You’re a great candidate for that role – but you’re not the only one. Take inspiration from these stories of candidates who’ve gone the extra mile to win over an employer.
In many industries and professions, competition for jobs continues to intensify. Sure, you may tick all the right boxes in terms of qualifications, you may have a compelling track record to talk about, and you may have a winning personality too. But chances are, so will several other candidates.
What, then, can you do to stand out from the crowd? How can you show that you are prepared to go the extra mile – that you both want and deserve the job more than your rivals? Here are some ideas, based on true stories, about how to do just that.
Add a personal touch
Reaching out to your potential employer following an interview, especially if it’s in a thoughtful way, will help you to be the candidate that leaves a lasting impression. A simple way to do this is to compose a handwritten “Thank You” note following the interview.
It’s an old-fashioned courtesy which, done well, is likely to gain approval; better still, it gives you another chance to get your name in front of your potential employer. Referencing parts of the conversation also shows you were fully engaged throughout the process.
Takeaway: What key points can you make in your personal message which will show how you really engaged with your interviewer?
Do your research
A candidate should always have a good answer to the question, ‘What do you know about us?’ Instead of just reciting the company’s About Us page, review the annual report. You can gain a deeper understanding for the type of language the company uses.
The annual report helps candidates to understand what really matters to the organisation. Pay attention to the phrases that appear often. Do they focus on ‘caring for customers’, ‘driving change’, or ‘unlocking value for stakeholders’? Get a good idea of the keywords that signify the company’s approach, so you can bring them up at interview.
One candidate for a travel company asked to give a presentation on how to market a specific resort and took the idea of research literally – she decided to fly to the resort for the weekend! She brought back a jar of sand as evidence and put together a promotional microsite full of images that she’d taken herself on her trip.
Takeaway: How can you show you’ve gone the extra mile in the way you research for the role?
Start doing the job already
Hiring managers aren’t just impressed by a candidate who just done her research – they want to see candidates who are able to demonstrate exactly how they would add value to the business.
One candidate was unbelievably well-prepared and brought a plan with her of what she would do over the first six months of starting the role. She outlined a series of thoughtful, insightful ideas, including what she’d need from the company to support her. It was a very creative approach – several of her ideas were things the company hadn’t considered. She spoke to the interviewer as if she already had the job – and she completely nailed it.
Companies take a bedding-in period into account, involving induction and training. It is a great relief to find someone who’s already done some significant thinking to understand the role. As well as being bright and resourceful, the applicant put so much time and effort into her preparation that she showed she really wanted the job.
Almost every single recommendation she made ended up getting actioned. However, it wouldn’t have mattered if she hadn’t got everything right, because she showed that she had the skills and resourcefulness to provide new ideas.
Takeaway: What can you do to show that you’re already thinking and acting as if you’re ready to start the role tomorrow?
Make use of your other skills and experience
Candidates can often stand out by harnessing other skills in the way they prepare for an interview.
One candidate with a background in logistics wowed his interviewers for a professional services role by highlighting some ways they could streamline their service delivery processes, for example. This unique perspective made him stand out from other interviewees.
Another candidate, who came from an eCommerce background but was interviewing for an unrelated role, spotted a gap in the market for a clothing brand which went on to become a significant revenue stream.
Takeaway: What skills from other parts of your life can you put to use in your job search and interview?
Show your creativity
The creative and promotional industries are full of examples of applicants who have made use of their talents to help their application stand out from the crowd.
Salespeople have been known to present their expertise in the form of a commercial pitch. And creatives have packaged their credentials in a variety of weird and wacky ways – in the form of specially designed cereal packets, Swiss Army knives, Lego kits, action figurines and more.
One candidate famously hired an advertisement opposite the HQ of the company they wanted to work at to get noticed. Another marketing hopeful decided to launch her own ‘hire a boss’ website. She listed her position, organisation and manager requirements, got media coverage for her efforts – and ended up with a dream job.
Showing creativity demonstrates energy and initiative. It’s another way of showing that you are willing to go above and beyond.
You want to leave an impression that resonates with your interviewers and gives them something to think about long after the interview finishes.
A candidate interviewing for a finance analyst role at a major fashion brand performed in-depth research into the company’s competitors, product range and position in the industry. He used his research to develop a visual SWOT analysis and submitted printed copies for his interviewers to take. In addition to securing the role, his interview set a standard for future candidates.
Takeaway: Going to such creative lengths is not appropriate or desirable in every industry or sector, of course. But there are always ways to use imaginative presentation to stand out from the crowd. For instance, in the look and feel of your presentation deck or by putting together a digitally-savvy personal CV site.
Show some grit and resilience
Technical expertise and relevant industry experience are expected in a senior position. Employers are often looking for evidence of soft skills, such as grit and resilience.
The ability to bounce back from difficulties and learn from adversity is an especially vital skill in today’s workplace. You need to show that you can cope and adapt in a fast-moving world with rapid technological changes. Businesses today face constant disruption, frequent restructuring and ongoing transformation. Employers want proof of your ability to survive and thrive in such an environment.
Takeaway: What stories can you tell to illustrate your ability to deal with change and adapt?
Demonstrate a growth mindset
A related soft skill that can help you stand out from the crowd is ‘learning agility’ – a willingness and enthusiasm to move with the times, take on new skills and expand into new areas as business requirements and priorities evolve.
You need to be able to demonstrate your willingness and ability to learn new skills, and adapt or take on new challenges and working patterns.
Companies invest a lot of money to hire top talent. They are hiring not just for now but for the future. Use stories with real-life examples to demonstrate learning agility and your readiness to stretch yourself.
Takeaway: What stories can you tell to demonstrate that you are a candidate who is not afraid to learn new things – and you will be an asset to your employer not just today, but in five or ten years’ time?
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