Make Sure You Always Do These 2 Things during Interviews
Real talk:
It's a wild job market out there and interviews can be nerve-wracking, especially when you are competing with so many other candidates who have similar qualifications and experience.
But don't lose hope there are still jobs to be had and candidates getting offers.
You just have to be a 1% standout candidate at every stage of the interview process.
In this post I want to dive into two super basic (but essential) interview tips that are completely in your control.
You must do these 2 things if you want to stand out in interviews.
These tips are simple, yet so important, you would be surprised at how often candidates miss out on them and get rejected.
Let's get into it.
Quick backstory:
Part of my day job includes interviewing and hiring candidates for internal roles.
When I'm in the interviewer's seat it's always so insightful to see how candidates perform and what they miss.
If you want to leave a better lasting impression and be more competitive ALWAYS do these two things:
Bring High Energy
This may seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised at how many candidates forget to do this.
Bringing high energy means showing enthusiasm and excitement for the role and the company you are interviewing for.
Why is this important? For starters, it makes you more memorable.
Hiring teams interview dozens of candidates every day, and most of them blend together after a while.
But if you bring high energy to the interview, you will be more memorable and believable and it will demonstrate your passion for the role.
It especially works in your favor when it comes time to make a decision to move you forward.
All in all, the energy you bring to each interview is in your control and improves your rapport, so do it no matter the vibe of the other person.
Ok here's the second thing to always do after each interview, no matter how it went.
Send a Thank You Email
After your interview, it's important to always follow up with a thank you email in order to express interest between interviews.
A strong thank you email serves several purposes:
It shows your appreciation of the interviewer's time and effort.
It gives you an opportunity to reiterate why you're a good fit for the job.
It creates a touch point between interviews, which can help keep you top of mind for the interviewer.
When crafting your thank you email, make sure to personalize it.
Reference something specific you discussed during the interview, like a project or initiative the company is working on and your excitement to continue the interview process.
Similar to bringing high energy, sending a thank you email makes you more memorable and makes a positive impression.
Always send one, even if you don't think you'll move forward. It's worth building a positive relationship and network regardless.
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SIDE NOTE: If you want well crafted thank you email templates check out Module 3 of the Be Your Own Recruiter Workbook.
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A lot of what happens in interviews is in your control.
Make sure to always bring your own agenda to interviews so you get the important points across no matter what questions you get.
Get the basics right and do them well.
P.S. Check out Module 4 of the workbook for details on how to structure interview answers to improve your interview outcomes.
