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“Just take a chance on me.” It was a common line in my cover letters a few years ago, when I was desperate to make the switch out of management and into marketing—without a related degree or experience. Even so, I was so sure that if the employer just gave me a chance, he or she wouldn’t regret it. But when an employer has a pool of fully qualified candidates, why would he or she take a chance on someone who’s on the edge of meeting the job requirements? I’ll tell you this much: It takes more than including a pretty unconvincing pick-up line in your cover letter. Here are a few tips to get your foot in the door. Don’t Draw Attention to Your Lack of Skills or ExperienceThe key to this whole process isn’t necessarily to convince the hiring manager to take a chance on you, but to get him or her to actually think you’re a good fit for the role. So the very first thing you have to do is stop apologizing for your lack of skills or experience. Whenever you include a sentence in your cover letter such as “While I’ve never been in a marketing role before…” or “Although I don’t have any management experience…” or even “If you would just take a chance on me…” all you’re doing is telling the hiring manager you can’t do the job. “Instead of drawing attention to your weaknesses, a better way to move on to your qualifications is to state your skills and ability to contribute directly,” recommends career counselor Lily Zhang. “Stay positive, focus on your strengths, and immediately launch into your transferable skills and infectious enthusiasm for the position.” Showcase What Sets You ApartNo matter what you’re transitioning from or to, you do have transferable skills. For example, while my management roles didn’t involve any true marketing, they did require me to network and form relationships with other businesses in the community, manage multiple projects at a time, and communicate effectively with our customers—all of which would be helpful in a marketing role. (Here’s a great cover letter template that can help you show off your transferable skills.) Even more important is demonstrating your additive skills, says career expert Sara McCord. That means fully embracing your career background and finding a way to express how that background will uniquely suit you for this job. “Think about it: If you’re slightly under-qualified, there’s a reason why,” she says. “If you spent the first two years of your career in a different sector, you bring experience from that industry.” For example, when I first wanted to write for The Muse, I had absolutely no writing experience—but I did have management experience, which made me an ideal candidate to write management content. Take a RiskTo get a hiring manager to choose you out of a sea of other applicants, especially when you may not be as qualified as the others, you might as well take a risk to stand out. Otherwise, you may simply pass under the radar. (And let’s be honest: What do you have to lose?) For example, just take a look at some of the boldest applications we’ve seen around the web: an action figure resume, an interactive resume, and an infographic resume. These types of applications certainly get the attention of the hiring manager, clearly conveying that the person just might have something the tips the scale in his or her favor. (Just make sure to follow these tips to make sure you’re not going too over the top.) But maybe you don’t want (or don’t have the means) to be that bold. You can stand out in plenty of other ways, says counselor and Muse columnist Caris Thetford. For example, maybe you submit a project proposal with your application or compile your writing samples in an online profile. This can help you stand out from the other applicants just enough to show the hiring manager that you may deserve another look—and ideally, an interview. Do Everything Else RightYou can’t afford to slip up when you think your resume might be on the bottom of the pile. That means sending every thank you note on time, following up in a timely (but not annoying) fashion, and proofreading your resume and cover letter a dozen times over to check for errors. These may seem like small and insignificant gestures, but the smallest flaws can remove a candidate from the hiring process—and you don’t want that to be you. By proving your worth in your application materials, you’ll have a much better chance of landing an interview—and then, you can showcase your cultural fit and passion face-to-face. Do that well, and you just may convince the hiring manager to take a chance on you. Photo of claw machine courtesy of Shutterstock.Updated 6/19/2020
Industry contacts, professional networks and references can do only so much in your job search despite the adage, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." An effective way to get the interview often is through your circle of professional associates, but the onus is on you to persuade the hiring manager to choose you.
The ability to express your strengths, draw parallels between your qualifications and what the company needs and follow up are elements in effective persuasion. Knowing how to convince an interviewer to hire you can help you land your dream job.
Knowing how to persuade a hiring manager to hire you starts with learning phone interview strategies. The preliminary phone interview is your first opportunity to make an impression on the recruiter. A pleasant tone as you express your continued interest in the job and a succinct explanation your work history is a start. However, you must be able to connect your work history to the basic job requirements because the point of the initial interview is to determine if you meet the criteria to move forward in the selection process.
In your first face-to-face interview, the recruiter wants you to give her a reason to recommend that you meet with the hiring manager. Exhibit confidence in your abilities, showcase your talent and expertise and provide complete answers to her questions. Persuade her to recommend you to the hiring manager by showing that you're a highly qualified candidate who's enthusiastically vying for the job you want. Your interview with the hiring manager takes a slightly different turn. In this interview, use your personality to persuade the hiring manager to offer you the job.
Self-confidence is how you convince someone to hire you without experience. Indeed Career Guide points out that an employer is more likely to trust you to do the job if you solidly trust your own abilities. Start by candidly stating that ou're very interested in the job and that you want to know what it takes to show you're the best qualified candidate. Reiterate this at every stage in the interview process and make a connection to something the interviewer has revealed is the most important factor in filling the job.
For example, if the hiring manager says the company is looking for someone who can help penetrate global markets, briefly describe how you can do just that. Say, "You mentioned the company's goal is to expand it reach into global markets. I'm multilingual, culturally fluent and know what it takes to identify new markets in the EU and Asia. I've done it with two previous employers so I know what works. I want the opportunity to take this organization into the global arena."
One of the most persuasive and effective follow up tactics is a thank-you note to the recruiter and hiring manager after a phone or in person interview, says the University of North Georgia. It's not just courteous, but a thank-you note puts your name and qualifications in front of the interviewer again. A thank-you note sent within 24 hours of your interview also demonstrates that you've made getting the job a priority. If you're assertive enough and don't mind calling the hiring manager after she's had time to read your thank-you note, you might score another point in persuading them to hire you. |