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"I'm concerned about the number of jobs you’ve held in such a short period of time."
If you have had an unusual number of jobs in the last few years, some interviewers will raise the job-hopper question, so you need to be able to explain the logic of your job history. It’s important to note that even though employers are not as loyal to their employees as in the past, they still expect employees to be loyal to them.
"We really like you but are just not sure where you fit."
The good news about this objection is that you have won half the battle because the employer likes you and wants to hire you, but is simply unsure of how to best utilize your skills. The key to your response has to be having the confidence in yourself and the knowledge about the employer to explain clearly why you are a fit for the position you are interviewing for.
"Were you fired from your last job?"
Unless the employer has inside information about you -- or you are currently unemployed while job-hunting -- this should not be a common objection. However, if you have been downsized or fired from your last job, you should at least anticipate this objection. It’s pretty common to be defensive about the subject since no one likes being fired -- even if you were let go simply because your job was eliminated -- so you need to put that behind you when responding to this objection. [Learn more in this article: Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth.]
Closing the Sale
Once you have made your salient points about how you are the perfect candidate for the position and overcome any objections from the interviewer, your final step is closing the sale. How aggressive you are in this step is sometimes the difference between an offer and nothing, but it is up to you to decide how strongly you want to close the interview. At a minimum, you should ask about the next step in the process, how many other candidates there are, and an estimate of the timetable for completing the process -- what some marketers might call the trial close, where you are feeling out the interviewer. However, if you truly feel the interview was a good one, that you are a great fit for the position, and that you have overcome all the interviewer’s objections, you should ask for the job. Best case, you’ll get the offer; worst case, you’ll be told you need to wait. [Find more tips for closing the sale in this article: Closing the Interview.]
In attempting to overcome these objections remember to not dwell on the objection, but instead, once you are sure you understand it, turn it around to overcome it. If you do have a weakness that the interviewer has uncovered, find a way to turn it into a strength. For example, if you have been fired from your last job, find a way to showcase how the experience has given you new insight into making sure your boss knows the contributions you are making.
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