Customer question on how to stand out in a job interview
I have an interview with an international firm with approximately 20,000 employees worldwide with approximately 5 to 10 billion in revenues in the past 3 years. I am a non-traditional student with about 15 years of unrelated experience, mainly customers service in a few call centers. I will graduate in May of this year with a 3.3 gpa, receiving a degree in finance, accounting and a minor in economics.
This company is recruiting from campus and has approved me for an initial interview along with 5 or 6 other people ( I assume they are also recruiting in multiple locations so I may be up against 100 or more people, they have 5 openings).
Prior to the initial interview on Wednesday they have invited all the candidates to a dinner Monday evening.
How does a candidate approach a ‘getting to know you’ dinner? Especially when other candidates are also there.
- Ben
Don’s answer on how to stand out in a job interview when you are up against stiff competition
Basically, you want to stand out and most of all, be remembered in a positive way. This will call for a strategy play on your part.
Here is what I would do: Quickly identify the key players at the dinner: the people who will be conducting the interviewing and the decision makers. Introduce yourself to these people when you first arrive and remember their names. Make a point to talk with each one of them at least 3 times throughout the evening. Once when you first
arrive, half-way through the evening and when you leave. This will help them remember you by creating an image in their mind.
Try NOT to keep it all business and see if you can find some common ground topics, but try to talk about what they want, even if it is all business (hate to be contradictory here). Don’t appear too pushy with your desire to work there. But let them know what you’ll be able to do for them, how you’ll be able to do it and why you think you can and that
you have a sincere interest in working there. Companies like to hear that you have a plan for the job. Let them know you are ready to step up and here’s how.
Remember, they only care about what you can do for them and how well you will fit into their existing corporate culture and how productive you will be. So don’t talk about what they can do for you – like benefits and stuff.
Next, when you’re not talking to the key players, start talking to your competition and find out what you’re up against. Find out why these other people want the job and what their plans are. Hopefully, they’ll let their guard down and reveal key information to you about the position, why they are there, what their plans are, and why they feel
they are the best. Then use that information to your advantage when talking with the key players.
Think strategy!
Sincerely,
Don
