Sometimes, a simple, well-chosen sentence is enough to convince the employer. For this expert, this one in particular can be very effective in standing out from other candidates.
The email finally arrives in the inbox: the company wants to meet you. After several weeks or even months of research, this is usually good news. But once the excitement has passed, you have to prepare for the interview, find out about the company, review your background and try not to answer “uh… good question” with each somewhat unexpected question.
Indeed, today, getting an interview does not guarantee anything. In many sectors, recruiters encounter several candidates who have fairly similar profiles on paper. Same diploma, same number of years of experience, similar skills… When making a choice, the difference lies elsewhere. And contrary to what one might believe, it is not always the one who speaks the most who scores the most points.
As Tim Castle, negotiation expert and author, tells the magazine Stylistmany candidates make the same mistake: they treat the interview as an exam where you simply have to answer questions. However, according to him, the exchange functions more like a two-way discussion. The recruiter seeks to know if the candidate is suitable for the position, but the candidate must also show that he understands the company’s expectations and that he sees himself in the role.
This is precisely why Tim Castle advises candidates not to just answer the questions. For him, the moments when you speak up to question the employer can be just as important. For example, you can ask: “What does success look like to you in this role?” or even “What exciting projects have you worked on recently?” The idea is to show your recruiter that you already imagine yourself joining the company. Furthermore, it is also a good way to know if the missions offered really correspond to what you are looking for.
However, according to Tim Castle, another initiative can really create the shift towards taking a position when the exchange comes to an end. Once the classic questions have been answered and the expectations of the position are better understood, some candidates choose to go a step further by stating a sentence that makes them stand out from the crowd. : “Here’s a 30/60/90 day plan I prepared in advance, in case you want to see it.”
Concretely, it is a document which details what the candidate intends to learn, observe or implement during his first three months in the company. The process requires work upstream, but above all it allows you to show that the application is not based solely on a CV or displayed motivation. Even if the plan is not perfect, it demonstrates concrete thinking about the position and how to be effective quickly. Clever!
