5 proven ways to turn disinterest into a job offer

The useful part

You landed an introduction to a hiring decision-maker through a mutual connection. Now the person across the table is being perfectly pleasant—and barely paying attention. He was in a C-suite search, and a connection had opened the door to a meeting with the CEO of a middle-market company.

How it works

• Bring this approach into your own job search, and turn disinterest into an offer, by incorporating these five tactics.
• With no posting and no mandate, my client could tell right away that the CEO's attention was somewhere else.
• "Why don't I take a moment to share my background," he said, "and then I'd welcome your take on where I might be able to help your organization—now or down the road." Then he delivered a powerful,...
• As he was delivering the pitch, he noticed the CEO start to lean forward and make eye contact.
• When my client finished, she said, "Wow, you're the real deal," and started asking him questions.

What to take from it

The courtesy meeting transformed into an interview for a role he didn't know existed—which led to more interviews and ultimately an offer. It was careful planning, including a well-honed pitch that led with a value proposition.

Details worth keeping

This nice conversation is going nowhere, and a job offer is out of reach. For the first time, she was listening intently. That shift wasn't luck, and it wasn't charisma.