I think this is a fact that people tend to forget when reviewing descriptions and submitting their materials. In every recruiting game, there are front-runners, middle-of-the-road candidates, and the scrappy, interesting, hungry underdog who could come in to take the game. These positions are assigned when the hiring manager first reviews her resume. His role can change throughout the game, but know that these are the basic assignments from the start.
The front runners are easy. They are the best fit people for the job because they did it before; in many cases, it was the last job they had. It’s an easy slide from one to the other, and top racers usually know this. They’ll get a call because the hiring manager found his resume (meaning they submitted it in a timely manner and didn’t wait too long) and they’ll call shortly after receiving it because it looks great on paper.
How can it go wrong for them: They slack off. Employers want to see that enthusiasm, that excitement you have about learning something new. They want to see that hunger in your stomach (not the actual hunger to eat their sandwich because you’re broke), but that drive, desire to jump, enthusiasm, interest in engaging in genuine conversation to share ideas. If you fit in that well, it will all come down to your personality and how you fit into the organization. If you don’t show it and go in assuming you’re the answer to their prayers and there’s no one else they might want, you’re out of the game. They’ll assume you’ll just get more boring and arrogant than you appear in the interview, and that’s it.
Middle People: These are the people who have many of the qualifications, but not all. They may have gotten into the game through a networking contact or whoever was going through the resumes found something interesting in their background and was willing to take a chance. They can tell a strong story, but they don’t have it all.
How it can go wrong for them: These candidates will usually display that fire-in-the-stomach enthusiasm, but they must demonstrate how they will bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots. They (and the Underdogs below) need to remember that if they got the interview call, then it’s up to them to fight for the job. Employers don’t randomly take people off your resume just to chat. Something piqued his interest. Don’t be discouraged when objections are raised! Think “Go!” You have them on the phone, you listen to what they say, they want you to convince them, or they WOULD NOT HAVE CALLED! Too many times I see job seekers fall apart over this. They are discouraged by these objections and instead of fighting for the job with their best argument, they hang up the phone and complain that they are never fit for anything. STRUGGLE! Defend your career, show how relevant you are! You have nothing to lose, and a win in this category feels very, very sweet.
The Underdog – These folks may have some of the qualifications, but they are more likely to rely on their skill set and cunning to get them in the door. They are more likely to be a network contact or have done something distinctive to get noticed by the company. And why not, they have nothing to lose because they are the underdog. They feel passion for the company, the brand and are willing to show it. It might cross the line into creepy, but if they play their cards right, this could work for them.
Underdog’s Best Strategy: Prepare for the interview in every possible way. Learn all about the company: Proactively follow them on Twitter and Facebook soon after applying so you can discuss the relevant points on the phone screen. Come prepared with great questions for discussion. Show how you would add value immediately. Be aware of their concerns about your record and come prepared with a concrete plan to fight back or catch up as quickly as possible. The problem underdogs encounter is not recognizing that they are in this specific role…and not going the extra mile to prepare. They have the hunger and the enthusiasm, but they need to show the ability.
The moral of the story: Know your role going in. For most of the positions you apply for, you’ll be in the bottom 2 categories, so prepare properly, and if you’re lucky enough to be considered the perfect candidate, that means you still need to show them that you want to win them over with your personality.
Now, let’s go look for some jobs!