Competition in the job market continues to increase, making interviews harder to come by. When you do get an interview, a memorable approach to the process may help you make an impact. If the hiring professional remembers you in a good light, you may get a call back for a second interview or even an offer.
When asked a question that requires you to come up with a problem-solving approach, go the extra mile to illustrate your thought process. Bring an erasable drawing sheet to your interview and storyboard your approach and solution from start to finish as the interviewer watches. This shows your preparedness and how you think and gives a lasting impression of your solution.
Use an App
Use a job interview preparation app like Monster.com's Interviews App to practice and gain an edge over your interviewer. Interview preparation apps require a bit of information from you, including the name of your interviewer, the name of the company and the location of the interview. This helps to create an accurate depiction of the interview to come and the basis for practice questions and information about the interviewer and the company as a whole. The app will ask you a series of questions that require audio responses so that you can talk through the process and get ready for the real thing. As the day of your interview arrives, the app can provide directions to the site, words of encouragement and exercises to keep you in the game. Afterward you can use the app to remark about the experience and schedule your followup dates.
Use an approach that incorporates outside factors to make a point. If you are applying for a sales management position, bring a make-believe client with you to the interview and when the time comes to demonstrate your skill have him enter the office where you are being interviewed. Create a scenario and sell the invisible client on whatever product or service your new company is known for. This approach provides employers with a real-life demonstration of your sales techniques and skills and a memorable reference point to compare with other applicants. This approach can be adapted to many industries and positions, but should not overstep the bounds of appropriateness and decorum.
Skype Interviews
If you are applying for a job in a new city or the company prefers to streamline the interview process by taking care of things online, you may be asked to take part in a Skype interview. Online interview skills range from remembering to make eye contact through the camera and not the screen to ensuring that your Internet connection is good enough to avoid drops and interruptions. The appropriate attire is key for online interviews; it is important to dress the part, but to avoid digital oddities due to striped or dark clothing, both of which can be less than flattering on a computer screen. Use a mixture of dark and color to create contrast, keep your face and voice close enough to be picked up clearly and speak slowly and loudly enough to be heard clearly. A quiet place with a plain backdrop and a professional posture and hands folded in front recreates the office atmosphere to some extent. Sitting on the bed with your legs folded is not the way to go!
Bring Energy
Instead of meeting your interviewer with a reserved professional demeanor, go full force and show your enthusiasm for the work, the position and the company as a whole. Bring a high energy and passionate performance that makes you a standout from other candidates and provides a glimpse of how you will interact with customers and coworkers. Passion and energy are contagious, and a full-on performance is far more likely to gain you fans in the interview room than a standard, run-of-the-mill statement of fact and pedigree.
HR blogger and columnist Liz Ryan wrote an excellent piece on LinkedIn, The Five Deadliest Job Interview Mistakes. And it occurred to me: These five mistakes all boil down to a single question: Are you memorable?
Per Liz’s column, this could be memorable in either a good way, or a bad way. For instance:
Not asking any questions at all? Memorable – in a bad way
Asking amazing questions after researching the company well? Memorable – in a good way
So how can a job seeker consistently make themselves memorable in a positive way?
1. Those First Seconds Count
Most interviews are settled within seconds, possibly even within a single second as Staffing and Recruiting consultant Donna Svei wrote here and I wrote here. Coincidentally, Donna and I concluded that we are hardwired to make such snap-judgments about others. As Donna’s post said:
“And lest you think your interviewer might be too well trained to make snap judgments, think again. Another study, conducted at Tel Aviv University (Hassin & Trope), in a simulated interview setting, found that we’re hard-wired to make instant judgments about others.”
Grooming, odors, smiles, handshakes, weight, projected energy and posture, and myriad other factors play into that critical first impression, and the interview is often won or lost faster than you can say, “Nice to meet you.”
2. Be “Sticky”
Unlike the hiking dictum “Take only pictures, leave only footprints”, you want to leave something behind that is memorable and physical – and not just a business card. I always bring portfolios of my work, including my resume, as something to discuss during an interview. I typically leave one behind. (Recruiter and job-search advisor Nick Corcodilos has two excellent articles on interviewing: 5 “Sticky” Interview Tactics: Part 1 and 5 “Sticky” Interview Tactics: Part 2.)
