How to Be the Best Job Candidate

Being the best candidate for the job is more than just dressing sharp and showing up early for the job interview. It's about understanding the reason for every action, as well as the underlying strategy for every facet during the hiring selection process. The reason for a solid resume is a way for the candidates to sell themselves in order to secure a job interview. The candidates prepare themselves for the purpose of becoming more comfortable when the moment for being interviewed actually arrives. Striving to be the best takes a lot of preparation and deep understanding, no matter what you are trying to accomplish.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Printer
• Paper
• Transportation
• Appropriate Business Attire

Instructions

Instructions

1. Customize your resume, portfolio, and or curriculum vitae. Gear your resume toward the requirements of the specific job position and organization. Backing up information with numbers will provide the hard data needed that can be used to strengthen your resume. The more solid the resume, the closer you will be in securing a job interview.

2. Do research on the specific company online. By being informed of the specific company, you can distinguish yourself by being knowledgeable about the organization during a job interview. Craft a list of strategic questions that both show your knowledge of and interest in the company. Bring this list of questions type written to the job interview. Having a physical list of questions shows that you put in the serious effort to get to know the organization.

3. See if the company fits your needs. Research and see if the company culture fits your own work style preferences. Often times, you can get an impression of the company's organizational culture by how it projects itself to the public. However, you may have to wait for the job interview and tour of the facility to further understand whether or not you will fit within the organization.

4. Dress well. Upon preparing for your interview, make sure that you are appropriately dressed for the specific organization. If possible, you can go as far as to visit the organization and observe how people are dressed. Attire is often a reflection of the company culture and the closer you are dressed to the company norm during the job interview, the more you will appear to fit in which could prove to be advantageous.

5. Practice responding to typical job interview questions. Make sure to back up each answer with a behavior or specific example. Rehearse a mock interview for preparation.

6. Practice body language. A straight and aligned posture signifies leadership. A firm handshake confirms competency.

Tips & Warnings

• Each individual is different. Therefore, it's important to understand what your own needs are in preparing for the job interview. For example, some people may be more nervous than others and those who are nervous may require different cures in alleviating their nerves

• Get a good night of rest before the interview

• Practice driving to the location before the day of the interview

• Show up early

• Employers may also research your credit report. Be sure to look at it before they do

• With technology and public information being fair game for anyone to see, make sure that any information about you online does not have the ability to jeopardize your opportunities. Protect yourself by making your social networking profiles private. You can also delete any information that may compromise you

Resources

• Job Seeker: What to Wear
• JobStar: Resume
• ONet: Find Occupations (Research Specific Job Positions)
• Sample Behavioral Job Interview Quesitons
• Body Language During a Job Interview