Be the candidate everyone loves — and hires!
6 ways to go above and beyond the job interview
Hiring managers are trained to look out for red flags that reveal whether a candidate will make the cut or not. Examples include, showing up late for the interview, not being appropriately dressed, talking poorly about the previous bosses, exaggerating answers and so on. But did you know there are also green flags that they look out for – which indicate that a candidate is perfect for the job.
Being aware of these green flags can give you a better idea early on of how you can move on to the next round and outperform the competition.
You know your stuff
As an informed candidate — you have already done adequate research on the organization and have grasped the specifics on the position in advance — making you a clear favourite.
You come in with the right expectations and show a willingness to hit the ground running. When you demonstrate that you have taken the time to thoroughly comb through their website and have even taken the time to research the competition and the industry, you get closer to the all-star rating.
They can sense your enthusiasm
You are not just knowledgeable about the hard facts of the company but also about the company culture.
You have spent time learning about the company mission statement, core values and history of the organization. Plus, it’s not just about what you say — it’s about how you express it. You are genuinely interested about joining the organization and they can sense the enthusiasm in your body language and excitement in your voice.
You take pride in your previous work, and the passion that you can bring to the new role. This kind of enthusiasm shows that you are truly interested instead of just looking for any way to pay the bills.
You bring great ideas to the table
It’s great when you show a track record of success, but you are also forward-thinking by showing what you can specifically bring to the new role.
Coming to an interview with concrete ideas of what you would do in the position shows that you want to add value from day one and contribute to their vision right away.
You communicate quickly and clearly
Recruiters go through a lot of coordination from scheduling phone calls to setting up interviews to zero in on the ideal candidate.
If you are someone who is quick to respond throughout the process and helps things proceed smoothly, they will like you even more.
You demonstrate that you are agile and adapt well in today’s fast-paced environments. Plus, your motivated demeanour during the interview process establishes that you are likely to be as responsive once you are on the job.
You enable a smooth interview process
Yes, recruiters want prospects to thoroughly answer questions — but in your typical interviews, there is a natural flow back-and-forth and the interview feels like it is more of a conversation, not an interrogation.
Apart from your answers, you have also thoughtfully prepared questions in advance and are interested in the company culture, curious about your experience working at the organization and so on.
Above all, you are authentic
There is no ‘perfect candidate’. In the true sense, everyone brings some flaws. But because you are authentic, you own up to it and that makes you likeable.
You are willing to open up about your weaknesses. For example, you could admit that you are great in face-to-face interactions but not that comfortable with communications over social media – or vice versa. This makes them realize that you are highly self-aware.
In the same vein, rather than paint a rosy picture of your previous work experience, you actually admit to a work mistake, and how you recovered and learned from it. For a recruiter, a candidate with a great sense of awareness, learning agility and above all, humility and authenticity is the winning ace in the pack.