By Nancy Karas, GetFive Certified Coach
Starting a job search can be as terrifying as jumping out of an airplane. Throwing yourself into the unknown is scary. But all skydivers know that if you’re about to jump, you need to make sure your parachute is ready. Well in the job hunting world, knowing how to turn interviews into offers is your parachute.
Interviewing requires the same type of preparation, focus and follow up as leaping from a plane, but it doesn’t have to be so fear-inducing. GetFive Methodology is a proven, research-based approach to job hunting that will help you be smart and organized throughout your search.
Keep in mind these four fundamentals to ace your next interview:
Learn as much as you can about the organization and the position.
Research the company as much as possible before going into the interview. What are its goals and mission? Who are its competitors? What is happening in the industry? During the interview, be proactive in asking questions based on your research. Share examples of how you can apply your expertise in this specific situation.
Learn as much as you can about the people interviewing you.
Do everything in your power to get the names and titles of the people you’ll be meeting with. You’ll likely find their information on LinkedIn. See if you can find any information to bring up during the interview to create a personal connection.
Ask about your competition and your weakness.
You can definitely ask if the hiring manager has any reservations about hiring you. “Is there anything about my background that would make you hesitant to hire me?” is a good way to phrase it. Ask if they have identified any candidates who are a good fit for the position and where you stand among them. You’ll also want to ask how close they are to making a decision.
Send an influencing letter.
The key to turning an interview into an offer comes is all about your follow up. Continue to build a relationship with the hiring manager with an influencing letter. In your letter you’ll be able to smooth over anything that didn’t go well in the interview or answer any questions that left you tongue-tied. Demonstrate that your credentials and your interest in the position make you the right fit for the job. This will surely set you apart from your competition.
Don’t wait for the job offers to come to you. Follow these techniques from GetFive and get out there to secure your dream job.
Nancy Karas brings 20 years of corporate business expertise and over 15 years of coaching experience through her private practice to GetFive as both a Master Coach and as the SVP of Business Development. Nancy has held various senior management positions and served as a senior consultant to Fortune 500 companies as well as to various small and mid-sized companies.
