Under those circumstances, who wouldn't feel a bit twitchy? Even so, it's much better to exude confidence than fear. The more relaxed you seem, the more your interviewer can view you as a competent employee. So how do you do it?
You learn to stay cool the same way that professional athletes and other high-pressure performers do -- you practice. Months before you begin interviewing, you find professors, career center staff, or professional contacts, and ask them to spend a few minutes helping you prepare for your upcoming interviews. Have them run through the kinds of questions they would ask and critique your performance, and then do it again with someone else. It's hard to nail an interview if you're going through it for the first time. But after a few dozen trial runs, you may find that you’re a lot more comfortable in an interview setting.
Be candid. One of the unfortunate byproducts of our information-rich culture is that so many new graduates learn stock answers to the standard interview questions. Because they've read in one book or another that they should say a certain thing, they practically program themselves to give out neatly packaged statements throughout the interview. The only problem with that is that thousands of other students are also giving the same answers
Recruiters don't want robots; they want young men and women who bring a unique passion in perspective to the company. Keep that in mind as you run through the interview, and try to let your personality come through in your answers. Being yourself is a great way to be interesting, and interesting people are a lot more memorable than their cookie-cutter counterparts.
Ask the right questions. It's a good idea to make a list of questions that you'd like to ask your interviewer at the end of the meeting. There's no better time to gain some insight about the position, find out if there are possibilities for promotion, and learn about the next steps in the hiring process than the precious few minutes when you're sitting across from someone who can give the answers directly.
Besides, asking questions of your interviewer shows curiosity and ambition. Nothing turns off a hiring manager quite as much as somebody who shows up to an interview hoping to "get a job." They want to know that you have interests and goals for the future, rather than looking to take the first thing that comes along.
Interviews might seem scary, but try not to think about them that way. Instead, see them for what they really are -- a chance to let employers know why you're the right person for their job. Keep things in that perspective, and you'll be well on the way to being hired.
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Joe Mayne is a veteran recruiter, professional speaker, and author of “Your HIRE Calling: Unconventional Job Search Tactics That Work for College Students in ANY Economy.” Over the past 15 years, he’s interviewed thousands of candidates, examined countless resumes, and helped students from hundreds of campuses around North America find great jobs after graduation. You can see more about him and his work at www.MayneSpeaker.com
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