How can you stand out in a hiring selection process?
I’ve been asked quite a few times in private messages about how to stand out during the hiring process at Automattic. I usually give the same advice, which I believe is not only useful for Automattic but valuable for any hiring process in general.
This is the same approach I followed over three years ago when I applied to Automattic and successfully got interviews:
1. Carefully read and fully understand the job description, responsibilities, requirements, and the skills needed for the role.
2. Thoroughly research the company to gain insights into its values, mission, and work culture.
3. Use your research to personalize your CV and cover letter. Show that you can perform deep research and apply your learnings by tailoring your application to the role.
4. Build or showcase your personal portfolio and link it on a personal webpage where the hiring team can explore your work. Make sure to highlight the portfolio clearly in your application so it stands out.
5. Select projects strategically — choose those that best demonstrate the skills listed in the job description.
6. Finally, make sure your written communication is exceptional. While technical skills are a key requirement, communication is equally important. If you can demonstrate both, you’ll be in a great position to move forward to the interview stage in most job postings.
I hope this helps! I’ll probably link to this post the next time someone asks me privately about how they can stand out in the hiring process.
Keep in mind that this works best when a human is reviewing your CV.
If the screening is done by AI, other tactics might be more effective — at least during the initial screening phase.
For example, using the job description as a cheat sheet and incorporating its keywords into your CV and application can improve your chances.
Consistency is key — I used to think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. I wish you the best of luck in your job hunt!
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