Job markets are becoming even more competitive with time. The most critical thing for employees entering the job market is to stand out as exceptional to recruiters. These employers are more interested in candidates that have something interesting about them than just someone who is defined by their qualifications.
Above all, hiring companies are looking for well-rounded employees that can add value to their business’s social benefit and their bottom line. How can an applicant develop an approach that sets them up as unique and outstanding? Below, 14 experts from Forbes Human Resources Council share a few methods that potential employees can leverage to stand out from the crowd.
1. Do Your Homework
Job candidates who know the company, the market and the people will excel. Technical qualifications are given by the time of an interview. Connection is chemistry and you don’t want to fake it. Knowledge and context allow the candidate to test fit and impress the employer. Research, ask knowledgeable questions and draw in your interviewer with context. – Liz Huldin, Catalytic Talent LLC
2. Demonstrate Grit
Grit is strongly correlated with success in the workplace. Any candidate looking to stand out should demonstrate grit through academic and work experiences illustrating dogged persistence and resilience despite adversity. If the applicant is right out of college, grit can also be demonstrated by years of commitment to and achievement of excellence in a sport, instrument or other hobby. – Heide Abelli, Skillsoft
3. Be Memorable
Many hiring decisions can be based on feelings, so one way to stand out is to be memorable in your interview. For in-person interviews, consider leaving something behind to remind hiring managers about you — which can range from a portfolio of work products to pastries for the entire lobby. For virtual interviews, try to research your interviewers for commonalities you can connect on and stand out. – Dr. Timothy J. Giardino, BMC Software
4. Use Keywords
Almost all organizations today use an ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and keywords are critical in sifting through thousands of resumes. Ensure that your resume is customized for that job you are applying for and that it includes some of the keywords from the posting. Getting hired means getting noticed first and that can’t happen unless your resume is reviewed. – Sherrie Suski, Tricon American Homes
5. Improve Your ‘Talent Magnet’ Status
Set yourself apart from the pack at the onset of your search by building your personal brand through the creation of educational content in your area of expertise. This works at all levels, but is especially recommended for executive leader candidates who can create a better following of talent for future hiring for their new employer that hires them. Employers want “talent magnets” in all areas. – Bryan Passman, Hunter + Esquire
6. Ask How You Can Help
There are only two reasons to hire someone: skill gap or bandwidth need. A hiring manager, by nature, is under stress. They are worried. If you can ask good questions and demonstrate that you’re here to solve the problems of the person you’ll be working for as a great employee (which isn’t the same as a great “candidate”), you’re hired. – Elizabeth Roberts, eGenesis, Inc.
7. Ask Bold Questions
In a competitive market, candidates can stand out to a company by asking bold questions. While an interview is a two-way conversation, it is important to be prepared on the type of questions you will be asked and have your questions prepared that are straightforward. The information heard can determine if the job and company align with your values. This also showcases your talents to be hired. – Sherry Martin, Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS)
8. Show You’re A Brand Ambassador
Most job seekers already know to customize their resumes, research the company, prepare questions in advance, etc. But those who really want to stand out should try to show they’re brand advocates for current or former employers. By sharing company news, articles, events and volunteer activities on social media, candidates demonstrate that they can be good employees, as well as good applicants. – John Feldmann, Insperity
9. Send A Comprehensive Follow-Up
It’s easy to be a good interviewer, but hiring managers want to know if you can actually do the job. When you send a follow-up “thank you” note, be sure to go above and beyond by including work samples, or better yet, an example of something that you would do on the job, like a piece of analysis, a pitch or sales deck to really show you’ve got the chops. – Polina Wilson, Unruly ®
10. Consider Who Is In Your Network
Tailoring your resume to be one of 100 applicants, to a company where you have no relationship is time-consuming. First, reach out to your network and tell them what you are trying to do. These are people who can see past a resume and to the core of your skills. They can then advocate for you. You will likely hear about jobs before they reach the market, and companies love to hire people referred in. – Karla Reffold, BeecherMadden
11. Demonstrate Your Entrepreneurial Nature
In the new post-COVID world, job market employers will be looking more and more for entrepreneurial nature and innovative thinking in their selected candidates. Share some of your success stories during the crisis and your approach in solving the professional and personal problems. – Nish Parikh, Rangam Consultants Inc.
12. Personalize Your Resume To The Role
The first step to showcase yourself is with your resume. To stand out, personalize your resume to the role that you are applying for. Be sure you highlight the experiences you have had with the requirements of the role you are applying for. Take some time to differentiate what you did versus a team. And most importantly, include metrics on how your work positively impacted the company’s success. – Jessica Adams, Brad’s Deals
13. Be Specific In Accomplishments And Value-Add
Everyone uses descriptors like “collaborative” or “results-oriented,” but few provide specific examples of actually being these things. In addition to including key phrases, make sure you include details about projects, accomplishments and value added by your qualities and strengths. It is one thing to “improve something,” but it is quite another to “improve X by Y which resulted in Z.” – Jessica Delorenzo, Kimball Electronics Inc
14. Lead Hiring Managers To The Right Takeaways
A good interview answer is having at least a clear answer. A better one shares an example that makes the interviewer believe you. But the best answers do the work of the hiring manager by helping the manager draw the right conclusions from your answer. For example, tie it up with a nice bow, such as “What you can expect from me in similar situations is….” Help the hiring manager create the right takeaways. – Tessa White, SHE Team, LLC
