Everyone wants to raise their chances of standing out from the pack and landing the job. Here are 10 ways to be a better candidate.
The job market is starting to turn around, but it is still an employers market out there. For every job opening that gets posted, there are hundreds of applicants. So, how can you raise your odds of standing out among such a large group of professionals?
There are several things you can do to be a better candidate. Some of them are fairly easy, while others might take a little more work. But if you are serious about finding the job your really want, here are 10 things that you can do to gain a competitive edge:
- Practice public speaking – How difficult this one is depends on how comfortable you are with speaking in public right now. If the thought of it causes you to sweat and feel like you might be sick, then you will have a little bit more work to do. A good public speaker exudes a capable confidence. You can look for books on public speaking techniques at your local library, and if you look around, you may be able to find classes or workshops that can give you more hands on help.
- Know what you want, and what you're willing to accept – You aren't going to be able to find a job that will give you everything you ever wanted. There are going to be some compromises, it's just a fact of life. Make a list of the things you absolutely have to have and then decide what things you are willing to compromise on, and how much. This will give you confidence when negotiating things like salary or benefits.
- Create a website – Add a link to your website on your resume and your business card. This way, if the employer wants to find out more about you, they can easily access the information. Keep you page simple and professional, remember that they could be looking at your site to determine if they want to invite you to interview.
- Be enthusiastic – This one doesn't take time or money, it just takes a positive attitude. Enthusiasm is catchy, and your interviewer won't be able to help being a little happier after having met an enthusiastic candidate like you.
- Update your resume – Do a web search on what a new resume looks like. The format has changed a whole lot over the past 5 years or so. Now, the resume is a marketing tool. Make sure your resume shows that you are current on the latest business trends.
- Practice, Practice, Practice – Before your interview, you should practice answering interview questions in front of your friends and family or even a webcam. Role-playing the interview with a partner is a great way to be more confident during the interview.
- If you are overqualified or are taking a step down, address it in the cover letter – For some reason, it seems that many people think that the employer will understand that they are willing to take a lower level position. The truth is that unless you address the fact that you are overqualified and give a brief reason for it, you resume is probably not even going to be read.
- Copy your interviewer's body language – This is one of those tricky things that actually work. It you want to create stronger rapport, mimic the interviewer's body language. When then lean in, you lean in. This is a psychological technique called mirroring, and it is shown to increase trust.
- Smile – Especially during a phone interview. When you get ready to pick up the phone for a scheduled interview, smile big before you say hello. If you have to, place a mirror near you so you can make sure you are smiling throughout the call. When you smile, people can hear it in your voice and it makes you instantly more like-able.
- Don't be afraid to fail – It happens to all of us at some point of another. If you never fail, it is because you never really take a risk. You may not get offered the job, but it's good practice for the next interview.
What do you think about these easy tips for increasing your odds of landing the job you really want? Let me know in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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