It sounds deceptively simple: stand out from your competition.
However, since the job searching process is quite stressful, the first thing most people tend to do is become more shy and self-conscious, leading them to disappear into the pack and become less noticeable.
Job searchers beware: understand the difference between positive and negative attention. Yes, you want to stand out. But you want to be remembered for being professional and prepared, not for being a clown. Always dress up for interviews more than you think you should, being under dressed is one of the worst attention getters out there. Do your research beforehand and display yourself as a complete package; business cards are my favorite showcasing of a potential employees drive to succeed professionally. Here are some examples of unique, extremely creative and memorable business cards (numbers 11, 28, & 30 are my favorite!)
During interviews, make eye contact and stay involved throughout. Take a minute to think before answering questions and make sure you have at least a couple of questions to ask at the end of the interview. If you know you’ll be nervous and have a hard time thinking on your feet, write some questions down beforehand and ask any that haven’t already been answered.
Don’t forget to be human. At the end of the day, employers are human too and have many competing priorities. If the interviewer seems to be in a casual/personable mood, try engaging with them on a more personal level (steer clear of any sticky topics however, like politics or religion). Interviewers often associate a candidate’s potential with how pleasant the conversation was during the interview.
I’ll tell you now, as an employer and career coach: be noticeable! Having even the smallest detail of your resume that showcases your personality or makes readers smile is key to standing out. Staying true to yourself in interviews is the #1 best way to make sure that the job is a good fit for you; if you try to mold to someone you’re not yet you still land the job with flying colors, that’s likely not going to be a great career match in the long-term.
