The Top 4 Ways Not to Stand Out

I’ve asked about 1,000-plus executives throughout the last decade this question:

How do you usually prepare for a job interview?

Here are the top four ways that they have prepared for job interviews, they’ve:

1. Read or memorized their resume/job description
2. Guessed and answered the questions they’ll be asked
3. Consulted with a human resources friend / a partner
4. Researched the employer online

Does this list look familiar? Unfortunately, it’s what most of your competitors are doing and if you are not doing something differently then how can you expect to stand out during your next interview?

Imagine if you entered a baking contest and decided to use all of the same ingredients as your competitors then wouldn’t your dessert taste the same?  Side note: I’m assuming that you and your peers followed the same baking instructions.

I want to challenge you this week. Try to mix up your interview preparation process but don’t just think about your competition as being run-of-the-mill job candidates.

Chances are if you are part of this community of high performers then you are far from being a run-of-the-mill job candidate yourself.

Instead, try this tweak, imagine your toughest competitor. Give this person a name. Find him on LinkedIn. Perhaps he is an internal candidate or he once served in your target role for a competing company.

Now, how would you prepare differently for a job interview where you had to stand out from this tough competitor?

1. Would you do a better job of showcasing how you are a cultural fit?
2. Would you bring a 90-day plan with you to your job interview?
3. Would you compare your interview answers to those in an exclusive interview-strategy playbook for high performers?
4. Would you partner with a job interview coach?

You have highly effective resources that have been tailored for high performing corporate executives available to you directly on my website and all five of them will help you stand out in light of your toughest competitor.

There’s really nothing standing in your way of job interview success and if you think there is then what is it and how can I help you overcome this hurdle?

Side note: I can’t undo your career history nor mask your weaknesses.

What I can do is help you shift the focus from your perceived weaknesses to extremely marketable strengths – that’s my passion. I rather dwell on what employers are actually willing to pay you for versus all the reasons why they shouldn’t hire you.

Take me on my challenge this week because this just might be the subtle tweak that you need to land a job offer before the year is over.