Finding the right job posting is usually the easiest part, because that doesn’t mean you’ve got it yet. No one likes prepping for a job interview. In fact, it’s not entirely wrong to say that one of the best things about getting a job is that you don’t have to look for one anymore, because that process can be exhausting and demoralizing.
But to get to that point of someone saying ‘welcome aboard’ will certainly require you to prove yourself, and while the resume might get your foot in the door, how you present yourself is what keeps you in the room.
1. Don’t Just Be Yourself
While ‘being yourself’ is usually promoted quite heavily, just remember that you are really trying to oversell and overdeliver during this first impression. Without coming across too cocky, you should almost make it seem like you should be the one doing the interviewing because that’s how qualified you are.
It certainly helps to be relaxed, but too often that conjures up the idea of not having plenty of energy, and maybe even slumping in your chair and shrugging off any problems. No, you should be a version of yourself that is ready to show the world who’s boss, even if you’re only middle management material (and would still need to have that side job of being a gay, straight or trans sugar baby).
Asking friends and family for their feedback regarding how you can sometimes come across (too eager? Too subdued?) can help you adjust your presentation for when the big moment comes.
2. It Started When You Submitted Your Resume
As soon as you apply for a job (which will almost certainly be done online these days), your resume and all the additional data you provide will not be seen by human eyes, but an AI keyword search that will look for the terms the employers expects to see for the job you applied to (like if they want someone with management experience, the word ‘manager’ better appear). Now regardless of your own particular qualifications for the job, having a polished, easy-to-read (and grammatically perfect) resume is essential once an actual person begins to read it.
Of course, a cover letter and job experience is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to an employer deciding whether to give you an interview, let alone the job itself. Once they see your name, they will be checking the social media world to see how you have conducted yourself within it. While checking through your distant past is unlikely (or if you’ve ever said good things about a squirt gay site), just seeing some of your most recent posts can give an employer a decent idea regarding whether to contact you. If there are some hard-partying posts or anything that might be construed as a bad taste joke or comment, don’t be surprised if you don’t hear from them.
On the other end of the spectrum, having no social media presence at all can also set off some alarms. It may lead to potential employers thinking that you’re hiding something. So having a professional-level social media presence can certainly help your job prospects (while having a second, personal ID to celebrate Group Fun), since it’s another way to show the world who you are and what you can be.
3. Dress and Decorate Accordingly
It’s gotten to the point where whether or not you will be having a face-to-face job interview or one done over a video call is a complete toss-up. Without a doubt, the employer wants to make it as easy as possible, and sometimes that can mean having you come to them, or just to leave it in the hands of the internet.
Regardless, make sure you dress the part, no matter how informal the job itself might be (there aren’t many professions that explicitly call for slobs). In fact, even if it’s a video call, dress as if you were about to go to the office for the interview. The one thing to add regarding the video call is to keep in mind what might be visible behind you when you turn your computer’s camera on (using a phone is not recommended).
For job interviews, being early is being on time. Nothing ends a job interview quicker than you not being there when you’re supposed to. This is especially helpful if it is a video call, as you will have a chance to see just exactly how you will appear to them, and could perhaps fix the lightning so you will look your best.
4. Ask Good Questions
While it is quite normal to apply for many, many jobs on an online site because it is easy to do and you don’t know which ones might work out, as soon as you have an interview lined up, spend some time researching the company you might end up working for, and compile a list of questions that you could ask.
Now, you might not really be interested in any of them, but if the employer asks if you have anything you would like to comment on as the interview is wrapping up, it can definitely show them that you have done your ‘homework’, and are serious about the company and its goals. It might be a very practical question about benefits or organization (don’t ask about vacations or sick days just yet), or it might be one about the company’s actual business philosophy.
5. Follow Up Respectfully
Eager is great, overeager is not. Even the largest job sites admit it’s a bit of a tightrope. If you really do want this one job, there is nothing wrong with sending a quick, curious email a few days after the interview to test the waters. If you have another good question to ask, all the better, and be sure to be exceedingly polite in the email as well.
