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Does standing out really help you get
hired? And is there such a thing as being too different? The answer is
yes—to both.
As VP of Talent Acquisition at Johnson & Johnson, I've seen it all: the
good, the bad, and the pink. (No, really, we've received perfume-scented
applications printed on pink paper.) After overseeing a team that screens
one million resumes a year, I can tell you how
to stand out from the crowd—the right way.
So if you're thinking of taking a
creative approach, keep the following in mind:
Do: Show Off Your Work in a Portfolio
Why not take a cue from designers and architects and display your
accomplishments in a portfolio?
Even if you don't work in one of those two fields, you can still showcase a
recent project in a visually interesting way. For example, I recently
interviewed a digital marketer who walked me through her three most recent
influencer-marketing projects. She had created a simple PowerPoint
presentation with three case studies outlining what she had done and the
results for each initiative. She made it easy to see how she could add
tangible value to our business by highlighting how she approached these
influencers and how she measured her projects' success.
Even before the interview stage, a portfolio can help you get noticed. For
example, you can create a personal website that showcases your work.. You
can send the link to networking contacts and even include it your email
signature.
Don't: Go for Quantity Over Quality
Do you know someone who humblebrags about sending out hundreds of
applications? If so, my guess is they achieved this seemingly impressive
feat by sending a generic message out as widely as possible.
I receive at least 10 LinkedIn messages a day from candidates throwing
their resume over the digital fence and hoping it lands. These generic
messages expect me to do the work to match them to our open jobs.
While employing social media in your job search can be an effective
strategy, using it to mass contact decision-makers with a form message is a
gimmick (and one that doesn't work). For all I know, your exact message has
also been sent to 20 other companies. How do I know that it's our
organization you're really interested in?
Instead, take a more thoughtful approach. Utilize your professional
network. Do you know anyone at the company you'd like to work at? If so,
find out whether it has an employee referral program and send
this note. If you reach out to someone cold, use
a customized
template.
Do: Solve a Company Problem
Do your research on the role you've applied for. What's the team working on?
Can you identify any
pain points? Even better, can you solve them?
Demonstrate how much you want to work at the company by arriving at the
interview equipped with fresh ideas and solutions. Knock their socks off
with your insight and give the recruiter a sneak preview of what they'll be
getting.
For example, I recently interviewed a social media manager who came to the
interview with a complete scan of our social media properties and a set of
recommendations that left me wondering what we had been doing the last
year. He not only demonstrated that he had the skills needed to be
successful in the job but also that he cared enough about the opportunity
to put in the work before we gave him the job (which we did).
Remember, your relationship with your
boss starts during the interview process, not on your first day!
Don't: Propose Something That Shows You're Out of Touch
Caveat: It's not enough for your solution to be innovative. It only works
if it still fits with the overall goals, vision, and values of the
organization.
For example, just last week, we interviewed a candidate who suggested a
sales method that was so far removed from the values of the J&J Credo
that we had to wonder if he'd even heard of it. Had he spent a few minutes
researching the company, he'd have understood that it's the underpinning to
everything we do.
If a company truly is on your wish list, it shouldn't be a chore to do
your research. Find specific open roles that match
your abilities and honestly assess your skills against the listed
requirements. Follow your target company's social handles, see what current
employees are discussing, and get to know the culture.
That way, if you're asked to interview, you can show the recruiter that you
understand and embody the values.
Some companies and recruiters appreciate an unconventional approach; others
most definitely don't. What is universal, however, is that employers want
to see that you're serious about the opportunity and that you have the
skills they need. So, if you're considering doing something unconventional,
first ask yourself, "Does this help demonstrate my skills and
experience?"
If you have to think about it, the answer is probably no.
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