Want to be the biggest and best fish in the pond? Especially in the Building Service industry, there are qualified candidates that will be competing with you for your next dream job. Even in industries like building services with fewer candidates, the quality is high and there is still a necessity to stand out among the crowd. After putting your final touches on your CV and getting some interview opportunities, there are some key aspects and reminders to think about before hitting the ground running. Here are ten secrets to ensuring you stand out among the competition: 

1. Humility 

Your grades, project experience, or past salaries may be impressive, but boasting about them may not exactly suit you if you’re trying to be genuinely attractive and appealing. There’s an informal term called the humblebrag, which means talking about your achievements in a way that doesn’t sound too bratty or modest. It’s a casual manner of talking, but you may adopt it during interviews to get your message across without appearing too overbearing. 

2. Attire Appeal 

It may sound superficial, but first impressions are important. Colour coordination, hairstyle, tucking mannerisms, and a dozen other elements of your attire make a significant difference to how you look to your hirer. If you work on your dressing, you may manage to get the hirer’s full attention towards you, which means they’ll be willing to give you more time at the table and not feel rushed regarding the whole affair. 

3. Mannerisms 

How you push and pull your chair, the way you shake hands, explain your CV, fold a napkin, hold a glass, brush something off your suit, and a thousand other small gestures can make a massive difference in how interesting you can become in front of your interviewer. Sure, we are all nervous before an interview, so take the time to calm your nerves and be yourself. As an applicant, small details in your manners will show how pleasant your presence will be in the recruiter’s office, so you want to take a breath, and channel your inner stoic.

4. Punctuality 

Punctuality is one of the big guns you can pull out during an application process. This isn’t only about showing up on time for the interview, though. It would help if you were punctual with your calls, email chains, application deliverables, and all the processes following the initial consultation. This way, you’ll be able to get yourself noticed with all the other top shots.

5. Memorisation 

A skilled memory doesn’t only help when you’re cramming history events. It’s also a vital skill in the professional world. Even though we have note-takers and phone recorders, memorisation remains an evergreen skill because it helps you carry on an effortless conversation with complete confidence, hence impressing your interviewers, too.

6. Speaking Your Mind 

Being a people pleaser may get you through social and personal matters, but it isn’t much use within a professional office environment. As a professional, you have to set clear guidelines for yourself on how you’ll express your ideas and opinions without feeling intimidated whatsoever. This might feel daunting at times, but when you stay true to yourself and the interviewer from the beginning, you’ll gain their trust with your honesty and innovation. This type of leadership skill is particularly important in highly skilled roles like building service engineers. 

7. Flexibility 

Some jobs do not match your comfort zone. Some don’t match your experience; others clash with your skillset; some others have timing that tightens your whole schedule. However, you can use these opportunities to prove your flexibility and innovation. As an experienced professional, you may show a willingness to take on tasks that you may not be completely confident with, yet. This shows your flexibility and well as your willingness to learn new things.

8. Sensitivity 

So there’s another informal term that’ll come in handy here. You may have heard about being ‘woke’, right? More formally, it is also called being politically correct. This refers to being sensitive about the lives and issues of minorities, persons with disabilities, and generally humans and cultures fundamentally different from yours. In a world that increasingly focuses on brand imagery endorsing tolerance, inclusivity, and equity, and where CSRs are increasingly profitable, your sensitivity will be an instant game-changer in any work environment.

9. Willingness to Learn 

While you’re early in your career, it’s easy to believe you know everything there is about the field you’ve entered. However, the professional world is an entirely different setup, and one thing’s for sure; no one in this world is a know-it-all. Even the most bookish people find they have a lot to learn out there. So, when you express a genuine willingness to learn, your employer will feel more at ease about your experience and potential. 

10. Teamwork 

How well do you fit into coordination and subordination roles? How do you resolve differences? Your teamwork skills will also impact how interviewers perceive you during your hiring process. 

Conclusion 

When you show up as a candidate, you’re much more than your CV. You are a product of your learning. Therefore, you must present yourself as a dynamically influential person to qualify as a lucky catch for any company.

 

Alex Cole is a Specialist Building Services Recruiter with Responsum. He’s always interested in networking with Building Service professionals. He loves talking football, is hoping to get on the property ladder soon, and visits Tenerife every year!

 <<< Next Article: 6 Recruitment Trends in Building Services On the Rise In 2022>>>