10 Things You Must Know To Get Hired Quickly

It’s not just the candidate who is in need:

Hiring Managers are desperate for the right talent. If you have it in you then you have no reason to be nervous. While many candidates do get rejected by companies the opposite is also true. More than half the companies that interview candidates face rejections from a candidate to whom they offer a job. Important thing is to be prepared, continuously work on your skills and make yourself shine beyond the expectation of the recruiter (which is not too high anyways, as good candidates are hard to find)

It’s Ok to negotiate your salary:

If you have the confidence that you are the right candidate for the job profile, there is no reason as to why you shouldn’t be openly telling your expectation. You are bringing a certain value to the company through your expertise and skills and you deserve good remuneration. Don’t be too greedy in your demands but also don’t be too hesitant to negotiate your salary. Almost half of the candidates that face interviews are reluctant to negotiate their salaries for various positions that they apply for throughout their lives and it results in tons of money that they lose by the time they reach 60 and retire. So, know your worth and demand it.

More than half the available jobs are never advertised:

You rely on various job boards and advertisement channels to look for a suitable opening for yourself. However you are not going to find out about more than half of them ever as they are never advertised. Companies hire through internal references and recommendations. That is why it is so much more important to expand your professional network and keep in touch with the people who may matter when it comes to your profession. People usually refer those who are on the top of their head. Visibility is the key. As they say, out of sight is out of mind.

People interviewed in the first slot have the highest change of getting selected:

If you are called for an interview and offered certain slots, e.g. today at 5 in the evening, tomorrow at noon, day after at 4 and so on, pick the first slot that is available. Research shows that the candidates who show the urgency and show up for the first slot available have the maximum success rate of qualifying for the interview. This is driven by the common human behaviour which is driven by the immediate options available, especially in circumstances where the requirement is urgent. See the research here (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120702210301.htm)

Candidates too should ask Questions:

As a candidate you are not just supposed to answer the questions that you have been asked. It’s equally important that you too ask questions about things which are not clear to you. It could be anything from the HR policy you read on their website or a question about a certain aspect of the business. A curious (but not too curious) candidate comes across someone who is passionate about his / her role in the company.

Striking a Personal Chord can Help:

Hiring Managers are also human beings, and any human being makes decisions based on the likability factor. Although a Job Interview is a very professional setting, if you can mix it up a little with some personal banter without sounding casual, it can work in your advantage. Do a bit of research if you know who is going to interview in advance and try to find a common thread you can mention. Even if you are not aware beforehand and see something in the person’s office, a photo of her kid for example, you can subtly compliment that, without sounding sycophantic.

Qualification is not everything:

The best qualified person may not always get selected for the job. While qualification is important, presentation and first impressions are also very important. Not all Hiring managers are equipped with the extraordinary eye for talent. Many of them make decision on their impression of the candidate that they are interviewing. That is why it is very important to dress well, reach on time, seem and sound relaxed and confident (but not cocky). Greet your interviewer with a smile, take permission to enter the room and make yourself likable in any way that you can.

Rehearsals are not a bad thing:

So you think you know all about your profile and can explain your experiences without preparing in advance. You may be wrong. Not everyone is blessed with the natural oratory skills. It’s always good to prepare about some of the common things that every interviewer asks. E.g. “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”, “What is your strength and weakness?” etc. Go in front of that mirror and rehearse your answers. Better still, get someone to role-play and record your response. Not only will it give you practice, it will also allow you to assess your body language. A conscious effort always results in improvements.

Careless Social Media Activities can harm you:

More and more recruiters turn to social media profiles to do a research on the candidate they want to finalize. They not only dig your professional profile (LinkedIn e.g.) for also the fun personal profile (Facebook). Any adverse comment or reckless photo posted there can change their decision from yes to no. So, be careful with your profile security settings and better still, be careful with what you post. Sometimes bragging about your “wild side” can take away your dream job from you.

Following up on the Interview is important:

Communicating your interest in the position is very important. You don’t need to seem desperate for the job but at the same time the recruiter must get a sense that you value the opportunity. They have to choose from among many applicant and the ones who seem disinterested or the ones who need follow up instead of following up themselves are a big put off. Show your appreciation for the opportunity and prove that by timely follow ups (not desperate follow ups)