If you want to use persuasion to negotiate your way into a job, there are some great ways to do so that won’t annoy or turn off the interviewer. So before you head into your next executive-level job interview, consider these tips.

Express Confidence and Humility

When trying to acquire a job, you want to convince the interviewer that you’re the right person. However, in doing so, you want to make sure that you exude confidence in your abilities, not cockiness. You know who you are and what you’ve accomplished in your many years as an executive, which is probably mentioned in your cover letter or executive biography. But when you’re in front of the interviewer, you have a chance to show in person who they’ve read about on paper.

The goal in this scenario is to let the interviewer know that you’re comfortable and confident enough to address any situation – and do this without going over the top and speaking like you would if you were negotiating with a client. You know you’re the best person for the job, so confidently express this. However, don’t feel so great about your abilities that you forget that you’re competing with others who may be confident and humble. Arrogance could essentially cost you the job that you so humbly want.

Use Storytelling to Your Advantage

Another great way to persuade into the job you want is to be a great storyteller. Storytelling is not just a pastime for children, it’s great for adults too. Why do you think so many people are caught up in soap operas and reality TV? They tell riveting, exciting and downright scandalous stories. Of course, you don’t want to talk about sex, lies and betrayal in your job interview, but beefing up your own professional accomplishments is a good place to start.

Think about it, it’s hard to have an accomplishment that didn’t require some level of work to get there. At the executive level, you are bound to have had some outright challenging situations occur that you had to overcome. So when you are questioned about your career, don’t hesitate to tell one of your well-crafted stories of trouble and triumph. The interviewer will not only know you are great at problem solving, but also that you are an interesting person as well.

When you’re interviewing, charm is also a big plus in persuasion; that is, as long as it doesn’t come across in a fake way. If you truly have a great personality, don’t be afraid to show it. Having an infectious personality can certainly help you get the job. Besides, once you’ve showcased your confidence, humility and great storytelling skills, you’ll already be that much closer to being a shoe-in for the position, why not take that extra step?

Of course, adding numbers doesn’t simply meaning writing “1, 2, 3” in random places around the resume. They have to be used strategically to make a difference. But if you adopt the right strategies, you can bet that you will have enhanced your resume tenfold.

Start with Amounts

When jotting down accomplishments, not merely responsibilities, to your resume, you want to get as in-depth as possible. This means listing the amounts associated with everything you have accomplished. For instance, if you were a sales representative at your previous employer, you can mention that you not just sold products for the company, but that you sold X amount of products for the company.

Also, it’s a good idea to talk about how many clients you were able to sell to. The more detailed you’re able to be when describing your accomplishments, the more vividly you can paint a picture of what you’ll be able to accomplish if the company hires you.

Move On to Money

So now that you’ve been able to successfully describe how many products you’ve sold, and how many clients you sold to, during your time at your previous company, let’s think in terms of the dollar bill. If you were a sales representative, your ultimate job was to sell products or services to as many clients as possible so that you could make money for the company. So how much money would you say you made?

Obviously, the more money you were able to make, the more successful you probably were at your job, so you want to break down as many numbers as you can. Don’t just total out all that you made in your career there. If you sold more than one product or service, don’t be shy about listing total amounts for those that you sold the most of. These dollar amounts will tie into your explanations for how many products and clients you sold, so that your story can become that much more vivid.

Don’t Forget Time

But you can’t thoroughly list an accomplishment without mentioning time. In other words, over how many years did you sell products? How fast a timeframe were you able to sell X amount of products to X amount of clients that made X amount of dollars? Or how many times a month were you asked to come up with another important sales strategy? You’re catching on now, right? It’s all about making sure you don’t leave any important details out. If you don’t mention it all, you’re simply selling yourself short.

So now it’s time to pass you the baton. It shouldn’t be hard to come up with the numbers you need to fill in the blanks on your resume. Just take time to think about all the great things you’ve accomplished at your previous jobs so that you can show your future employer what a great employee they’re getting.

