FastTrack: 55 Ways to Get a Great Job Fast
by Angela Brown © 2007 Continued

Ask Them to Hire You

Many qualified candidates never ask for the job. If a company is hiring, and you feel you are qualified, ask the interviewer open-ended questions that lead you to being hired.

Such questions include:

“From our short time together wouldn’t you agree we’re a good team? Where do we go from here?”

“After speaking with you I’m excited about working with you and your company, what else do you need from me before to get started?”

“This sounds like the exact company I want to work for, and I’m willing to give this position my heart and soul, will you give me a chance?

“How soon do you need this position filled?…Great, that works out for me too…Let’s plan then on Monday the 17^th and we’ll get started.”

“I know you are a busy CEO with lots of responsibilities – and looking for the perfect person for this job, and I’m here to be that perfect person, take over some of those worries off your mind. (And then hold out your hand to congratulate the CEO on having found a new hire.)

Negotiate Your Salary

• When you are offered a job and a figure for a salary has been suggested, it is time for you to put on your best poker face.
  


• Don’t show any emotion at all. Simply say, “Thank You, I’d like to think about it.”
  


• Negotiations usually do not begin until after the second or third interview and after the rules for employment have been established.
  


• Remember that MOST salaries can be negotiated. So can time off, vacation time, flextime, benefits, holidays, overtime, travel, office environment and computer set up. Get clear in your head about what you need and then come back with your counter offer.

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Job Travel

• If you are willing to travel with the job you are seeking, or even relocate, clearly state so upfront. Many people want to stay home with their families and your ability to travel may be the calling card you need for the job.
  


• Be sure to specify upfront what percentage of your time you are willing to travel (i.e. 30%, 60%, 90%)

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Responsibilities & Reporting

• Find out upfront what the description of the job is.
  


• What the expectations of your role are.
  


• How you will report your progress, and to whom.
  


• It would be really awful to get a job and not know whom your direct boss is, or what exactly you are supposed to be doing from 9 to 5 each day.
  


• Save yourself the scrambling and embarrassment to find out these details up front.

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Rejection Proof

• Learn to deal with rejection. If you are sending out resumes, many people will tell you no.
  

• Realize that a rejection means now is not the time. It does not mean no forever.
  

• Ask the person who rejected you if you can keep in touch.
  


• Ask for a referral, “After consideration of my skills and experience, who do you recommend I see or speak with next?”

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Walk Away

• If you are interviewed and you realize that you and the company you are interviewing with are not a good fit, be confident enough to suggest that you are not the candidate they are looking for.
  


• Thank them for taking time out of their schedule to interview you.
  
• Wish them good luck in finding the right person and leave. Don’t waste any more of their time.

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Continued

Angela Oberer © 2008, Oberer is the author of the "Be Well Series".  You can send your questions and comments to her at: Angela@WordsofWellness.com