What Separates a GOOD Candidate from a GREAT Candidate
Posted July 31st, 2014
In today’s cutthroat job market, it’s not enough to simply show a hiring manager that you have skills and experiences that relate to the position you’re applying for. There may be a dozen other applicants that can make the same claim. In order to stand out from the pack, you need to prove that you are the very best applicant in the candidate pool, and that hiring you is a sure bet. These are the features that make great candidates stand out.
Research the Company
Hiring managers want to know that you aren’t just looking for any job, you are looking for this job. You can show your commitment and enthusiasm by researching the company you’re applying with and tailoring your resume, cover letter, and interview answers around the information you discover. Find out what issues affect their industry and their company, who their main competitors are, what successes and failures they have experienced in the past, and what their plans are for the future.
Rely on Metrics
Good candidates describe themselves using flowery language and vague generalities. Great candidates are able to prove their merits by using real metrics. Cite numbers, statistics, and other verifiable sources to describe your past successes, and your goals for the future. This kind of information talks louder, and it demonstrates that you have fully prepared for the recruitment process.
Speak to Your Character
Companies are increasingly looking for candidates that can fit in with and enhance their company culture. If you can prove to a recruiter that you are not just good at your job but also the type of person they want to have in their workforce, it gives you an edge over other candidates. Use anecdotes and examples to describe who you are as a person, both in and out of the office.
Bring a Success Plan
Success plans take many forms, but the goal of all of them is to demonstrate how quickly and deeply you can begin to impact a company after taking a job. Good candidates focus on past success, but great candidates make the future their focus. Spend some time formulating a plan, and then submit it with your resume or bring a copy with you to the interview.
Have a Sense of Humor
The recruitment process is often long, tedious, and filled with repetition. Candidates that are able to liven the mood while still speaking to their professional credentials help to break up the monotony and end up standing out in a recruiter’s mind. Good candidates are people you want working for you, but great candidates are people that you want to be around.
Most of all, be honest, and be yourself. The biggest hassle facing many hiring managers is simply wading through all the half truths and false claims that appear during the recruitment process. If the way you present yourself comes across as the true you, hiring managers feel like they can evaluate you accurately. Work with the team at Bayside Solutions, and build yourself into a great candidate.