If you’re a part of this statistic, and are seriously making moves in this direction, you are about to embark on a life-changing experience. However, this venture won’t come without challenges. So to help you on your journey, here are some tips to consider as you make your attempt to switch careers at the executive level.

Know the New Career Like You Know the Old One

As an executive, you know how important it is to know your industry inside and out. Of course, for you to have made it to the level you are currently at, you probably spent years conducting research, shaking hands and effectively working your way to the top. In order to make a lateral move to another career, you’ll need to get to know the new career just as well as you know the old one, including the customers, products, metrics and process, among other aspects. Of course, you won’t have decades to get the job done.

So how do you do it? The good news is that you’re already a pro at networking, marketing yourself and researching the ins and outs of the career you’re leaving, so all you have to do is apply your same strategies to the new one. It may mean that you’ll need to get out and explore networking functions, join boards and join social networking sites that cater to your new career. The more work you put into getting to know the new career, the more you’ll increase your chances of convincing an employer that you’re no “newbie” in the field you aspire to be a part of.

Stress Commonalities in Your Resume

While you’re trying to start a new career, you don’t want to place too much emphasis on the contrasts between your old career and the one you hope to dive into. Of course, you can’t completely overlook obvious gaps that can’t be avoided because you didn’t acquire specific experience. Instead of focusing on them in a negative way, turn them into positives and marry them with skills that you feel can enhance their goals.

However, any contrasts would likely be mentioned in your interview and shouldn’t be focused on at all in your resume. Instead, you want to note only your skills and accomplishments that match the company’s needs. If you send the message, “I know I’m not from your field/industry, but I’m good enough to be here,” instead of just projecting, “I’m the right person for your position,” you could be setting yourself back – so far back that you’ll fall right behind your competition.

Stepping into a new career can be a scary prospect, but certainly one you can handle. If you learn all there is to know about your career of interest, and essentially nurture it as you did your previous one, you’ll be able to convince employers that you’re indeed the right person for any job you apply for.

So how can you know what message you’re sending with the body language you’re using? Here is a quick guide to give you some ideas of what you’re saying with your gestures.

Crossing Your Legs

While crossing your legs during an interview seems to be a polite and professional gesture, some experts beg to differ. In fact, this action actually sends a message of complacency, which is not what you want to communicate to your interviewer. This is why it is advised that you instead plant both feet firmly on the floor. It demonstrates confidence in who you are.

Cracking Your Knuckles

If you have body tics, like cracking the joints in your neck or fingers, it may betray your nerves. While you want to show humility in your interview, you never want to let them see you sweat. However, if you’re busy nurturing nervous tics like twirling your hair or fiddling with your cufflinks, you may show more nervousness than intended.

If you know that this is a potential issue for you, it’s good to practice sitting in the interview without making nervous gestures. You can make sure to clasp your hands so you don’t allow them to move around. This may help you keep your nervous tendency under control.

Folding Your Arms

Did you know that folding your arms in any situation sends a message that you’re closing yourself off from the person you’re communicating with? This means, if you fold your arms in an interview, you’re sending the interviewer the message that you’re not inviting him or her in. In other words, you can appear to be an unfriendly person, which could potentially X you out of the job.

Leaning Back in Your Chair

When in an interview, it’s not a good idea to lean back in your chair. This gives the impression that you’re overly relaxed and disinterested in the job. It can also make you appear untidy. To remedy this, sit a little bit forward in your chair. This helps you present yourself as alert and eager to answer any questions thrown your way.

Invading the Interviewer’s Space

If you’re the friendly type, you may be unaware if you ever invade an interviewer’s space; however, doing so should be avoided. An example would be if you are sitting on the other side of the interviewer’s desk then stretch your hands or body over the desk. Since this desk is a personal space for the interviewer, you don’t want to invade this space. If you do, you could come across as unprofessional and disrespectful.

