Interviewing

5 Proven Ways to Turn Indifference into a Job Offer

by Robert Hellmann •Getting Interviews, Interviewing, Job-Search Strategy

Hiring leader yawning while interviewing job seeker — _{Careful planning can turn this around | Shutterstock}

You landed an introduction to a hiring decision-maker through a mutual connection. Now the person across the table is being perfectly pleasant—and barely paying attention. There’s no open role; they’re doing someone a favor. This nice conversation is going nowhere, and a job offer is out of reach.

A client of mine sat in exactly that chair. He was in a C-suite search, and a connection had opened the door to a meeting with the CEO of a middle-market company. With no posting and no mandate, my client could tell right away that the CEO’s attention was somewhere else.

How to Spot Job Search Scams and Protect Yourself

by Robert Hellmann •General, Getting Interviews, Interviewing, Job-Search Strategy

Job Search Scam Artist — ^{Too good to be true? | Shutterstock}

Job search scams are rising with the growth of AI; more of my job-search clients, from the C-suite on down, are being approached with convincing scam opportunities. Below, I explain how to spot them by analyzing an actual scam message that hoodwinked some recipients. This scam message was sent using a real recruiter’s hacked LinkedIn account, which made the deception more believable (note: if you ever suspect your LinkedIn account has been hacked, get help here).

You Nailed the Interview. Here’s How to Get the Offer

by Robert Hellmann •Interviewing

You spent hours researching the company, rehearsed your answers, and asked smart questions. You walked out of the interview feeling like you nailed it.

Then you sent a thank-you email. Something like: “It was great to meet you. I’m very excited about the opportunity and look forward to next steps.”

And just like that, you missed a huge opportunity to close the deal.

An Interview Prep Checklist to Stand Out from Competitors

by Robert Hellmann •Interviewing

Interview: two business people seated, shaking hands — SHUTTERSTOCK

When I help clients (from the C-suite on down) to prepare for an interview, we dive into their pitch, persuasive stories, challenging questions, and more, often via a mock interview. Sometimes, though, there isn’t enough time before an interview to schedule this prep, so I send them a customized version of the following interview preparation checklist:

3 Reasons to Turn Down a “Good” Job Offer

by Robert Hellmann •Interviewing, Job-Search Strategy, Negotiation, On-the-job Success

Accepting the wrong offer can cost you dearly despite a big compensation package. As one client put it: “I should never have accepted their offer; it was a toxic environment and I was not set up for success, but I was blinded by the money and prestige.” You can reduce the odds of accepting the wrong job offer by asking yourself three questions:

Planning a Career Pivot? Become the Perfect Candidate

by Robert Hellmann •Career Change, Getting Interviews, Interviewing, Job-Search Strategy

Sandcastle dreaming of being perfect — You can be the perfect candidate | SHUTTERSTOCK

If you’re using your job search to land a more senior position or shift gears into a new industry or role, you may face a disadvantage; you will be competing with candidates already established in similar positions, so you won’t appear to be the perfect candidate.

The key to overcoming this perception lies in three crucial strategies: first, sound like an insider in your chosen

Top 5 Reasons Your Job Search is Taking Too Long

by Robert Hellmann •Getting Interviews, Interviewing, Job-Search Strategy

Looking for a job can be an arduous process; even the most experienced executives can feel frustrated. Understanding the underlying reasons for slow progress can help you jump-start your results. Below are actionable strategies that address the top five drivers of long searches, so you can start landing more interviews and offers.

Hearing Crickets After a Job Interview? Here’s What to Do

by Robert Hellmann •Getting Interviews, Interviewing

Turn post-interview silence into an offer

Many jobseekers are too quick to write-off opportunities if they experience radio silence after an interview. A typical example: “My last interview was three weeks ago and I haven’t heard anything, I guess they’re not interested” (this jobseeker actually ended up receiving an offer). You can both avoid having to guess their intentions and improve your odds of landing an offer by taking the following steps.

How to Turn a Job Interview “No” into a “Yes”

by Robert Hellmann •Interviewing, Negotiation

Interview candidate being offered the job — Get the offer by following up the “right” way

The email you send right after an interview can make all the difference between landing an offer and getting rejected. Think of your followup not as a thank-you note, but rather as an “Impact Email”; after reflecting on the interview, use the followup as an opportunity to really make your case. Ideally, send one email to each person you met with, tailoring the content to the specific conversation.

The content should influence the interviewer’s decision-making based on what you learned

How To Beat Age Bias In Your Job Search: 4 Techniques

by Robert Hellmann •Getting Interviews, Interviewing, Job-Search Strategy

For the first time in nearly 50 years in the U.S., the unemployment rate for 55-and-older workers exceeded the rate for mid-career workers during the pandemic. The relative jump in this rate underscores the age-related challenges that older workers face in getting hired. If you fall into this group, there’s good news: you can usually overcome age-related barriers to being hired relatively easily.

To do so, understand this key insight: you’re usually not facing age-bias per se. Rather, you’re facing underlying issues that employers think about when they compare you to the younger competition. These issues include:

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