How To Turn Job Interviews Into Job Offers

This article was updated on August 2, 2017

Have you ever come out of an interview thinking you nailed it only to receive a polite rejection a day or week later?  Maybe your resume was the perfect fit and that call back came in lightning fast but you still didn’t manage to score the position.  Perhaps even your mom, coworkers and professionals friends all thought you were a shoe-in but, alas, still no job.

It turns out that it isn’t always the most qualified candidate that gets the job offer.  Instead, employers tend to flock towards candidates who demonstrate an in depth understanding of the common problems and obstacles facing the position, and in turn offer up solutions to overcome them.

Real World Example

The best way to demonstrate a successful approach to turning interviews into offers is with scenario specific advice.  If you’re applying for a customer service management position, for example, you should be sure to commiserate with the interviewer the difficulties in addressing irate customers and talk about ways you’ve deescalated situations in the past.  When applying for a compliance position, be sure to point out the push and pull between business generation and reducing risk and liability.

Why This Works

When it comes right down to it, for any job opening there are numerous qualified applicants all vying for a single open position.  Similar education, background and experience will place everyone pulled to interview on an even playing field.  Qualified candidates may shine on paper, but fail to stand out from the crowd in the interview if they don’t demonstrate not only knowledge of their field, but a deeper understanding of the big picture impact on their new potential employer.  Identifying common issues allows you to commiserate and to show off your ability to think beyond the skills and tasks at hand.

Nobody Actually Likes Interviews

Whether it’s the interviewer or the interviewee, no one actually enjoys sitting at a table and getting quizzed/asking questions for hours on end.  Traditional interview questions can often leave both parties bored and can create an unmemorable interview experience.  The less of an impact you make on the interviewer, the lower your chances of scoring that job over a candidate who managed to engage with their potential new employer.

It’s All in the Questions

Demonstrating your skill set and understanding of the larger issues facing your employer isn’t as difficult as it would seem.  One of the best methods of showing off your understanding is by asking thoughtful and in depth questions.  Identify a common

Martin Yate CPC, is the NY Times bestselling author of Knock em Dead The Ultimate Job Search Guide, and Secrets & Strategies For Success. As Dun & Bradstreet says, “He’s really just about the best in the business.” www.knockemdead.com