Ace the Interview, Land the Job: Advice From a Paycom Recruiter

Are you looking to make your next career move and land the job of your dreams? While job seekers typically concentrate on perfecting their resumes and cover letters, they often underestimate the role of a company’s recruitment team.

To learn more about recruiters — and how to leverage your interactions with them — we spoke with Austin, a Paycom recruiter, to hear his top tips for landing interviews.

What is a recruiter?

Recruiters are a vital link between companies seeking talent and individuals looking for their next career opportunity.

“On a day-to-day basis, I’ll look at who completed the application and send a reminder to those who need to complete it. I look at their resumes and start reaching out to plan phone screenings,” said Austin.

Recruiters help connect employees to the organization and job posting, guide HR-related questions and are the first people a candidate talks to.

“The right move for your conversations with a recruiter is to ask about the pay, hours and the benefits,” said Austin. “That’s going to help you determine if the role is the right opportunity for you.”

Past the phone screening with a recruiter, you’ll likely be connected to a hiring manager and can dive into more details about the specific job. A hiring manager is connected to the team or department the candidate is applying to.

What will help me stand out to a recruiter?

Recruiters want to find candidates who are great fits for both the job and organization.

If you’re applying for a job, you need to stand out from the stack of resumes the recruiter is sifting through. Austin gave some valuable insights on what he looks for as he looks through the recruitment process.

• Share your experience and be specific. “What are you doing? What types of problems are you solving? What are your skills?”
• Consistent formatting throughout your application materials. “I don’t care if you put a period at the end of a bullet or not, but make sure you chose one and stick with it!”
• Show enthusiasm! When you get to talk to the recruiter, show your excitement for the organization and the job at hand.

Help! I don’t know how to answer tough questions.

Ever get tongue-tied in an interview? Austin noted that some questions might be difficult to answer. He shared a simple process to tackle even the toughest of interview questions : the STAR format.

“Remember, your interview is a way to tell your story. When the recruiter asks you a question, tell your story using the STAR format: situation, task, action and result.”

Present the situation, explain the task at hand, share what you did and close with the result. This helps the recruiter frame your abilities and understand your unique skill set and problem-solving skills.

At the end of the day, the recruiter is rooting for each candidate.

“I’m hoping that the candidate is successful. If I ask you to tell a story about a time you failed and I ask follow-ups, I’m not trying to poke holes in your story. I’m trying to find an angle that paints you in the best light.”

Use recruiters as resources

Each organization you apply to has a unique culture. When speaking with recruiters, consider asking questions about their personal experience with the company, the organization’s dynamics and workplace atmosphere.

“Paycom is a challenge in the best way possible,” said Austin. “You’re working with smart, driven people. That environment creates accountability. There is a lot of professional trust between colleagues, and there is a lot of meaning in your work when everyone around you cares about the purpose.”

Are you looking for an organization where you can show off your unique skills and develop personally and professionally? Apply to Paycom today!

Other February Paycom highlights

• Opportunities for students: Check out our summer engagement programs for students!
• Making a difference: See why Paycom was recognized as a top workplace for diversity by Newsweek.
• People behind the software: Read Josian’s Paycom journey as a client support specialist.