3 Tips for Job Seekers After Reviewing Over 125 Potential Candidates

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been interviewing candidates to work for the Professional Basketball Combine.
 
I originally announced the opportunity to join the PBC on a LinkedIn post, where I asked for people to comment their email addresses if they were interested. From there, we sent them an email discussing the opportunities and how to apply.
 
As the author of a career and life motivation book, it was only fitting that I viewed the process through the lens of someone who works in the career space. Throughout the process, I decided to keep track of the way people sent in their application,  how they communicated with me, and if/how they followed up.

What I found was fascinating. 

I had some people who never replied after the original email. 
 
I had some people who sent me a customized LinkedIn request and asked to learn more.
 
I had some people reach out and completely ignore the directions on the application.
 
I had some people who had no idea what the PBC was when they applied and didn’t even try to pretend they looked it up.
 
I had some people interview and then never follow up with me or say thank you.
 
What’s crazy about all of this is that almost all of the applicants were college students and beyond.
 
After looking through most of the applications for the Professional Basketball Combine, it’s clear that there is a huge discrepancy between the quality of candidates but more importantly there is a discrepancy of what people know when it comes to the job process.
 
There were some absolutely incredible applicants and they were the ones that moved on. There were many, though, who I wish had a bit more knowledge on how to present themselves as a candidate.
 
If you know someone who is going through the internship/job process, get them Elevate Beyond so they can be prepared to crush the journey and land their dream job.
 
Anyways, here are three tips that I wanted to share after going through the hiring process:

1. Do your research. Don't apply for a job without having any idea what the company does. At least be able to sound like you care about the company in your application or phone interview. What does research look like? Learn about the person who is interviewing you/hiring you. Learn about the company you are applying to work for. Learn about the industry. (Chapter 3 of Elevate Beyond)
2. Be proactive. Just commenting your email and waiting to receive an interview isn't enough. Take action and add me on LinkedIn with a customized request expressing your interest. The extra effort will be noticed and sometimes all you need is name recognition to stand out in someone's inbox.
3. Send a thank you email and follow up. It shows your genuine interest and gratitude and shows me what type of communicator you are. Not only did certain follow ups trigger me in a positive way, but it made me feel appreciated for taking time to interview someone. When you send a follow up email, not only are you thanking someone for taking the time to interview you, but you are keeping your name at the front of the interviewer’s mind.
   

 
In job hunting and in life, your relationships with people are everything. I know the process can be tough and challenging, but there are things you can do to stand out and improve your chances. 

This was an amazing experience and I hope these tips help you or someone you know in the future.
 
Please share this with someone you think can benefit from these tips!

Jake Kelfer is a bestselling author, high energy inspirational speaker and founder of the Professional Basketball Combine. He aims to inspire millions of people on their journey to achieving their own definition of success. His first book, Elevate Beyond, provides a framework for gaining an advantage in school, work and life. You can connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn or by emailing him at [email protected]. ​
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