How to Ace Your Interview and Get the Job
Now days, with so many people all competing for the same jobs, it is especially difficult to even just get an interview, let alone land the actual position. It’s important to make sure you are one step ahead of every other candidate in order to even be considered for the job, making it crucial to present yourself as being as close to perfect as possible.
This whole process can be incredibly stressful, bringing on enough anxiety to make some people want to throw up their hands in surrender and give up on the whole thing. Unfortunately, not getting a job isn’t really an option for most people, so getting all the help you can get is necessary to help ensure that you are on top of the whole job application process. Below are some common mistakes people make that you can learn from to hopefully curb some of that stress and give you a much needed edge.
Customize Your Cover Letter
A big mistake that people make starts with their cover letter. I know it is tedious to write a completely different letter for every job your are applying to, especially if you are applying to many different jobs a day. However, sending a generic cover letter with each application doesn’t make you memorable, and it actually reflects a disinterest in the actual company. By customizing your cover letter for each job, it shows that you are engaged and focused.
Only Applying Online
By sending a bunch of applications online it can be easy to just send them out into the interwebs and hope for the best. However, not following up or doing any follow up research can harm your chances at getting the job. After you submit your online application you should find out who the hiring manager is and reach out to him or her directly.
Building Yourself Up With Buzzwords
By describing yourself in your resume with clique terms and phrases like “people person” and “team player” it causes you to blend in with the rest of the applicants. Instead, use descriptive sentences to show how you work well in a group of people, or describe how you are able to think outside the box. Supporting your claims with examples is the best ways to clarify your skills and stand out from the rest.
Not knowing About The Company
It’s as important for you to know about the people conducting the interview as it is for them to know about you. By finding out information about your interviewer that you can relate to enables you to have a real conversation with him or her. When it comes down to deciding who gets the job, if on paper things are equal, odds are the person who had the better human connection will get the gig.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Vodafone Germany