Seal the Deal in the Final Interview
November 2011
Getting to the all important final interview could mean you are well on your way to receiving a job offer. Here’s how to handle yourself during these vital moments:
Final Interview Prep:
- Study the Players: You will likely be meeting with people you have not seen on previous interviews. Try to find out what the agenda is and if possible, get a list of names. Google them, of course, but also go to the company website and read their bios, see if they are on LinkedIn or Facebook, or if you can follow them on Twitter. Remember, their agenda may be different than the person you will be working for.
- Focus on the Now: Go over your accomplishments and achievements and be prepared to document how there is a direct link between 1) where you have expertise and 2) solving their short-term problems. Companies will go on about their desire to build toward the future and hire talent that will complete this lofty vision, but in the end, in the majority of situations, companies hire short-term solutions to short-term problems.
- Role-play concerns about your candidacy: This is not the time to rationalize or make excuses for your shortcomings or hope they don’t come up; they will. Open the closet, look at the skeletons inside, and be prepared to answer their questions. Remember, this is a final prep. They already like you, and they are already predisposed to believing whatever you tell them as long as it sounds and feels authentic.
End the Interview with the Big Ask: “I want the job.” Don’t leave this to chance. Companies want to know where you stand. And if they are torn between two candidates, a deciding factor is often who wants the job more. Their reasoning is simple: the one who wants the job more will work harder. Here’s exactly what to say when you ask for the job: ‘I want to thank you for your time today, and make it very clear that I’d like this position. Do you have any concerns about my candidacy that I can answer before you make your decision?’
Waiting for the Offer: This is the hardest part of the process, and it may take some time; it usually does. There is no hidden meaning in the delay.
Recieving an Offer: An offer is two things: it is obviously an offer for work, but it is also a test of your enthusiasm. Remember when a company makes an offer, it is the corporate equivalent of saying “I love you.” When you tell someone you love them, you don’t want to hear, “Thanks a lot, I appreciate that, let me think about it for a few days, and review my options.” By the time of an offer, you should be able to give an answer immediately: yes or no.
Adapted from Harper’s Rules: A Recruiter’s Guide to Finding a Dream Job and the Right Relationship, by Danny Cahill; Greenleaf Book Group Press 2011
So what do you do when you GET THE JOB?
- Call your parents, friends and references and tell them the good news—after all, they have supported you and will want to know about your success.
- Assess your closet! Do you have the right clothes for your new job? If you can afford it, treat yourself to a few new outfits that will help set the tone for those first impressions you’ll soon be making!
- Create a budget and stick to it! You know what your salary will be. Organize your expenses into a spreadsheet and figure out how much spending money you will have after rent and bills.
- Do something special! Grab your best friends, dress up and go out for a night on the town to celebrate your new job—you deserve it!