How To Stand Out In A Job Interview

In a job market where the employer firmly has the upper hand, it’s more important than ever for you to make a lasting impression at the interview stage. What stands between you and your next job is your ability to make the employer see you as the number one choice above all other candidates applying for the role. So how exactly can you do that?

Do Your Research... And Then Some!

Every candidate researches the company they have an interview with. But what makes an interviewee stand out is the depth of their research and knowledge.

Memorising a few facts from the company’s biography isn’t going to get you noticed; you need to have an understanding of the company’s history and potential future direction. Prepare some questions about the company’s future plans and challenges they have faced/potentially face based on your research to show you have not only taken the time to look a little deeper than most but also take a genuine interest in the company you are hoping to work for.

Clean Up Your Online Act

Social media is one of the first places a potential employer will look now when vetting a potential candidate. You can argue all you like that what you put on Facebook or Twitter is your own personal business, but the truth is it is online and in the public domain, therefore it is available for employers to see and rightly or not, judge you on.

When applying for jobs and getting invited for interviews, it is important to ensure your online presence is squeaky clean. Ensure there is nothing on there that you would not want your future boss to see, as it’s likely they will be looking!

Ask Questions, Don’t Just Answer Them

At the end of the interview, the employer will always ask ‘Do you have any questions for us?’ and will in most cases be met with a ‘no’. Take this opportunity to surprise them by preparing some engaging questions about the company and the job beforehand that you can ask at this point.

The employer will see this as an encouraging sign as it demonstrates that you take a serious interest in the company and the job, as well as an understanding of the industry you would be working in. You may find some of your questions about the job/company are answered already during the interview, so it’s important to listen out and remove these questions from your list so that you don’t appear to have not been paying attention! It’s best to have a good list of questions prepared so if some do get answered during the interview, you have back up questions that can still be asked.

It’s important to remember that confidence and preparedness are two key factors when it comes to standing out in an interview. Be confident in your ability to do the job and demonstrate this through well prepared answers, questions and research, and the employer will see you for the stand out candidate that you are!