1. Pay attention to details.
For example, interviewers and hiring managers automatically get turned off once they see their names written incorrectly. It’s an instant sign that you lack the ability or willingness to pay attention to small but important things. When you’re writing your cover letter, review what you have written: the interviewer’s name, your grammar, your punctuation marks, your capital and lowercase letters, indents, fonts, header... everything. Every e-mail you send should be perfectly written and reviewed to avoid misunderstanding about your capabilities and the message itself.
2. Be knowledgeable.
Research and go over the company’s background and even the employer’s. Even if it’s not necessary to know everything, learn as much as you can. That way, during the interview the hiring manager won’t need to explain things to you. Knowing a lot about the employer and the company (except private matters, of course) is a major bonus to the hiring manager.
3. Stay positive.
In this very challenging economic time, recruiters will definitely want to hire job seekers who have positive attitudes and can provide an uplifting presence to the company and the workplace. After all, no one likes a complainer.
This includes not criticizing a previous employer during your job interview. This is your time to shine and demonstrate enthusiasm, so don’t drop any negative comments about your previous employer, no matter how bitter you might be from your previous experiences. Never let those kinds of emotions (e.g., bitterness and hatred) surface in front of an interviewer.
4. Be grateful.
After the interview, compose a thank-you message and send it to the interviewer via e-mail. You have 24 hours to do this, and it doesn’t have to be long; it just has to be sent. Some interviewers who do not receive an e-mail will think that you’re not really interested in the position, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
5. Accept negative feedback.
If you’re rejected, respond positively. Interviewers are extremely impressed by applicants who graciously and wholeheartedly accept that they were not the one chosen for the position. When you do this, they tend to keep your resume on file in case there’s a position in the future where you might be a good fit.
Remember that small actions can make a big difference. Follow these guidelines and see for yourself how a few basic changes can help you land the job you’ve always wanted.