How to Stand Out (for Better and Worse!)
Our consultants screen a LOT
of applicants. When anyone with an attachable Word doc can apply to your job,
you get into situations where you have to delete 35,000 CV’s from your
Downloads folder to halt a computer crash. I asked the Informatiq and ERS teams
to share some noteworthy examples of when candidates have managed to pop their
heads above the crowd, and compiled their list of tips and tricks below:
- Address the specifics of the job ad in your application. Show an attention to, and interest in, the needs of the company.
“I had a candidate who applied and
looked just okay for the role. Then I read his cover letter, and he’s taken the
time to properly read the advert and address all of the areas he hasn’t had
experience in, but also highlighted transferable skills he has from other
experiences.” – Juliette
- Don’t think any large gaps in your CV will go unnoticed.
“One applicant sent me their CV and
didn’t give employment details for the last nine years, and didn’t offer an
explanation.” – Rob
- Include any personal projects completed while unemployed, or explain
the circumstances of your time out. Reading that you’ve been busy raising a
family or traveling South America while tending bar is better than the
resourcer assuming you’ve been jailed, or writing off your application altogether.
- Tailor your CV for every role. Send it to a friend for a second opinion, and take constructive criticism as it’s meant – build a better CV!
“When I spoke with one candidate,
he actually had more relevant experience than he’s detailed on his CV – so I
asked him to highlight those experiences. He spent time over his lunch break
updating it, and sent it back to me that afternoon. He demonstrated some
genuine enthusiasm, hard work ethic, and that he’s open to taking criticisms,
and I’m now super impressed with him!” – Juliette
(The
client was impressed as well – this candidate was requested for interview!)
- Skills that are listed in the “Skills” section should be backed up by your experience. Give evidence in your job responsibilities, and if you can’t, delete it. - Steve
- If you’re giving your first impression in a phone interview, make sure it’s polished. Find a quiet place with excellent service, and ask your interviewer if the line is clear. It’s like making sure your suit is ironed and there’s nothing in your teeth when you show up to interview.
“I had a candidate who had loads of
first interviews, but wasn’t getting anywhere, until someone finally told him
that he sounded terrible on the phone. His phone was years and years old, so he
got a new one finally. Then he got a job!” – Mary
- And while we’re on first impressions…
“I asked my client for feedback on
the candidate, and the interviewer said, ‘Let me put it this way… He lit up the
room.’ He showed up in a Hawaiian shirt.” – Paul
“One candidate wore a cowboy hat in
his interview.” – Rob
“We had a candidate who attended an
assessment day, and noticed another candidate was wearing a suit with the tags
hanging off it, so he could return it the next day.” – Juliette
“Having said he’s caught the train
down from Manchester,
my candidate called 30 minutes prior to the interview, saying he was in one of
the cubicles at Euston suffering from acute diarrhea (sound effects highly
audible).” – Malcolm
- No but really, make a good impression. While on the job hunt (and in reality all the time), keep your social media presence attractive to employers.
“One of my candidates had a first
round interview on Skype, and forgot that his profile picture showed him
wearing a shirt that said ‘Mr. Idiot.’ If you’re going to use your private Skype
for business, check that there’s an appropriate image for that scenario.” –
Mary
- Don’t shrink away at the first obstacle. Making an extra effort will prove that you want the job, give a glimpse at what your work ethic will be like once hired, and yes, make you stand out.
“I had a candidate who crashed his
car on the way to his interview – his interviewer passed the crash on the way
in! The candidate called his Dad, who picked him up and took him to the
interview. He got the job, and I genuinely think part of the reason was because
he’d gone to so much effort to make sure he attended.” – Juliette
(Disclaimer:
we don’t recommend crashing your car to show enthusiasm!)
“I had a contractor recently
interview for a role that was a 2 hour commute, one way. Although he
interviewed exceptionally well, the company thought to interview another, as
they weren’t sure a 4 hour daily commute was feasible. However, when we called
to discuss it with him, the contractor had researched the opportunity so
thoroughly that he was able to tell us to the £ how much it would cost him for
the year, at what times he would get in, and had even looked at his current
contract to be sure he could start with our Client the moment they asked.
Inevitably his dedication got him the job.” – Alisha
But we would draw the line at criminal activity:
“A candidate was rejected for an
ethical hacker role, and in an attempt to prove his worth he tried to hack our
systems. He not only proved his ‘ethical’ hacking approach was a little more
black hat than white, but he further exemplified characteristics we could not
put in front of any client who would expect adherence to the Computer Misuse
Act of 1990.” – Alisha
- Be confident, but show that you’re a team player. You’re not hired off of your CV alone because you need to prove to the interviewer that you’ll be a good fit for the company and your future team. Highlight your strengths and know your limitations. Have strong opinions, but show that they’re flexible.
“Once in an assessment centre, there
was a case study exercise where they worked in a group with four candidates.
Two of those candidates were mine. One of them came back to me with the
feedback that he did AMAZINGLY well – he took total control of the project and
made sure it was all completed perfectly. My other candidate said it was a
total nightmare – there was this other guy who took total control over the
project and wouldn’t let anyone contribute, so he had to really work hard to
make his voice heard, and also the voices of the other two candidates.
“The first guy was rejected because
he was, understandably, too controlling. The second guy actually got the job,
and I was told that a big part of his positive feedback that day was how well
he handled the controlling character.” – Juliette
For more of our consultants' advice on navigating your job search, watch this space!
