If the PE makes you an offer on the spot, do not accept immediately. Tell the PE that you are definitely interested but would like a few days to think it over. Do not say that you want to discuss it with your family, even if you do. Many PEs like to maintain the illusion that their executives are independent of their families in matters related to their careers.
If your interviewer is vague about making you an offer or about taking further action, you must regain control of the situation. Tell your PE something like this: "I want to be completely frank with you. You have a very fine company here, and I consider the position we have spoken about to be an excellent opportunity for me to do an outstanding job. However, I have another offer pending, and I must respond within the week. When will you be making me an offer?"
If you feel that you have definitely made a sale, it is time to make your salary requirements known. The PE may raise this question himself. If you bring up the subject yourself, combine your requirements with other remarks. Tell your PE that you have another offer pending at $X and therefore would like to receive his offer as soon as possible.
The PE may delay extending you an offer because he is not fully sold on hiring you and wants to interview other candidates. If you allow the PE this chance, you could very well lose the job offer. Always remember that you are in a competitive situation. Go after and get the offer, even if you are not completely sold on the job yourself. You should be the one with several options, not your PE.
To have several offers to consider, you must aggressively go after the offer at every interview. Be smooth, polished, and dignified, but keep the pressure on your PE. Let him know that you have other offers pending.
Definite Do's
- Be on time for the interview.
- Dress fashionably but conservatively.
- Be well groomed.
- Be relaxed, enthusiastic, and friendly.
- Be self-confident.
- Call the interviewer by name.
- Shake hands firmly.
- Maintain eye contact.
- Be a good listener.
- Sell yourself indirectly and subtly.
- Take notes.
- Describe your accomplishments in quantitative terms.
- Protect the confidence of your present or past employers.
- If asked about your health, state that your health is excellent and do not discuss private medical problems.
- Answer questions directly and without hesitation.
- Get the full name and title of the executive who interviews you.
- Prepare well before the interview.
- Wear frayed shirts, old clothes, bowties, mod watches, or sunglasses.
- Smoke, unless your interviewer is smoking.
- Chew gum.
- Be reticent about answering questions on your experience and accomplishments.
- Be overly aggressive or arrogant.
- Criticize your present or past employers.
- Apologize for any shortcomings.
- Appear to pose a threat to your potential supervisor's position.
- Read the mail on your interviewer's desk.
- Look at your watch, drum your fingers, or in any other way show nervousness, boredom, or impatience.
- Argue or allow yourself to be drawn into a discussion of controversial subjects.
- State or imply that you can work miracles.
- Bring in unsolicited examples of your work.
- Inquire about salary, vacation, or other fringe benefits until you are certain that the PE is interested in hiring you.
How to Write the Interview Follow-up Letter
When you return home after the interview, take out your notes and go over them. Combine them with your preinterview notes so that you have a complete picture of your PE, the job, and the company. Fill in additional information that you think is pertinent. Do this as soon as possible after the interview, while you still have the facts in mind. You will be surprised several days later at just how little you remember. You are now ready for the next step: writing the follow-up letter.
The purpose of the follow-up letter is to remind your PE of how your experience and accomplishments are suited to his needs. You should send the letter only if you did not receive a job offer during the interview. Include a special resume if the PE has requested one. At this point, because you know the position and understand what the PE is looking for, you can tailor your qualifications precisely to the job.
The interview follow-up letter will assist you in getting the best job offer. It will convince undecided PEs that they should hire you by providing additional, documented support of your qualifications. It will also help you win out over your competitors by showing that you are the one executive who has the right experience and capabilities for the job.
You should write the follow-up letter while the facts of your interview are still fresh in your mind. Many hiring decisions are made soon after the interview, so it is to your advantage to get this additional material to the PE as quickly as possible.
The follow-up letter is constructed much like a response to an advertisement. Use the notes you made during the interview to define the requirements of the job. You may vary the format if you wish to refer to something that you discussed with the PE.
Restating the job requirements you learned during the interview shows the PE that you understand the problem and confirms your ability to meet his requirements. Your interview follow-up letter will set you apart from other candidates seeking the job and will increase your ratio of offers to interviews. It is a must if you are serious about getting a superior job.
