Welcome to Part 3 of my 6-part series on how to stand out in your job search.  Today's job search is unlike any we've seen before.  There have been, and continue to be, major shakeups in the job market, and thousands of candidates are applying for fewer jobs.   And, the market itself is changing as candidates utilize new ways to network and find positions.  You really have to bring your game to stand out from other candidates in today's market.  With that in mind, I've created this series.  Tip #1 was Rethink Your Job Search, and Tip #2 was Using Social Media in Your Job Search.  Today's tip #3 is:

Learn to Use Interview Tools That Impress Hiring Managers

The single most important interview tool is the 30/60/90-Day Plan.  It's an outline for the specific tasks you'll perform in the first 30 days, the first 60 days, and the first 90 days on the job.  Those are usually focused on training, getting to know your customers, clients, or market, and penetrating new territory and gaining new business. The more detailed you can be by doing things like naming the training you'll need or knowing the names of key players as well as the competition, the better.

Having a written plan for how you’ll attack the job in the first 90 days is a guaranteed way to make a powerful impression on the hiring manager.  It shows that you understand the job (or you never would have been able to create the plan), that you want the job (it takes some effort to put one together and requires significant research), and that you can do the job (you know what it’s going to take to be successful).  It’s especially useful for when you’re new to the business and have no experience because it helps the hiring manager “see” you in the job.  Career Confidential has top-notch tools available to walk you through creating one for any job, and one especially for sales jobs.

Another effective tool is the brag book.  While a 30/60/90-day plan is a forward look at what you can do for your employer, a brag book is a historical look at what you've been able to accomplish in your career.  Organized into a binder, it would include things like project summaries, brochures you've created, any complimentary letters from customers or rewards letters from supervisors, performance statistics, reference letters, or similar things.  One candidate created a massive brag book and then highlighted several things to point out to the interviewer.  It was a good move for her and contributed to her getting the offer.  But any past "evidence" of what you've done contributes to the hiring manager's comfort level in hiring you.

These tools go beyond the expected resume and interview preparation that are the basics for all candidates--which is exactly why they're impressive.  The fact that you are willing to put this kind of effort into the job before you even get the offer says volumes about your dedication, your work ethic, and the likelihood of your success.  It takes the risk out of the hiring decision for the manager and makes you seem like a safe bet and a desirable component of the team.

 Link to this page

 Link to this page