No one can deny that a job interview is stressful. Youâre in an unfamiliar environment with people you havenât met before. You know youâre the right person for the jobâyou just need your interviewers to know it, as well. Luckily, you can do a number of things to stand out among your competition. We list seven ways for you to stand out at your next job interview.
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1. Arrive Early
You may have heard this old saying: if youâre right on time, youâre late. Get to your interview at least five minutes before itâs supposed to start. This proves to interviewers that you can manage your own time and respect theirs as well.
2. Connect
A common connection is a quick way to stand out to someone. By finding something you have in common with your interviewerâlike a movie genre or taste in dĂ©corâyouâll immediately create something for them to associate you with. After just one meeting, youâll already be stuck in their head.
3. Be Excited
You want your interviewer to see that you really want this position. A perceived lack of enthusiasm could make the interview think you donât really want the job. Showing genuine excitement when talking about the position will prove that youâre willing to truly dedicate yourself to the job.
4. Do Your Research
Not knowing anything about the company youâre interviewing to work for will reflect poorly on you. Read through the companyâs website and gather as much information as you can. Going into the meeting already armed with knowledge will show your awareness of the companyâs mission, and it will also help the interview move along at an efficient pace.
5. Ask for a Testimonial
A sure way to impress your interviewer is to ask about their personal experience at the company. Receiving an insiderâs perspective may give you an extra glimpse into what makes the work environment truly special.
6. Listen Carefully
Asking and answering questions is obviously an important part of the interview process, but you also want to really listen to what the interviewer is saying. You may be tempted to formulate your next response while theyâre speaking, but you want the interviewer to know that youâre really taking in what they have to say.
7. Follow Up with a Thank You
Reaching out to your interviewer post-interview to thank them for their time is important. They chose to interview you for a reason, and youâll want to express your appreciation. Leave your email open-ended by stating that you canât wait to hear from them again.