Could getting a job be as simple as just asking for it? For candidates who already feel like they’re begging to be hired, the idea might seem cringeworthy. But as Kim Thompson points out in a recent post at SF Gate, employers are far more likely to hire enthusiastic candidates than ones who seem like they can take the job or leave it.
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“Truth be told, even though it may feel as though the interview is one-sided with the power being in the hands of the employer, asking for the job does not make you less powerful; it makes you a confident candidate who is interested in contributing,” writes Thompson.
That doesn’t mean that you have to ask, in so many words, that they give you the job. Instead, Thompson suggests that candidates ask for the job all the way through the interview, by listening and asking the right questions. (Which is easier to do, if you’re really processing the information the hiring manager is giving you, instead of nervously waiting for your chance to speak.)
How Do You Ask Without Asking?
1. Prepare, but don’t stick to a script.
Do your research on the company and the position ahead of time, and practice giving thoughtful answers to interview questions, as well as formulating questions of your own. Don’t, however, get bogged down in how things were supposed to go, if you get new information.
2. Show results.
Whenever possible, show the interviewer how you’ve solved problems (or improved products, or made your old employers money) by something you’ve done. The STAR technique is an easy way to frame your accomplishments.
3. Ask for next steps.
At the end of the interview, ask what comes next in the hiring process. And remember your part: a thank-you note or email shows your continued interest in the job. Plus, good manners are always a selling point.
Tell Us What You Think
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DRF has missed the point of the article. Doing research is as easy as going to the employer’s web site and learning about the company. Ask yourself the who, what, why, and where questions when studying the web site. For example, memorize a few key points of the company’s history. The idea of asking for the job is all about attitude and preparation.
Yet another job search article that says “do research” with no details on what kind of information should be pursued or where to find it.
This article has a misleading title. Finding out that literally asking for a job can make a difference in an interview would have been news to me. The idea that interviewers want smiles and enthusiasm is not news at all.