Tired of getting rejected from jobs you are qualified for?

How many times did you read a job description, felt perfectly qualified for it, tailored your resume, researched and even wrote a cover letter, applied... just to get rejected soon after?

So you ask yourself... what am I missing? Has anything changed? My resume used to work in the past, maybe it's a matter of time, a numbers game, eventually I will get the job?!?!

Nah, it's none of all that.

We share below six tangible steps you need to understand to get the job you want, and if you want to watch us discuss these in detail then there's a LinkedIn Live video below, too.

Here's the LinkedIn Live stream in case you want to watch us dissect each of these points in more detail, there's only so much we can write in an article but hope you enjoy both of them.

1. Getting an interview is not enough

Professionals forget that your resume, LinkedIn profile and networking get you the interview but that's only the first step; you have just gone from applicant to candidate, you are closer.

However; there are a few others who have also become candidates and will go through the hiring process, and your resume is not going to help you stand out from all other candidates.

Why do we say that? Because in the interviewer's eyes everyone they are bringing into the interview is just as qualified, if they didn't believe that they wouldn't have brought them in.

Remember, your resume has only made them curious enough for them to want to meet you but you need to bring other elements now to the interview in order to truly impress them.

Which brings us to the next point.

2. Companies hire people they like

Who do you think they are going to hire when everyone they interview is similarly qualified for the job? You got it! The person they like the most and feel can enjoy working with more.

And guess what!! Even if you are less qualified than another candidate, if they felt you were going to be a better fit for the team and organization they are more likely to give it to you.

Why is that? Because no one wants to work with someone they feel is going to be a pain to work with, they much rather not hire anyone and continue searching for a candidate.

3. If it feels like an interrogation, you already lost

What does an interview typically feel like?

They ask you a question. You answer. They ask you a question. You answer. They ask you a question. You answer. They ask whether you have any questions for them. You ask them.

If your interviews typically feel that way you are doomed to fail. You may get the job offer but your chances of getting it are significantly lower than if you interviewed differently.

Interviews should feel like a conversation, there should be back and forth, they should feel like you are meeting an old colleague you haven't seen in a while and are excited about it.

Take it a step further and control where the interview is going, steer it in a direction in which you feel comfortable in order to perform better and make a much more positive impact.

4. The only two things hiring managers care about

Yes! There are only two things hiring managers care about:

1. Can I trust this person to do the job, and
2. Do I like this person enough to work with them every single day?

If the answer to either question is 'no' then you are not going to get the job, it's that simple. Getting them to answer to both questions 'yes' is both art and science but not rocket science.

In order to maximize your chances of getting the second question to a 'yes' make sure you follow the next point, and in doing so you will also get them to go easy on the first question.

5. Create a connection from the start, ask the first question

We shared how a traditional interview looks and feels like on point number three, which is what you must avoid at all costs. In order to do that make sure you implement this point.

Ask the first question! Don't wait for them to start interrogating you. In their eyes you are going into an interview and not a conversation so all they will want to do is interview you.

Just a quick reminder that 99% of interviewers have never been trained to interview effectively, they have no idea how to do that, they are just prepared to ask you questions.

It is your responsibility to understand how to turn that interview into a conversation, and the best moment to start is right at the beginning by asking them a close-ended question. What?

Closed-ended questions can only be answered by selecting from a limited number of options, usually multiple-choice questions with a single-word answer, 'yes' or 'no'.

After they answer the question they might ask you the same or start expanding on that answer, which will help you get to know them better and turn it into a conversation.

If they don't open up and just flip the question back to you, make sure you lead by example, show them the way to have a friendly and comfortable conversation by opening up yourself.

6. Keep it professional, don't be scared of also being personal

Remember when we were back in school playing sports and there were two captains who assembled their teams? They wouldn't necessarily always choose the best players out there.

You know what they did instead? They selected those people they liked the most, those they considered their friends because they had something in common, that's why they chose you.

Now that you are in the professional world make sure during that small business interaction that your future hiring manager and colleagues get to know you on a personal level, too.

The more you have in common the more likely you are going to get hired and the most effective way to know whether you have anything in common is by having a conversation.

If you want to learn the exact strategy hundreds of professionals have followed to get the job they want, join us on this FREE Live Webclass this coming Thursday, happy to share more.

Also feel free to send me a connection request and/or private message, I do my absolute best to reply to everyone who reaches out with questions or wants to have career guidance.