Be the pick of the bunch

[Badshah Mamun]

Be the pick of the bunch

By Paul Slezak


Here's a moment of truth. Despite what you might like to believe, when a recruiter decides whether or not to put you forward to a potential employer, or a human resources manager considers bringing somebody into an organisation, both rely heavily on gut feel and personal impressions.

In a market saturated with highly skilled and qualified candidates, the notion of making a lasting first impression has never been more important. After all, you can be the most qualified candidate, have a CV the envy of all other applicants and narrowed your interview technique down to a fine art - but if you don't look the part, or act the part, a recruiter or hiring manager may not be convinced that you can, in fact, play the part. And when all is said and done, that's what counts.

The recruitment process can be long and drawn out. Consider all the touch points for a moment - from your first contact by email or phone, through to your wait in reception for an interview, the interview itself and then your follow-up. At each moment you, as an individual, are being assessed; not only your experience, skills and education. How you behave and the impression you leave can make or break your job search.

In any recruitment exercise, the telephone screening process is the stage where the initial culling really begins. Those applicants who look appropriate on paper are then rung to determine whether or not they should be invited in for a formal interview.

As a former recruiter, I lost track of how many thousands of candidates I called over the years as part of this process only to immediately reject them due to what I perceived to be apparent uninterest, lack of enthusiasm, or what I used to refer to as a zero-care factor.

If you receive a call from a recruiter or HR manager, keep in mind this call is just as important as an interview. Listen carefully to the questions being asked, speak articulately and avoid answering monosyllabically. "Yeah" or "aha" are not actually words in the English language.

Similarly, if you are invited in for an interview, respond enthusiastically and be flexible with meeting times. Remember, your motivation and attitude often carry as much weight as your skills and experience. And how you come across over the phone is just as important as how you act in person.

So you've made it to the interview stage. The rule here is fairly self-explanatory - dress to impress or dress for success. Dress (and behave) as if this is the only job you would ever consider having. Even in this era of smart or business casual and dress-down Fridays, know you will be judged on appearance so dress up.

I understand knowing what to wear to an interview can be a difficult decision to make. So if in doubt, wear a suit. Even if it's jeans day at work, it's never jeans day for an interview.

Punctuality is also an imperative. My advice is to arrive at the building where the interview is being held a quarter of an hour ahead of time and allow a good 10 minutes to collect yourself so as not to approach the reception desk flustered and bothered.

During the actual interview, how you conduct yourself is vital. Be mindful of your body language, tone, eye contact (or lack thereof) and general disposition. A recruiter or hiring manager will often make up their mind within the first 30 seconds of meeting you. Remember your role as a candidate, be aware of your boundaries and don't be overly familiar regardless of the rapport you may have built up with the person interviewing you.

And finally, follow-up is advisable. Sending a quick note to the person you have met thanking them for their time, summarising your key take-outs from the meeting and reconfirming your enthusiasm for the opportunity is often viewed positively.

As you can see, there is far more to landing a new job than simply having a good CV. There is no denying your past experience plays a large part in whether or not you will be considered for a new role. However, you will also influence the outcome in terms of how you present and the first impression you make.

Source: http://content.mycareer.com.au/advice-research/interview/pick-of-the-bunch.aspx