Before becoming a career coach, I spent 25 years as a recruiter. During that time, I gained a wealth of powerful, real-world insight into what it takes for job seekers to rise to the top. To my surprise, many people were unaware of many of those strategies. Here are 10 of the most overlooked and impactful. 

1. Assume the Job Posting is Outdated

Never assume the job posting accurately describes the position. Change is ongoing and employers don’t always have time to keep job descriptions up-to-date. You can’t sell yourself effectively unless you know what challenges the company is facing TODAY and which ones they’ll want you to tackle if you’re hired. And that takes us to tip #2.

2. Dig Deeper

As part of your research, try talking to people who know the company. Better yet, find someone who knows the hiring manager or people in their department and see if they can make an introduction. Try to get information about the organization’s most urgent challenges so you can be prepared to describe how you can help address them.

3. Stop Applying to So Many Jobs Online

Relying on job postings to find a new position is like buying a lottery ticket. You might get lucky, but the odds of winning are incredibly low. Instead, invest at least 60% of your time networking. It will help you uncover hidden job opportunities and increase your chances of getting referred, which is said to be 5-10 times more effective than applying online. Network to find the hiring manager and try to get your resume in front of them directly instead of through HR.

4. Leverage the Power of Stories

Before interviewing, identify 3-5 competencies that appear to be most critical for success in the role you’re pursuing. Then build a library of SMART or STAR stories that show how you’ve successfully used those skills in similar situations. Get comfortable telling them in interviews. There’s no better way to present your qualifications and showcase your ability to be effective in the role.

5. Get the Recruiter on Your Side

Recruiters are there to ensure hiring managers only interview candidates who meet a basic list of qualifications. Treat them as an ally, not a gatekeeper who’s trying to lock you out. Build trust by being transparent and forthcoming with information. Help them connect the dots. You just might create an internal advocate!

6. Interview Strategically

As noted above, there’s a good chance the position you’re pursuing isn’t accurately described in the job posting. If you’re not aware of the changes, you could find yourself trying to align your credentials with the wrong role. To guard against that, start off every interview by asking the interviewer their opinion about the most important traits for success in the role. If you ask the right questions (and have a cooperative interviewer), you’ll be better positioned to accurately align your responses with the employer’s current needs.

7. Ask for Clarification

Make sure you clearly understand the questions you’re being asked. Before answering, restate the question in your own words and don’t be bashful about asking for clarification if you need it. You’ll be better able to frame your response and make sure you’re providing the interviewer what they need to know.

8. Ask Insightful Questions

Asking high-quality questions during interviews will reflect positively on you as a candidate and differentiate you from your peers. It will also show you have superior insight into your industry and the maturity to understand what it takes to succeed.

9. Thoroughly Evaluate the Work Environment

Getting an accurate read on an organization’s culture isn’t easy. Asking generic questions like “tell me about your company culture” isn’t likely to get you more than a scripted response. The key is to dig deeper! Consider questions like:

• How has your company culture changed over the last 3 years?

• What team traditions do your remote and in-office employees love? 

• What does the company do to shape its culture? 

• What are some ways you support professional development?

10. Mind the Gaps

As your interview is wrapping up, try to get some feedback. Start by asking about next steps. If they’re not specific or you sense something didn’t go quite right, consider asking more direct questions. For example, ask how your background aligns with the role and how it compares to other candidates. If there’s a gap, ask how the skill, trait or factor is used on the job and see if you can offer an example of how you’ve used that skill in the past to address similar challenges.

I’m confident these strategies will give you an edge the next time you’re looking for a new position. I’ll be doing a deeper dive into each of these tips in future posts. Follow me on LinkedIn and bookmark my blog so you don’t miss them!

#jobsearch #interviewing #jobpostings #interviewingstrategy #networking