How to Stand Out in an Interview? 9 Ways to Get Your Dream Job

As the job market increasingly becomes highly competitive, what used to work to land a job doesn’t work anymore. You need to approach the job search differently to stand out as a great candidate.

Doing one thing to impress the interviewer is good. However, performing several unique things to stand out makes you a clear winner every time.

In today's guide, we'll teach you how to become a standout candidate. Stick with our tips to get a job offer from your preferred industry or employer.

9 Ways to Stand Out in a Job Interview

Below are effective methods to stand out in the interview process.

1. Research the Company Deeply

When preparing for an interview, most candidates simply read what was written on the "About Us" page of the website. Once it's time for the actual interview, they are unable to share something meaningful when asked by the interviewer about their organization.

Don't be like other people. You must conduct deep research on the company if you want to stand out and get the job.

Instead of reading the organization's "About Us" page, you can download its annual report. Doing so helps you learn what type of language the company uses. This way, you can use the same language to demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for the role and business.

Reading news articles is another way to learn more about the company. You can go to the website's blog page or Google the organization name and filter news. Take time to study the content to get insight into the company culture, products, and target audience.

By researching the organization deeply, you can show you're the type of person who goes the extra mile. And employers love to hire people who perform better than expected.

2. Network With the Hiring Team and Other Employees in the Company

Networking can give you an edge even before the interview. It shows that you take initiative, which is a trait highly valued by employers.

You can reach out to the recruiter on LinkedIn. Introduce yourself and ask if they can share other details about the job opportunity besides what's included in the job description.

In addition to the hiring department, you can also connect with other employees of the company. Send personalized connection requests on LinkedIn. Once they accept your request, you can ask them about the company culture or the hiring process. 

Doing so also gives you a unique perspective on what it's really like to work there.

3. Send a Pre-Interview Email

Many candidates simply wait for the day of the interview once they receive an invitation from the recruiter.

However, if you want to gain a competitive edge, you can send a pre-interview email. Express your excitement about the job opportunity and reaffirm your interest in the position.

You can also ask if they need anything else to help them assess your job application. For example, some hiring managers may request a copy of your character references.

Sending a pre-interview email ensures that you’re top of mind for the interviewers.

4. Nail the “Tell Me About Yourself” Question

"Tell me about yourself" is among the most common interview questions you can expect. And since it is also often the first thing interviewers ask, it sets the tone for the rest of the interview.

This is why it's important to have a well-prepared answer to make yourself memorable to the recruiter.

You can focus on your professional background, key achievements, and how they relate to the job you're applying for.

Start with a brief introduction about your current role. Next, highlight relevant experiences and new skills that you've learned in your present job.

Then, you can mention a significant achievement. Use numbers to show the recruiter what specific results you've achieved.

Conclude with your future career aspirations and how they align with the company.

5. Show Your Value

Interviewers want to know what you can bring to their company. Focus on how your skills and experiences can solve problems or add value. Use specific examples and quantify your achievements where possible.

Avoid generic statements like, "I helped increase sales." Instead, you can say something like, "During my time at [Company Name], I increased our quarterly sales by 20% by developing and implementing a new sales strategy." This not only shows your impact but also gives concrete evidence of your contributions.

Better yet, go the extra mile and prepare a customized 30-60-90 plan. It's a great way to explain the things you'd do over the first three months of the job.

6. Demonstrate Self-Awareness

You can expect questions about your strengths and weaknesses during the interview in one way or another. Being self-aware helps you answer questions like these with confidence.

Acknowledge areas where you need improvement and explain what you're doing to address them. This shows that you are reflective and proactive in your personal development.

For example, you can say, "I used to struggle with delegation, but I’ve been working on it by taking a management course and applying new strategies at work." This honesty builds trust and shows commitment to continuous improvement, which is attractive to employers.

7. Ask Thoughtful Questions

Interviews are a two-way street. You must also prepare questions for the recruiter to gauge if the role or company is a good fit.

Ask insightful questions based on what you've learned from the interview and during your earlier research.

