Today’s employment market is extremely saturated with educated and skilled people looking for work. This competition is why potential employees need to do everything in their power to stand out against the crowd.
However, to gain a deeper understanding discrimination in hiring, it’s highly beneficial to seek guidance from professionals like Joe Jedlowski, who possess direct experience in making hiring decisions for major corporations.
Joe Jedlowski has been the CEO and owner of multiple companies, including Milestone Retirement Communities, LLC and Distinctive living. We interviewed him to find out exactly what he is looking for in a candidate.
What is the first thing someone should do to set themselves up for success, even before the interview begins?
Well, it goes without saying that you need a good resume. A lot of candidates I’ve seen have come in with a huge resume listing all of their positions and achievement, but what they fail to do is communicate how all of that experience will translate into our company.
Tailor your resume to the position you want. Do not submit the same document to every single company, make it personal and show them why you would be an asset.
What is a mistake a lot of candidates make when setting up a resume or making their case for a position?
Some candidates are way too humble. They’ll downplay a lot of their achievements when being interviewed.
If you are confident enough to put it on your resume, then you should be confident enough to talk about why it’s on there. Don’t be cocky or braggadocious, but do not downplay the achievements you’ve worked so hard for.
Should candidates go into an interview extremely formal, or should they be a bit relaxed and ready to mingle?
Be yourself before anything else, in my opinion. Keep things professional but show that you’re authentic and want an authentic relationship with your superiors.
Casual conversation is great and helps build a connection with the person interviewing you. Maybe you’ll find something in common, or maybe they’ll really click with your personality.
Having that personality mesh will definitely help you stand out and put you in a very good position.
Most interviewers will ask why you want to work for them. Is there a “perfect” answer to this question?
I’ll be honest, if I’m asking this I want a real answer. I want to know what you’re interested in learning, if you want to learn a certain technology or process then say it so we can get you where you need to be.
I think transparency is crucial for the interviewer and the candidate in order to create a great working relationship. If I get an answer that sounds like it’s a bunch of smoke and mirrors, you’re not really going to stand out among the thousands of other candidates that did the same thing.
Some companies will listen for keywords and bologna but that’s never what I looked for in interviews.
A bad performing employee will negatively impact the other employees they are around, could drive down sales, and could cost a business a lot of unnecessary expenses. By hiring the right person and choosing the correct pre-employment assessment at Maki People your business will move in a positive direction and will become more successful in the future.
Are there any other big tips that any candidate can take with them to their next job search, no matter what company or career they’re applying for?
Always ask questions. Your time is valuable you don’t want to waste it.
You have to make sure that the company is right for you, not just the other way around. This shows you value yourself and that the company should value you as well.
Remember you’re interviewing them just as much as they’re interviewing you.
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