How to Be the Best Candidate

First, a note of explanation: This article is not about how to ace a job interview. It is about how to turn the initial (screening) Zoom call into a real interview - one with the actual decision maker(s). And, sadly, it is not based on trying to fill entry-level positions. I wish it were. It is based on filling mid- and senior-level positions.

"There are no good candidates out there!"

That is a lament spoken by many a recruiter and employer these days. I've said it myself. It is tough to find quality candidates. People just are not looking or, to be more precise, the right people are not looking. And that is an advantage for good candidates who can easily differentiate themselves from their competition. It only takes a few easy steps:

The initial step is so obvious and ridiculous that it does not deserve to be counted as an actual "step." Make certain your phone's voice mail is setup and that your mailbox is not full. As soon as I hear the message, "The person you are trying to reach has not setup their voice mail," or "The mail box is full," I know I don't want the candidate. Now, let's proceed to the aforementioned "easy steps."

First, if you are responding to an online ad, make certain your cover letter is not generic. If you can't bother to write a specific cover letter for the actual job for which you are applying, why should the employer bother to contact you? Given the choice between a generic cover letter, and no cover letter, it is best not to write a cover letter at all, assuming it is not a condition for applying.

Second, make certain your on-line resume is current. There is little more frustrating than being told by an applicant that something is missing from the resume they have reviewed and on the basis of which they invited you to be interviewed. There is nothing wrong, when confirming receipt of the initial Zoom invitation, with attaching a copy of your current resume.

Third, if you assuming the initial interview will be over Zoom (or some similar service), make certain your technology is working. The Zoom link (I don't know about the other systems) will work as soon as you receive it. Check to make sure it works for you. The sender will be notified that you tried to log on. That's a good thing. It shows that you prepare.

Fourth, when you receive the Zoom invitation, confirm receipt of the email. That says a lot about your professionalism and customer service values.

Fifth, dress professionally ("business casual," if your are home, will suffice). Make certain that the room you are in is clean, neat and organized. If you are sloppy at home, you will be sloppy at work. No one hires a sloppy person. Additionally, you should not be seated in front of a light source. Put differently, there should be no light at your back. It will "blind" the camera. Any light should be in front of you, not you in front of it. And don't use a virtual background. Virtual backgrounds mean you are hiding something. Not a good message to send in a job interview!

Sixth, be five minutes early for the interview. Better you should wait for the interviewer than the interviewer wait for you! No one likes to be kept waiting. Being late is the "best" way to deny yourself a chance at getting the "real" interview. It will also give you time to properly position the camera.

Seventh, move the image of the interviewer under your computer camera so that it appears you are looking them in the eyes. It's difficult to do. I, personally, am terrible at it. But it makes a difference if you look at the person on the screen or at the camera. You want the camera.

Eighth, have at least three questions, substantive questions, to ask the interviewer. If, when the interviewer asks you if you have any questions, you respond in the negative, that's an indication that you may not really be interested in the position. (Even if you do not know the identity of the actual employer, which can be the case if you are communicating with an external recruiter, based on the job description, you should be able to come up with at least three questions.)

Ninth, send a thank-you email to the interviewer. Make certain it is not generic. Mention something in the email that refers to what you learned in the interview. And, if you get an actual interview with the employer/hiring manager, the same thing holds true. Always send a thank-you email which shows you were listening during the interview, understand their problems, and can deliver the solutions.

Sadly, most candidates do few, if any, of these steps. Be the exception and get the real interview. And when you do, make certain you do your homework. Find out everything you can about the employer. That's when knowing the right questions to ask becomes so important. Know the right answers in the "screening" interview; know the right questions when you are being interviewed by the actual decision maker(s).