Be an Attractive Job Candidate

You’ve landed the job interview. Now it’s time to present yourself to the hiring manager. You want to show the potential employer your strengths and convince them you’re the ideal candidate for the position. But while managers want to hire people they believe can do the job, they are also looking for workers with whom they can connect because they realize the right candidate must also fit comfortably into their company.

The answer to landing your dream job lies in clicking with potential employers. Remember, hiring managers are not all about work history and experience. They are also human beings and tend to be drawn to people to whom they are attracted. This is not a physical attraction but an interpersonal attraction that makes you more interesting than other candidates.

Here are some attributes—all under your control–which can help build that comfortable feeling between you and the hiring manager.

Be enthusiastic, yet respectful

Hiring managers love candidates who are sincerely upbeat and energetic. If you’re not excited during the interview, how enthusiastic will you be on the job? You don’t have to be bubbly or giddy, but a cheerful candidate makes a positive impression on any interviewer.

On the other hand, don’t let your zeal cause you to forget your manners. Creating a comfortable feeling with the interviewer does not begin with bringing a coffee to the interview or taking one last look at your phone messages after you sit down. ‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ never go out of style, and giving the interviewer your undivided attention is the best way to form a bond with them.

Let the interviewer know you are intellectually curious and passionate

Intellectual curiosity means you’re looking to continuously learn and better yourself. If you research the company you’re applying to and then ask pertinent questions about them, you’ll be indicating you did your homework to find out how you can best fit there.

Similarly, you demonstrate a passion for the industry when you follow it closely enough to be able to discuss it with the manager. Curiosity and passion are two very appealing attributes that suggest you are not merely satisfied with the status quo and are open to changes and bringing in new ideas.

Show your confident and professional side

Because you are being scrutinized during an interview, it can be one of the most challenging experiences you’ll go through. By looking your interviewer in the eye and answering questions with confidence, you will gain their admiration. Being professional, which includes dressing properly, arriving on time and maintaining appropriate conversation topics, are attributes almost anyone can develop and display. Put some work in practicing for the interview; it will pay hefty dividends.

Find the right job and make your impression

Finding your way through the job market can be a tricky and time-consuming process. When you work with a staffing company, they can add significant value to your job search and your career. Stride Staffing’s goal is to build stronger connections between employers and individuals by doing staffing differently. Really. Contact us today or search for a new job here.

The Dual Role of Human Resources

Human resources today has two distinct functions: help their companies improve their bottom line and meet the needs of the individuals in their businesses. The top H.R. professionals see themselves as business partners who specialize in H.R.

Ideally, they will have attained the necessary business experience within the company before moving into human resources. H.R. managers who can communicate comfortably with business leaders can have a substantial impact on the company’s profitability and the well-being of the workers.

Here are some areas in which H.R. can help meet the needs of employer and employee.

 Define Their Organization’s Purpose

Many companies can’t articulate why they exist. This happens despite evidence that corporate purpose is one of the most powerful tools for affecting growth in all areas of the enterprise. In businesses that struggle to define their purpose, employees tend to believe that the principal reason they work there is for a paycheck.

H.R. can help establish a definition of the organization’s purpose, and then help employees understand how their job aligns with the company’s purpose. Aligning employees with a purpose reduces turnover and costs while increasing productivity and profits.

Communicate your company’s purpose to all candidates

After you have defined and communicated the company’s purpose throughout the organization, use it to ensure you are attracting the kind of candidates who will fit into your culture. You can look for common responses that run parallel with the job requirements and the company’s purpose. Here are some questions you can ask to evaluate their responses:

  • If money were not an issue, what would you do with your life?
  • What motivates you to get out of bed each morning?
  • How do you want to be remembered after you’re gone?
  • What fascinated you as a child?

Make employee strengths your focal point

Try to understand what your candidates and staff do best, and put them in roles where they can use their strengths as much as possible. They should be in a position to use those strengths 80 percent of the time. Then, help them develop their strengths and work around their weaknesses. Strengths usually develop into outstanding performance.

Put the Odds in Your Favor

Convincing today’s top candidates that your company is their best choice is more critical than ever. You are just one of many organizations looking to bring them on board, so you must make sure that your firm stands out from the crowded field. A clearly defined company purpose, initiated by H.R., will go a long way to setting you apart. Stride Staffing’s goal is to build stronger connections between employers and individuals by doing staffing differently. Really. Contact us today to learn more.