We just celebrated Thanksgiving in America, which is a perfect opportunity to share some great tips to help you, the job seeker, land the next job. It doesn’t matter who you are or what level of talent you are, everyone can benefit from these tips. I am connected to hundreds of Recruiters, Hiring Managers and Directors and here are a couple of things that they shared with me and I am going to share them with you.

What’s an easy way to separate yourself from the competition during the interview process?

If you think I am going to say, “your resume” then you are wrong. Although, I am a big proponent of having your resume professionally written, it’s not the answer I am looking here, remember we are talking about the interview so your resume would have already done its job. If you are not getting calls for interviews or you are not getting the type of interviews you want, then I would suggest getting your resume updated. The answer is, ask the interviewer some questions about the job and company. Hiring Managers and Recruiters want to know that you’ve done your due diligence and you have seriously considered this company as an employer so, you should have questions. Plus, when you ask question the interviewer is more engaged in your interview (and you).

The second thing you can do to separate yourself from the competition is to send a “thank you” email and for extra credit send a handwritten thank you note. Get the business card and contact info of the person(s) conducting your interview and as soon as you are finished with the interview, stop by your local greeting card store and buy a small thank you card.  Write a sincere message of thanks to the interviewer, put a stamp on it and drop it in the mail.  Something so little can mean a lot to someone making a hiring decision. The thank you note shows appreciation (of course) but it also shows professionalism, class and consideration. All very important in our increasingly cynical and rude culture.

Bonus Tips: Network and networking. When entering or re-entering the job search, reach out to your network and let them know you are back in the hunt. If your network has dried up then build a new one by attending professional development events and communicating with professionals in your industry. In the job search, the most powerful tool is your network. Sure you can get a job without a network or an attractive resume but it’s much harder when you go out there alone and unprepared.

 

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