Ever wish we could take some of the guesswork out of applying and interviewing for new jobs? I have had instances over the years where I’ve thought, “If only I could get inside their head. If only I knew what they were looking for.” There is often too much mystery wrapped up in this process and it makes knowing how to stand out even harder. 

I’ve also been on the other side of the interview quite a few times now over the last several years. Writing job descriptions, combing through resumes, and conducting interviews to find just the right fit. I want to give you a look inside what I have looked for, noticed, been impressed by, and been less-than-impressed-by over the years so you can hopefully have a peak behind the curtain. While I am just one hiring manger representing just one industry, I think some of these takeaways can apply to all sorts of job titles and fields—and at the very least, you can join me in chuckling at some cringe-worthy moments and hopefully avoid a few of your own!

Build a beautiful, one-page resume. 

Sounds so boring (or maybe obvious) but I cannot tell you how many two or three or even four page resumes come across my desk and they’re almost always an instant pass for me. No matter how much experience you have, everyone should be able to streamline their work history and skillset to one, easy to read page. You don’t have to be a designer to have a clean, beautiful resume either, there are tons of templates online, check out a site like Canva and go for something simple but unique!

Sound like yourself! 

When I am hiring for a position on my team that means I am reading a whole bunch of cover letters, and when those are heavy on formality they start to all sound the same. Try your best to sound like yourself in your cover letter, yes it is important to be professional, but don’t lose your personality in the process—this makes you relatable and memorable!

Be prepared to spin negatives. 

No matter where you are applying I can almost guarantee you will be asked something like this: 

“Tell us about a difficult working relationship you’ve had in the past and how you navigated that.”

“Explain a few of your weaknesses in the workplace.”

“Can you recall a time where you made a mistake at work, how would you handle that differently now?”

These questions are vital and give you the chance to show your interviewers that you are self-aware and eager to continue to grow. Be careful not to overshare weaknesses or mistakes. During a past interview, I had someone share something illegal they had done in their workplace as an example of a mistake they had made—probably not the best thing to share during an interview! I have also seen interviewees share too much detail around why they were leaving their jobs or had difficult relationships with their current co-workers or managers. Lots of negativity can be uncomfortable for the interviewers and can take up valuable time you could be using to highlight your best qualities. Be prepared to share honestly about ways you have grown and want to continue to grow!

Show your best work!

This especially applies to creative roles, but if you think outside the box I bet there are lots of ways to display your best projects. It is so helpful when candidates have a personal website that shows past work and highlights their strongest skills. It’s one thing to explain to an interviewer how you accomplished a project goal but it’s even better if you can think of a way to show them! Creating a small personal site, something like a Squarespace, filled with a few of your favorite work projects helps to paint a fuller picture of who you are and what you can offer to any team you hope to join. 

I hope these few tips from the other side of the interview can give you the boost of confidence you need to submit that application! You’ve got this!