Is an Interview No Always the Last Word

Is an Interview No Always the Last WordIf youve ever been turned down for a job you desperately wanted, you know how disheartening that can be. You probably just want to walk away, go home, curl up in your bed, and pull the covers over your head. Before you do that, consider the possibility that you may just be able to change the hiring managers mind.Robert Hellman is a career coach with Five Oclock Club, and a teaczu sich at New York University. In Forbes magazine, Hellmann refers to his first clienta woman who was in line for a sales director location. She had three vorstellungsgesprchs, and thought shed nailed the job. The final interview was with the companys Executive VP, and it all fell to pieces when she asked the executive if he had any issues with her candidacy. It turned out he did she had people skills, but not the data analysis experience the position would require.Turning It AroundHellmans client left the interview in shock shed assumed the job was hers. Even after the d oor closes, though, its sometimes left open just a crack. Hellman advised her that even after youve blown it, you should still take time to write to your interviewernot a thanks for the interview note, but what he refers to as an influence letter. In it you can describe how youve faced various job challenges. And at the same time, you can also do some damage control. Hellmans client used the influence letter to ask for a set of data to analyze. The VP complied, albeit reluctantly, and three days later she sent him a complete analysis and a request for an appointment to discuss the results. At their next meeting, the VP was considerably more enthusiastic.There was, however, another candidate who was in the running, and had a bit of an edge. So, she went home and wrote another influence letter, describing specific examples from other jobs where shed shown outstanding leadership and had motivated her team to excel and surpass sales goals.The OutcomeHellmans candidate ended up getting t he job. Granted, its not going to happen every time, but if youve blown an interview, dont necessarily assume that all is lost. If you keep the channels of communication open, and take every opportunity to emphasize your skills, you may find that a no can turn into a maybe, and ultimately even a yes.Has there been a time when you turned a NO around and into a YES Id love to hear about it please feel free to share it with me by commenting below or by connecting with me on LinkedIn.