There are many other gestures that you may subconsciously make that create a strong message. If you’re not sure of your own mannerisms, you can set up a mock interview and either have a friend tell you about your body language, or videotape it and play it back. The more you’re aware of the message you’re sending, the more you can improve your interviewing skills.

It may seem like you’re moving backwards if you consider volunteering while searching for a job. But, in many ways, it moves you forward even though it offers no pay. If you’ve been thinking of volunteering, but have been reluctant to do so, don’t second guess your idea. It may pay off more than you think.

Why Volunteering Works

There are a number of reasons that volunteering works well when you’re working on your executive-level job search. For one, it offers you the opportunity to pass time and remain active when you don’t have the luxury of a 9 to 5 routine to keep you busy. Also, it allows you to develop your passions and make a difference in the lives of others. Essentially, volunteering is said to be good for the soul. But in the case of finding the job you want, volunteering is a way to develop great skills and make the necessary connections you need to acquire your next job.

That’s right. Volunteering is a great way to help you get your foot in the door for another job. There are a couple of ways that this can happen for you. Non-profits are always looking for good executives to help take their company to the next level, so if you volunteer your time and make the right connections, you may find yourself being offered a position. Another way is to join a charity’s board where you can meet important connections from other companies and organizations. By sharing your great ideas and helping to take the charity to the next level, someone may be impressed enough to offer you a position.

How to Make Volunteering Work for You

One of the best ways to take advantage of volunteering and its ability to help you secure a job is by getting involved in a cause that follows your passion. For instance, if you are an animal lover, you might volunteer in some capacity for your local zoo. Or if you enjoy the arts, then you might volunteer for a non-profit organization dedicated to music, art or dance.

You can approach an organization with the skills that you already have under your belt and offer to give them your professional assistance free of charge. After the word spreads of the charitable giving of your expertise, you may just make some great connections to get you hired at your next employer.

Every person in the middle of a job search knows how difficult it can be to find a job when he has plenty of time available, let alone find one when some of that job search time is compromised with other activities. But volunteering is different, it can leave you feeling rejuvenated after knowing you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. So if you want to make the most of your job search, it’s a good idea to add volunteering to your “to-do list.”

So before you start biting your nails too hard at the prospect of taking on this form of application, consider just what you can gain from doing so. You could be surprised by the number of opportunities you could gain from doing so.

Check Out the Stats

Did you know that 80 percent of job openings are unadvertised? This means that the majority of work out there is essentially unknown to the world. Why not take advantage of the opportunities out there that no one is vying for but you? This is where you can benefit from the cold cover letter. By sending off tailored cold cover letters to companies you’re truly interested in working for, you may be able to get your foot in the door faster than if you’d applied for positions there were advertised by the same companies.

How to Make the Cold Cover Letter Work for You

There are a few things you’ll want to take into consideration as you begin the process of preparing your cold cover letter. First, it’s a good idea to think about what it is that you want to accomplish by reaching out to a company and sending them this uninvited inquiry. If your ultimate message is “I just want a job,” then you may want to reconsider sending your cold cover letter. However, if you think that you can truly contribute to the company, and also feel that the company can help you grow by being a part of a specific sector within their business then you may be on to something. Of course, it’s your job to communicate this sentiment – and communicate it well. If not, you’ll fit right back into the “I just want a job” category.

So how can you determine just what the company needs? You’ll have to conduct a good amount of research. You can of course look at the company’s website to explore its mission. You might also check to see if the company is in the news. If they’re not posting the sales numbers of previous years, you may be able to come in and make a difference. Or you can contact the human resources department to see if there are any gaps in the business employee-wise that you might take advantage of. However you decide to gain information to help you further your agenda, it’s a good idea to try it all. That way, you can create a thorough and highly effective cold cover letter to submit.

Before you ever send a cold cover letter, you want to make sure that you address the right person. Also, it’s important to express that the reason you’re contacting the company in this way is because you truly feel that you can make a difference in their business. By pointing out your key strengths and relating them to advancements the company could make, you may just land yourself a job before you know it.