Read the Entire Job Post
A common error that we see in our office when interviewing new applicants is that many come in without having read the entire job post. We frequently have positions come available that people call in interested about because its a job they’ve always wanted or it has a pay-rate that’s pretty enticing. Whatever the reason, the interested candidate comes into the office ready to accept the position, only to realize the shift doesn’t work with their schedule or they aren’t comfortable traveling to the location. Always, always, ALWAYS read the entire job post to make sure you know when, where, and for what pay-rate you will be working to limit any confusion.
Polish Your Interview Essentials
Before you submit any job application, you need to make sure you are ready for the interview to follow. Your resume should be neat and up to date, you should have a good idea of the skills and experience you want to highlight, and your interview outfit should be at the ready. If you’re in the market for a new job, it’s best to have all of your interview materials ready BEFORE you even submit your application. That way you won’t have to postpone scheduling your interview to make a resume or get a new interview outfit, it will already be ready.
Clean-up Your Social Accounts
Everyone parties, everyone has embarrassing moments, and everyone doesn’t make the best decisions all the time. Unfortunately for us, we live in a digital age, which means your recruiter might see pictures from that wild weekend in Vegas. You know the one… that 3 day weekend you didn’t quite remember until you started to see the photos? Well, chances are your interviewer will find those same pictures if you’re not careful. Always be sure to keep it clean on social media, or have security filters setup that keep your posts private.
Create Relevant Work Examples
Along with your interview essentials, you will also want to compile a few work examples for the interview. Putting together a portfolio of your previous work is a great way to provide your interviewer with real world examples of your abilities. Even if you worked a position where you wouldn’t be able to “hold” your results, you can still have a printed off document or other means of displaying how you made an impact at your previous jobs. Have something on hand that you can provide the recruiter to show your effectiveness as an employee.
Identify Your Motivations
This one is a little deeper. Before you apply for a job, you need to figure out WHY you’re applying for it. Sure, you want/need a job, but why are choosing to apply for this one in particular? Was it the pay-rate? The company culture? Is it a step along your career path? Whatever your reason, you should identify it and discuss it during the interview. Recruiters like to know why you applied for their position, it helps them gauge the type of employee you will be and the amount of passion you put into your work.
–Tyler Geeve, Staff Source Marketing/Recruiting Assistant