The conversation flowed seamlessly and felt easy. You were both obsessed with tennis growing up, and you even both dislike kale – even though you know it’s good for you. You had a perfect first date. But at the end, he didn’t even ask for your number. Baffled, you write it off as his loss and jet off on a girl’s weekend to shake it off.
What gives? It all seemed perfect, but you still haven’t heard from him two weeks later. You want to pretend like you don’t care, but you really do. Because you liked him, and you felt like it was a perfect fit.Have you ever thought that perhaps you didn’t seem interested enough, so your date got deflated and didn’t have the guts to ask you out again?This happens in so many cases, and both women and men have no idea that their date actually wanted to get their number and ask them on a second date, but didn’t have the confidence.
A similar sequence often happens after job interviews: You have a great conversation with the hiring manager and feel like you have it in the bag. Then you hear crickets. Nothing. If you had a fantastic interview but didn’t land the position, I have answers.The number one most-probable reason you didn’t land the job is because you simply didn’t seem interested enough. You have to be so enthusiastic that you almost ASK for the job directly.
Today I’m going to take you through a 6-step process to increase your chances of landing your dream job after an A+ interview. We’ll talk about the interview process itself in another article.
STEP ONE
Articulate the match.
At the end of a great interview, once you’ve learned more about the position, you should state or restate the specific reasons the job is perfect for you. Base your answers on what you learned from the hiring manager, and how it matches your specific skill-set.
STEP TWO
Show them how you can solve their problems, and that you really want the job.
Want to really stand out? Give them some quick ideas on the tasks you’d be responsible for in the role. Show, don’t tell – meaning, don’t just say, “I could really make a difference in your sales.” Instead, say, “Based on what you’ve told me and my track record at my previous company, I could increase your bottom line by 20%. I would do it by tweaking the sales process to fit your ideal client more specifically, and revamping the copywriting strategy. Using these tools at my last company, we saw a 20% increase over six months.”
STEP THREE
After you’ve demonstrated the specific ways you’re an ideal fit for the job, you need to express your explicit desire for the job and close the sale, so to speak.This should begin after your first interview and continue after each interview. As you learn more and more about the role, you should keep bringing the conversation back to your skillset, exactly how it fits with what the manager has just shared with you, and your enthusiasm for the role.
STEP FOUR
Be genuine and real, and share how interested you are and in what specific ways you can picture yourself being successful in the role.
You could say something like, “After learning X, Y, and Z, I’m even more interested in this opportunity than I was prior to our meeting.” And then continue to give more specifics on exactly how your talents fit the position.
After you highlight the ways you’re a great fit, you should always follow up with questions – step four. This shows the manager you’re truly interested and not just looking for a steady paycheck. Be curious and excited, without interrogating them.Ask how they feel your skills fit their needs, and if there’s anything you might be missing. You could even say something like, “Is there any reason you don’t see me being a fit for this role?” This is a wonderful opportunity to collect valuable feedback and address concerns wherever possible.
STEP FIVE
Ask the hiring manager what the next steps are.
This shows that you’re interested and engaged, plus, their answer will be very telling. If they’re vague, it might mean they’re not interested. On the other hand, if they give you concrete next steps, it’s likely they’re very interested in having you on the team.You know how you make hazy, tentative plans with people you don’t really want to spend time with, but super solid, specific plans with your best friends? Everyone’s done it at least once, and the same pattern can happen when you’re interviewing. If the hiring manager doesn’t give you specific next steps, it might not be an ideal fit – whether they tell you directly or not.
STEP SIX
Follow Up.
Last, make sure to collect business cards and follow up with a thank-you note – and yes, handwritten on beautiful stationary is best.
Ok – let’s recap how you can increase your chances of landing your dream job after a great interview.1) At the end of the interview share the specific reasons your skills match the position
2) Show the hiring manager how you can solve their problems, and give some quick applicable ideas3) Express your explicit desire for the position and close them.
4) Ask questions
5) Make sure you ask the hiring manager for next steps, and pay close attention to how they answer
6) Exchange business cards and send thank-you notes
I hope this 6-step system was helpful for you, and you’re feeling excited for your next interview!
Which part of the interview process is a challenge or frustration for you? Share with us by commenting below.
