Part 3: How to Land Your Dream Job in A Global Pandemic: A 3-Part Guide with a Professional Career Coach
After a strategic, diligent job search, it’s no surprise when the next chapter of your job success story finally begins: an invitation to interview and, possibly, a job offer.
Of course, most companies are speaking with 10 or more candidates as they seek the right person for the role, so it’s still time to focus and plan. But don’t despair: you’ve beat out hundreds of other candidates and have a potential employer’s attention.
Now, it’s time to learn how to go from interviewee to new employee. In the third part of this job hunt success series, you’ll build your interview confidence and have a few helpful strategies to use when it’s time to accept an offer.
Luiz: When someone gets invited to interview, what’s the most useful thing they can do?
Angie: It may sound obvious, but practice, practice, practice! Especially if you haven’t interviewed in a while, you need to brush up on your interview skills. That means rehearsing the most common interview questions, even seemingly simple ones like: tell me about yourself or why are you interested in this role?
Write out and strategize what you want them to know about you. Think about why it will benefit the company to hire you, not just why you want to work there, similar to how you thought about your cover letter and resume content. Try to come up with concise answers that you can deliver in 2 minutes or less… otherwise you may lose their attention.
You don’t want to become robotic or memorize your answers, but you don’t want to “wing it” either. I often advise my clients to practice out loud and recruit a friend or family member to play the role of an interviewer. Or, just record yourself on your phone and share it with someone you know for their feedback.
Eventually, your answers will sound more polished and you won’t be scrambling in the interview for words.
Luiz: What do you wish more candidates knew going into their interview?
Angie: Most people perceive that the power is all within the hands of the company doing the hiring. That may be true sometimes, but candidates should know that companies often spend months finding the right candidate. Sometimes, they spend tens of thousands on recruiters to fill a role — or never find a candidate at all. Especially in high-demand roles, employees have a surprising amount of leverage.
You should know that you’re vetting your next role just as much as they’re vetting you. It’s better to find out in the interview stage whether or not this position is right for you, so don’t hesitate to enter an interview with confidence — and maybe some healthy skepticism.
Luiz: What if you know there are going to be some red flags or concerns that come up during the interview? Maybe you had a short tenure in the past or you’re making an uncommon change in career, something you’ll need to defend.
Angie: Everyone wants to sound like they’re the perfect candidate in an interview, but a seasoned interviewer is always able to find something in a resume or skill set to bring up. Sometimes it’s just to see how the candidate responds to pressure or can defend their decision. So, know that anyone going into an interview can face pushback.
If you know there is something about your application which presents a red flag, proactively address it. You’re better talking about it openly and honestly than having a hiring manager spot the red flag on their own — and not having you in front of them to talk through it. Sometimes the impressiveness of showing vulnerability and understanding will actually overshadow whatever the red flag was.
Your interview is your one chance to really explain yourself and help them see things from your perspective.
Luiz: Quite often, an interviewer will turn the tables and ask the candidate what questions they have about the role or company. What’s the best way to approach this?
Angie: First of all, absolutely ask questions; if you don’t, it will seem like you’re not interested or prepared! You should have at least 5 open-ended questions prepared ahead of time, questions that show you’re thoughtful and curious about the role.
This is a perfect time to ask things like: do you have any reservations about my fit for the role? What does success in this role look like — and what opportunities exist beyond this position? Who works well within the team and what can I expect from a typical work week?
When they respond, it’s helpful to connect their answers back to your qualifications or experience. For example, if they say this role is going to depend upon someone who can communicate across cultures, express your excitement and mention the project you coordinated between 5 European countries, perfectly preparing you for this new opportunity.
The question-asking portion of the interview is a crucial time to flex your communication skills, which is valuable in any role. Just about anyone can enter an interview with some rehearsed answers, but it shows even more promise if you can engage with and converse with the person leading the interview.
Luiz: What’s something that really counts during the interview period that someone may not think about?
Angie: If you really want to make an impression — and you do — make sure to get the email address of each person you interview with. Send them a thoughtful thank you email within a few hours of the interview ending.
For even more impact, mention some specific topics or ideas that went over well, like some of your qualifications or a company value you appreciate. Show you were really engaged in the conversation — and that you’re available for additional conversations.
Luiz: Finally — or hopefully — they come back to you and say: great, we’d like to offer you the job! What’s next then?
Angie: Well, it’s definitely an exciting part of the job search. But it’s also a time to be patient and thoughtful and not just say ‘yes’ to the offer. If you are excited by the role, express your interest — and then ask for time to do some thinking. Review the salary and benefits package they offer you… which is something a career coach can help you with, by the way.
I’m always a fan of negotiating a job offer because most companies have a salary range they can offer, not a fixed rate. This is often one of the best times in your career to leverage a raise.
When you do counter, help them understand why you’re worth more. Explain the impact you’ll bring to the role and make it sound as if the extra salary you’re asking for is, in fact, a bargain for what you’ll contribute.
Luiz: And is salary the only thing to negotiate?
Angie: I’m glad you brought that up. No, there are dozens of things you can negotiate! I’ve seen clients negotiate everything from stock options to vacation days to remote work locations to their title.
Luiz: Angie, I know some people are going to hear this and think: no way, if someone offers me a job, I’m not going to risk it with negotiations… I’m just going to accept and get started. What would you say to them?
Angie: I understand the hesitation, especially if there’s been a long gap between jobs. But job offer negotiations happen all the time, even if you’re not aware it’s a common practice. It’s a business transaction.
This is really your one opportunity to define what you get from this role. It might be your best chance at a substantial raise or title change. Or, it might be the perfect time to transition to remote work or start gaining equity in a company.
Best case scenario? You get the money or benefits you want. The worst case scenario? They tell you no — but you’ve shown you’re a competent professional who isn’t afraid to negotiate. In fact, in some industries or positions, not negotiating your offer might be seen as a mistake.
Ultimately — and I’ve never seen it happen — if a company pulls an offer because you asked for what you needed and backed it up with good reason how great of a workplace or company culture is it, really? In the rare event that this ever happens, it might be a blessing.
Luiz: That’s a great point. Well, Angie, thanks for chatting about this and contributing so much enthusiasm and expertise. I hope folks who have read along have some solid job hunting strategies and feel more confident in their search.
If you have any questions for Angie, feel free to leave them in the comments below.
