How to Stand Out Throughout the Hiring Process

Successful job searches are the result of many variables coming together — a targeted approach, a match between skills and needs, market demand, luck and more. You can't control every factor, but refining your approach to various elements of your search can improve your odds of success.

I recently sat down with Stanford's Matt Abrahams , host of Think Fast, Talk Smart, on my weekly podcast —?Get Hired with Andrew Seaman — to have a wide-ranging discussion on how people can refine their job search. We covered everything from a person's presence to networking.

You can listen to the episode above or wherever you like to listen, including Apple Podcasts by clicking here. I also summarize some of our main points below!

Prepare Your Presence

Your presence begins before the job interview starts. Every interaction from your initial contact to the interview itself contributes to how you are perceived.

“People are forming opinions of you even before you log into the Zoom or walk into the room," said Matt. "So your presence matters, and it’s everything that happens from the moment you connect and contact the company all the way through the whole interaction.”

One way to kick your interactions with a company off on the right foot is through timely and appropriate communication, he added.

Understand the Role and Company Needs?

Before the interview, thoroughly research the role and the company’s needs. This preparation allows you to tailor your responses to show precisely how your skills and experiences align with what the company is looking for.

“The first thing you really need to be thinking about is what is the role and what does the company really need," Matt said. "So you have to start by understanding that and doing the research and reflection that’s required.”

Develop and Use Themes

Doing the research on the role and the company's needs will help you determine themes to highlight during the job interview. Matt suggested having prepared examples for each theme, such as anecdotes, statistics, or recognitions, that demonstrate your suitability and readiness for the position.

“A theme might be, ‘I’m incredibly reliable or I’m very technically competent in this one programming skill or this other technology or science,’ and with each theme stockpile specific examples," he added.

Those can be statistics or anecdotes, Matt said. "Maybe you won an award or a boss said something positive to you."

Structure Your Responses

Use the ADD method — Answer, Detailed Example, Describe the Relevance — to structure your responses. This method ensures you not only answer the interview questions but also connect your responses to the job’s requirements, making it easier for interviewers to see your value.

“There's one other strength of the ADD method or any structure," Matt said. "It helps package the information up so people can remember it and in turn share what you said with a better degree of accuracy." That is helpful when the hiring manager is trying to explain to other internal stakeholders why you're the best candidate.

Effective Follow-up

As you might guess, the evaluation process doesn't just end with the interview. The best follow-ups begin during the interview by making a memorable impression and continue afterward with a thoughtful thank-you note that reinforces your interest and qualifications. Matt and I agree that personalized follow-ups can help maintain the connection and keep the conversation going.

As I told Matt, the follow-up starts in the interview itself because you want to leave a door open. Building a strong connection during the interview is one way to build a strong relationship, which will reduce the risk of ghosting and increase the odds of a long-term professional relationship.

Of course, these are just a few of the areas you can focus on to improve the odds of success in your job search. For more, be sure to listen to my full conversation with Matt by clicking here.

If I may make a small request, please take a moment to leave Get Hired a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Feedback helps us improve the podcast and highlights it to other job seekers. You can leave a review finding Get Hired with Andrew Seaman on the Apple Podcasts app, scrolling to the bottom, and clicking the five stars under "Ratings & Reviews."

? If you're on an iPhone, you can find our podcast page by clicking here. ?

• Should you apply twice to the same company? (Summary by Todd Dybas) The same day a hiring manager told Emily Bendus that she was out of the running for an open position, she applied to a more senior role in the same department. By the next day, Bendus was interviewing. She signed her offer letter a week later. Bendus writes on LinkedIn that she was "hesitant" to interview for the second job when the recruiter contacted her. But, she went forward with the same preparation notes. Her lesson: don't be afraid to go after more than one role at a company. Beyond that, what may not work for one hiring manager could entice another. Click here to learn more.
• Are your thoughts holding you back? (Summary by Todd Dybas) Fight limiting beliefs to move forward in your job search. Restrictive thoughts sew doubt and create obstacles. Welcome to the Jungle reports that you can counter them by valuing your success, writing what you feel and grappling with the little voice in your head. Boost self-confidence by visualizing success. Beware of negative self-talk like "I'm not cut out for this job," or "I'm too old to change careers." If you're unsure if a role is for you, recall the skills you've developed and compare them to the job description. If you're a seasoned worker, view your experience as an asset. Click here to read more.