The Job Hunt: How to Stand Out
May 19, 2016 • Abu Poblete
4. Make your interviewers laugh
This tip solely depends on whether your interviewer is Party Steve or Debbie Downer. Again, interviewers are still humans, so a mix of casual wit will always be appreciated. It’s a good way to help you shake off the pressure and to lighten up the mood of the interview.
3. Ask impressive questions
“Do you have any questions for us?” signals the end of a majority of job interviews. For some it’s the time to ask details about the job (like starting pay, office hours, benefits, etc.), but it can be so much more than that.
If you want to get that final tug at the heart of your interviewer, give an amazing follow-up question. Ask something along the lines of, “What is it about me that made you interested in hiring me?” or , “Besides being a successful company, what else do you think makes your employees stay?” Asking serious and sharp questions like these will make the interviewer think that you’ve got guts and edge, which will help you imprint yourself on their mind.
2. Send a thank you note
Via The Comeback HBO
Thank you notes are a tricky thing to do, but it’s one of the most important things to do to be able to stand out from other applicants. Just be very careful in writing it because you don’t want to sound too sipsip or desperate. Make sure you sound thankful, sincere and optimistic—with, of course, a bit of something that happened during the interview.
1. Pull a (small yet significant) stunt
Via cheezburger.com
Pulling stunts can make or break your chances of landing a job. These stunts can involve giving a chocolate bar along with your resume, asking to be interviewed in Spanish to show them your skills, sending a message in a bottle, or even just repairing a piece of equipment during an interview—all methods which have been tried and tested to positive results. Don’t overdo it though, ‘cause some people have, for example, actually back-flipped into the room, sent a fruit basket to an interviewer’s home (even though he didn’t give his address), and even dressed as a clown.
Try to read the air in the room and see if your interviewer is one to be impressed by these creative gestures. Employers are always looking for creativity, and pulling small yet significant stunts may just get you that sweet, sweet offer letter.
Got any other tips to help job hunters stand out? Sound off with those tips in the comments below!
