Smiling
This is not bad advice, but it is limited. Smiling is a good thing, as long as you don’t look like the cat that ate the canary – all grins and no telling why. What really matters here is being friendly. You want to appear to be a warm, intelligent person who would be good to work with. Ear-to-ear grins won’t help if you don’t know your stuff and haven’t done your homework about the company or why you are their ideal candidate.

Standing Out
Finding a way to stand out – this is also very good advice. But how is the true question. You want to stand out in a positive way to separate yourself from your peers. But not to simply be different. The purpose is to demonstrate why you are the better candidate.

The news focused on a couple out-of-the-ordinary methods for personal marketing – like developing a web page on a site like www.VisualCV.com

One student who did this, Robert Hopper, had gotten 200 viewers for his techno resume, but no takers as of the story airing.  Just being techno isn’t the answer however. It’s more about using technology to demonstrate your abilities AND then to connect with people. Hoping someone will come across your resume isn’t enough. Driving traffic to see your credentials is what you need.

Get Connected
Ultimately, in a market like we are experiencing today, it helps to know someone and use your connections. What if you don’t have connections? Start networking to build them! This is where your inborn social networking skills come into play.

Get on www.linkedin.com and connect to your parents and friends’ parents, as well as people you have worked with, professors, and even previous bosses. That automatically makes your network grow which is exactly what you need. Then, leverage their contacts by getting in touch.

Once you obtain some names within the companies you want to work for – this will seriously help you get past the “hiring machine blockade”, that vast black hole where your resume ends up most of the time. With a referral – you have a shot at getting past the gate keepers.

Get linkedin, and get going today.

As a job search coach, i am always surprised at how few people actually take the time to educate themselves in this manner. And yet, its so easy! Check out these resources to familiarize yourself with your potential employer.

1. The company web site. Don’t just visit the home page. Read the company mission statement, the about us section and any news they may have posted. Learn about their services and what other positions might be open. Squeeze out the last drop of juicy information that might help you make a good impression.

2. Put the company name into a search engine to see what kind of media coverage there is. Look for press releases and other news reported in the daily papers, business periodicals, or blogs.

3. If the business is publicly held, look for an annual report which details the financial picture. Check out wwww.AnnualReports.com  to download the report as a pdf file.

4. Type in “company name + complaints” to see what consumers may have to say. You probably won’t bring this information up in your interview but you might as well get a well-rounded viewpoint.

5. Look for key players on www.Linkedin.com to review their profiles if public. Perhaps you know people in common who can answer questions about the company or even the specific person you will be interviewed by.

Before you go on your next interview, be sure to read up on everything you can find to become knowledgeable. Then work those facts into your questions and answers wherever possible. The more details you arm yourself with, the better your chances of being able to speak intelligently about why you are a good fit and the right candidate for the job.

Here are five tips on things to avoid so that you present yourself in the best possible light. You only get one chance to make a good first impression.

1. Don’t Hem and Haw
When you respond to an interview question, silence is better than filler words or sounds like “um,” “uh” and others. When you seem articulate and confident, you make a much better impression.

The Solution
Practice answers to common and expected questions to ensure smooth delivery without those distracting sounds. If you need time to think, you could always say something like, “That s a good question.”

2. Don’t Talk about Money
You’re out of college and now you are looking to make some big ka-ching! But you don’t want to appear overly anxious or money hungry. The first interview is more of a “get to know you” opportunity.

The Solution
Wait to discuss compensation until the second interview. If an employer calls you back, that means they are interested and more willing to discuss the details.

3. Don’t Postpone an Interview
Unless you are seriously ill or have a family emergency, do not postpone an interview, even if it’s a telephone screening. To make the cut, you need to demonstrate a high level of interest and that the employer can count on you to follow through and take things seriously.

The Solution
Start keeping a calendar. Use your cell or get a PDA to book appointments and minimize overlap or confusion. Put all meetings into the calendar. This is a great way to track of your job search efforts since everything you’ve done is in one place.

4. Don’t Miss an Opportunity to Ask Questions
Even if you are nervous and just want the interview to be over, this is your chance to learn more about the place you will be spending at least 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year. That’s a lot of time. Plus, a hiring manager might misinterpret a lack of curiosity about the job as a lack of interest. You certainly don’t want anyone thinking that about you.

The Solution
Prepare a few questions to learn what your career path might look like or what an average day consists of for someone in the position you want. Think about what else might be helpful to know.

5. Don’t Be Too Laid Back
A prospective employer wants to see that you are an energetic person with an enthusiastic attitude. Don’t be afraid to show your passion for things and speak well of yourself when asked. While you don’t want to appear too anxious or desperate, you also don’t want to seem too relaxed either.

