Make Yourself Memorable at the Job Interview

By Meagan Phelan, Prepped and Polished Guest Writer

When you imagine a job interview, if you’re like most people, you’re not thinking so much of the interviewer. You’re picturing yourself in the hot seat – feeling the pressure.

But what if you flipped the script, and imagined being the interviewer?Then, imagine that you’ve interviewed several candidates already – and nobody’s really stoodout.

You’ve got to fill a key role. But you’re getting discouraged because, while everyone you’ve talked to provides reasonably solid answers, nobody stands out as a unique contributor. What would really compel you is a candidate who showed they’d done their homework about your place of business – and had a strategic vision related to issues you face.

That kind of interviewee is memorable – and you can be that person.

Here are a few elements to inform your next job interview, to help you stand out. (Note: This list is not exhaustive.)

1. Search the news
When interviewing, do a Google news search about the company where you’re seeking employment. What good press have they gotten? What less good press?

Be prepared to give kudos about the good news, if you have a sincere reflection about it. If there’s something less encouraging that has been in the media about the company, consider whether there’s a moment to acknowledge it – as objectively as possible – and to ask: How is the company addressing this issue going forward? This shows your recognition that problem-solving could be needed in this area.

2. Proactively identify your gaps
Don’t be afraid to identify a skill in the “required” skills, as listed in the job description, and say you don’t have it. What this does is show honesty, a trait every company should prioritize. You can also communicate how you plan to address your gap. You could say, for example, “I see that one of the skills you require is X. While I really bring all other skills to the table here, I don’t have experience there, but I’m a fast learner. One skill I learned relatively quickly recently was Y.”

3. Be comfortable talking about AI
Even if you don’t use artificial intelligence tools, research how the prospective employer – or the employer type – does. Most companies today are using generative AI in some form, whether that be for automating tasks, improving customer service, analyzing data, or writing copy for the website. Even if this is something you haven’t done, be cognizant the prospective employer is likely experimenting with AI in some way – and be prepared to answer questions about how you’d participate in related processes. They will likely want to know something about how you’d do quality checks on any AI-related process.

4. Ask questions yourself
The interview is also an opportunity for you to ask questions. The questions you ask can serve you well in getting to know the company. They can also show the prospective employer your level of thoughtfulness and sophistication. Here are a few ideas for questions you could pose:

a. Attention Challenges
It’s harder and harder to get people’s attention these days. Most companies and organizations who need to represent their work or reinforce their value are facing this. Showing you understand this challenge helps show a prospective employer you’re clued in to one of the biggest challenges of our times. You might ask, “In today’s world, where people’s attention is so divided, what you have found is the most successful way to highlight this company’s value/impact/etc.?”

b. Mission Alignment
Most companies or organizations will have a mission statement—and many revisit how they align with that statement each year. You could ask: “I noticed your mission statement is X, and I wondered if there is anything unique in the year ahead that is informing how you’re living that out now?”

c. Show Initiative
Employers like to know how prospective employees follow through on tasks – even tasks that aren’t yet assigned but where it’d be valuable to have help. You could ask a question that would show your awareness of this. You might say, “If the leadership said that an important new goal for us would be to explore X, and then I began to research that topic and had a proposal, how would you best like that proposal delivered?”

d. Listen Well
Finally, remember that one of the best things you can do when being interviewed – by someone who is listening to you – is to be a good listener yourself. There’s no better way to wrap up an interview than to harken back to a detail the interviewer shared at the top of the meeting, about upcoming company event or report, or even about their personal schedule. If you can close the interview by reflecting on that item – “I’ll be really excited to read that report when it comes out on your website” – it’ll be a memorable testament to the way you valued the interviewer’s time, just as they valued yours.