How to Ask for the Job

By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter explains how to ask for the job at the end of your interview.

“If You Need a Friend Get a Dog.”

I’m Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter and today we’re going to talk about ending the interview and asking for the job. Now, asking for the job is one of those classic pieces of advice that recruiters offer and no one really explains how to ask for the job. You never want to go into that situation by saying, please give me the job.

I really want the job or anything that could be interpreted in that way. Instead, asking for the job is really a euphemism for expressing interest. So, I don’t think it’s appropriate at the end of the interview to say things like, I just . . . I would be a perfect fit for this job.

You know, when are you going to hire me or words of that effect or anything that could be interpreted in that same way. Instead, you want to express interest. So, at the very end, when they have the opportunity and they say to you and this is the signal that they’re wrapping up, so is there anything else or are there any other points that you want to make or something that indicates the wrap-up to the interview.

I think the smoothest way to do it and it has to be smooth is to simply say, I just want you to know how interested I am in this role. Have I answered all your questions? Is there anything else you know in order to feel comfortable with me in this role? Is there anything that’s left unaddressed that you might want to ask me? So, in this way, you’ve given them one more cut at asking you questions and you’ve also expressed interest. And, again, when they say, no, I think I’ve gotten everything.

Great! What would the next step be in the hiring process and when might I expect to hear back from you in one way or another? Well, I expect we’re going to finish first round interviews next week. We’ll be back to you right after that. As things stand now, how do I rank? Because, again, I’m very interested.

Now, that’s a very blunt question and it requires that they give you a candidate assessment. To me, it’s best that you know right then and there but you don’t have to necessarily be that blunt if you’re not comfortable with it. You can simply, again, say, and I want to be clear, I am very interested in this role and I look forward to hearing from you about next steps in the process.

If I heard correctly and I know this isn’t, you know, cast in stone because sometimes there are cancellations and reschedules but I might expect to hear back from you at the end of next week. Yes. Terrific! Thank you so much.

I look forward to meeting you again and other people on the team. Again, the idea is to express interest. I happen to like that question about where do I rank in the process because I’d rather have you get honest feedback than the kind of BS where they don’t respond back right away and it delays and it delays and you’re holding out hope and sometimes people make the mistake of freezing other interviews and waiting for that one thing.

You keep going out there and interviewing until you have the offer in hand because otherwise, you can get caught short. You can be misled by someone who doesn’t have the courage to be honest with you and, again, if they say to you, you did really well or you rank very highly, they’re still not committing themselves to you but at least you’re getting good feedback saying you interviewed well. There may be reasons why they choose someone else that include differences in compensation, personality and fit and a variety of other things but at least for now you’re getting feedback that you interviewed well.

So, again, to me, the best way to ask for the job is to simply say, you know, I just want you to know how interested I am in this role. What would the next steps be like? When would I expect to hear back? How do I rank amongst the other people that you’ve interviewed? So, this is Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter. I hope you found this video helpful.

If you did and you’re watching on YouTube, share it. Leave a comment. Click the like button.

Do something that indicates that this is worthwhile for you. I also want to encourage you to come over to my website which is TheBigGameHunter.us. I have lots of great content including all my youtube videos, podcasts of Job Search Radio and No BS Job Search Advice Radio. 

Take care!

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