The Solution
When you talk about your accomplishments, be animated, smile, and even emphasize key points with hand gestures. Lean forward when the interviewer is talking if you are sincerely interested in what is being said. Another body-language signal of listening is to cock your head to one side. This illustrates that you are really thinking about what is being conveyed.

Avoid these five basic mistakes to make a great impression and stand out against the competition. Your objective is to express interest, demonstrate your desire to join the organization and leave them knowing you’ll make a great team member.

Take a few tips from direct marketers, because in essence, that is exactly what you are doing. Directly marketing yourself to prospective employers. Direct marketers do all sorts of things to get the envelope noticed and opened. Some of these tactics might not work for very conservative careers, but for most others, you will get noticed and potentially make a big first impression, at least on paper.

1. Use a Colorful #10 Envelope

One way to stand out is to not use a white envelope. Try blue, yellow or bright green. Pastels can be less risky if you are nervous. And just so you know, blue is the color that is most trusted – especially with shirts or ties, but that’s another topic.

2. Send Your Resume Flat in a Big Envelope

The majority of business letters are sent in a number 10 envelope. Be different and use an 9-1/2″ x 6″ or 9″ x 12 envelope. Take it a step further and use a color rather than the standard manila or white. Don’t forget these sizes require more postage.

3. Send it Overnight or Priority Mail

Overnight packages always get opened. If you have a particularly hot prospective employer or one that you really want to work for, it’s worth the investment to guarantee having your mail opened.

4. Send a Three-Dimensional Package

Most people are very curious. When you send a box, especially wrapped, people will want to know what’s inside. That curiosity will get them to open your package and look at your cover letter, just to see what it’s all about.

5. Write a Killer Letter

If you go to all this trouble to stand out from the pile, you better write a letter that makes a splash. Read the employer’s web site to discover a good angle and explain briefly why you are a superb candidate. Get to the point, provide specific, crisp examples and say when you will call to follow up.

It may feel a bit scary to stand out to this extent. On the other hand, with so many college grads out there who have accomplishments as good yours, what’s the risk? The biggest risk from this job search coach’s perspective is getting lost in the pile or ending up in some big file never to be seen again.

If you want to stand out and make a good impression with prospective employers, there are a number of things you need to do well and others you want to avoid. Here is a list of five major blunders to avoid during your interview and how to turn things around If needed. Keeping these items in mind will make your interview memorable (in a good way) to help you land that job.

1. Don’t Share Too Much Personal Information
According to Tina Kadish, recruiting manager for a regional insurance firm in Connecticut, many students talk about family situations and other parts of their life that is not important to the job. This tendency to share can work against you if you reveal something that gives the interviewer a reason to doubt your capabilities or readiness to enter the work force.

The Solution
Don’t ramble. Stick to answering the questions that were asked thoroughly, but as succinctly as possible.

2. Don’t Use Slang or Lingo
We know you are hip, but the hiring manager may not be. Plus, using words that others may not be familiar with could lead to misunderstandings which will work against you.

The Solution
To make the best impression, avoid slang or local lingo and elevate your speaking habits to sound more like a peer rather than a college student.

3. Don’t Fidget
Maybe interviewing isn’t the most exciting thing you’ve ever done. Or perhaps you feel nervous. Either way, you might be prone to fidgeting. Tapping, looking around the room, constantly shifting in your seat are clues that you may have problems paying attention or concentrating for periods of time.

The Solution
Catch yourself if you start to fidget and stop immediately. Focus your attention on the interviewer and what he or she is saying. Your ability to be fully engaged demonstrates your interest in the position and the company.

4. Don’t Go on the Interview without Learning about the Company
Many students don’t bother to visit the employer’s web site or learn anything about the company. This can tip off the interviewer that you aren’t very interested.

The Solution
If possible, talk to a few people who work for the employer to get a feel for what the company is like. Read through the web site especially the mission statement, company history or about us section. Then you can ask questions about what you have read and illustrate how serious you are about working there.

5. Don’t Forget Your Resume
Even If you sent in your resume weeks ago or yesterday, don’t assume the interviewer will have a copy. In addition, realize that many people won’t have read your resume prior to meeting you. So don’t act surprised if this happens.

 The Solution
Bring extra copies of your resume with you. If you impress a hiring manager, he or she might want to introduce you to other managers on an impromptu basis. Might as well be prepared for success!

Follow these five simple suggestions and you’re performance will exceed that of your peers. Your goal is to make a good impression, demonstrate your interest and readiness to join their team and leave them feeling like you’ll make a solid contribution to the company.

Photo Credit: Nick Wheeleroz