Job Search: Closing the Sale and Follow-up. | iCapitalMarketing.com

Job Search: Closing the Sale and Follow-up.

Closing sales involves asking for, or making it known, that you want the job and it also involves handling all of the paperwork, offers, start date, and negotiations correctly. Depending on the position, there may not be much to do on your end. If it is not that easy, then you need to become knowledgeable on the important steps of closing a sale when two parties agree to do business. Sales do get lost during this stage, so it is no time to let your guard down.

You should brush up on your negotiation skills so you do not make any common errors. A successful salesperson will tell you that the close is often done throughout the presentation, so hopefully at the end it will just be a matter of wrapping up the details. Sometimes though, the presentation may not have gone as well, so you need to close creatively or possibly a bit more aggressively.

If you believe an interview went well, liked what you heard and saw, make sure to wrap up your meeting by letting the interviewers know that you see a good fit and that you would definitely like to go on to the next step. Do not assume that the interviewers know that you are interested. Be sure to ask them something along the lines of, “what stage of the hiring process are you in?” “What kind of timeframe are you looking at in terms of making a decision on this position”? Do not be afraid to ask what their thoughts are on you as a potential candidate and how you may stack up against others they have met.

Smart salespeople follow up on all meetings with a thank you note. The note should not be a novel, but one that says thank you, expresses your interest, and highlights one or two points as to why you believe your product (you) is a good match. Not doing so is a huge mistake and should be done either through email or by mail. You should get email addresses, business cards, and correctly spelled names of everyone you meet. You should send this personalized note to everyone, including the HR person.

You may be surprised, but the non-management people you meet have an enormous impact on whether an offer is made. Make a friend and be sharp with everyone. By the way, the best way to find out what a hiring manager or company is looking for in a new employee is to ask. Ask early on in your interview “What would make an ideal match for this position, or what kinds of things are you looking for in the person you want to hire?” Once you find out, you have the advantage of being able to include these items throughout your presentation! As in sales, you are trying to find out the customer's hot buttons that will cause them to purchase. Remember this information when you send your thank you notes as well.

Also, it is extremely important in terms of follow up to keep in touch with the company until you either get a definitive “no”, or until you know the position is filled. Many people get hired long after the interview has taken place. It may be because there are more candidates to interview, the hiring process just started, or they want to see more candidates before making a decision. Hiring managers also get busy and sidetracked, and not everyone is on the same time schedule as you. Sometimes it may take a week or two to get all of the signatures for an offer.

Do not make assumptions that the hiring manager and company are not interested in you or that the position is filled. Top salespeople will tell you that a sale is often made long after the initial presentation. Just like many salespeople do not always follow up well, candidates often do the same, so you will have a nice advantage over the competition if you do. However, following up does not mean calling and emailing the company and hiring manager every other day.

In summary, how well and often you do each stage of the process – Prospect, Approach, Present, Close, and Follow up – will determine the success of your job search. There is only a lack of jobs, or a lack of good jobs, by the effort someone puts forth and how well they have prepared.

Need some luck? Make some... Preparation + Hard Work = Good Luck.

Article written and provided by iCapitalMarketing .com, a blog targeting the three interrelated components required for career, business, and financial success; Preparation, Hard Work, and Emotional Intelligence. The opportunity to thrive is limitless. Keep improving and increasing your value in the marketplace.

Recent Articles Sponsored Links