Advice & Resources

5 Things All Job Seekers Should Know
by Itsamberduh - 2015-02-25

Have you ever sat in an interview wondering what the person interviewing you was thinking? If you've ever been nervous about your performance and thought that the human resources professional conducting the meeting was less than impressed with your answers or appearance, odds are that you're not far from the mark. In today's world, job seekers are often oblivious to common interview etiquette, leaving HR staff looking for something more. Read on for 5 things all job seekers should know before they go for their next interview.

1.) How to relax and be yourself. Don't get so wrapped up in showing your value and your potential that you forget to be yourself. If you're too focused on impressing the hiring manager with your knowledge and skill set, you won't get to show them your true personality. Most hiring managers are looking for someone with not only the skills for the job, but the right personality to fit in with the team. If you don't show them who you are, they won't be able to tell if you'll fit in or not. Relax, and let your true personality show.

2.) That you're able and willing to grow with a company. Employers want employees that are capable of growing with the company. Getting promoted in a job is a goal for most workers, but in order to do that, you'll need to take on more responsibilities and expand your skill set. Hiring managers want to see - through a proven track record - that you can grow and evolve with the job. Highlight times that you've been promoted to a position with more responsibility, solved a major problem or saved the company money.

3.) Basic knowledge about the company you're interviewing with. Before you go to an interview, do a little research about the company. While you're at it, check out the people that will be interviewing you. You can look at their bios on the company's website or on a networking platform like LinkedIn to get an idea of their personalities. You may even get some helpful insight that will help you during your interview. At the very least, the interviewer will know you've done your due diligence and that you're ambitious.

4.) How you can be an asset to the company. Every company that is hiring is doing so in order to solve a problem. Maybe they don't have enough people answering the phones or mopping the floors in the bathroom. Whatever the problem is, they're looking for a candidate - hopefully you - to solve it. Take your time and articulate how you can help solve the company's problem.

5.) What your strengths and weaknesses are. At some point, you'll be asked about a time that you struggled in your job or encountered a problem and what you did to solve it. Make sure you have an answer ready that shows deep, self-reflection. Think about who you are at your core and what makes you unique.

If you go into the interview armed with a little bit of knowledge of the company and who you are as an employee, you'll fare far better than other candidates. Skills can be learned, but an employee that's confident and assertive is hard to come by. Make yourself stand out from the crowd and you'll be sure to get the job.