Nickle LaMoreaux, IBM’s chief human resources officer, has helped recruit thousands of job candidates since joining the tech giant more than 20 years ago. While there’s no such thing as a perfect interview, she remembers one applicant who came very close – thanks to the simple act of sending a thoughtful follow-up email with proof of their recent work.
As Lamoreaux recalls, she interviewed the candidate before IBM released its annual earnings report. While the candidate was “clear” and “well prepared” for their meeting, the hiring committee was still considering many applicants in their search.
But hours after the IBM report was made public, the candidate sent a game-changing email.
“They sent me a note outlining four key ideas about IBM from the report, from an outside perspective, and connected their previous experiences to asking about the different technologies we were producing at the time,” she says. CNBC Make It. “I was immediately impressed.”
The candidate got the job.
While you may not need to learn to read the earnings report for a land job, Lamoreaux says all applicants can boost their chances of getting a job by acting proactively and sending examples of their work to the hiring manager after the interview.
It’s even more impactful when you can connect your sample work to a project the company is currently working on, or a specific goal that the hiring manager has mentioned.
“There’s no such thing as seeing an actual piece of work, whether it’s a detailed presentation you put together for a meeting or a link to your online portfolio,” she says. “It’s substantial evidence that can help demonstrate that you are the right fit for the job.”
Another way to make a strong first impression during an interview: Ask how the company aims to live up to its business doctrine and how managers are working to improve certain aspects of the business.
“I love taking questions that are being asked deep in our organization,” says Lamoreaux. For example, a candidate once said to me, ‘You say IBM values transparency and diversity. Can you give me an example of how the company is working to achieve these goals? ”
You could also ask the interviewer if you could talk to a couple of “casual” new hires about their onboarding experience. Lamoreaux says such conversations will not only help you better assess the role and the company, but demonstrate a strong interest – and a willingness – to learn the ins and outs of the organization.
She adds that asking thoughtful questions and showing initiative shows that you’re “really engaged” during the interview and that you’re excited about the role — and one step closer to getting a job offer.
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