This week’s Top Shelf Take focuses on seven simple ways job seekers can stand out in an interview—not by trying to be extraordinary, but by doing the basics exceptionally well.
David is an HR leader with 20 years of experience, small business owner, recruiter, content creator, and host of SpeakEasy HR.
He brings recruiting experience to highlight the importance of preparation, knowing your story, using real examples, listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, being authentically yourself, and following through professionally. He did this in one take and it's not perfect, it's authentic, and covers some amazing tips to help job seekers in 2026.
The episode is a practical reminder that great interviews are less about perfect answers and more about making it easy for an interviewer to understand who you are, what you bring to the table, and why you’re the right fit.
And there’s a bonus strategy for your job search that can make it easier for others to understand your career goals and advocate for you.
Know someone who’s currently looking for their next opportunity? Send this to them. They might just find their next job by doing the basics exceptionally well.
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[00:00:02] Welcome to Top Shelf Take from SpeakEasy HR presented by Payroll Partners. This is a quick take to cover one topic, share one perspective and give you one takeaway. And now your host, David Noe. Hey there and cheers to you. Welcome to another Top Shelf Take from SpeakEasy HR presented by Payroll Partners. I'm David Noe, an HR leader with 20 years of experience in recruiting and content creation and also host of SpeakEasy HR.
[00:00:30] Whether you're catching this on the way to work, walking your dog, picking up your kids from school or anything else, thanks for making Top Shelf Take part of your day. If you're new here, this is a quick take. We cover one topic, one perspective and try to give you one takeaway. So let's get into it. Standing out in an interview usually doesn't require doing something extraordinary. In fact, some of the candidates who stand out are some of the ones who do the basics better than anyone else.
[00:00:59] So today I am here to share seven simple ways to stand out if you are looking for a job in 2026. And I'll also share a bonus tip at the end that can significantly increase your chances of landing your next job. And before we get into them, let's make it clear this isn't about having the perfect resume, giving the perfect answers in an interview or trying to really impress someone with rehearsed speeches and answers with their really difficult questions.
[00:01:29] It's about preparation. It's about professionalism. It's about making it easy for the interviewer to understand who you are and what you are going to bring to the table. So, number one, do your homework. Know something about the company. Google them. Research them. Go on LinkedIn. See who's working there. Don't walk into an interview and not have any idea who you're talking to. You can hear and see a lot on the internet in this day and age.
[00:01:57] So, a little preparation can go a long way. Number two, know your story. Be able to connect the dots about who you are. What's your purpose? What's your why? What have you done? What you haven't done? What you're good at? What you're passionate about? Don't make the interviewer figure it all out from your resume. Number three, bring real examples. Not just one, several. Don't just tell me when you were a great leader, problem solved, or a team player. Show me.
[00:02:26] Demonstrate that in your answers and have real stories to tell. Number four, listen before you answer. Don't rush. Take a moment. Make sure you understand the question thoroughly. And if you need clarification, just ask. A thoughtful answer beats a fast answer that misses the point. And really do not make responses to questions five minutes long. You will lose the interviewee very quick. Number five, ask better questions.
[00:02:56] An interview should be a conversation about the role. You're seeing if it's a good fit for yourself, for the company, the team, and really want to know what success looks like in the company. So great questions can really tell an interviewer just as much about you as your answers. So really, ask great questions. Ask about their management style. Ask about the culture. Ask about what success will look like in this role. What will be a focus for the next 90 days and six months in this role?
[00:03:26] Number six, be yourself. Not AI. I cannot stress this enough. Show your genuine personality in the questions that you are being asked. And really use AI to prepare, research, practice. But don't let it create a version of you that doesn't exist if they were to hire you. At some point, the interviewer needs to meet the real you. Whether it's over the phone, virtual meeting, in person. And number seven, follow through. I cannot stress this enough.
[00:03:56] Do the email follow up. Send a personal thank you card in the mail. I never get these. Send it. It takes a little bit, a little money, but it goes such a long way. So professionalism, follow through. It stands out amongst the crowd and you will separate yourself from the competition. And here's the bonus idea. Create a simple one-page marketing plan. And when I say marketing plan, this is about your job search. Not your resume.
[00:04:24] It's going to help me know if I'm introducing myself to you as a contact personally through our networks. And we get introduced because you're looking for a job. I want to know what industries you're looking for. Company sizes. What kind of work environment. What kind of culture you're looking for. What kind of job titles you're applying for. What kind of companies you are targeting. You should have a list of companies that you want to potentially work for. So do your homework. Know your story.
[00:04:53] Have real examples. Listen. Be authentic. And ask great questions in interviews. And you will potentially land your next job. So this is this week's Top Shelf Take. I hope this helps you or anybody else that you know that's looking for a job in the market in fall of 2026. Until next time, this is your Top Shelf Take presented by Payroll Partners. Take care.
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