Your resume is perfection, your cover letter inspiring, and your landing one interview after another. But once the interview is over, everything grinds to a halt. And it isn’t just one time. You keep pushing forward, but your efforts aren’t getting you the one thing you want: a job offer.

After a few times of getting the same response (or no response at all), it is easy to be hard on yourself. And while it is possible you’ll need to make some changes soon, it is important to recognize that you have a large part of the process down.

So don’t overanalyze your applications, because they are doing their job. Now, it’s time to look at the interview and see what you can do to get the job offer.

In most cases, your contributions in an interview can be narrowed down into two categories; what you say and how you say it. Here are some tips to make sure that both parts are on point.

Step one is to consider the content of your responses. When you answer a question, you want the information to be valuable in regards to understanding how you would succeed with a new company. To help you craft meaningful content when discussing your background and experience, stick with a three-part response. First, outline a challenge you faced. Next, review the action you took to resolve the problem. Finally, confirm the result.

Often, these responses should be around four-to-six sentences long, so make sure that everyone counts. If you tend to include excess information, then trim your response accordingly. Too short? Then add some detail to help create context.

Make sure to focus on answers that have a strong framework and where the end result is well defined. When possible, quantify your results for additional impact.

An interview is often an uncomfortable situation. And that may make it more difficult to be your best self. But coming off as down-to-earth, approachable, and generally positive can be the difference between an offer and heading back to the drawing board.

The key to a stronger delivery is often practice. Work with a friend or family member and have them observe your responses. They will be able to let you know if the tone isn’t sending the right message, or if your body language is hurting your chances. Additionally, they often have the ability to be honest in their assessment which is more than you may get if you are able to solicit feedback from your prior interviewers.

For example, a friend may be more comfortable pointing out your nervous laugh or tendency to ramble, while an interviewer may be more reserved in regards to feedback. And that honest feedback may make all the difference.

You can also work with a recruiter to get the feedback you need. The professionals at The Advance Group understand what it takes to nail an interview, and will be able to provide you with the feedback you need. We can also help you locate new opportunities that you might otherwise miss. Contact us and see where your new interview skills can take you and land your next job offer.