Setting Yourself Apart From Other Jobseekers

Robby

If you are looking to find a better job (or any job at all), you have an enemy. That enemy is not any particular person, but an idea: the boring jobseeker. Your most important mission is to make sure that you’re doing something others are not doing.

© Flickr User Pete

One story I heard a few years ago was about a cattle-call style interview where probably thirty people came through an office in the course of the day. Of course ever person who applied had their own unique story to tell, but after eight hours of talking to person after person, they all tend to run together.

One of the candidates wore a bow tie to the interview. That’s certainly still within the realm of “business professional” but it’s distinct enough that everyone remembered it. “You mean the guy with the bow tie?” was a common framework for starting a conversation among the company’s managers.

Tips for Being Distinctive

Wearing something a little unusual is certainly one way to get remembered. And jobseekers can also make sure other physical elements of their presence are unique: such as printing your resume in color or on colored paper, or having your own business cards as an applicant. Here are a few more ideas:

• Write a report on the company – Dust off those book report skills from high school and find a few nice graphics to write a document about the place where you’re applying.
• Send a thank you card to the receptionist – The person who greeted you when you came into the building is someone who is rarely appreciated. A note in the mail to them is something nobody else will do.
• Have your resume delivered via FedEx, UPS, DHL or courier – It’s easy to send a resume via email or postal mail, but it’s much more exciting to do so using one of the private carriers. It costs a few dollars more, but it will make a strong impression!
• Ask to schedule a follow up conversation at the interview – If the interview was positive, suggest meeting for an informal lunch or coffee the following week. This could be a bold move that might put you over the top.

Anything you do which is different than everyone else will cause you to be remembered. So try setting yourself apart, and see what happens!