How To Stand Out From The Crowd In An Interview
It is easier said than done standing out in an interview, often people can be apprehensive and more concerned about making the wrong impression, rather than the right one. Your aim is to leave the interview having made a positive and unforgettable impression that ultimately leads to you being hired for the role vs all other interviewees.
Preparation is Key
It is never a good idea to walk into any interview not having done thorough research on the company and their potential competitors. This isn’t just about showing you know your stuff either, it’s also good to double check it is exactly the type of corporation and industry you would wish to work in.
By doing your research whether that be via a company website, social media pages, press releases or additional informative and trusted media you will have set yourself up well to answer any questions from the interviewer regarding what you know about the company already, and moreover you will have gained a good understanding of their values and core competencies.
Coming across as a confident (not overconfident) candidate puts you in a strong position, by taking the time to thoroughly reference key details regarding the corporation it will be less daunting answering these questions and you will come across as well informed but relaxed at the same time.
Especially in this day an age of Navigation Apps it is essential you are not late for your interview, so make sure you know exactly where and when you need to be somewhere, who you are meeting and how long it will take you to get there.
Do Your Best to Make a Connection with The Interviewer
Again, with so much information at your fingertips, via company websites and LinkedIn profiles you can do some research on the person you will be meeting during the interview. Use this information to leverage a connection without coming across as if you have been stalking the person.
Not all interviewers are the same, some are immediately friendly and easy to talk to, others may take time to warm to you or even have a stance of being aloof to see how you manage in this less comfortable interview situation. Either way, always be yourself, after all it is your natural self they are wanting to get to know alongside your experience and capabilities.
Be constantly aware of your body language too, maintain a good posture and really listen to the interviewer and react appropriately where necessary. Try to remember to breath and do your best to relax and enjoy the process. It is a challenge to get through an interview, especially if this is the job you really, really want, but it is also a platform to learn more about yourself. How you handle stressful situations, maintain your composure, as well as how well suited you are to both the company and the role.
Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer questions, such as “What do you see as the most challenging aspect of this role?” or “What can you tell me about the role, that may not be described in the job description I’ve read”.
Showcase Your Strengths & Accomplishments
By the interview stage, it is safe to say that your resume has been read several times, and that you will be questioned on its contents. Be sure to update yourself on what you have within your CV and have a mental list of all your accomplishments, as well as an idea of your strengths and potential developmental areas – as much as we would all like to come across as perfect, it doesn't do any harm to show you are human and recognise some areas that may need improvement.
It’s a perfect opportunity to cross reference how your current strengths and previous accomplishments can be replicated in your new role and produce proven results for the company. Whilst it’s good to showcase results from your current role, also display your forward-thinking vision as this will attract the employer in terms of what you can bring to the table.
By highlighting your strengths and previous achievements, you are indicating the value you can bring to the role on offer, enabling the company to gain from employing you and reach company goals and improve their overall performance. The quality of your response shows the preparations you made for the interview and why you would be ideal for the role vs anyone else.
Be Visual
Remember your aim is to make a long and lasting impression, so whilst a good informative conversation with your potential future employee is great, don’t underestimate the value of physically showing your work e.g., a portfolio, website, marketing campaign. Whether on a tablet or a printed copy, or even giving a link to any specific projects that you want to highlight, it will leave an impact on the interviewer’s recollection of your particular interview.
Be You Uniquely
Prepare yourself with some distinctive questions to ask. Companies like answering questions because asking them shows your understanding of key details about the position.
Here are additional questions to ask an interviewer:
- What skills does a candidate need to perform well in this role?
- Name a few challenges that a candidate may face in this position?
- What training opportunities do you offer to employees?
- How do you evaluate the performance of employees?
- Where do you see the company going in the next three to five years?
- What is the most exciting part about working in this role?
- What is a typical career path for someone working in this position?
Wear something that truly represents you and your personality. Whilst it’s important to stand out and depending on the role you have applied for you need to dress appropriately, it’s also good to let a part of your personality shine through also, so take time to consider what to wear, and get it ready the night before – perhaps ask family and friends what they think. Be confident in your own skin and feel positive in what you have selected as this will show through in your posture and body language.
Confirm Your Interest
At the end of your interview, reiterate that you're interested in the position and why you feel sure you are the ideal candidate. The interviewer should provide you with more details about the next steps if they're interested in speaking with you further. Send a follow-up email 24 to 48 hours after the interview to underline the insight you got from the interview and get an update on your candidacy – leave them with no doubt you are keen and ready to take on the new role and prove they have selected the right candidate for the job.
Summary
Although we are currently in a candidate led market, by taking advice on how to stand out from the crowd can only benefit you. You may well tick all the right boxes in terms of qualifications, experience and proven results on paper and you may have a sparkling personality too, however, so may other candidates.
Do your best to demonstrate exactly how you can add value to the business. Perhaps lay out a series of thoughtful, insightful ideas, including what you may need from the company to support your ideas.
Showing creativity demonstrates energy and initiative. It’s another way of showing that you are willing to go above and beyond and have worked hard to pitch yourself as the perfect candidate. If you struggle with creatively promoting your achievements, think of other ways to promote yourself e.g., conduct in-depth research into the company’s competitors, product range and position in the market and discuss your thoughts on this in detail.
Don’t pretend to be perfect - showing your ability to bounce back from difficulties and learn from adversity is an essential skill in today’s workplace, so never be afraid to discuss challenges you have faced and how you have overcome them and ultimately grown from them. By relaying these stories, you show you are adaptable and can deal with ever changing circumstances.
It’s never too late to learn new things – it won’t go against you indicating that you are willing to learn new skills, so demonstrate that you are not afraid to discover new skills, attend training courses and even job shadow others within the organisation.
Show your uniqueness – the chances are you are competing with candidates within similar roles and industries, so it is very important to demonstrate the skills you have outside the core requirements, but that could be valuable to the role you are interviewing for.
Leave Making a Good Impression – whether it is a face to face or video interview when you have completed the interview itself, reiterate your interest and potentially hand over a leave behind e.g., presentation, visual design etc or ensure you send a follow up notification, confirming your interest in the role having been through the interview procedure.
