I’ve interviewed a lot of people for jobs at brass as we’ve grown throughout the years. It never ceases to amaze me what some people do (or don’t do) during the interview process. You can find a thousand articles on what to do at a job interview, but what a lot of people look for in a candidate, and certainly what we look for, isn’t always the obvious.

Get creative. If you have sample work from previous experiences, put it together in a portfolio that isn’t just a Word document sent via email. It’s easy to go overboard, but if done right, it will make you stand out from the crowd.

Grade point average. I don’t care about your grade point average unless it’s really good or really bad (which you wouldn’t include in your résumé anyway). I’m more interested in hiring people with relevant experience, such as jobs, clubs, internships, and positions of responsibility.

Errors on cover letters and emails. Don’t make them.

Don’t spell the recipient’s name wrong. Definitely don’t misspell the title of the job you’re applying for. Yes, it has happened.

Go in person. Rather than just applying online or sending an email, go to the business and drop off a hard copy of your résumé as well. It gives your application a face and not just a name.

Everywhere is fair game. I keep tabs on applicants while they’re waiting in the lobby before the meeting, and after they leave the interview room. Interviews are very structured, so I observe people to see how they act and respond outside the official interview environment.

Type of car. I am aware of the kind of car an applicant drives. This is another piece of information that might tell me a little more about what type of person I’m meeting.

Facebook/MySpace/Google. I check everyone on Facebook and MySpace, and I Google them before the interview. I look at photos, wall comments, interests – anything that might tell me something more about the applicant.

Don’t just talk to people with power in the room. At brass, coworkers from a variety of positions are included in the interview process. Nothing turns me off faster than when an applicant only talks to me because I’m the CEO and ignores everyone else.

Shake every hand on the way out. Acknowledge everyone in the room for their time and thank each and every one of them.

Follow up. Always follow up with everyone who was in the interview. At minimum, send an email within 24 - 48 hours. Better yet, send a handwritten note.

Follow up on your follow-up. If you haven’t heard back, follow up again. Don’t be over-persistent, but my mind has been changed about people because of their tenacity. One brass employee called every two weeks for six months before getting a job.

The hardest part of the interview process is to avoid getting filtered out, so pay attention to every detail. Be smart about the process, and you’ll find yourself getting invited back.

Bryan Sims, CEO
 

Sources: careerbuilder.com, pc world.com, apsc.gov.au, career.vt.edu