Set Yourself Apart From Other Job Applicants

Have you heard the phrase that says, “The cream rises to the top?” Do you love root beer floats, or drinks that are composed of ice cream on top of root beer? You can be “the cream that rises to the top” in your job search by doing things that will set you apart from others who are looking for work.

The first thing you must do before you have an interview scheduled is display professionalism. Fill out a job application neatly and completely. Follow all the instructions of an ad you are replying to. If you are replying by mail, use resume paper and a resume envelope. Do not provide an E-mail address on your cover letter or resume that is silly or weird. Your answering machine message must not be too long or sound crazy. If your name is John Doe, your message should say, “You have reached the home of John Doe. Please leave your name and number and I will call you back as soon as possible.”

Make your cover letter shine. To make your letter easy to read, use a font size of at least twelve points. The top left corner should reveal your full address, E-mail address, telephone number and the current date. After you type in this information, hit ‘Enter’ four times and type in the name and address of the company you are sending your letter to.

Do not say “I” in your cover letter. A good way to avoid using “I” is to start the body of your cover letter with a header that says, “Subject: Response to your ad for the Sales Clerk position you posted on Sunday.”

Put great care into how you address the reader. It is not a good idea to write, “To whom it may concern.” If you know the name of the person who will read your letter, address the person by his or her name. If the person’s name is Jane Doe, address her as “Ms. Doe”. If you do not know the contact’s name, you should write, “Dear Sir or Madam.”

The next part of your cover letter should include a bulleted list of your accomplishments, background and skills. Do not supply a long list. I recommend you list up to five good skills and accomplishments that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

After you list your accomplishments and skills, close your letter by writing, “My resume has been enclosed. Please contact me for an interview when you are ready. Thank you in advance for your consideration.” Sign the letter in black or blue ink and place your written signature above your typed signature. Read your cover letter twice or more to eliminate any errors.

Like your cover letter, your resume should be easy to read, look professional and exclude “I”. Never use more than two pages for your resume. Include all the jobs and volunteer activities you have done for the past seven years. Provide your job titles, the dates you worked and the names of the companies you worked at.

Your resume must discuss results you have provided for your employers. If you are improving your company’s bottom line and you have a measurable amount, you could write, “Improving the company’s total amount of sales by twenty percent.”

We will now discuss what to do during and after a job interview. Are you familiar with the phrase that says, “A good first impression is a lasting impression?” You must do several things very well that will create a great image that will stick in the interviewer’s mind forever and sway him or her to hire you first.

Arrive on time, perhaps five to ten minutes early – take a trip to the place of your interview at least one day early to make sure you can find the place okay. If you are a guy, wear dress shoes, a tie, dress pants and a suit jacket that does not have a loud color such as red, pink, purple, orange or yellow. If you are a lady, wear dress shoes and a suit or dress. Treat the receptionist with respect. Do not arrive with a tobacco smell or bad body odor.

Give the interviewer a firm handshake, warm smile and frequent eye contact. Answer questions fully and truthfully. Do not do anything stupid such as eating. Let the interviewer do most of the talking. Do not bring up your personal life or ask about the salary for the position.

Display a good attitude and good manners. Express a willingness to work a flexible schedule and a willingness to work extra hours when it is necessary. Show interest in the position by asking when you can start. Never attend an interview without doing research on the company, no matter what type of company it is. When I interviewed for a teaching assistant position, I was asked what I knew about the school district.

Thank the interviewer for the interview and ask for his or her business card at the end of the interview. Quickly send a thank-you note that reiterates your interest and qualifications. Call within a week to find out where you stand in the hiring process. Do everything you have learned to stand out from the other job applicants!