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Getting Ready for Your Job Interview

Job Interview

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Once you get your foot in the door with your resume, the next major obstacle is the interview. The interviewer already knows the basics about your work experience. The point of the interview is to see how you fit with job and how you’d fit with potential co-workers. That means they’re looking for someone with a good personality who will mesh well.

The first step in preparing for the interview is to research the company. It helps to know what the company does and find a reason why you want to work there. Is there a product they’re producing that’s exciting? Are you interested in the service they’re providing? Knowing what the company does goes a long way in impressing the interviewer.

The second step in preparing is knowing how you’ll answer key questions. Find negatives in your past experience (such as not having experience with an aspect of the job) and find a way to turn it around so it’s more positive (such as saying, “Although I don’t have experience with that, I’m excited to learn. It’s something I’ve wanted to know more about, and this is a great opportunity to learn and grow.”). Practice these answers in front of a mirror. This will help you to know whether your facial expression matches what you’re saying. Also practice with someone who can give you feedback.

The third step is to pick out a professional outfit to wear to the interview. Men should wear suits and women should wear a modest business outfit that is moderate in color.

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Tips for Writing a Resume

Resumes are essential to getting a job. A resume introduces you to a potential employer and gets your foot in the door for an interview. Here are some tips for writing a good resume.

  • Introduce yourself. Start the resume by introducing your best qualities. Avoid using “I” or “me” in the statement. It should be about three to five sentences long.
  • Give relevant experience. Instead of listing your most recent employer and then back, put the job that gives you the most relevant experience to the job that you’re applying for. That means you may need to change your resume depending on what job you’re applying for. Drop the dates from your resume as well. If the company wants to know, your interviewer can ask when you had what job.
  • Use real numbers. On your resume, include concrete numbers whenever possible. This could be the number of people who were under you, the percent of increase in sales under your leadership, or how many projects you completed on average in a quarter. Real numbers help potential employers picture what you were able to accomplish.
  • Start with education experience. If your most relevant experience is your degree, it’s appropriate to start with that information, especially if you graduated recently.
  • Start each bullet with a verb. When you list your duties under each work experience, start with a strong verb. Avoid weak verbs like “was” or “had.” If it’s a current position, use present tense. If it’s a previous job you no longer have, use past tense.
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The Language of Leaving

Interviews — you’re certain — are defined by their questions, by the answers you must provide. All impressions are crafted from words and their meanings. There are no other elements to consider. There are no others skills to master. You must merely provide phrases that appeal.

This… is not quite true. 

Interviews are instead shaped by body language — specifically how you offer your farewells: 

Give A Smile 

The conclusion of an interview shouldn’t be met with a sigh of relief. It must instead be granted a smile. You must appear confident with the answers you have given (as well as personable). Be certain to match an employer’s gaze and grin. 

Shake Hands 

It’s all too easy to reach for a manager’s hand when introductions are being made; it’s all too easy to forget, however, to do the same once a meeting is done (when you’re wanting only to escape). You must shake hands at the end of an interview. Have a strong — but not overwhelming — grip. A touch will reaffirm your abilities. 

Walk Steadily  

The desire to flee an office will be great (with you wanting to hurry back to your car, tuck yourself away from scrutiny). That desire must be tamed, however. You must walk calmly from the room, striding into the building’s main area without a trace of anxiety. This will intrigue an employer — as well as intimidate any potential candidates who are still waiting. You will appear secure. 

Earning a career isn’t easy. It demands an understanding of both words and gestures. These suggestions can help to soothe the strain, however, and allow you to impress all companies.

 

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First Glance, First Impression: Body Language

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Image by Richard.Asia via Flickr

First impressions are — unfortunately — not your great skill. The seconds exchanged between you and potential employers are ones of awkward silences, limp greetings and the incessant shuffling of feet (with you ready to bolt from the room and retreat to the safety of your car). Nervousness plagues your every gesture; and the language offered with your hands is one of indecision.

It’s imperative therefore that you understand the importance of confidence — or at least giving the appearance of it. Your body tells a story that you must control:

Collect Your Thoughts (And Your Wardrobe)

You must approach future employers with a steady stride — and an outfit that doesn’t force you to tug on it again and again. Rising from your chair to yank at seams or slipping hose will only make you seem hastily dressed… and simultaneously ill-prepared. You must instead refrain from fidgeting with your clothes or accessories. Be still.

Use Hand To Hand Communication

A first touch is often the only one that’s recalled. Offering a weak handshake therefore will only give the illusion of indecision. Grasp an employer firmly. The intention isn’t to prove strength; it’s instead to provide security. Be certain you also avoid wiping your palm on any surface right before you shake a hand. It makes you appear nervous.