The goal of this approach, is to be sticky in their mind as a top candidate who is able to do the work, interested in doing the work, and will fit in. And part of being sticky is having something that reminds them of you – something physical. It may not be a portfolio, or a copy of your resume, but put some thought into what might be most remembered by that recruiter before you go to the interview.
3. The Halo Effect
Remember, people hire people they like. Even more specific: people like people like them.
Before you go on an interview, take a page from companies vetting people on social media, and do the same (after all, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander). Google the interviewer (or interview team); if you don’t know who they are, ask the HR person setting up the interview.
Look them up on LinkedIn. Can you find their Twitter feed? Are they on Facebook? Once on-site, and assuming you are brought into someone’s office for the interview, look around quickly for cues. What commonalities exist? Did you attend the same school? Do you have a common outside interest? Do you have common life events (e.g., kids and pets)?
The key to this approach working: being subtle but sincere. It’s one thing to observe someone’s scuba pictures as you go into an office, asking about them, then casually mentioning that it reminds you of the time you went wreck diving. It is quite another to say: “Oh, I looked you up on Facebook and saw that we share an interest in…” That is how you go from candidate… to stalker.
4. Laughter is the Best Medicine
I cannot stress strongly enough how much of hiring decision is based on emotion. There are very few people who do not like to laugh. So there is tremendous power in being casually, conversationally funny.
This doesn’t mean, of course, spinning off jokes – even clean and innocuous ones – left and right. But if you are a quick wit, there are opportunities in this. (Dangers too, so be judicious.) If you can elevate their mood, they are more likely to remember you as a stand-out candidate – and see you as a “fit” culturally.
5. Ask Amazing Questions
Candidates who ask strong questions are sharp, interested, and serious about the position. And if your questions are very good, the interviewer will go back to their HR team members and say, “This candidate asked me some really great questions” – which will start a discussion around the questions you asked and how they convey your intellect and drive.
6. The Follow-Up
Everyone counsels sending thank-you notes… so it is a surprise that so many people do not. And because they don’t, this is a great chance to be memorable!
First, send email thank you notes ASAP. That evening, at the latest. Second, within two days send a thank you note by snail-mail. This way the hiring manager gets a second reminder of you, and gets it after the immediate memory of your visit is starting to fade.
There is another opportunity here, whether in the email or mailed note. Did they mention a specific problem they’re having? Do some research; can you send a link to a helpful article? Was a hobby they mentioned or that you noticed from cues in their office? Send something interesting about that hobby. The opportunities to show that you are attentive, and that you will go the extra mile, are legion. Take full advantage.
Ultimately, an interview is a marketing presentation, nothing more. Just as a sales professional tries to sell their product or service as the best-value solution to a company’s problem, you are in an interview to do the same.
From the moment you arrive in their parking lot, to your follow-up thank you notes, how you differentiate yourself from all other candidates – what makes you memorable – makes all the difference.
Go get ‘em.
Come Recommended is a content agency specializing in careers, recruiting, and human resources. We're led by Heather R. Huhman, a widely-recognized thought leader and expert in the careers space with a decade of experience as a hiring manager.
It is in every job seeker’s best interest to develop a strong rapport with the person doing the hiring. When you make yourself memorable to the recruiting manager you can leave the interview with your head held high and oozing with confidence. But, what many job seekers fail to consider is the many other candidates who are doing the same thing, and who also hit it off with the interviewer. So the question is – how do you make yourself more memorable than the rest?
Countless hours are spent preparing and rehearsing for the nerve-wracking job interview. You spend time constructing thoughtful responses to the most common interview questions, choosing the most professional outfit, and organizing your portfolio. But remember, hundreds of other applicants are going through the exact same routines. The key to landing a job is to embed yourself and your brand in the minds of your recruiters.
