Know How to Meet the Requirements of Hiring Managers

by Srikant Chellappa Jul 2,2020
Engagedly
PODCAST

The People Strategy Leaders Podcast

with Srikant Chellappa, CEO

When you are looking for a job, it is necessary to gauge what the hiring managers are looking for, and what would they would like to avoid. It’s not easy to land the job of your dreams, and it rarely ever fall into the lap without putting in much effort. But, there are a few do’s and dont’s that can help you get one step closer to getting that job.

Showcase only facts

Everybody knows that they should not lie in their resume but, most people do it anyway. You may not realize that, before a hiring manager calls you, they’ve done their research. And if they find that your resume doesn’t add up, the interview process will stall right there. And they will then go on to have a really bad impression of you. In case if they find out the discrepancy after you’ve received the job, your company will not be able to trust you ever again. Do not think about it, or even attempt it, thinking that you will be one of the lucky ones who gets away with it.

Also read: Be A Better Manager And Avoid These 5 Mistakes

Don’t appear desperate

Of course, when you are connecting for a job, hiring managers want you to display some amount of enthusiasm but when that enthusiasm turns to desperation, many of them will be rightly put off. At certain times your circumstances might not be so favourable and your desperation is understandable. But for a hiring manager who does not know you, that kind of behaviour is only going to come across as annoying.

Dress for the role

It is often said, ‘Dress for the job you want‘. It means you need to show up for a job interview looking like you are interested in the job and invested in it. You need to appear neat and clean, and well groomed. And do not in any circumstances, show up dressed like Batman. We all want to be Batman but even Batman knows better than to wear a Bat-suit all the time.

Don’t present yourself as flawless

Nobody is flawless. So when hiring managers ask you for your flaws, you are expected to list genuine flaws, not flaws that compliment you in some way. Being a perfectionist is not a flaw. On the other hand, being timid is. Before you go for an interview, you could list out a set of qualities and flaws that apply to you. It would also be good to have an answer prepared to tell hiring managers how you plan on fixing those flaws.

Also read: What Do Successful Leaders Do to Sustain Success?

Have a tailored cover letter

Cover letter should always be tailored for each job. It only takes a few minutes to tailor it according to the job you are applying for. Those extra few minutes that you spend on sprucing up your cover letter could be the very thing that gets you a new job.

Every detail matters

We don’t wish to make you self-conscious. But you need to keep in mind that when you are being interviewed, a hiring manager is taking note of all your mannerisms, utterances and behaviours. If you talk confidently, are fluent and seem qualified but cannot look them straight in the eye, they’d note it down as a red flag. If you have a tendency to fidget with your hands or gesture excessively, a hiring manager looks at that too. Go well prepared, confident yet open. They begin to notice and take stock of things the moment you walk in.

Ask questions

At the end of the interview, don’t shy away from asking questions. Ask questions about the job role, what the organization ideally expects. You don’t have to stay quiet. Hiring managers are more likely to consider you if you seem interested and ask the right questions.

Also read: Employee Burnout: What You Need to Know About It

Research before you go

Many don’t care to, but it’s very important to do your homework about the organization. Its in bad taste to show up at the interview and appear clueless. It’ll be better if you have your updated resume handy as well.

Don’t haunt the hiring manager

Once your interview is done, don’t stalk the hiring manager, while waiting for an answer. A good manager will get back to you fast. Do not harass them with frequent phone calls or emails wanting to know about the status of the application. They will consider you pushy and annoying, and reject you on the basis of that.


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The Coronavirus has affected the way we work today and for months to come. Unprecedented events require unprecedented measures. We at Engagedly believe it is our responsibility as socially conscious corporate citizens to help equip organisations with additional tools and resources during this time of crisis.


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Author
Srikant Chellappa
CEO & Co-Founder of Engagedly

Srikant Chellappa is the Co-Founder and CEO at Engagedly and is a passionate entrepreneur and people leader. He is an author, producer/director of 6 feature films, a music album with his band Manchester Underground, and is the host of The People Strategy Leaders Podcast. He is currently working on his next book, Ikigai at the Workplace, which is slated for release in the fall of 2024.

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