Here are some examples:

• "I read on your LinkedIn post that you've recently launched a new product, [Product Name]. What are the biggest challenges the company is facing when releasing this product?"
• "I heard that your organization attended [Event Name] recently. Can you share something new that you've learned about [Event Topic]?"
• "How do you measure success in this role?"

These questions provide you with valuable information. At the same time, they show the interviewer that you're serious about the position.

8. Send a Thank You Note

Candidates rarely send a post-interview email. However, sending a thank you note is a simple yet effective way to leave a lasting impression.

Keep your message short and sweet. Simply express your gratitude for the opportunity and mention something you loved about your conversation.

Then, reiterate your excitement for the role and company, including how your experience aligns with the position.

9. Don't Be Afraid to Follow Up

If you haven’t heard back after a week or two, it’s perfectly fine to follow up. You can send a polite email to inquire about your job application status.

You can also offer additional information they might need, such as work samples or further clarification on a topic discussed during the interview.

End the email on a positive note. Don't hesitate to express your hopes for a favorable outcome and gratitude for their consideration.

Case Study: How Paul Gained a Competitive Edge on the Job Market

After discussing various ways to help you stand out in an interview, let's look at a real-life example. Paul's story illustrates how applying our tips above can make a significant difference in securing a job offer.

Paul's Situation

Paul had the misfortune of being impacted by layoffs in October 2022.

Paul has many years of experience as a Director leading Solutions Engineering teams at top companies like Salesforce and Backbase. He thought he’d have no problem landing a new role, just as he had done many times in the past.

He had a good resume and was able to land interviews.

But after grinding through his job search for over 10 months, he still hadn’t received an offer.

The reality he faced is that the job market is drastically different from what it was a few years ago. Each open position has many more highly qualified candidates vying for it, making it much more competitive.

What used to work for Paul in the past simply wasn’t working. He couldn’t rely on his credentials, his first-degree network, or a basic interview preparation process anymore. Those things alone weren’t getting him anywhere.

Paul's Actions

Paul realized that he had to change his approach to things. He stumbled upon our article on how to ace your interview, and he started to implement various new tactics into his approach.

First, he researched the company deeply to be able to speak their language and show genuine interest. Thanks to this in-depth research, he was able to understand the organization and the problems it solved with its products besides stating what was written on the website.

Paul also took a proactive approach by connecting with other people in the organization. This gave him an edge over other candidates because he learned about the interworkings of the team. It also impressed the hiring manager because he was going way above and beyond to ensure the role, team, and company were a good mutual fit.

After his first call with the recruiter, Paul didn’t hear back for 3-4 weeks. He could have assumed he was getting ghosted and moved on, but he decided to follow up with the recruiter and hiring manager.

Paul sent them his customized 30-60-90 plan, which showed his value to the organization. It’s good that he did because the hiring manager responded and immediately scheduled him for the next interview.

The Result of Paul's Efforts

In the end, Paul's efforts paid off.

He was the only candidate who followed several tactics to impress the recruiter, which positioned him as the top candidate.

Out of the dozens of companies Paul interviewed with, this was the first one where he followed all the steps to stand out, and it worked. He got the job offer after!

Paul's story shows that standing out in an interview requires more than just answering questions well. It involves thorough preparation, effective communication, and a proactive attitude.

Hear Paul share his story below:

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FAQs About How to Stand Out in an Interview

How do I answer the question, "What makes you stand out?" in a job interview?

When asked what makes you stand out, you must focus on unique strengths and experiences relevant to the job. Highlight and quantify specific achievements to show how they benefited your previous employers. You can also use examples to demonstrate your hard and soft skills. This helps the interviewer understand why you are the best fit for the role.

How do I introduce myself in an interview?

When introducing yourself in an interview, start with a brief overview of your professional background. Mention your current position and key achievements. Then, explain how your skills and experiences align with the job you’re applying for. Keep it concise and relevant to make a strong first impression.

How to make a good impression on the hiring manager or managing director?

You can impress the hiring team by connecting with key members of the company and sending a pre-interview email. During the interview itself, you should dress professionally and arrive on time. Maintain good eye contact and smile at the recruiter to show your appreciation.