Hey Funky Junky! We are already 4 months into the new year (can you believe it!?) and pursuing the goals we set at the beginning of the year. One of your goals may be to land a new job! We’re growing at Uncle Funky’s Daughter, so I’m currently interviewing for select roles. I’ve also served on interview committees for several organizations hiring across all levels of the organization. So, I know a little about interviewing for a job and I couldn’t help but notice some mistakes interviewees make that jeopardize their chances of getting the job. To help you crush your next interview, here are my top 5 tips that will impress your interviewer and increase your chances of landing your dream job.
1. Impress your interviewer with your resume.
Your resume is the introduction to your professional branding and it’s important that you make a good impression! Make sure that your resume is as clean and presentable as possible. I’ve seen so many poorly formatted resumes. If you don’t know how to create a well-formatted resume from scratch, try using a pre-formatted template or ask a friend who is privy in graphic design to help you out. Keep in mind the industry you are in when you format your resume. My resume was created in Microsoft Word (yes, I still have a resume even though I own a company!) and is formatted in a very clean, simple way to reflect my business background. If you are in the creative industry you may want to consider adding graphics to reflect your creativity.
Once you have a strong resume format, please check the spelling and grammar. As an employer, it’s off-putting to come across resumes filled with typos, spelling mistakes, and grammatical errors. This is a major deal breaker and the fact that you didn’t take the time to proofread your resume, suggests a lack of care. It’s a good idea to have a friend or family member proofread your resume to make sure there aren’t any errors you may have missed.
2. Pay attention to the story your job history tells.
One of the things I noticed is that many young professionals are changing jobs every two years. While this may appear as upward mobility or diverse experiences to you, it could be viewed differently by potential employers. They might interpret it as a lack of commitment or proficiency in your field. It might sound harsh, but generally, it takes around six months to a year for a new employee to become familiar with their role. The second year is when expectations are higher and your performance is really being evaluated. So, if your resume shows that you change jobs every two years, an employer might think that you are either not proficient in your field or that you get bored easily with your jobs.
If this is the case for you, it’s important that you are able to justify why you have this pattern in your work history. You’d be surprised how many people I’ve interviewed that were unable to explain why they changed jobs every two years. I’ve even had someone tell me they left a job after 30 days because “it wasn’t what they thought it would be.” To me, this was a major red flag, as 30 days is not enough time to determine if a job is meeting your expectations… particularly if you don’t have any better alternatives lined up.
3. Do your research prior to the interview.
Make sure to do your research before your in-person interview. Below is a short list of questions you should research answers to in preparation for your interview.
- What is the role of the person interviewing you?
- Who are the executives in the company?
- What is the mission statement of the company? How was it founded?
- Who are the company’s competitors?
- Is it a publicly traded or privately held company? (If they are publicly traded, download their annual report for free on their website. Read the letter from the CEO which will provide you with information on their performance and current marketing strategy).
- What does the community say about the brand or the CEO (social media, news articles, etc.)?
This research will help you come up with 6 thought-provoking questions to ask the interviewer regarding the company and role. With this tactic, you are sure to make a lasting impression on your interviewer.
4. Dress to impress.
In today’s job market, many companies are moving towards a business casual or casual company dress code. While it may be tempting to dress casually for your interview, it’s crucial to remember that you haven’t been hired yet, so you should always dress professionally. If the company has a business casual dress code, consider wearing a suit or a business professional outfit to make a good impression.
My rule of thumb is to dress as if you are interviewing for a role two levels above the one you are going for. This shows your potential employer that you are serious about the position and fully prepared for the interview.
5. Come to the interview prepared.
Lastly, come to the interview prepared with your resume in hand, questions ready, and something to write with. You can’t always expect the person interviewing you to have your resume on hand or a pen for you to use. When you come prepared with everything that you need, this shows that you pay attention to detail and that you are responsible. Don’t be the person that has to ask for a pen to write with or fumble when it’s time to ask questions because you didn’t write them down.
You should also have enough knowledge of the company and your expertise that you don’t have to resort to canned responses when you are asked questions. It can appear as if you lack the skills mentioned in your resume when you can only provide a rehearsed, generic response when we inquire about technical details or specifics regarding your job history. Come to the interview prepared to answer technical questions regarding your previous roles. It might help to do a mock interview with a friend or family member if you are the type to get nervous and freeze up.
I hope that these tips help you land your dream job and create dialogue with friends, family, and particularly young adults getting into the job market. Don’t forget to follow us on social media @unclefunkysdaughter and subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know when flash sales (Hint! ;)) and other exciting announcements are live. You don’t want to miss out!
xoxo
Renee Morris (@lifebyrenee)