Interviews are a chance for job seekers to prove that they are the cream of the crop.

Ultimately, the goal is to leave a lasting impression that will result in you waking up to an email reading, “You’re hired!”

Yet, it’s not always an easy journey to those introductory words as the job market is flooded with candidates looking to be hired. Ninety-six percent of workers are looking to secure a new job in 2023, according to data released on Monster.com. What’s more, 66% of workers believe finding a new job will be difficult.

“This is phenomenally high,” even when set against the record highs of the “great resignation,” Vicki Salemi, career expert at Monster, said per CNBC.

Due to the fluctuating state of the economy, it is especially important to ensure that you stay sharp as you seek employment.

AfroTech spoke exclusively with Jade Walters, an employer brand specialist and the creator of the social platform The Ninth Semester, which focuses on Generation Z college students looking for entry-level positions. She talked about the best tips to increase your likelihood of being hired.

Do Your Research

On the day of your interview, while you are expected to respond to many questions, you should also be prepared with your own, Walters says. As a result, you will demonstrate your commitment to the company, and it will help you assess if the company is a good fit for your career goals.

“Interview them as much as they’re interviewing you,” Walters advised. “There are so many different questions that someone can ask. You can ask about work culture, the different ERG, how they support their diverse employees, or the day-to-day in your team. You can come up with at least five questions that show you really took the time to figure out if this role is meant for you.”

Utilize LinkedIn

LinkedIn can be a great resource that could give you additional leverage before your big day as well, she adds. If you have any projects that amplify your skills or show impact in your field, post regularly on the professional network. Recruiters may visit your page as they are looking to know more about you and how you may progress with the company.

“LinkedIn is really great especially because it’s a professional blog,” Walters said. “I get to talk about my professional wins, and I have all these posts and all this content. So, for future jobs when they’re looking me up and they’re looking to see what I’m about, they have all of this content about me and what I’ve done professionally on this page. So, if you have a LinkedIn profile, make sure it’s updated every time you get a new job or every time you have a new win.”

Look Into The Job Recruiter

The use of LinkedIn can be two-fold. While it can uncover more of your abilities and interests, it can also be helpful for you to find the recruiter who will be hiring for your position. Now, you have the chance to gain an edge over other candidates.

“I think LinkedIn is like that great place, especially if you have an interview coming up and you already know that interviewer’s name,” Walters told AfroTech. “Something I always do is look them up and try to view their career journey, what they’re doing at the company now, whether or not they had different roles in a company. Sometimes from there, I’m able to pull interview questions.”

She added, “Or If I see something that is relatable to both of us, I can bring that up and I can ask. In their head, they’re going to remember me as that candidate who did that research on them and we had that connection. You really have to do whatever you can to leave a lasting impression on them.”

Resumes Still Matter

The resume is a routine step in a job hiring process. AfroTech previously provided an in-depth piece on what to consider when crafting a resume, which you can refer to here.

Some recruiters may simply skim your resume, so being clear and concise should be consistent in the document. You want your impact in your previous roles to be clear. So be sure to quantify your experiences on your resume.

“Use as much numbers as possible,” Walters explained. “I know sometimes I’ve seen where people just use bullet points on their resume of the job description of the role that they do. If they could really like hone in on those numbers, say like you’re the social media manager and the social media pages experience this amount of growth and this amount of time, use those numbers. You want to show how you impacted your company, whether it’s through following increases or sales increases or just anything that’s beneficial.”