In order to leave a lasting impression, you have to follow one simple rule – expect to be forgotten. Being forgotten by a recruiter happens, and it is not a bad thing. No matter how well the interview went, you never know what the recruiter is thinking. By expecting to be forgotten, you can differentiate yourself by taking advantage of the following five ways to be memorable:
1. Absorb your surroundingsWhen entering the workplace for an in-person interview, often times interviewees do not switch off their busy minds as they go over the answers they wish to relay in their heads. The second you step foot in the office, your interview has begun. Not only do you want to make a great impression with the recruiter, but you also want to be noticed by the others you might encounter. Though your nerves may be slowly taking over, don’t forget your manners. Be sure to greet the receptionist, hold the door if applicable, and smile! There is strength in numbers when it comes to leaving a good impression. The more people you impress, the more chances you have in being brought up in later conversation.
2. Share your unique experiencesWe know you have the necessary skills for the position (or at least say you do) but try your best to develop your past experiences into unique stories that the interviewer will remember. Yes, you may have experience as a liaison between a client and the company, but give specifics and develop a story. Take your interviewer on a short journey through your previous job responsibility and share what worked for you and what you learned. Ask yourself, “What have I done that makes me different from the rest?”
3. Make your final words countThough the light at the end of the tunnel is captivating, don’t miss your last, in-person opportunity to make the final impression. As you go to shake the interviewer’s hand, express your appreciation for their time and your excitement for the job opportunity. Whether the recruiter asks why you would make a great fit for the position or not, be sure to remind them on your way out of the door.
4. Have a solid Web presenceIf the company hasn’t searched for you online prior to the interview, chances are they most definitely will check out your Web presence after the interview. Your online presence is likely to take the place of resumes in the future, so there is no better time to perfect it than right now. Whether it is a personal website, blog, or ePortfolio, be sure your work is up-to-date and it shows off your skills in a positive light. Having a professional presence online will keep you within arm’s reach of your recruiter. You can even take advantage of building a profile with the search engine itself. A Google+ profile is a great way to help you differentiate yourself from other individuals sharing the same name as well as showcasing your personal brand.
5. Follow-up thoughtfullyExpressing your thanks after an interview is a nonnegotiable aspect of interview etiquette. But, here is when you need to expect to be forgotten. In addition to thanking your interviewer, include specific conversation pieces or triggers in your note. They see people all day and even if you hit it off, they still may have trouble remembering you when it is all said and done. If you shared a laugh, remind them. If you went to the same school or you found you share a mutual friend, include it. It is your job to help the recruiter remember you in a clever way.
Being remembered without any extra effort is an unlikely occurrence in today’s tough job market. Give yourself a boost over your competition by giving your recruiters no other choice but to remember you and what you have to offer.
As an HR manager, what makes candidates memorable to you? For job seekers, how have you left a lasting impression?
Josh Tolan is the CEO of Spark Hire, which combines a video job board and online interviewing platform to enrich interaction between job seekers and employers. Connect with him and Spark Hire on Facebook and Twitter.
When I was a human resources executive doing hiring interviews, I almost always began my interviews with candidates by requesting, “Tell me about yourself.” I did that for a number of reasons, the most important of which was to see how the candidates handled themselves in an unstructured situation.
I wanted to see how articulate they were, how confident they were and generally what type of impression they would make on the people with whom they came into contact on the job.
I also wanted to get a sense of what they thought was important.
Most candidates find this question to be a particularly difficult one to answer. That is a misplaced view. This question offers an opportunity to describe yourself positively and focus the interview on your strengths. Be prepared to deal with it. These days, it’s unavoidable. Like me, most interviewers start off their interviews with this question. A lot of interviewers open with it as an icebreaker or because they're still getting organized, but they all use it to get a sense of whom you are.
The Wrong Response
There are many ways to respond to this question correctly and just one wrong way: by asking, “What do you want to know?” That tells me you have not prepared properly for the interview and are likely to be equally unprepared on the job. You need to develop a good answer to this question, practice it and be able to deliver it with poise and confidence.
The Right Response
To help you prepare, I spoke to a number of career coaches on how best to respond when faced with this question. Heed the career advice that follows to ace this opener:
The consensus of the coaches with whom I spoke:
Focus on what most interests the interviewer
Highlight your most important accomplishments
Focus on What Interests the Interviewer
According to Jane Cranston, a career coach from New York, “The biggest mistake people being interviewed make is thinking the interviewer really wants to know about them as a person.
