Here’s what to say at an interview to get a job offer

You don’t need to stress so much when you’re interviewing for a new job. There are just a few things you need to say to stand out. The key is to show interest, in-depth knowledge of the company, why you’re a great fit, and the value you’ll bring to the organization. You’ll also need to seal the deal by letting the interviewers know that you’d be happy to accept the role if offered.

Here’s The Inside Scoop

Interviewers are more nervous than you. They are forced by angry hiring managers to quickly hire the best candidates after an employee has left, so as not to overburden the rest of the team. That’s a lot of pressure. They will be blamed if they hire too early and the person turns out to be a fool.

The longer the hiring process takes, the more likely the rest of the staff will resent all the work that has been thrown at them without additional compensation. If a new person isn’t on board, they’ll think they’ll always have to work more hours and start updating their resumes and contacting recruiters.

While a manager would like a candidate who checks all the boxes in the job description, there is another important variable. The hiring manager really wants someone who is a highly motivated, enthusiastic and well-informed candidate.

Here’s what you need to say to stand out

“I would be happy to arrange my schedule to accommodate the best interview time for you.”

When the internal talent recruiter contacts you to set up an interview and asks about the best days and times to meet, turn it around and say, “Thank you for asking me to interview. I’m very excited about the role!” Then add, “I know you’re very busy, so I’d be happy to adjust my schedule around your availability.” This simple action sets the stage for being polite, generous, and empathetic. Makes a great first impression.

“Thank you for inviting me to the interview.”

Once the interview begins, immediately begin by stating, “Thank you for inviting me to interview for the role.” Share a few key reasons why you chose this job and company. Tell the interviewer that you’re a fan of their products, services, and mission. Add how your skills, experience and expertise match the job description perfectly. Offer a nod to a unique company achievement that most people wouldn’t know about unless they did a lot of homework. This is a great way to impress the interviewer and boost your brand right away.

“What made you choose me?”

“What made you choose my resume and want to interview me?” is a great question to ask early in the interview process. This will make the hiring manager consider all the positive reasons why they chose you. By citing your skills, background and experience, the manager will be convinced to confirm that you are the right choice.

Most job applicants play hard to get. They change their personality when they interview. Instead of being his true authentic self, the person becomes a cold, clinical and corporate drone. This leaves the supervisor unsure of your intentions and unable to gauge your level of interest. No one wants to go through a long interview process only to find out 10 meetings later that the person wasn’t sold on the job and accepted another offer.

“I’m excited about the job.”

Instead of being coy about your interests, tell the boss, “I’m really excited about the role and I can see myself working here.” When you let the hiring manager know you’re interested, it makes the process much easier. They intuitively know that if a person is willing to accept an offer in a tight job market, that’s a much better choice than rolling the dice with a more qualified candidate who brags about considering multiple offers.

“So when I started…”

Act like you already got the job. Scatter words and phrases that occur as already selected for a quote throughout the conversation. For example, say, “What will I need to do to exceed expectations in this role? Another similar query is “When will I meet my future colleagues?” and “So when I start, I will be working with x in Y division?”

Treat the interview like a normal human conversation

During the conversation, feel free to ask questions organically. By asking questions during the hiring process, it will show that you are a serious candidate who is invested in the process and likely to accept an offer if presented. Engaging in back-and-forth questions will help avoid the dreaded “Do you have any questions for me?” question at the end of the interview.

Summarize everything and ask about the job offer

At the end of the conversation, summarize why you are a good fit. The interviewer will remember the last thing you said. Give a short, tight pitch that encapsulates why you’re a great fit, addresses questions and ties up any loose ends.

It may be awkward, but ask what the next steps are, taking the approach that further interviews will take place. Specifically, ask who it will be with, approximately how many people are involved, and the length of the process. This will make the interviewer decide. If they weren’t interested, now would be the time to make a comment that suggests you didn’t close the deal. If they start discussing next steps, then you know you’ve made it.

If you feel confident and bold as the interview draws to a close, ask, “Do you think I meet all the qualifications and would be a good fit for the role?” If the answer seems positive, take the next aggressive step by asking, “Do you think I would be made an offer?’