Time and time again, job seekers get cut after an interview—or never even make it that far. It's an unfortunately reality. And too many seekers have no clue as to what they did (or didn’t) do to lose the job. After all, you dressed well and maintained eye contact. You read up on the company before you arrived. You were pretty darn prepared. Or so you thought.
It turns out that HR professionals and recruiters look at the details, from how fast your email response times are to how honest you are (yes, they look for consistency in your answers and resume).
Here are 6 hiring secrets that can help you prepare for (and ace) your next interview.
Your timing matters
If you’ve submitted any resumes, you should be checking your email regularly to make sure you can respond quickly. If it’s been days (or weeks) since a recruiter first reached out to you and you’re finally responding, they’ll assume you’re not that interested. If you do get an interview, make sure you pad your commute to make sure you get there on time.
Be patient
If you sent a recruiter your resume yesterday, don’t follow up today asking if they’ve heard back about the job. Recruiters are busy working with a number of job seekers, and they also want you to get the job. So as soon as they hear back, they’ll let you know. However, if you have relevant questions about the job that extend beyond “did I get it?” then ask away.
Hone your communication skills
It can be a challenge for people to express themselves well without using casual speech, slangs or lazy, filler phrases like “umm.” Even if your recruiter is taking a more casual approach, you should always keep it professional, whether by email, phone, or in person. Work on your speaking skills. Get succinct. Or find a local toastmasters chapter to start edging cluttered, filler phrases out of your vocabulary.
Make first impressions count
Always wear a clean, conservative outfit. Comb or style your hair simply. If you can, take a quick shower beforehand and brush your teeth it will be well appreciated. Recruiters notice an unkempt appearance and poor hygiene, no matter how great your resume looks.
Ask really good questions
Many interview prep sites will recommend you ask questions. But they don’t always clarify this point: make them
good questions. Recruiters can see through your efforts to check the box on “asked question.” Don’t fumble for questions to ask. Instead, think of this interview as your chance to interview your potential employer right back and see why you should
consider working for them. Don’t get cocky—that never ends well. But do approach the interview with the questions you’d really want to know (hold off on the money talk for now) if you were to take the job.
Talk impact, not just experience
Anyone can talk about their background. But what any recruiter really wants to know is how you transformed the company you worked for, even in the smallest ways. Did you increase revenue? Establish new processes for efficiency? Being able to translate your experience into real impact is a vital skill—and one that shows your own awareness about what you’re doing in a bigger sense.
Ready for your next interview? If not, get in touch with our recruiters today, or check out our job board to jumpstart your search and interview process.
