Everyone will tell you what to put on your CV.
Your credentials. Your experience. Your technical skills. Your achievements.
All of that matters. It will get you considered and, hopefully, get you into the room.
But what happens when another ten people have similar skills and experience?
This is where how you show up becomes important.
Think about someone you have worked for, been taught by or met briefly who had a real impact on you. Do you remember their qualifications, or do you remember the way they made you feel about yourself, your work or what might be possible?
People won’t remember every detail of a conversation. They will remember whether you listened, whether you were interested and whether they could imagine having you in their team.
Give people something to connect with
I come from a hairdressing background, and in my experience, making an impression has an impact.
As a hairdresser, your technical ability matters. But it isn’t the only reason a client returns. They come back because of the whole experience. They remember whether you understood them, made them feel comfortable and gave them confidence in the result.
The same applies in other industries, including tech.
I would never be so presumptuous as to think everyone I meet is going to remember my name. They might, however, remember what I was wearing, something I said or the energy I brought into the room.
I don’t dress particularly wildly, but if I’m speaking on stage, attending an important meeting or pitching for a piece of work, I will usually wear something slightly different. Something that still feels like me but gives people a detail to remember.
How often have you forgotten someone’s name but remembered them as the person with the red glasses, the brilliant shoes or the person who asked the really interesting question?
This isn’t about dressing for attention or creating a character. What you wear is only one example. You could be known for explaining complicated information clearly, staying calm when a project becomes difficult or noticing the issue everybody else has missed.
Being memorable starts with understanding what you naturally bring to a room.
Be intentional before you walk in
Before I go into a meeting, stand on a stage or pitch for a piece of work, I visualise how I want it to go.
I think about how I want to feel, how I want the other people to feel and what I want the energy in the room to be like.
Then I show up as that person.
You might think that sounds a little woo-woo, but I urge you to try it because it works.
Before your next interview, take five minutes and ask yourself:
- How do I want to feel when I enter the room?
- How do I want the interviewer to feel while speaking to me?
- What do I want them to understand about me?
- How would I behave if I already believed I belonged there?
Picture yourself walking in, speaking clearly, listening properly and having a conversation. This works online too. People can still tell whether you are present, interested and connected through a screen.
Let them meet the person behind the CV
Prepare properly. Understand the company and be ready to talk about your contribution, rather than only listing the responsibilities you have held.
But don’t become so focused on delivering the perfect answer that the interviewer never gets to meet you.
Ask thoughtful questions. Show interest in the people as well as the role. Let them see how you think, communicate and respond.
Your CV can prove that you have the experience to do the job.
The person they meet will help them decide whether they want you to do it.
