Landing your first job interview can be a daunting task, especially if you are a fresh graduate or a career changer. You may feel like you are competing with hundreds of other applicants who have more experience, skills, or connections than you. You may wonder how you can stand out from the crowd and get noticed by the hiring managers. You may think that getting an interview is a matter of luck, and that you have no control over the outcome.

But the truth is, getting an interview is more than luck. It is a result of careful planning, preparation, and execution. You can increase your chances of getting an interview by following some proven strategies that will help you showcase your value, fit, and potential to the employers. In this blog post, we will discuss some of these strategies, and how you can apply them to your job search.

How to research the company and the position

One of the most important steps in landing an interview is to research the company and the position you are applying for. This will help you tailor your application materials, demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm, and prepare for the possible questions and scenarios in the interview.

To research the company, you can use various sources, such as:

• The company’s website: Look for information about the company’s mission, vision, values, culture, products, services, customers, competitors, achievements, challenges, and goals.
• The company’s social media accounts: Follow the company on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. to get updates on their latest news, events, projects, and insights.
• The company’s employees: Connect with current or former employees of the company on LinkedIn or other professional networks, and ask them about their experience, role, responsibilities, expectations, and advice. You can also read their reviews on sites like Glassdoor, Indeed, or Vault.
• The company’s industry: Research the trends, opportunities, threats, and best practices in the industry that the company operates in. You can use sources like industry reports, magazines, blogs, podcasts, webinars, etc.

To research the position, you can use the following sources:

• The job description: Read the job description carefully, and identify the key skills, qualifications, responsibilities, and outcomes that the employer is looking for. Make a list of the keywords and phrases that are relevant to the position, and use them in your resume and cover letter.
• The job posting: Analyze the job posting, and look for clues about the employer’s preferences, priorities, and pain points. For example, pay attention to the tone, style, and language of the posting, the order and emphasis of the requirements, the benefits and incentives offered, and the questions or instructions given.
• The hiring manager: Find out who the hiring manager is, and research their background, role, interests, and goals. You can use LinkedIn, Google, or the company’s website to find their name, title, profile, and contact information. You can also try to reach out to them via email, phone, or social media, and express your interest and suitability for the position.

How to customize your resume and cover letter

Another crucial step in landing an interview is to customize your resume and cover letter for each position you apply for. This will help you highlight your relevant skills, achievements, and fit for the role, and show the employer that you are not sending a generic application.

To customize your resume, you can follow these tips:

• Use the keywords and phrases that you identified from the job description and the job posting, and match them with your skills, qualifications, and accomplishments. For example, if the job description mentions “project management”, “communication skills”, and “data analysis”, you can include these terms in your resume, and provide specific examples of how you used them in your previous or current roles.
• Use the STAR method to describe your achievements. The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, and it is a way of presenting your achievements in a clear, concise, and compelling way. For each achievement, you can briefly describe the situation or challenge that you faced, the task or goal that you had, the action or steps that you took, and the result or outcome that you achieved. You can also quantify your results with numbers, percentages, or other metrics, to show the impact and value of your work.
• Use a professional and modern format and design for your resume. Choose a layout that is easy to read, scan, and understand, and that highlights your most important information. Use a font that is clear, consistent, and appropriate for the industry and the position. Use bullet points, headings, subheadings, and white space to organize your content and make it visually appealing. Avoid using graphics, images, colors, or fancy fonts that may distract or confuse the reader.

To customize your cover letter, you can follow these tips:

• Address the hiring manager by name, and use a formal and respectful salutation. If you don’t know the name of the hiring manager, you can use a generic greeting, such as “Dear Hiring Manager”, “Dear Recruiter”, or “To Whom It May Concern”.
• Start with a strong and catchy opening paragraph, that grabs the reader’s attention and interest. In this paragraph, you can briefly introduce yourself, state the position you are applying for, and explain why you are interested in the company and the role.
• In the next paragraph, showcase your relevant skills, qualifications, and achievements, and how they match the requirements and expectations of the position. Use the keywords and phrases that you identified from the job description and the job posting, and provide specific examples of how you applied them in your previous or current roles. Use the STAR method to describe your achievements, and quantify your results with numbers, percentages, or other metrics, to show the impact and value of your work.
• In the final paragraph, restate your interest and enthusiasm for the position, and express your desire to discuss your application further in an interview. Thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration, and end with a professional and courteous closing, such as “Sincerely”, “Best Regards”, or “Yours Faithfully”.
• Keep your cover letter short, concise, and focused. Ideally, your cover letter should not exceed one page, and should have three to four paragraphs. Avoid repeating the information that is already in your resume, and focus on the most relevant and compelling points that make you a strong candidate for the position. Proofread your cover letter for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and tone, and make sure it is error-free and polished.