How to Turn a Potential Job Rejection into a Job Offer

How to Turn a Potential Job Rejection into a Job OfferHow to Turn a Potential Job Rejection into a Job OfferWhen it comes to job interviews, no doubt most of us have had an experience where we just felt like things werent going to work out. But, as with most experiences, it might not be too late to turn things around. This includes turning a potential job rejection into a job offer.Crazy, right? Not really. So long as you are willing to do the work to turn the experience around before the official rejection letter makes it to your inbox, theres still hope. According to the recent Forbes article Turn a Rejection into a Job Offer, its suggested that with persistence, a good attitude, and careful follow-up you can turn the situation around in your favor.Here are six ways to turn a potential job rejection into a job offer.Know the employers needs.If you show up to an interview and dont have any questions to ask, you are asking for a rejection. Employers want you to ask questions, and a g ood way to get the offer put on the table is to ask about the employers needs. During the interview, ask about the roles challenges or issues. Then, make sure to provide a concrete plan for how you would address the issues.Address concerns and reservations quickly.Most people feel uncomfortable asking interviewers about their rejection. However, asking about any reservations the employer might have is a great way for you to address them before you walk out the door. By asking what the employers reservations are about you, you can turn those negative feelings around.Ask how you compare.You know you have competition, right? Why not ask the employer how you stack up against the other candidates? Asking, where you stand in relation to your competition, creates the opportunity for you to prove to the hiring manager you are the one they want.Send an influence letter, not a thank you.While a thank-you note is an essential part of the interviewing process, if you feel that you have taken yo urself out of the running, an influence letter will be a better tactic. This letter should be written to address any doubts the employer has about you while showing your worth. Things to includeSuccess and wertzuwachs in past jobsHow you can meet the employers needsAttach a few endorsementsAnalyze the interview chemistry.Sometimes people click, and then other times they dont. If your interview chemistry is off, try shifting your attitude and style. Rather than expecting the interviewers to see your way, shift your focus to conform to theirs.Get help.Yes, it is okay to ask for help. In your follow-up communications, ask others for advice or to review your writing materials. Having outside perspectives and fresh ideas can make a huge difference.Even if you have received an official job rejection, you can use these tips in future interviews. By preparing early in the game for your next interview, you will be able to increase your success of getting a job offer.Readers, how do you handl e job rejection? Have you ever turned a job rejection into a job offer? Share with us below

Use these 3 tips to talk like a boss

Use these 3 tips to talk like a baboUse these 3 tips to talk like a bossWhen you become a boss, you not only need to know how to be a leader, you need to learn how to communicate like one, too. Language that was fine for you to use as an underling in the shadows is no longer appropriate when youre in the spotlight making decisions.Here are tips on how to ease the transition from employee to boss, and talk like the boss you need to be, so that you can project the confidence in your abilities that you need to succeed1) Get to the pointTo command a room, you need to make your case compelling, and you do that by being upfront about what youre arguing and keeping your words concise.Sylvia Ann Hewlett, author of Executive Presence, says that leaders need to let go of the notes, the very long PowerPoints. Let go of the podium and make eye contact. When you let go of your communication crutches and your canned speeches, you come across as more authentic and you telegraph your executive prese nce more clearly. You dont confuse or waste your audiences time with jargon you want to hook their attention from the departure.To get to the point, you can drop polite introductory qualifiers that signal hesitance like hopefully or perhaps in your correspondences. Employees often use these qualifiers to pad their requests and signal deference to people above them. As the boss, you set the tone and make the final decisions.To talk like a decision maker, you need to use clear, active language that proves you call the shots and can think outside of specific functions or roles.Visionary leaders dont just talk about what the company is doing today, they paint a picture of what the company will be doing in the future.2) Speak in threesIf you want to convince people as a leader, break down your message into three points Government of the people, by the people, for the people. Thats what Simon Lancaster, a top speechwriter to politicians and CEOs, recommends in his TEDx talk on the subjec t.Speaking in three parallel words, phrases, or clauses is known as tricolon, an ancient Roman rhetorical device that leaders still use to this day.You put your argument in threes, it makes it sound more compelling, more convincing, more credible, Lancaster said in his talk. Its a rule that CEOs Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs have used regularly in their public speeches. You can apply this to any business communication, and start using it in your emails, presentations, and meetings.Theres a limit to what our working memories can remember. By speaking in threes, you force yourself to choose the three most important reasons youre making a point, and you use a narrative structure that we have been conditioned to follow since nursery rhymes.As improv coach Kristin Schier notes, the rule of three also teaches your audience to see your words as an argument worth following The first time you say something, its an incident, the second time you say something, its a coincidence, but the third time you say something, it becomes a pattern.3) Know when to speak up and when to listenIts not just how you speak like a boss, but when you choose to do so. Strategic leaders dont just blurt out their ideas they read the room and see when would be the best time to speak for maximum impact.Understanding context and picking up on social cues are what Harvard Business Review argue is key for people to develop their executive voice. Knowing or finding out in advance what your expected role is in a group forum or event can guide you in determining the kind of voice you need for that particular venue and can help ensure that you understand the context before you speak up, HBR states. When employees notice that you dont know your expected role, you come off as unprepared and this undercuts your leadership.Putting it all togetherPutting your executive voice into action means knowing ahead of time what kind of conversation youre going into, so youre not caught off guard about what your exp ected role is. If youre in a room of other executives, that may mean staying silent and listening intently. If youre speaking at an all-hands to your company, that means taking the lead role and speaking your vision.With these three changes, you can learn to command and hold the attention of your employees, so that people dont just know youre the boss, they hear you as one, too.Whats the biggest thing you learned when you became a manager for the first time? Tell us on our Facebook group,The Climb

