15 Ways to Clinch a Job Offer - OI Global Partners

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OI Global Partners surveyed its career professionals to uncover key language, tactics and strategies that are proving to be most effective in helping job seekers successfully land and respond to interview opportunities. Below is an overview of the top 15 things to do and say to help you clinch a job offer:

Desire – how much do you want the job? Emphasize to the interviewer things like, “I can see this position is exactly the kind of opportunity and challenge I’ve been looking for,” or “I’m confident I could hit the ground running.”
Leave-behind: Prepare something to leave behind at the end of or to use during the interview, like your analysis of the company’s needs or a portfolio of your work that demonstrates how your skills align with the position’s requirements and needs.
Unusual questions: Be ready for strange or unusual interview questions. They are not being asked to trick you, but to reveal qualities that can’t be determined from your resume. The questions are designed to discover how you think, handle unexpected problems and situations, whether you are a good fit for their culture and how creative you are. For example: “How many trees would you say are in Yellowstone National Park?”
Tell a story: Job applicants are more often being asked to tell interviewers a story. Compose it in advance and relate it to the needs of the organization or job for which you are applying. It’s an opportunity to showcase your humor as well as your creative side.
Compliment the company: Find an aspect of the organization’s work to which you can offer a compliment, such as the quality of their products or services or their involvement with charitable causes. Have facts and figures available to include in your compliment.
Compliment the interviewer: Review your interviewer’s LinkedIn profile and conduct an Internet search before your meeting. Compile some complimentary things to say, such as how you are impressed by his or her advanced degrees, an article he or she wrote, or a quote in a newspaper.
Contributive value: Practice ‘contributive value’ and include others in credit for your accomplishments, instead of attributing them solely to your own efforts. Example: “After a brainstorming session, my team members and I came up with a solution for a key customer problem that involved bringing in employees from different parts of our company.”
Show enthusiasm: Be able to communicate what about the company’s products or services inspires you and how you can convey that in your daily work.
Display your personality: When responding to the question, ‘Tell me about yourself,’ it’s important to share your personal side. Articulate what makes you unique as a person and employee.
Opportunity knocking: Emphasize that you regard the job as a life plan and learning opportunity, not just another job.
Team spirit: Being a team player is the number one characteristic employers are looking for in job-seekers, according to an OI Partners survey. With work forces still lean, 7 out of 10 employers said being able to accomplish goals with others is most important.
How you add value: Companies want to know how you can add value to them. Adapt your message to the company you are targeting by tying it into the current goals and mission of the organization.
Leadership qualities: With most companies developing their future leaders from within their organizations, they are looking for workers with high leadership potential. Include specific examples of how your leadership drove results.
Express passion: In cover letters and during the interview, express that you are passionate about a facet of the job you are applying for, such as customer service, marketing, or problem-solving.
New knowledge and skills: Companies want to hire employees with tomorrow’s knowledge today. Learning can include courses you are taking and degrees you are pursuing, participating in webinars, attending technology expos and more. Relate what you are learning to how this can make you a great hire.

What would you add to this list? Or do you have another point of view? Please share it with us!