As a job seeker, you may find yourself competing against many other individuals for a position. We consulted with some of our Fidelity recruiters and they shared five ways you can stand out as a job candidate. Follow these tips to help land your next role:

  1. Have a clean, crisp 1-2-page resume that highlights your impact. Make sure your resume is easy to read – avoid using too many words and find a nice balance of white space. Be sure to use action words when describing past experiences. Our recruiter, Dave, shares, “I believe a resume showing your accomplishments, not just the tasks you executed, is really beneficial. I like the resume to show some success and impact. To me that tells me why I should consider you over someone that just lists the role they were in.” Lastly, before you click submit, don’t forget to proofread!
  2. Perfect your 1-2-minute elevator pitch. Most interviews start off with, “Tell me about yourself.” This is a perfect way to get off on the right foot and set the tone of the interview. A great elevator pitch quickly communicates who you are, what you do, and your strengths and skills.
  3. PREPARE! Before you go into an interview, know your resume, understand the role you are applying for, and be able to communicate what you bring to the table. Demonstrating that you have researched the company, being able to communicate why you are interested in the role, and practicing answering interview questions out loud will also help you make a positive impression.
  4. Be a good listener and ask thoughtful questions. Learn what the interviewer is looking for. Be a good listener. Use examples from your resume to demonstrate how you fit the role and ask thoughtful questions. Don’t be afraid to express interest in the role. Heather offers, “And at the end of an interview, be sure to have a follow up question ready. Even if it’s, ‘This sounds so exciting, what are next steps and when should I expect to hear something?’ It reinforces your interest in the job.”
  5. Our recruiter, Jocelyn, suggests following up with a thank you note that is timely (within 24 hours), personalized, and relates back to the conversation you had. “This is always a nice touch and helps you stand out from other candidates.”