Standing Out in Your Interview

Few things can be as nerve-wracking as a job interview, but if you're in the market for a new job, it's a necessary evil. Although it's currently a jobseeker's market , you can still face stiff competition, especially if you work in a popular profession. 

Whether you're competing against one person or hundreds of qualified candidates, it's important that you find a way to stand out in your interview. Here are some tips that can help you make yourself more memorable than other job applicants.

Arrive Prepared

Instead of pacing the floor, trying to walk off those butterflies in your stomach, spend your time before the interview learning as much as possible about the job, the company, and the people who will be interviewing you. This will give you an edge over the competition by allowing you to demonstrate that you've put time into researching the opportunity before you showed up.

Highlight Your Value

Usually, the interviewers are just as eager to find the right fit as you are to impress them. You can sometimes shortcut the process by telling the hirer exactly what value you can bring. This includes the experience, skills, and personality traits that will add value to the position and the organization as a whole. If you'll make their lives easier by landing the job, you'll be a natural frontrunner for the position.

Make a Good Impression on Everyone

From the time you enter the parking lot, you should be in interview mode. Everyone you encounter from the parking garage attendants to receptionists to other professionals you pass in the hallway should be treated with politeness and respect. They may not remember your polite greeting, but if you're rude, that news could very well make its way to the hiring committee.

Find Unique Ways to Answer Questions

It can be tough to predict which interview questions you'll be asked. If you prepare an answer to the most common interview questions, though, you'll be able to stand out. Although it can help to look at expert-recommended answers , it's also important to make sure that you tweak them to make them reflective of your own unique personality.

Overall, what will make you stand out in an interview most is your own unique personality. Although it's important to be professional and impress your interviewers, they want to get to know who you really are. When combined with the above tips, you'll find that you ace your next interview and give yourself a great chance of landing the job.