The Seven-Step Path From Conversation To Offer
Think of your job campaign as a sequence of seven steps, and notice how many of them depend on human connection rather than online postings.
Primary objective: As many Focus Meetings as possible, as soon as possible. You are in a numbers game and the more personal contacts you make, the faster opportunities surface. Face-to-face is ideal, followed by phone or video.
Information: Use Focus Meetings to get in front of key people in your target market, share that you’re in transition, and learn how hiring actually happens in their world. Hidden opportunities rarely appear without these conversations.
Opportunities: Most real leads come from contacts who either have a role, know of one, or become interested enough in you to create one. Online postings and search firms account for a much smaller portion of meaningful opportunities.
Qualification: As soon as something surfaces, pick up the phone and verify that an opening exists and that there is mutual interest. Do not rely on email alone for this step.
Interviews: When interest is confirmed, interviews unfold—often multiple, sometimes formal, sometimes informal. Avoid leading with salary and benefits; let the employer bring those up first.
Offer: Offers typically arrive verbally first, then in writing. Wait for the written offer before initiating negotiation whenever possible.
Yes or no: Your final decision should follow thoughtful negotiation and a clear-eyed look at “the hard questions” about role, future growth, and cultural environment. A good offer checks three boxes: job satisfaction, growth, and environment.
This flow sounds linear, but in practice it’s a loop powered by Focus Meetings: each conversation can generate new information, leads, and introductions that push you further along the path. If you don’t know how to get started, let us show you how to get high value meetings, faster and with better outcomes.