Atom Araullo has a surprising piece of advice on job hunting

In a recent episode of Adulting with Atom Araullo, the Kapuso journalist listed a few practical tips to help job hunters get ahead. There are, after all about 2.4 million Filipinos looking for a job.

He included a few things you may already know – double-check your CV and keep it short, "scrub" your social media accounts, be on time for your interview — and some you may have overlooked: be engaging with your job interviewer, ask questions, don't invent stuff on your resume, and network!

But perhaps the most surprising of the tips he mentioned was a personal one: “Don’t stand out too much, that is my personal tip”, journalist Atom Araullo said.

"Make sure you look good...maligo kayo obviously, maglagay ng konting pabango, pero 'wag masyado marami. Make sure that you look cool, that you stand out, but not too much," he continued.   

A Business Insider article called “The best and worst colors to wear to a job interview” perhaps echoes what Araullo said.

The article mentions how conservative colors like blue and black are the safest bet for a first-time meeting in a professional setting, such as a job interview, while "colors that signal more creativity like orange, may be too loud for an interview.”

Erica Trinidad, recruiting platform Kalibrr's advice blog content specialist, agrees with Araullo: "Job seekers should realize that landing the job isn't necessarily about making the strongest impression but more about making the right impression."

Trinidad brings up an important point: Context. Because if you're at a job fair where you're up against hundred others from all walks of life, then "standing out strongly could be to your advantage." 

Generally, she says, you don't want to be too pushy or disruptive, especially when following up your application. During interviews, you don't want to appear overconfident or arrogant.

Career coach Kitty Ferreria also weighed in on Araullo's interesting tip, and told GMA News Online: “You don’t want to come in as overbearing.  You want to still be sensible and respectful of the culture of the company you’re applying for,” she says.

But she provides a helpful counterpoint job seekers may want to keep in mind: Remain authentic to yourself. "Toning yourself down just to get the job or to fit into the company culture might not be sustainable in the long run," Ferreria says. "You might get the job by toning yourself down but you'll have to sustain that version of yourself while you're in the company. How happy are you going to be?"

A Forbes article called "Why You Didn't Get The Job — It's Not Just About Your Credentials" meanwhile mentions how applicants often get caught up in their "me-me-me". 

The article quotes Rehirement Coach Rafe Gomez: "Many times, candidates get caught up in the me-me-me aspects of their job search toolkits, adding impressive info to their resume and talking about their amazing credentials, experiences, and accomplishments. 

"But unless job seekers focus on the you-you-you aspects - specifically, how all of this info can benefit a potential employer - candidates will have an extremely difficult time getting hired, regardless of where they went to school, how awesome their resumes, and how much they sell themselves in an interview situation.'"

Pretty interesting insights, don't you think? — LA, GMA News