The job market isn’t easy to move through. Even if we’re overqualified for a position, too many people know the disappointment of going through several interview rounds only to be dismissed at the final moment or even not receiving a response in any capacity.

Now, it’s fair to say that even if you’re perfect for a given role, sometimes this happens. That’s why it’s important not to take it personally, and just get into the habit of applying for suitable roles, not being afraid to take opportunities parallel to what you’re pursuing or to keep your head held high and try again. After all, no business is obligated to hire us, even though it would be rational and pay off for them to do so.

If you can soothe that insecurity, a rejection doesn’t feel quite as harsh as it otherwise might. Moreover, if you work on being the best possible candidate and professional you can, you’ll know there’s little else you could have done. In this post, we’ll discuss how to get the edge over other candidates when applying for such roles, so you can fire on all cylinders and achieve this mindset:

Try Optional Courses

These don’t have to be big, expensive programs, but investing in a few can be fantastic for getting ahead of the resume game, as it were. That might involve taking a short course on a new software, or a webinar about industry trends so you’re updated since returning from maternity leave. 

Even if it’s not directly related to the job, it shows you’re curious and proactive as a professional, which is great. Sometimes, the courses can apply to all jobs, such as the best safety training involving health and safety standards. It’s not about becoming an expert in everything or diving into the interview like you’re Sherlock Holmes with a supercomputer in his brain, just showing you’re willing to put in some extra effort can be enough to bag you the role.

Deeply Research The Brand When Interviews Arrive

You don’t have to spend hours of time researching every single brand you’re somewhat interested in working for, but if you get an interview, that’s a sign to sit down and pay more attention. Visiting their website is a good place to start of course, but don’t just look at that and declare your work done. 

Thankfully, online history is rife these days, and can provide a massive amount of information. Check out their social media, see if they’ve been in the news lately such as via investment schemes or partnership programs in your local area. Try to get a feel for how they do things. Maybe they’ve won an award or launched something new recently. Perhaps they’ve sponsored the local soccer team and you can use that to showcase your appreciation for their involvement in the community

 Knowing this context can help you ask better questions and it also sets you apart from many other people who haven’t gone to the effort. It’s not about memorizing facts and listing them off like a robot of course, just showing you’ve put in some effort. Better yet, about two hours or so of doing this the night before can help you stand out, because few people do even that.

Make Sure To Ask Them Questions

Now, we tend to think of an interview as a chance for the company to, well, interview us. Of course, we doubt you’ll win any prizes for knowing that in advance. However, there’s some good logic you can use here to reverse your psychology, and it comes from the world of dating.

Put simply – if you go on a date hoping to impress the person at any cost, hoping they’ll like you, trying to gain validation by what their impression of you is, it’s easy to come across as desperate and lacking in charm, even if you’re a genuinely nice person that feels a bit nervous. But if you go into that same date realizing they should impress you as much as you want to them? Well, that balances the odds.

So, consider the interview as a means of seeing if the job is actually right for you, too. Ask questions about that, such as their principles or how they managed recent fluctuations in the market. Don’t be cocky, but act like someone who could offer a massive amount of value and worth to the firm if you were given a chance to. We can promise it will alter the questions you ask on a case-by-case basis, and almost always for the better.

Don’t Be Afraid To Admit Skill Or Knowledge Gaps

Nobody knows everything, and pretending you do usually doesn’t work out well, because it shows you’re willing to say anything to get the job. Not good.

 If there’s something you’re not sure about, it’s okay to say so. You’re not a worse person for it, as long as it’s something core to your job, such as not knowing water puts out fires as you apply for the fire department.

But don’t just leave it at that, because this can be a great place to show how you think, not just what you know. Talk about how you’d go about learning it. Maybe you haven’t used a specific program, but you’ve picked up similar ones before and can ask if the logic translates. Or you might not have done something before, but you’re keen to learn based on past experience going out of your comfort zone. It’s about showing you can adapt. Being honest about what you don’t know might actually make them trust you more about what you do know. Better yet, it shows you’re not willing to obviously twist the truth or give a bad answer to get a job. Almost any shrewd business owner will respect that approach.

With this advice, you’ll be certain to get the edge over other candidates when applying for jobs. Note that there are few hidden tricks here, just good sense, applied appropriately. You’ll nail it!

ChrissyJ xxx