Lessons From the Perfect Candidate.

No one is perfect but I’ve met a candidate that came pretty close.

You can learn a lot from people that get hired. As a Recruiter I get a front row seat to the hiring process. I get to see what works and what doesn’t. I get to watch managers make hiring decisions everyday.

In this week’s post I’m going to share a story about “John” (not his real name). Hiring John was an easy decision. From start to finish he did everything right.

Let’s learn how!

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A Well-Written Message

Most messages I get are generic and low effort. They aren’t personalized and they usually don’t include any evidence of research. “Review my resume” - “pass on my application please” - “let’s jump on a call” - blah blah blah.

The message John wrote was much different. Here are things that stuck out:

• He did his homework on the company.

• He researched positions he qualified for.

• He didn’t demand my time but offered to follow up after applying.

• His message was enthusiastic and passionate.

• He gave compliments to me and the company.

• He didn’t sent an overly lengthy message. It was concise and to the point.

Networking

John understood the power of networking. Before even getting invited to interview, he was making connections on the team that was hiring. I remember hearing from a Dragos employee he had reached out to - “I don’t know this candidate personally but they’re really impressive. We should consider them”. John’s networking was not random. In this case he did enough research to understand the right person to connect with. This made a big impact.

A Great First Impression

John’s first call with me was memorable. He came prepared in more ways than one. He had done extensive research on the company, role, and team. He understood our tech and our mission. He also asked really thoughtful questions that showed he was interested and curious. I remember one in particular - “I did some reading on the Dragos culture and loved hearing about your core values. Which one do you like the most and why?”. What a thoughtful question! I recommended John to the team immediately and sure enough he was invited to interview.

Interview Prep

John was obsessed with preparing for interviews. He was committed to spending time getting ready. During our first call he asked me what he could do to prepare for the next meeting. I gave him some tips and he implemented them into his preparation. After each interview the team gave immediate, positive feedback. They did that because John performed extremely well.

Follow-up Emails / Engagement

John was consistent in his follow-up. He wasn’t overbearing but he was active. After each interview he would email the team with a thank you note and his thoughts on what they discussed. He would also email me expressing his continued interest. This showed that John wanted the job. It also showcased his communication skills and gratitude. All things that a company wants to see.

Portfolio

John showcased his skills further by sharing technical documentation and personal projects he had worked on. All of it was relevant to the role and this ultimately separated him from other candidate who didn’t bother putting in the extra work. I remember the hiring manager referencing this as being a big reason they picked him. “He didn’t tell us what he could do. He showed us”.

Closing Thoughts

I don’t recommend you copy exactly what John did but you should take away lessons from his actions. There are takeaways from everything he did. Next time you apply, contact a Recruiter, or interview, try incorporating some of these principles.

• Research

• Personalized, concise messages

• Targeted networking

• Interview prep

• Follow-up and continuous engagement

• Provide evidence of value through a portfolio, project, or past work