How to Make Yourself Stick Out in a Job Interview
The competitive nature of the job market means that employers can afford to be choosy about who they hire. This should not discourage you, however; instead, look at the competitive market as an opportunity to hone your interviewing skills and sell yourself during an interview.
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Instructions
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Schedule your interview for as early in the day as possible. Hiring managers are known to schedule several interviews during the day, and fatigue will set in after interviewing multiple candidates in a row. Ask for the interview slot as close to the beginning of the day as possible; the earlier in the day, the more likely an interviewer will be alert and really listen to your responses.
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Add a bit of professional flair to your interview attire. A good rule of thumb to follow for interviews is to always dress professionally for interviews, no matter whether you are applying for a retail sales job or high-level executive position. Generally, both men and women should wear business suits for professional interviews, though a bit of color can help your outfit stand out. For men, a tastefully colored tie is appropriate; for women, a colored -- but not distracting -- blouse is appropriate under a suit jacket.
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Learn as much as you can about the company before the interview. Many job seekers go into interviews without knowing anything about the company they want to work for. Instead, spend some time going over the company's website, annual report and any recent press to learn about their current projects and past successes. In the interview, find a subtle way to incorporate your knowledge of the company into an answer.
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Develop your elevator pitch. Almost all interviewers will ask you to describe yourself, so do not be caught off-guard by the question. Instead, write and rehearse a short summary of your background, qualifications and experiences to tell the interviewer when asked. This will show that you can think quickly on your feet and know exactly what you can bring to the company as an employee.
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Know your key contributions in previous jobs and include them when answering questions. Employers want to know how you will help grow their company, so use your past job achievements to demonstrate exactly how you can help the company. For example, if you are asked how you are qualified for a sales job, use your experience as the top shoe salesman in XYZ retail store to show your ability to sell.
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Bring a list of detailed questions to the interview. Almost all interviewers will ask you for questions near the end of the interview. Have a list of detailed questions that you prepare before the interview, as well as questions that come up during the interview. This shows that you were listening and attentive during the inteview.
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Send a thank-you letter immediately after the interview. Follow-up thank-you letters show that you appreciate the time an interviewer spent talking to you. The letters also give you the opportunity to revisit some points of discussion during the interview and refresh the interviewer's memory about your meeting.
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