You may have heard the old saying, “You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find the right prince or princess,” and that’s probably true.

Hiring authorities may not be royalty, and you certainly don’t want to kiss a whole lot of them, but you are going to have to reach out and connect with many, before you land that great job.

The first few seconds of contact — either by email, in person or phone — can make or break your opportunity to get a foot in the door.

Tony Beshara, author of “Powerful Phrases for Successful Interviews,” shared the how-to’s and why-do’s of powerful phrasing before, during and after the interviewing process, in a recent, pull-no-punches webinar. This informative talk is part of the popular and free career webinar series sponsored by Bentley University’s Alumni Career Services.

A highly successful corporate recruiter, Beshara has filled thousands of job slots, both through his firm, Babich & Assoc. and through his books — some of which have been endorsed by television personality, Dr. Phil. Beshara understands how emotional and arduous the journey from seeking employment to landing a job can be.

Here are some of his tips — and the powerful phrases he suggests all candidates use — to get from gimme to got it:

How to Get the Interview

Landing a job is largely a numbers game, and you’ve got to play it aggressively if you want to win. Steps to take include:
 

1. Create a Large Contact List
   “You’ve got to contact every person you think of who can help you find a job,” says Beshara, who suggests writing a list, starting with family, friends, competitors, former and current classmates, past employers, suppliers, neighbors and customers. “Write down anyone you know who may possibly get you an ‘in.’
   
   If you can’t think of 150-200 people, you’re not thinking hard enough. Sixty percent of hiring is done through personal connection, and this is where most people fall down,” he says.
   
   Need some help making contacts? Check out these networking tips.

1. Craft a Short and Powerful Intro
   Once your list is compiled and you’re ready to rock, you have to make an immediate, impactful impression. “This is not the time to be timid,” he says.
   
   “If you’re sending an email, a great subject line matters. Keep the body short, sweet, to the point and let your confidence show (or fake it!) by being aggressive, but not overbearing. Anything longer than two or three sentences will not get read.”
    
2. Stay Quick and Powerful Over the Phone, Too
   This is time for what Beshara calls smash mouth. Quickly let them know why you’re good and why they should interview you. Ask smart, well researched questions and be forceful, yet likeable.  
   
   Learn the art of how to ask a question.
    
3. Think Big
   Let the numbers work for you by reaching out to as many people as possible.
   
   “Where most people fail is, they don’t get lots of interviews. If you cold-call one hundred hiring authorities, you will talk to ten of them. One out of those ten will be interested, and only one out of every ten of those will give you an interview. It takes massive action,” he stresses.

Acing the Interview

Rarely does one interview land you the job. Most companies require multiple rounds, and lots of offers fizzle out mid-stream. Here’s how to get to the top and blow your competition away:

1. Get to the Point Quickly
   “Nobody looks forward to interviewing. It’s stressful, so people have a tendency to talk on and on, not getting to important points quickly,” says Beshara.
   
   He suggests beginning and ending the interview with your most significant talking points. “Use qualifying and quantifying statements to let them know what you bring to the table that others don’t,” he shares.
   
   Stressing prior successes helps. “Do the thinking for the interviewer by being direct, to the point and asking lots of questions.”
    
2. Be Likeable, Yet Strategic
   People hire people they like. You also have to come across as a fit for the organization’s culture and philosophy. Emotions factor into hiring decisions 90 percent of the time, says Beshara.
   
   Appeal to the interviewer’s emotions by letting them know you how can make their lives easier. Find common connections, for example maybe you both received an MBA from the same university.
    
3. Work These Phrases
   Beshara stresses three important questions to ask:
    
   • Is my background and accomplishment history clear and understandable to you? Fifty percent of the time, a hiring authority doesn’t really understand what you’ve actually done, but is embarrassed to ask for clarification.
      
   • How do I stack up to the other candidates? Don’t be afraid of the answer; the question itself lets the interviewer think more highly of you.
      
   • What do I need to do to get the job? Take the answer seriously and do what is suggested.
      
4. Practice Risk Management
   You may have to account for things in your background that may make you seem like a risk, if they’re not explained well. These can be anything from a spotty work history to being overqualified.
   
   “Everyone is a risk for something. Go into the interview knowing what yours are, and offset them during the interview. Address this before they’re found out, framing them with positives about your work ethic and background,” he suggests.

If you’re searching for the perfect phrase, bound to land you the job, Beshara will be the first to tell you: there isn’t any!

“Look for phrases that come from understanding the job you’re interviewing for. Put yourself in the hiring authority’s shoes, and you’ll know better what to say. Focus on the process, not the result. Develop a process for finding a job and then do it, do it, do it. The result will take care of itself.”

Want more advice on interview vocabulary? Listen to Beshara's recent webinar for Bentley University on the topic. And tune in to other webinars in Bentley’s Career Speaker Series, sponsored by Alumni Career Services, for additional expert career advice.

Corey Whelan is a New York City-based writer whose work has been published at CBSLocal.com, WebPsychology, Care.com and other online outlets.