Imagine you’re in an interview for the job of your dreams at the best company you could ask for. You have the best resume that Career Services has ever seen: 4.0 GPA, honors all around, amazing work experience, and you’re the president of several clubs and organizations. However, one thing is stopping you and it haunts you to this day: you stutter and stumble in this high pressure situation and you can’t persuade your interviewer to hire you. On paper you look like the dream candidate, but in person you’re a sweating mess who says “um” and “like” as if you needed those words like oxygen. I’ve seen how the power of persuasion has been able to change the course of someone’s night to someone’s career.
Recently, I decided to go with a few friends to a local high school to volunteer at a science and engineering related event. After the event, we traveled to a diner in central Jersey with the intention of eating some food then leaving. We arrived late, and met up with some more friends who were trying to figure out what to do later that night. Some argued for “Sonic,” others bowling. However, in my clear and sober mind I blurted out the following sentence, “Guys, don’t correct me on this one, but Atlantic City is an hour away (it wasn’t) and we should go tonight”.
They did correct me and pointed out that it was two hours away from where we were. Some of them were complaining that they had more work the next morning. I kept pushing the idea, reminding them that Atlantic City is always a fun time and we don’t get many opportunities to just spontaneously go on a road trip. Just as I was getting some interest, a group of females came over from another college and said that they too were planning to travel to Atlantic City that night to celebrate someone’s 21st birthday. Once they said that, it convinced my group to go out and have a night we wouldn’t forget. We had an amazing time and didn’t get back until six in the morning.
When you’re trying to convince someone to agree with you or change their perspective, there’s a few things that you need to think about. Be confident and be sure of what you’re saying. Believe in it, even if you may be wrong. Figure out their needs. What do they subconsciously long for? For the group that decided to go to Atlantic City, they saw their need to have fun and let loose be fulfilled by the trip.
Interviewers want an employee that will make the company money. Once you’ve played into their needs, go deeper. Explain to them what’s in it for them and how they can take advantage of it. People looking for a good time desire those deeper, more sensual connections with others. Employers want to see you as an asset that other companies would kill for. Sometimes, you just need that closer. The girls that rolled up to our table were my closers. If you’re in an interview, maybe it’s that awesome project you worked on over the summer, your sense of enthusiasm and passion for the company ethos, or maybe you and your interviewer share a common Greek life connection and enjoy your company.
Maybe you should use this information with a grain of salt, though; I have yet to land a job after graduation.
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