You want to be remembered after a job interview – but for the right reasons. Here are 6 ways to set yourself up for a memorable job interview.
1. Do your research.
Time spent reading up on the company is worth it’s weight in gold! Being able to speak confidently about the company’s upcoming initiatives – and how you see yourself contributing – will make a lasting impression on the hiring team. It also demonstrates your enthusiasm for the role and the company, signaling that this is a job you’re truly excited about.
2. Rock an awesome outfit.
There’s a surprising about of psychology surrounding fashion. One thing’s for sure, great clothes result in a confidence boost. It’s been shown that what you wear impacts both first impressions and perceptions of your competence. Take advantage of that and arrive at your interview looking sharp!
Make sure you pick out what you want to wear ahead of time. You’ll want to try everything on and insure that everything you’ll need for your interview outfit is clean, wrinkle-free, and fits properly.
3. Build rapport.
Your interviewer is human too! They are looking to bring on a new team member who they’re going to enjoy working with. While personality alone won’t land you (most) jobs, it’s more important than you might think. A great place to inject some of your personality is when answering the “tell me about yourself” trope – while discussing your professional pursuits is important here, talking about your extracurricular passions is also appropriate. You can also humanize yourself during introductions, asking your interviewers about their weekend plans and sharing yours.
Try to keep it conversational during your interview. While most interviews follow the straightforward Q&A style, don’t be afraid to end your response to a question with an inquiry of your own.
4. Bring a plan.
During the preliminary phone interview, make sure to ask about the company’s upcoming initiatives or what they see themselves working towards in the coming year. At your in-person interview, blow them away with a 30-60-90 plan that details how you’ll get yourself up to speed and contributing to their mission in just 3 months.
You’ll stand out as a candidate with a plan to make a quantifiable impact. Demonstrating your initiative will make for a truly memorable job interview experience.
5. Ask good questions.
One of the best ways to stand out when interviewing is to end on a high note. When you’re asked if you have any questions, always have a couple thoughtful ones prepared. Asking questions about company culture, professional development, and the team you’d be working with are all valuable.
Avoid asking about things like salary or benefit specifics until later in the process – it could be interpreted as you just wanting the job for the paycheck.
6. Send a thank you note.
Before you leave your interview, be sure to ask the hiring manager for their email or business card. Once you get home, type up a quick message to your interviewer. Thank them for their time, reiterate how excited you are about the prospect of working with them, and tell them you look forward to talking again soon. Less than 25% of candidates send a thank you note! If you do, you separate yourself from the pack and set yourself apart and conscientious and detail oriented.
With these 6 tricks in mind, you’re sure to have a memorable job interview and leave a lasting impression on your interviewer.
