Getting The Interview: A Hiring Executive's Point Blank Advice

It’s not unheard of anymore for the most qualified of candidates to go without a job despite having all the experience in the world. We all know someone- or you may even be that someone- who has sent out hundreds of resumes and ended up with an inch thick stack of rejection letters without getting the interview.

The question is not only ‘what does it take to get hired anymore?’ but ‘what does it take to even get an interview’?

If you’re ever able to corner an ‘executive search consultant’- someone who specializes in career management- this is what they’ll tell you:

If there is a job you truly desire, you need to know what is going to get that employer’s attention from the get-go. There has to be something about you and your job skills that are going to make that employer want to meet you!

Resumes: Effective or not?

Will it be the resume that gets you hired? Will it call enough attention to itself once it gets to the right desk- if it gets to the right desk? Or will it perhaps end up in ‘the graveyard’ with the other resumes that didn’t quite seem to hack it?

An executive search consultant will tell you this:
Your resume will disqualify you faster than it will qualify you from getting the interview if it has too much visual information on it. It may seem like it’s a good idea to show how much extensive experience you have but regardless of what your last job duties entailed and how well you excelled at them, the employer you’re trying to get an interview with is only worried about one thing:

What’s in it for me?

This employer needs to know how your skills will meet the company’s needs now. This is where you really need to have a good knowledge of the position available. (Research, research, research!) You then need to show where your skills will be an asset to that position. Are you able to increase revenues for the company if necessary? What about decrease them? It’s very nice that you used to be in charge of an entire department; it shows you’re able to take on responsibility- but what, theoretically speaking, are you going to do specifically to fix this employer’s toothache now?

Cover Letters

If the resume only has one chance to catch the employer’s attention, what about the cover letter?

An executive search consultant will tell you that putting a catchy heading at the top of your cover letter- such as ‘Successful Marketing Executive on the Lookout for Challenging Career Op’ that also leads into a strong first line with the intention of grabbing attention is definitely going to set you apart from the crowd. (Let’s not forget, the employer is likely looking through quite a good number of resumes!) Cut to the chase and let the employer know you’re there for the job!

Dear Mr. Carter,
I’d like to get straight to the point. I’m a marketing executive who is seeking a long-term opportunity to work for a results-oriented and innovative employer.

The rest of the paragraph should be used to build interest for the employer.

As your organization is one of the top 10 of the 15 on my list that I have researched and found to possess the strong superior qualities and vision I am looking to be a part of, I feel it would be of great advantage for us to meet.

It is after this paragraph you want to list 3-4 accomplishments and abilities for the position. Remember- it’s not what you used to do- but what you can do now for this employer. This is where you need to know what the employer is looking for- so research the job!

The final trick to your cover letter is, after listing your accomplishments, closing your letter in such a way that it gives a sense of urgency. Make that employer want to meet and interview you!

Mr. Carter, should you believe that my experience is a good match for the future success of your company, I would be honored to arrange for an interview in the following week. Despite having two other interviews, I would like you to know that my schedule is open and that I will work closely with the days and times that work best for you. I thank your time and consideration and look forward to hearing from you.

Short, sweet and to the point!

Before you seal up that resume and chuck it in the mailbox, an executive search consultant will tell you one more thing:

Make sure that cover letter is addressed to the right person.

That’s easy. You just direct it to the person in the ad, right? Sure- if you’re only semi-interested in getting the interview and landing the position.

If you’ll remember, there was a question at the top of this article that posed the issue of your resume getting the right attention not only when but if it got to the right desk. This is a major point when it comes to getting your foot in the door for an interview.

Forget the Human Resources department- go straight to the one who’s doing the hiring.

This means doing more research.

By looking at a company’s website you will be able to learn just about everything you need to know about them: their product, their philosophy- their organizational structure. Not only should you research the position, take a good look at the executive staff and their biographies. Address your cover letter to the person you are most likely to report to then email it to their company email address.

If neither the executive staff nor their email addresses is made available on the website, you will need to call the company and find out this information. This can be where it gets tricky. This may involve several phone calls and a bit of a bluff on your part but will be well worth it if it lands your resume on the right desk.

Understand that employees- especially executive assistants to executives- are not prone to just giving out information to whoever calls, so you will need to assert that you are verifying an email address for the ‘important message’ you’ve already sent- do not just ring up and ask what the email address is. The same goes for finding out the name of the executive or head of department you’re looking for; assert that you have forgotten the name of who it was you ‘spoke to on the phone the other day’ and you are likely to get the information you need!

For some, these tactics may seem a little aggressive and most are likely to shy away, choosing to go the safer, traditional route to seeking out a job and getting an interview-but an executive search consultant will ask you this:

How thick do you need that stack of rejection letters to get?