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:
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:
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
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.
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.
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
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:
Job-opportunity scams have risen with the growing level of unemployment. Below I explain how to spot them by analyzing an actual scam message that hoodwinked some recipients. It turns out that the scam message was sent from a real recruiter’s hacked LinkedIn account, which made this deception more believable
A powerful pitch, one that resonates with your target audience, can give your job search a big boost in this challenging economy. Employers and networking contacts will be impressed when you concisely and engagingly describe what differentiates you from your competitors. Plus the process of creating your pitch is, on its own, well worth your time; the deeply self-reflective thinking that’s required will help you to sell yourself. You’ll need two versions of your pitch:
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.