How to Get Out of a Career Rut Fast - The Muse

How to Get Out of a Career Rut Fast - The MuseHow to Get Out of a Career Rut Fast So its another boring Wednesday.Or is just a typical draining Tuesday.Or dear God- is it still only Monday? Morning?SighAre you just going through the motions on career autopilot? Maybe feeling lost or distracted or drained, yet you dont know why? Honestly, all you do know is that time is passing and you are feeling pretty unhappy about your career. Somewhere, somehow- you checked out and now youre just cruising. If any of the following apply to you, you can know for sure that its time to make some moves. 1. You Blink and Six Months Have PassedA huge sign youre on autopilot in your career is that time just seems to, well, pass. And not because youre so engrossed in your work, but because every day is like the next and for the life of you, you cant name one recent accomplishment youre proud to discuss.You wake up in January, stretch, and suddenly its Memorial Day. You start planning the summer and realiz e- wait, its time for the holidays And through it all you keep saying I shouldI should get a new job.I should try and find work I actually like.I should pick up that cool new skill I keep talking about.And yet, time keeps passing.Heres What to Do About ItFirst off, stop using the word should. Start using the word will.Should implies that you have an out- its passive. Will is active. You are doing something. OK, made that switch?Your next step is to make a short-term plan. Its really hard to make big changes, like finding a new job. They feel overwhelming, you often dont know exactly where to start, and its easy to put it off.So instead, focus on the near-term future. If you want to get a new job, set a goal this month to update your resume. Thats it. Just focus on that one piece of the puzzle. Once you complete that piece, complete another, for example, you can reach out to three people in your network to tell them youre looking (this email template is a great place to start on that ). If you want to get promoted, set a goal to sit down with your boss this month to talk about what you need to do to make that happen. Or set a goal to identify an extra project thatll make you shine come review time.Keep your eyes on small, simple activities that will move your forward and give yourself a deadline so you stay motivated. Small steps add up to big changes more quickly than more people realize. 2. You Procrastinate Making Any Career Moves at AllOh procrastination, my old friend. If you tend to put off making big decisions, you arent alone.fruchtwein people think I need a new job and then immediately also think Maybe Ill stick it out here just a little bit longerBut when you procrastinate on doing anything- well, nothing changes.Part of the reason we do this is because we havent let ourselves see how awesome the new job (or career) could be. Instead we feel overwhelmed by the road to get there- or what we may lose by making a big change.Heres What to Do About ItSo the next time you think about changing something in your career, sit down for a moment and revel in the positive possibilities of what the change could bring to you.More money? A better commute? More interesting work? A boss you dont hate?Really get concrete on what taking positive action can give to you. Imagine it, allow yourself to feel good about the future. But dont stop there. Write it down- preferably in a place where youll see it every day. Put it on a sticky notenzeichen on your fridge or tape it to your bathroom mirror. Youll find yourself far more motivated (and much less likely to procrastinate) if the benefits are starring you in the face every day.3. You Have No Idea What You Want to Do Next- and You Havent for a WhileWhen people ask you about your career, you tend to make vague statements or change the topic. The truth is, you have no idea about what you want to do next- or even what would make you happy. And you cant remember the last time that you did because of that, you avoid doing anything.Heres What to Do InsteadGet help No, seriously.Instead of going through the same pattern of thought, I dont know what do with my career Argh, this is terrible. Now I feel bad. I may as well watch more TVFind help to learn how to figure it out. Dont feel bad You were never taught this in school, so its no wonder you dont know how to do it as an adult.There are one million books, programs, coaches, and ideas for you out there to get you started on this whole finding my passion thing. Use what you have in front of you (Hint the powers of Google and this website) to help you find exactly what you need. You can start by reading this, this, and this one, too. Dont feel you have to go it alone, asking for help can sometimes be the very best thing for you