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3 Easy Ways to be More Intentional During the Interview Process

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Standing out among other candidates can be as simple as emphasizing three things. By doing so, you can show your interest in the company and your appreciation for their time. It is a way to commit to the interview process and put your best foot forward.

Research the Company.

Do your research! There is no need to know specific numbers and percentages about the company, but it is helpful to know what the company’s basic function is, as well as its mission and values. Not only does this show that you are interested in the company, but it gives you a general idea of why the company runs the way they do and what its values are to see if YOU want to work for THEM!

Ask Questions.

Have a few questions ready to ask during the interview. Having no questions to ask at the end of the interview can be perceived as a lack of interest in the position. Don’t ask boring surface questions; interviewers will be able to see right through them. Ask questions whose answers will help you decide whether you want to accept the position. These could be about company culture, compensation, responsibilities, etc. Not only will you have an inside look into the company, but this shows that you are thinking critically about the role. You are evaluating them, and this shows them that you could be an asset to the company.

Follow up.

Show you care. If you are interested in the position, send a thank you email, and let them know that you are looking forward to hearing from them. If you have yet to hear from them at the beginning of the time frame they suggested, you can send a follow-up email asking for an update and if they need anything else from you. It is important to read the situation and see if a follow-up email is warranted. While it is good to stay in touch, you do not want to hound them. Keep it friendly, not stalker-y.

Showing your interest goes a long way. Are you looking for a new position? Check out our open jobs here!

 

Communicating Company Values to Candidates

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When hiring new employees, it is crucial that they know what your company stands for. How can you communicate your values as genuine, rather than just all talk?

Share employee experience

Typically, it is good to have a candidate interview with more than one person from your company. Use this to your advantage to share information about your values. Encourage whoever is interviewing the candidate to share what they genuinely like about the company and what it stands for. Suppose your employee truly feels like your company reflects your values well. In that case, this will be communicated to the candidate in how the employee speaks about the company.

Cite the action behind your words

Describe for your candidate how the company values play into daily work. You can speak about this when describing what they can expect when working for you. For example, if you value balance, you may refer to how you do not ask employees to work past regular hours. If your company values community outreach, you could mention your company’s monthly volunteer projects. Candidates are wary of companies that spew buzz words without actions to back them up.

Ask their opinion

Good companies care about their employee’s opinions. This can start as far back as the interview process. Ask them what values they like to see in the company they are working for. Share with them what your company sees as important and how that may align with what they value. Not only does this open the door for conversation about company values, but it also signals to the interviewee that your company is willing to take opinions and criticism into account when growing and changing the company.

Your company values should be somewhat evident in how you conduct business. Giving candidates a taste of your day-to-day, having them talk to other employees, and doing a little bit of shameless self/company promotion is all you need to communicate your values to potential employees.

The Reason You’re Not Getting Interviews (That Has Nothing To Do With Your Resume)

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We are in a very interesting market currently. As companies ramp back up to pre-pandemic productivity, they are hiring like crazy. Likewise, candidates are finally feeling stable enough to look for new positions. This has created a fascinating whirlwind of hiring, making desirable jobs very competitive. If you’re one of the candidates dipping your toe in the job market waters, you’ve probably got your game face on. Your resume is refreshed and perfected, you’ve practiced your interviewing skills, and you know your worth when it comes to accepting an offer. While all of that is great, there could be one thing keeping you from getting interviews and landing the next step in your career: timeliness. Today we’re breaking down the benefits of getting your application in as soon as possible.

Why You Should Apply ASAP

In a competitive job market, recruiters receive hundreds, maybe even thousands, of job applications for one job. Unfortunately, they simply do not have time to comb through every single resume they receive. If they are especially motivated to fill a critical need, they will start scheduling interviews as they receive qualified resumes. This means that the sooner you apply, the more likely you will receive an invitation to interview. Keep in mind that this is especially true at large companies or for particularly competitive positions.

Additionally, a quick application shows that you are ready to work. It can indicate that this is a company you are particularly motivated to work at, or that the job matches your qualifications well, or even just that you really want the position!

How To Be One Of The First Applicants

First, you need to be aware of the opening. The best way to do this is to subscribe to job alerts. Head to sites like Indeed and LinkedIn and subscribe to relevant job alerts. Be sure to set your searches up in a way that will inform you of any job title relevant to your career goals. Additionally, check out recruiting company job boards (like JSG) as we often have exclusive job listings you won’t find anywhere else. Join our Talent Network here for up-to-date alerts on jobs in your area!

Second, you must have your job application materials ready at all times. Take a weekend to spruce up your job materials, including your resume and cover letter template. If you’re currently employed, head to your resume to update it every time you complete a big project. Reach out to your professional references now, so you can have them ready to submit. Yes, this can be a little awkward if you’re just testing the waters. However, just be upfront and honest with them about your career goals (and don’t use anyone at your current job!)

At the end of the day, keep in mind that this is not universal advice. There are plenty of great companies out there who will cull through every single resume they receive to give every applicant a fair shot at interviews, even if they apply in the final hour. However, it will never be detrimental to be one of the first applicants for a job, so why not go for it?