Maybe you're looking for work because you lost your job due to COVID, or maybe you have a job but are looking for something better. Whatever your situation, read on to learn three clear and practical strategies for turning your interviews into job offers.- Address the elephant in the room. In the case of job hunting, the “elephant” is any career weakness or challenge you feel you need to overcome in order to get the position. It could be a gap on your resume from when you were unemployed or took time off. Or maybe you have short job tenures. Maybe you are older and feel like you're facing age discrimination. Whatever your elephant is, I have an unconventional strategy for you: acknowledge it instead of trying to cover it up.
- Ask this one question at the beginning of your job interview. After greeting the employer, say this: “Before we get started, I want to thank you for inviting me here, and I'd like to ask you a quick question. What was it about my resume or application that stood out to you and prompted you to contact me for an interview?”
- Be a problem solver. Always try to present yourself as a problem solver, whether you’re writing your resume, networking, or interviewing. Employers have openings because they are looking to address specific needs and challenges, like increasing sales, hiring more people, creating new products, and improving productivity. It’s important to have a clear understanding of the employer’s problems and to show how you addressed similar issues for past employers. In your resume and during your interviews, use storytelling: give specific examples showing how you achieved outcomes similar to the ones the employer is seeking. Explain in detail how you effectively provided solutions. Storytelling is a very compelling tool in the job search. What stories do you plan to share?