If you are looking to make a move from your current retail job to a position with another employer, going on several rounds of interviews without getting a job offer is frustrating. You might feel like you have wasted your time interviewing or even start to doubt your professional skills. While there is no way to guarantee an interviewer will hire you, you can increase the likelihood you will receive a job offer after an interview.
Saying the right thing is especially important during a job interview, as what you say gives interviewers insight into how you will behave in the workplace. Andrea Kay of "USA Today" says "loose lips" often lead to interviewers not offering jobs to some candidates. Avoid making negative comments about your current employer, because most interviewers will hesitate to hire someone who badmouths another retailer during an interview. Do not make disparaging comments about your prospective employer's facilities or employees, because this is a surefire way to lose out on a potential job offer.
Avoiding common missteps is important, but what you do is just as important as what you do not do. You must remember you are competing against other candidates for the job, so be prepared to sell recruiters on your experience, skills, and abilities. If you have experience taking inventory or using hand-held computers to manage price changes, let the recruiter know. Don't be afraid to tell the interviewer how you resolved a particularly sticky customer service issue or handled a problem with a customer return. An interviewer is more likely to extend a job offer to someone who demonstrates commitment to the retail industry.
Post-interview behavior is also important, because even small mistakes can hurt your chances of getting a job offer. You can follow up with the interviewer about the position, but do not make multiple telephone calls or send multiple emails, especially during busy periods such as inventory week or the weeks leading up to a major holiday. Most retail jobs include some customer service responsibilities, so demonstrate good people skills by sending interviewers notes to thank them for their time and consideration. If you do not hear from an interviewer right away, do not resort to sending angry emails, because this will surely hurt your chances of landing a job.
Although retail jobs are more plentiful than jobs in some other industries, there are not enough positions available for those who want them. This means you must present yourself in a professional manner before, during, and after each interview. Avoid negative comments; instead, sell interviewers on your skills and experience and thank them for their time to make it more likely that you will receive a job offer.
(Photo courtesy of xedos4 / freedigitalphotos.net)
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