How to Get a Job Interview - and stand out for your benefit

I was still living with my parents when I was thinking about getting my first summer job. I had heard of a factory that offers summer job for students and I knew that many of my friends were also applying for the job. How could I stand out from other applicants and with zero experience of working - I was only 17-years old.

What we had been taught in school was to apply many jobs in different companies, write application letter and CV.

Basicly interviewer gets tens, or hundreds, of applications, back in then it was usual to print out the applications and go through them.

I thought back then, that only way to try to stand out and sound like interested about the job opportunity is to call first and ask questions - and that I did. Only after a phone call I send the application. After a week of waiting I didn't hear anything and I decided to make another call, just to make sure that they actually received my application and how is the process going - same day after that call I got an invitation to the job interview.

The psychology behind this

If we think about the interviewer(s), they get a lot of same kind of application letters "I'm fast learner", "I get a long with all people", etc. If you call first, it shows them that you are making an effort for getting this job - not everyone calls and asks questions, especially if they are not that interested about the job.

Benefit of this call first approach is also that you can start the application by referring to the phone call you had - you are making a memory trace about yourself.

Calling, not just sending an email, but actually picking up the phone and calling to the interviewer to ask and make sure they got your application and how the process is going, you are showing that you are still interested about the job, but also that you are thorough in your job search - "maybe this applicant is same also in the job"

They have memory trace, and they have learned good things about you already before the actual interview. Basicly you are making their job easier and as a bonus you look good in their eyes.

They are just human

Always remember that eventhough someone might feel like some higher level authority, they are still just human, people trying to manage in their job. Speaking is usually better than just text, standing out benefits both, and these are things that everyone are not willing to do.

They are human, but they are not stupid. It's way too easy to see from the application letter if it's not written for this spesific job or company - believe me, it's a huge turn off. Always, and I mean ALWAYS at least customize your application letter and CV for the job and company you are applying.

Hope this helps - have a nice job hunging! :)

PS: the summer job I told you about - I got it, and ended up working there for two summers and one winter!