A Job Interview doesn’t guarantee a Job Offer. The fact that you’ve been invited in for a job interview simply means you’ve the skills and qualifications required to fill the position. Whether you’re offered that position or not will rely on three key things all interviewers ask themselves:

• Do you solve an issue we’ve?
• Are you capable to stop future issues?
• Do we need to work with you?

You require thinking about these 3 things as you work your way through the 8 key steps listed below. By the time you reach step number 8 you require having convinced the employer that you can solve the work issue they have, prevent future problems arising and are going to ‘fit in’ really well as part of their team.

Top eight Step Process to Turn a Job Interview Into a Job Offer:

1. Research

The first step in preparing for any job interview is to do your homework. You require thoroughly researching the company you’re interviewing with. Make sure you:

• Look at their website, blog, social assets, mission statement, financial disclosures and press releases.
• Speak anyone you know who has worked for the company and gain a good understand of their culture and work style.
• Go over the job description carefully. Look for the key issues and pain points that exist in the role.

For instance you might be applying for a position in Trade Marketing and you know the trade spends levels the company operates at are way too high and a huge problem for the company. Make certain you use an example in your interview answers that highlights how you’ve negotiated lower trade spends amongst few key customers for other companies. This addresses their specific problem, making you a much more desirable candidate.

2. Prepare Work Examples

Before you can start practicing interview answers you require spending a bit of time gathering together all your work instances. Look for instances which address the needs of the role you’re applying for and any experiences you have had that could enhance the new role or prevent future issues.

For example you might have SEO experience in your current role and the company you’re applying to has a weak digital presence. Your skills then become more valuable going forward.

Do not be afraid to talk about the issues in your current role and how you’ve addressed these issues. Chances are the same issues exist for the role you are applying to and you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor by indicating the employer you can deal with them.

3. Practice Job Interview Answers

This can’t be stressed enough. Practice, practice practice. Inquire a good friend to do some mock interviews with you. Pay attention to your answers, the confidence in your voice, your body language etc.

4. Arrive Early

Too easy, arrive about 10-15 minutes early but no earlier than that. You need to look sharp and attentive not desperate.

5. Dress Well

There has been much discussion about whether you should wear a business suit to a job interview or dress for the job. I tend to consider that the business suit is a safer choice.

6. Confident and likeable

The truth is interviewers hire people they need to work with even if those individuals are not the most qualified candidates for the job. That means even if you’ve less experience that the other candidates you might well end up with the role if you are more confident and more likeable than the others. First impressions are everything so make certain you start strong. Employers have developed an opinion about you in the first 10 seconds and made up their mind about you in the first 10 minutes. Start confident, have a firm handshake, use positive body language, smile and be polite. You should also see if you’ve anything in common with the interviewer and use that to your advantage.

7. Close the deal

When the job interview draws to a close, shake hands confidently, thank the employer for their time and inquire about what their next steps are. Do not be afraid to subtly inquire for the job. End with a statement of support like…I was very excited about this chance and now that I have had a chance to speak with you I’m even more convinced this would be a wonderful opportunity for me and that I would be a great candidate for this position. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

8. Follow Up

After the interview, take some minutes to write a thank you note or email for the interviewer. Thank them for their time, re affirm your interest in the position and recap your key skills that answer why you could solve an issue for the company or prevent future problems from occurring.

At the end of the day lots of job interview candidates can fulfill the role. What will determine which of these qualified candidates actually gets the role is which one the employer believes will solve a very real issue that they have and which one they would most like to work with.