They start saying things like, 'Well, I was born in Hoboken, and when I was three we moved …’ Wrong. The interviewer wants to know that you can do the job, that you fit into the team, what you have accomplished in your prior positions and how can you help the organization.”
Nancy Fox, of Fox Coaching Associates, agrees. She notes that “many candidates, unprepared for the question, skewer themselves by rambling, recapping their life story, delving into ancient work history or personal matters.” She recommends starting with your most recent employment and explaining why you are well qualified for the position. According to Fox, the key to all successful interviewing is to match your qualifications to what the interviewer is looking for. “In other words, you want to be selling what the buyer is buying.”
Think of your response as a movie preview, says Melanie Szlucha, a coach with Red Inc. “The movie preview always relates to the movie you're about to see. You never see a movie preview for an animated flick when you're there to see a slasher movie. So the ‘tell me about yourself” answer needs to directly fit the concerns of your prospective employer.”
Previews are also short but show clips of the movie that people would want to see more of later. They provide enough information about the movie so that you could ask intelligent questions about what the movie is about. Hiring managers don't want to look unprepared by reading your resume in front of you, so Szlucha advises that you “provide them some topics to ask you more questions about.”
Highlight Your Most Important Accomplishments
Greg Maka, managing director at 24/7 Marketing, advises job seekers to "tell a memorable story about your attributes.” For example, if you tell an interviewer that people describe you as tenacious, provide a brief story that shows how you have been tenacious in achieving your goals. “Stories are powerful and are what people remember most,” he said.
One great example is that of Fran Capo, a comedienne who bills herself as “the world’s fastest-talking female.” She offers the following advice: “Whenever I go on auditions or interviews, I have a "set" opening I use. ... I tell the interviewer what I do in one sentence and then say, ‘And I also happen to be the Guinness Book of World Records’ fastest-talking female.’ Then I elaborate.” According to Capo, the main thing in anything you do is to be memorable, in a good way. Your goal when you answer the ‘tell me about yourself’ question is to find a way stand out from everyone else.
Maureen Anderson, host of "The Career Clinic" radio show, stresses the importance of keeping your answer short: “The employer wants to know a little bit about you to begin with — not your life story. Just offer up two or three things that are interesting — and useful. You should take about a minute to answer this question.”
To make sure it is succinct and covers what you want it to cover, she suggests that you “write your answer out before the interview, practice it, time it and rehearse it until it sounds natural. Then practice it some more. The goal is to tell the employer enough to pique their interest, not so much that they wonder if they’d ever be able to shut you up during a coffee break at the office.”
Rather than dread this question, a well-prepared candidate should welcome this inquiry. Properly answered, this question puts the candidate in the driver's seat. It gives her an opportunity to sell herself. It allows her to set the tone and direction for the rest of the interview, setting her up to answer the questions she most wants to answer.
Lee E. Miller is managing director of NegotiationPlus.com and an adjunct professor at Columbia University, New York. He is a career coach, corporate trainer, negotiating strategist and professional speaker. He is the author of Get More Money on Your Next Job … In Any Economy (McGraw Hill, 2009) and A Woman’s Guide to Successful Negotiating (McGraw Hill, 2010), which he cowrote with Jessica Miller, his eldest daughter.
“How Are You Today?” — The Top 7 Interview Answers
The first words out of your mouth in an interview are to answer this cliché. Use this opportunity to be memorable — not just “fine,” or “good, thank you.”
Standing out from the (unemployed) crowd is simple.
All you have to do is ask yourself the following question throughout the day:"What could I do, in this moment, that would be the exact opposite of everyone else?”
I’ve dubbed this process “Making the Mundane Memorable,” and you’re presented with myriad opportunities to do so throughout your job search. Especially when interviewers, strangers and colleagues constantly ask you, “So, how are you today?”
Sure, it’s an overused and otherwise boring question. Not to mention, most people who ask it don’t actually care how you are. They’re either: 1) being nice, 2) breaking the ice, or 3) reverting into a predictable routine of psychological self-disclosure and cliché conversation.
