How to Standout from other job candidates: When competing against other job candidates, you can distinguish yourself by going the extra mile to show prospective employers that you deserve the job more than your competitors do. You can do this by showing your prospective employer that you are ready to go the extra mile to prove that you deserve the position. How can you do this?
Do your Research
When applying for a job, it’s easy to get caught up in what you’re going to wear, or how you’re going to write your resume, or whether or not you should bring a gift. There are several things that are more important than any of these – doing research on the company that you’re seeking employment with is one of them.
Many candidates research companies only superficially to gain a basic understanding of their structure and function, such as:
- Knowing if the company exists.
- Finding out what the company does.
- Finding out who owns the company.
- The company’s salary structure, etc.
To set yourself apart from other applicants, you should do a comprehensive search of the company and its products. Doing this will enable you to have a better understanding of the company, which will, in turn, make it easier for you to demonstrate your skills for the job.
To answer the interviewer’s question, “What do you know about us?”, helps to conduct your own research on the company.
Familiarize yourself with the company before you interview. Go to their website, check out industry magazines, and read their Twitter feed. Learn more about their products and services, as well as the problems they solve and how they help people every day. Show them you care about the “why” behind the company and how you can help them achieve their goals.
Act like you have the job already
If you want to appear more confident in your job search, you should behave as if you already have the job. This does not mean that you should overdo it; employers are always on the lookout for candidates with great potential and enthusiasm.
The costs of hiring new employees include the costs of setting up a new employee’s workstation and arranging for an onboarding session as well as the costs of getting training materials ready. A survey found that on average, recruiters spend about $4 on each new hire.
Employers are happy to see job candidates who have thought about their role in the company and have prepared for the interview.
In considering a candidate for a job, it is often helpful to have some sense of what goals the candidate might pursue in the first six months, should he or she be hired. It is also helpful to know what support the person will require from you and your colleagues to accomplish those goals.
Emphasize your accomplishment more than your skills
Most applicants are quick to point out their skills and qualifications in job interviews, but they tend to not mention what they have accomplished unless asked. To make yourself stand out, however, you could use the opposite approach and point out your achievements rather than just your skills.
Although employers want job candidates to possess the necessary skills for the position, they also want to see what you have accomplished in previous jobs and internships. This will give them a better idea of how you are likely to contribute to their company.
When you’re describing your professional accomplishments to a potential employer, it’s important to be as specific as possible. Here are some specific details you might include in your description of your accomplishment(s):
- How much do you earn for your company.
- How much have you helped your company save?
- The product you helped your company launch.
Give detailed information about yourself
If you want to stand out from other job candidates, then you should be ready to give detailed information about yourself. Many job seekers would simply send their CVs or at most a cover letter when applying for a job.
As you want to stand out among the other candidates, you can provide information that shows your best qualities and that you are the ideal candidate for the position. You can give a recruiter all of this important information right away by providing a link to your Web portfolio, Twitter account, and online CV.
Show that you have a growth mindset
Employers also look forward to hiring job candidates who possess the right skills and a strong work ethic, in addition to those who show great potential for learning.
The truth is that employers are seeking employees who are willing to learn and adapt to changing technologies. Employers want people who are constantly trying to improve themselves. People who make the effort to learn new skills and embrace new ideas.
Project a positive personality
It is rare for employers to overlook job candidates’ work experience in favor of the candidate’s personal “personality”, but when it does happen, the decision is often justified by the enthusiasm and motivation the applicant expressed during the interview process.
Possessing a positive attitude and enthusiasm for the job demonstrates to employers that you have the potential to become a top performer in the company if given appropriate training and placed in an environment conducive to exponential growth.