As you progress through your senior year, it’s time to start thinking about life after college. Whether you join a Fortune 500 or a small startup, you’ll need to go through the interviewing and job-seeking process.
Did you know that the average position at a well-known company attracts over 250 applicants? Out of these candidates, only a small handful receive an interview invite.
When you’re up against such tough competition, coming across as professional could make all the difference and help you stand out from the crowd. Here are our six top tips for professionalism throughout the job seeking process.
1. Clean up your social media feed.
A 2018 CareerBuilder survey shows that 70% of potential employers look at a candidate’s social media feed when deciding whether to hire them.
You don’t want a potential employer to see any embarrassing photos or complaints about your group project. So, give your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts a once-over and make sure you put your best foot forward with your online presence.
Before you even start applying, go through your social media feed and delete anything inappropriate. If you don’t plan on using your social media accounts professionally – like sharing relevant articles about your industry or posting visual work on Instagram – set personal profiles to “private” and don’t reveal your full name in your username.
Top tip: If you wouldn’t want your parents or grandparents to see the post or image, don’t let employers find it.
2. Make a good first impression when you submit your application and respond to next steps quickly and appropriately.
When submitting your resume, cover letter, or answering questions through an online application, pay attention to the small details. Checking spelling and grammar is a given, but triple check that you have the correct name of the company, the position, and the hiring manager you’re addressing.
When you do get a response from a recruiter, you don’t want to keep them waiting. If you get an email from a potential company, reply as soon as possible and definitely within 24 hours.
When returning an email or phone call, keep it professional and friendly as your initial communication plays an important role in creating a good first impression.
If you get an email inviting you to interview with a role, for example, you might respond with:
Hello [insert recruiter’s name],
Thank you for your email. I’m so excited to hear that [company] would like to schedule an interview. I can confirm that I’m available on [date] at [time].
I look forward to speaking with you.
Best regards,
[Your name]
Top tip: Read your application materials or emails out loud before hitting send. You can catch things that spellcheck doesn’t, such as missing words.
3. Show up on time for interviews or meetings.
Being on time is essential. Show up late and you risk being considered rude or inconsiderate. However, showing up too early also sends the wrong message.
Aim to be 10-15 minutes early. This way, you have enough time to handle any last-minute emergencies like not being able to find the address, traffic or finding a place to park.
If you get there early, don’t go inside the building till 10 minutes before. Arriving any earlier can throw off your interviewer’s schedule. So, take the time to check your appearance in the rearview mirror, walk around the block, or review your notes about the company to kill the last few minutes.
Showing up on time applies to phone or video interviews as well. Be sure you’re in a quiet place before the interview begins and don’t let the call go to voicemail.
Top tip: Check the traffic before you leave the house and make sure you won’t face any unexpected delays.
4. Dress appropriately for the interview.
You only have 7-10 seconds to make a good impression, so make those seconds count with the right outfit.
Dress for the job you want – wear an outfit you’d feel comfortable in when giving an important presentation or meeting a senior leader. Be careful you aren’t wearing anything too revealing, too casual or too over-the-top.
If you have doubts about what you should wear, look through the company’s career page or LinkedIn profile. Any pictures they have of ‘life in the office’ can give you an idea of the general dress code and guide what you should wear to the interview. For more ideas on what to wear to an interview, check out our article on the topic here.
Top tip: If you’re worried about having accidental stains or spills on your way to the interview, dress in dark colors or patterns to play it safe.
5. Prepare interview questions.
A good interview should go both ways. Yes, recruiters use interviews to evaluate your skills and personality. But it’s also your chance to see if you’d like to work there and whether it’s a good career move.
Before the interview, prepare 4-5 questions. Failing to do so could make it look like you’re not interested or haven’t done your research.
Think about specific questions related to the role you’re interviewing for as well as questions about the company. You might ask questions like:
- How would you describe the company culture?
- What does a normal day look like in this role?
- What skills do you expect a successful candidate to have?
- Are there any opportunities for professional development or further training?
- What are the company’s biggest challenges?
- What trends do you think will disrupt the industry over the next 5 years?
These questions give you a chance to learn more about your future work environment and whether you’d enjoy the role. For more interviewing tips, read our interview guide here.
Top tip: You can also ask questions that allow you to expand on any skills or qualifications not already mentioned.
6. Send thank you notes after interviews.
After your interview, send a thank you note to the recruiter. Thank them for their time and mention an aspect of your interview you enjoyed like meeting the team or talking about industry trends.
An Accountemps survey showed 80% of HR managers consider thank you notes useful when making a hiring decision. But, only 24% of interviewees actually send one.
So, a short thank you note could make all the difference and remind the recruiter why you’re a great fit for their company. Just be sure you send a thank you email in addition to your thank you note immediately following the interview in case your note gets lost in the mail.
Top tip: A hand-written thank you card gives a stronger impression than a thank you email on its own.
From your online profiles to appropriate communication, keeping it professional throughout your entire job search can help you stand out to recruiters and increase your chances of landing a job. While prepping your resume and researching a company is important, don’t overlook the little things while navigating the hiring process.
