CONNECTING
Even in the startup world, where a talent gap means tech employees are in high demand, a solid resume is no guarantee of employment. Why? Because personality, cultural fit and first impressions matter. But when it comes to the interview, I’ve found that many candidates struggle to move from simply repeating what’s on their resumes to actually demonstrating what makes them uniquely qualified.
I’m the founder of Nestio, a startup that helps landlords and brokers market and lease apartments. These days I’m spending a lot of time in conference rooms interviewing prospective candidates, from engineers to salespeople to a new director of marketing.
In my firsthand experience, I’ve noticed several traits that set apart the candidates we ultimately hire from the ones we don’t. What are they?
— THEY’VE DONE THEIR GOOGLING: It’s easy to say in an interview that you pay attention to detail, but this is a concrete demonstration that you actually do, and it catches my attention every time. Bottom line: Don’t ask anything of your prospective employer that you could have easily found online.
— THEY SHOW THEY’RE COACHABLE:Great candidates don’t just have the capacity to do the job; they also prove they’re willing to be coached so they can get better at it. It’s not enough to be thirsty for constructive criticism; the top candidates show they can internalize it and even apply it within the interview.
— THEY BRING A STARTUP SPIRIT TO THE TABLE: Candidates who show
that they’re willing to hustle, improvise and find a way to move the needle — even if it means getting creative — always catch my attention. Even when applying to established firms, there can be value in demonstrating a startup spirit.
— THEY ACT LIKE THEY’VE ALREADY GOT THE JOB: Good candidates come in with a solid understanding of the role and why they’re a match. Phenomenal candidates act like they were hired weeks ago and have already gotten started. Of course, be sure to embrace feedback and acknowledge your own limits.
— THEY’RE TRUE TO THEMSELVES AND TO YOUR VALUES: To demonstrate your alignment with the company values, take clues from the language in the job advertisement and prepare specific personal examples that speak to it. Just don’t try to fake it. Honestly appraise your values and see whether they fit into the company’s.
— THEY FOLLOW UP — BUT CAN TAKE A HINT: You never lose by showing you really want the job. What I’d recommend is sending a short, sincere thank-you note immediately following the interview — and then listening. There’s a difference between being eager and being aggressive.
The interview is your opportunity to show you’re a fit for the company. Exhibiting the traits above won’t mean anything if you’re not genuinely qualified. But I think they might just help you leave an impression and stand out from a similarly well-qualified pack.
