Hey Rockstar Candidate - If You Want The Job, Ask For It!!!

I have a headache. I wish the following summary of the ROCKSTAR candidate(s) I have worked with in the recent past was NOT true. Unfortunately, it happens more often that not.

Hello ROCKSTAR Candidate, I'm talking directly to you!

You take the initial phone call regarding a new opportunity. Seems like a great move for you, your career and and your family. You dig out your resume - spend time re-writing it from scratch. New font selection, new resume format - the new market-facing you!

Right?

Then... it's on to multiple telephone screens/interviews with the search firm to learn more about the opportunity and the client company. Now, it's the video interview, assessment testing and travel to/from the corporate office for in-person interviews. No need to sweat over the small stuff!  No prob. You called all of your lay-up references, and they will (as usual) sing your praises like a bird. You've already put yourself in the best possible light with the recruiter and the potential employer. You WILL get the offer. It's now just a phone call away. You decide to wait it out... knowing the phone will ring. They want me...and I know it!!! Why not - I am THE best candidate for this opportunity.

Guess what STAR Candidate? Your cell phone is working fine. But my client has already moved on to the candidate that clearly indicated their interest in this opportunity. No need to worry any longer - They will not be calling you. I wonder why, you ask so boldly? You forgot to ask for the job!

You knucklehead!!!

At some point in the interview process, the recruiter and the client stop selling you on the position. They want to gauge your interest. It's your turn to sell a bit. You MUST declare your interest in next steps or your silence will send a resounding message that either you are NOT interested OR (even worse) your ego is so huge - you expect the client to beg you to take the job!! C'mon. Get in the game. If you spend the time to go through the interview process and you like the people, company and the culture and... you decide you want to pursue the job - GO FOR IT!!! ASK FOR IT!!! Let them know you have a strong interest in moving to the next step. It matters!!!

You could, however, change the setting on your cell phone from Normal to Loud. Just don't do it expecting a call from a potential employer unless they know you are serious about making a move. You have to show them that you're just as interested in them as they are in you.

Maybe a quick change in your cell phone ring-tone might help.

Maybe not.      

Editor's Note - Tim Tolan is a partner at Sanford Rose Associates and specializes in Executive Search in Healthcare IT.  He's a closer, and you really don't want to call him unless you're ready to bring out the bazooka to bag some big game...       

Comments

[Jennifer McClure]

Amen my FOT brother! Too often in the recruiting process one or both parties (candidates and clients/companies) take the approach of acting too cool and not expressing interest. As you've stated, that will eventually be interpreted as not BEING interested and people will move on. Of course, there are those candidates that can take being interested to the extreme and shoot themselves in the foot by becoming pushy and annoying... That's good fodder for another post!

[Steve Von Hoene]

Maybe because "selling" is such a dirty word to many, people are afraid to "ask for the business". A similar problem exists amongst sales "representatives" (vs. professionals, who know how to genuinely, professionally, consultatively manage the idea of an exchange in a relationship.) Effective communication is such an under-developed skill in so many situations - compounded by the slippery slope of individual perceptions, assumptions, and expectations. I think it's much like a heady joke - if you have to 'splain it, they don't deserve to get it anyway.

[Beth]

I was on an interview when one of the Mgr's i was interviewing with asked me point blank "Do you want this job?" I was stunned - of course i wanted this job, why the hell else would i be on an interview (it wasn't for my health). Needless to say i quickly replied that i seriously wanted the job and began to list several reasons why & what i would bring to the company. (p.s. i got the job, it was with HON)
All that's to say, now i make a point to clearly communicate when i want a job or promotion. Sometimes us Rockstar candidates need a little coaching. If you're a recruiter, isn't part of your job to prep your candidate for the interview - and thus remind them or reinforce the fact that if they are really intersted in the job that they need to clearly and explicitly say they are interested. After all there's only so much selling you as a recruiter can do on the candidate's behalf. I'm sure clients like hearing from a recruiter that a candidate is interested, but i'm even more sure they'd rather hear it straight from the candidate.

[Tim Tolan]

Jennifer - back at cha!!!
I look at the "art" of asking for the job as something a candidate really wants to do and it should not be a sales pitch - but more like a natural way that candidate conveys their interest. Once a candidate gets to the final interview they must declare and let the potential employer know they are interested - if they really want the job. It should be natural and from the heart.

And...yes we do prep each candidate for all interviews. In the end, it's really up to them to declare their interest level. We can get them to the final dance - but after that...it's up to the candidate to close the deal! Great posts!!!

[Jessica Lee]

just thinking about this one and i don't know if i'm naive, but i kinda feel like if a candidate is engaged in the process... all the way up to the point of providing references and all that, doesn't that tell us that they want the job? sure, i like a, "i'm really excited about this role," or a, "i'm looking forward to joining the team..." but to straight up ask me for the job, i'm kinda turned off by it!

i also wonder how we feel about the fact that in some cultures, it isn't okay to be so brazen and forthright. if you were raised to be modest and humble and unassuming and reserved... to just ask for something, like a job, and be so bold, well, it's just not in everyone's DNA to be like that... so if it's culture that is preventing a candidate from being "rockstar"... is that really fair? or is this just the western way of viewing what a rockstar is?

just something to think about...

[Tim Tolan]

Jessica:

OUCH!!!

Let's re-open the case...shall we? Just kidding:-)

My point was to say that if a candidate is interested in moving to next steps - they should convey their interest to the person conducting the interview. I'm not talking about begging or giving a sales pitch - just a hint to indicate their interest. I've had experience with some candidates that never show their cards OR worse, they have such a HUGE ego - they leave the interview waiting for the client to beg them to move forward.

I have found that if their is NO hint, NO thank you note, NO e-mail ...in many cases their is... NO offer. That was the entire point of my rant.

I also don't think that how one views a rock star has much to do with geography. They either rock - or they don't.

Just my opinion. As always...great post Jessica!!

[KD]

I'll split the middle on this one. While I agree with JLee that not everyone has it in them to ask for the job outright, I don't think that's required. What is required is not to be so much of an introvert that you can't develop a good flow with the person that's interviewing you. You've got to make the connection that let's them know in addition to the skills, you're comfortable enough with the company/job/hiring manager to have some personality.

Show an interest, make a connection, have a personality. Don't be a formal clone. Don't feel like putting yourself out there? Someone else will, and the job will be theirs... Can I get a "where do we go from here?" from the candidate?

That statement alone is a classy way for the introvert in you to get around asking for the job directly....

Plus Tolan's got the bazooka out to bag game with his candidates. When "Grand VP of Business Development" is in the title, your expectations change... :)

KD