This is going to be one of those honest moments for job seekers who ask “Why haven’t I found a job yet?”
Interviewing for an open job, even at a staffing company, does not guarantee you’ll get hired.
I know it seems like because we place people in jobs for a living that you should get one just for walking in the door. But we have hundreds of applicants sometimes for each open position and when we call you in for an interview, that’s exactly what you have to do – interview.
Your odds can even be better at a staffing agency if you approach the interview correctly. Read why we can help you have Better Odds.
Our tip: treat every interaction with a staffing agency like you would with a direct hire employer.
We would love to give every applicant a position, but our overall goals are to find career placements, meaning we find long-term positions that our candidates want to work at. If we just throw people into the first open position we have, no one would be happy.
So, when you go to an interview, start with these three easy tips to wow a recruiter!
1. Dress the Part
The biggest mistake we see made at interviews is not dressing the part. Whatever position you’re interviewing for, dress one step up.
That’s not to say you can’t wear jeans for a cleaning position, but you should wear a button up shirt or blouse and the jeans should be clean, hole free and well-fitting. Office positions should always be business casual.
Read more about what to wear for your interview below:
2. Be Respectful
Respect has many different aspects. First and foremost, show up to your interview and be on time. If something comes up that causes you to be late or miss the interview, be respectful enough to call and let the recruiter’s office know as soon as you can.
Respect extends into the interview as well. Unless you have an emergency, there’s no reason to have your phone out during the interview. Best practice: turn it on silent and put it away.
3. Prepare
A frustration for many recruiters is asking any question in the interview process and getting the answer “I don’t know.” To avoid answering that way, prepare for your interview ahead of time. First, bring an updated resume. Make sure all dates of employment are correct and expect to answer questions about the job you did there. It wouldn’t hurt to have bullet points on your resume for each position.
Also, prepare to answer questions about WHY you want to do that job and know a few things about the company you’re interviewing for. It shows interest in the job and that alone can signal to a recruiter you might be the best fit.
If you need help creating or updating your resume, read our post on Resume Writing.
These three tips you just read are a great start for interview success, but if you want to really impress your recruiter, read the 5 Most Common Interview Mistakes to avoid.
If you have more questions on Interview Techniques, we are happy to do coaching sessions at any of our locations.
Marion, IL: 618-969-8800 | Vandalia, IL: 618-283-9533 | Murfreesboro, TN: 615-295-212