There are many factors that determine whether a candidate gets a job or not. From education to past experience and qualifications that match the employer’s requirements, the checklist is long, and it is often hard to pinpoint what exactly goes into the decision making process.
In many cases, it can include the overall experience that the hiring managers have in their interactions with every candidate. With that in mind, it is important for candidates to show that they want the job. Just sending an application is not enough to show your interest. If you want to demonstrate your interest, you will need to work on different layers of communication to send a message that this is a job that you truly believe is for you.
Hiring managers likely will gauge your interest in the job by looking at what you explicitly say as well as what you show in terms of enthusiasm and responsiveness. For that reason, you should keep the following points in mind.
Tone of excitement
Many people want to play it cool when they apply for a job to show that they are professionally stable and happy with their current situation, which can give them leverage in negotiation later in the process. This attitude can work but you will be walking a very thin line, especially on the phone. The lukewarm tone may come across as uninterested.
Excitement doesn’t mean being cheerful or appearing to be overly happy. You instead need to look positive and genuinely interested in the job. You can demonstrate this by asking the right questions, trying to sell yourself as a great fit for the job, and simply presenting that you’ve done your research on the company before the interview. All of these small steps and more show your interviewer that you want the job.
Actions
You also need to show that you want the job by taking some actions that signify interest. For example, if scheduling for an interview gets complicated, be the one who compromises on timing, and makes it happen. If the hiring manager asks for something to be emailed after the interview, make sure that you send it on the same day or within 24 hours at most.
Your responsiveness and flexibility should help you sail through the interviewing process smoothly, and in the process the employer will get a good vibe about your interest and ability to work with the team. If you’re in the same position technically with other candidates, the positive experience during the interviewing process can help you stand apart as someone who is pleasant to work with and interested in this job opening.
Writing
Written communication is your best friend. Emails and letters can be drafted, reviewed, checked and double-checked before sending. Any written correspondence should clearly state your interest in the job. Unlike meetings and interviews, the hiring managers doesn’t have to read between the lines.
Take every opportunity to reiterate your interest. It doesn’t have to be extensive or long, but if you’re sending work sample, references or copies of your credentials, include a sentence or two that say how much you are more convinced that you’re the right fit for the job. You can go into the details if you have some good revelations and the job, or you can keep it short and sweet. Either way, your constant statement of the job suitability will turn it into more or less a fact. You eventually will be perceived as a good fit for the job.
Needless to say, clean writing that is free of spelling and grammar errors is another sign of your interest in the job. You may not get a lot of points for doing so because it is expected, but if you don’t you certainly will lose the image of someone who cares about landing this job.
Being sloppy isn’t a good trait in all cases. And when it comes to job interviewing, it could be a sign of carelessness or indifference. So make sure that anything you send is correct, directed to the right person and as complete as it can be. Every small step will help you get closer to scoring the job.
Show your interest
— Communicate your enthusiasm in a positive tone
— Use body language to show interest
— Present yourself as the best fit
— State why you’re interested in your emails
The writer, a former Gulf News Business Features Editor, is a Seattle-based editor.