But here’s the cool part: If you make the choice to leverage this mundane moment, you will instantly double your memorability.
I know this because I’ve been wearing a nametag 24/7 for 3,237 consecutive days. And strangers break the ice with me every day because of it. Some say hi, some introduce themselves, and some stop me in the middle of the aisle at Wal-Mart and ask me if I can tell them where to find the lime-green thongs they saw on sale in this week’s ad.
Either way, some encounter that otherwise wouldn’t have existed didoccur, all because of approachability.
Here’s why: Curiosity is a natural motivator of human engagement. And there’s a certain sociological dissonance when people observe an unexpected or unexplained behavior. Especially when it’s inconsistent with their environment. (Like some random guy wearing a nametag.)
And that’s the secret: Because it’s that dissonance that increases the probability of a memorable encounter.
Your challenge as an unemployed professional is to stimulate curiosity, break patterns and attract interest when people ask you questions.
See, when someone asks you, “So, how are you?” you have a choice:
Be mundane or be memorable. Be interesting or be unemployed. Be unforgettable or be unemployable.
For example: You walk into a job interview. You’re prepared, well rested and hopped up on coffee, and you look like a hundred thousand bucks. Perfect.
When you extend your hand to greet your interviewer, she predictably asks, “So, how are you today?”
Stop right there. Don’t answer yet.
Remember the key question of approachability: “What could I do, in this moment, that would be the exact opposite of everyone else?
Let’s explore several potential answers to this question:
1. “Fine.”
Terrible. Fine is a lie. Nobody is fine. Fine is an acronym for “Feelings I’m Not Expressing.” Don’t say it.
2. “Great!”
Weak. Here’s why: First, good was good enough. Then great was good enough. Now, great isn’t that great anymore. Interviewers demand wow. So: You need to be amazing. Like, scary good. Everything else is your ante.
3. “Awesome.”
Getting better. Positive and energetic. A little unexpected, but still fairly common. Still, I think you can provide something more interesting.
4. “Ready to rock.”
Nice! Sounds confident yet playful. Not for everybody, but if it fits your personality and the personality of the company interviewing you, go for it.
5. “Perfect.”
My personal favorite. For years I’ve been answering the question, “So, Scott, how are you?” with this word. People notice it. People remember it. People ask follow-up questions about it. Because they’re curious. Works every time. Not to mention, the word perfect comes from the Latinperfectus, which means, “complete.” Which means it’s always the truth. Because all of us are always complete. Don’t forget that.
6. “Everything is beautiful!”
Now that’s what I’m talking about. When I first started my publishing and consulting company in 2002, I got a part-time job as a valet, crashing (I mean parking) cars nights and weekends. Interestingly, the overnight bellman was a guy named Henry who said, “Everything is beautiful!” daily. He was also voted Employee of the Year five years in a row. Coincidence? Maybe. Better than your answer? Absolutely.
7. Create your own answer.
None of these examples hit home? No problem. Make a list of 10 unique, memorable and unexpected answers to the boring question, “So, how are you today?” Experiment with words and expressions that are consistent with your personal brand and philosophy. Try a new one each day. Have some fun with it. You’ve got nothing to lose.
OK! Back to your job interview…
If you recall, you’re about to meet the person who very well could decide the fate of your very career.
She smiles, reaches out her hand and asks, “So, how are you today?”
Will you make the mundane memorable? Will you leverage remarkability to trigger an emotional engagement? Will you get noticed, getremembered and get the job that will save you from this horrible economy?
Or, will you respond like the other 37 (equally qualified) candidates she’s already met this week by predictably saying, “Fine”?
The choice is yours.
Either stand out from the crowd or stand in line at the unemployment office.
Let me ask ya this:
What could you do in this moment that would be the exact opposite of everyone else?
Let me suggest this:
For the list called, “46 Marketing Mistakes You’re (Probably) Making,” send an e-mail to me for the complimentary list.
Scott Ginsberg, aka "The Nametag Guy," is the author of nine books, an award-winning blogger and the creator of NametagTV.com. He's the only person in the world who wears a nametag 24-7 and advises companies on how to leverage approachability into profitability.
HR blogger and columnist 
