How to stand out from the crowd in a job search

I was thinking about a blog topic this morning and almost titled one "Dare to be different during your search".  All the time people advise candidates and companies alike to differentiate yourself from your competition, be "out there", do whatever it takes to make an impression, go all out, or any other catch phrase you can think of to insert here.  I decided to tweak the title slightly, but did so very intentionally.

The problem with trying to be "different" from everyone else in an interview or job search is that you might be tempted to be someone you aren't or do something that is out of character.  If you do this just to get the job, your co-workers are going to be disappointed on your first day when they figure out that the person who interviewed is NOT the same person who shows up to work for the company.

Instead I would argue that it is better to stand out from the crowd as opposed to just trying to be different or something you are not.  To do this you really need to have a few things line up.

1)  You better know your crowd.  If you are trying to stand out, you better look around to see what you need to do to be remembered.  I think of the razor commercial that is pretty recent.  About six guys all wearing blue suits, white shirts, and similar colored ties are sitting against the wall waiting for their interview.  The one guy across from them looks above their heads, runs to the bathroom to shave his head, and it makes sense when the boss comes out to see the next interview and is bald himself.  The others were simply too focused on being nervous to have any idea what they might need to do to stand out.

2)  Put a smile on your face at all times.  Sure, this may seem cheesy.  But again, I chose the inserted picture for today very intentionally.  Just being happy when others aren't can be an advantage.  Have you ever notice if you smile at someone their natural reaction is to smile back?  You don't have to say a word.  Whether you are greeting the receptionist as you enter the building to interview, the HR person who speaks to you for twenty minutes before a panel interview, or even the CEO of the company as a final interview, start with a smile.  You will be amazed how it can put someone at ease.  Even on the phone your smile can come across.  I dare you to try it sometime. When you answer the phone or take a call for a phone screen, smile as often as possible.  It affects your demeanor in a good way and can even calm your nerves to focus on why you're better than everyone else for the job.

3)  Be consistent.  You can actually be "different" and have it be a positive contributor to standing out from the crowd.  That is if being different is something you do all the time.  I have another haircut example for you.  Sorry for two haircut stories in one blog.  My wife gives my son a mohawk haircut at the end of every school year going into summer.  I often worry just a little if we're sending the wrong message as people that don't know him may rush to judgment.  The thing is, now that he has done it every year for the past 3-4 years, people have come to expect it.  They ask him ahead of time if and when he is going to do it again.  Even his teachers and principals are in on it now.  They get a kick out of it and know that he is a good kid, a good student, and a true leader in his class.  He doesn't do it to be different and make any kind of statement.  He just thinks it looks cool, it is a fun way to mark the passing of another school year, and the positive response he gets from it far outweighs any criticism or friends jabbing him for his funky 'do.

At the end of the day I recognize it is a fine line to balance between being different for the sake of being different and standing out from the crowd.  What I can tell you unequivocally is that if you don't try to do either at some point you will simply be in the crowd.  I for one am not content with that idea.  Hopefully you are not either.

Have you ever done anything to stand out from the crowd during a job search?  

Three reasons to hire a "relo" candidate

There are a million reasons why candidates relocate to new towns during the course of their career.  It could be to move closer to family.  It could be their spouse's job taking them there.  It could be a "coming home" story after being away for a few years after graduating from college.  Sometimes it could even be just for the job.

Sometimes my clients are hesitant to even talk with candidates who are relocating.  It makes scheduling interviews more difficult, more expensive, and often more time-consuming.  Instead of an impromptu meeting for coffee or lunch it could be a process that stretches over weeks instead of days.  I am here to tell you, however, that relocation candidates can sometimes be the BEST candidates to have on your radar screen.

1)  They have no pre-disposed notions about your company.  We all know that in the competitive world we live in things are sometimes said about organizations that aren't true.  Those can be difficult to overcome if you are only sourcing local candidates.  But if you talk with someone that is moving from another market, you will not have this concern.  In the past I have even had candidates refuse to talk with a client based upon a rumor they heard that isn't anywhere close to being true.  If they are going to hold that over anyone's head during the interview process, that is not someone you necessarily want to be talking to about an opportunity.  Whereas a relo candidate is going to take the interview at face value and focus on the positive attributes of your organization.

2)  They are motivated to prove themselves.  Most good relo candidates understand the complexities of interviewing with a company that might be hundreds of miles away from where they currently live.  When the interview process goes well and the candidate is subsequently hired, they are likely to work with just a small chip on their shoulder to show the employer what a good decision they made.

3)  No one else knows about them.  If you can be the first to interview a good relo candidate, my advice is to always move quickly.  You have a huge advantage if you are an early interview.  Relo candidates are typically active candidates that are moving for a very specific reason, as I outlined above.  Knowing that, they are likely going to move quickly on any offers that come their way if it is a good career move.  Local candidates often want to talk with 3-4 employers before making a decision which can lead to counter offers, feelings of doubt, and maybe even a final decision to stay comfortable and stay put.  You won't run into that hurdle with a relo candidate.

Some of my favorite candidates over the years have been relocation candidates.  I could tell story after story of grateful candidates that turned to us for assistance when making a move, and it is always satisfying to know we can be a resource.  My clients are almost always pleased with their decision to hire as well.  Win, win!

Do you need to declare independence from your current job?

I was in Philadelphia recently for a conference and had the opportunity to go on a walking tour of many of the landmarks.  I also purchased some gifts for my children, including a copy of the Declaration of Independence.  It was my first time in Philadelphia, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Bringing that document home got me thinking about how candidates "declare independence" all the time through their job searches and career choices.

In the course of this declaration I have seen people do it many different ways - a few good and many not so good.  Far too often people think only of the future and fail to hold the present or the past in regard during their decision-making process.  Here is why all three are critical to the process being successful:

Past - if you fail to think back on where you have been in your career, you will bring no lessons with you to a new employer.  Just because you are looking to leave a job does not mean you cannot bring valuable knowledge, experience, or ideas with you.  You may have had a bad boss, undesirable colleagues, a bad commute, poor office working conditions, or a number of other things.  But you probably wouldn't have worked there at all if there weren't some good points.  Embrace those things and only leave the bad behind when you make a job move or interview for a new career option.

Present - the biggest part of living in the present is handling the final stages of the interview process and eventually resignation with dignity and respect.  I have recently guided a few candidates through precarious acceptances and subsequent resignations.  There were a lot of moving parts in each instance and fortunately the candidates were able to look at the bigger picture and stay in the moment.  Whether it be a bitter boss or an uneducated colleague, be certain to remain positive and professional when asked why you are leaving.  Do not say anything that may make you feel great for ten minutes, but ultimately you will regret.

Future - although this may seem like the easy part and full of excitement, there are a few tips to make the transition to a new job even easier.  First of all, stay in touch with your new employer.  If you don't start for 2-3 weeks, check in at least once or twice to ensure everything is handled administratively.  It also gives you a chance to reinforce the idea that you are excited about the move.  This leaves no doubt in your new employer's mind that you are committed to the move and looking forward to your first day.

In conclusion it is always good to know that you're not doing this on your own.  Just as our forefathers knew they would need support to send our country down a good path, a candidate looking to make a career move should always depend upon others to guide you to a good decision.  Maybe a mentor, a business coach, a family member, or a friendly recruiter (insert shameless plug) is what you need to get you through the journey successfully.