Meet Eye To Eye

Evasiveness is not a quality employer’s desire. Refusing to offer direct eye contact therefore only suggests a deceptive — and unworthy — nature. You must meet every stare.

These suggestions will help you create a first impression that will be remembered — for all of the right reasons.

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Ten impressive questions to ask your interviewer

If you’re preparing for a job interview, you’re probably rehearsing your fantastic answers to all the questions you expect to be thrown at you. What may make more of an impression, though, is your arsenal of impressive questions designed to showcase you as the employer’s leading choice for the job.

Use these memorable questions to fit your specific situation:

1. What does this company place the most value on, and how will my work for you promote these values?

2. What do you look for in an ideal candidate?

3. How will I be able to work collaboratively here?

4. What’s an area of your team that could use some polishing?

5. Can you tell me the most important accomplishment I can make in my first 60 days?

6. What are some examples of the strongest and weakest aspects of this company’s culture?

7. Will I be someone’s mentor, or am I going to be mentored by someone?

8. By what criteria will you judge my success? How will I be able to show in six months that I have met your expectations?

9. How do you see my potential for fitting in here?

10. Do you have any concerns about my potential for success in this position?

Questions are a strong way to show that you understand the challenges the company faces, reveal how you can help the company meet them and actually ask for the position. By asking pointed questions, you can direct the interview into areas where you excel.

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Body language – the silent communicator

You’ve got an appointment for a job interview. Congratulations! Based on your resume, your prospective employer thinks you can do the job. Now you have the opportunity to convince him or her that you’re the best candidate. In other words, you have to become a salesman for yourself.

According to Forbes magazine, 7 percent of your first impression is based on spoken words, 38 percent on your tone of voice and a whopping 55 percent on your body language – how you move and position yourself.

The “don’ts” of job interview body language should be obvious, but it may take some conscious effort to overcome them. Here are some “do’s” that will help you feel confident, even if you’re not:

  • Always grasp your interviewer’s hand firmly. Look him or her straight in the eye and smile when introduced.
  • Thank your interviewer for taking the time to talk with you.
  • Wait until your interviewer sits down before you take your seat.
  • If there’s no desk or table between you and your interviewer, establish a safe personal space of about two or three feet apart.
  • Aim your response to a question directly to the person asking it. On a panel interview, you can glance briefly at the other people present, but always return your focus to the questioner before you end your response.
  • Use hand gestures for emphasis. Keep your movements controlled but not stiff.
  • Many interview coaches will tell you to practice in front of a mirror. But you should also try answering mock questions into a tape recorder and playing it back. Nearly everyone is surprised at how they sound outside their own head!
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Learn New Job Skills With eBooks

In an economy such as this one, the more job skills you have or can attain, the better it will be for you when it you need to look for a new job or when you boss is trying to decide who to keep and who to lay off. One great way to learn new skills without spending a lot of money is the Internet.

Books that are found online in electronic form are called ebooks. While any book can be made into an ebook, there are many that are written for the express purpose of being distributed online. these books can be found on any site that sells ebooks. They are usually downloadable to the computer, but will also work on the Amazon Kindle as well as other ebook reading devices.

While some are distributed for a few dollars, others are given away for free. Sometimes you have to sign up for emails from a certain website, or you may have to request information about a certain topic to receive the ebook. It is all worth it to get a book that will help you learn a new skill.

These types of books can teach everything from how to start a small business to how to become a grant writer for non-profit institutions. There are even ebooks about how to write and market your own ebook! Learning new computer skills is going to be great for almost any employee looking for a leg up on the competition.

If you can not find an ebook that interests you when it comes to learning more business skills, then try looking for one that will help you with relaxation techniques. Learning new ways to enjoy your office or to get through the day without becoming over-stressed. This may not improve your job security, but if you can’t learn new skills, then you can just learn to relax and wait it out!

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Acing the Interview

There are several ways to make yourself ready for an interview for a new position. First, take some time to study the corporation you wish to work for. Understand their products, where they operate, and get a feel for the philosophical direction of the employer. This can help you in the interview when they ask, “What is it about our company that makes you want a position with us”?

Emphasize where your core thoughts match with that of the company. Also, make sure to be on time for your interview, and present yourself in a professional manner. Your clothing should be clean and appropriate for an interview, and you should fully look the part of someone they would be foolish not to hire. This means take the time for personal grooming. This includes a neat haircut, kempt facial hair,and  fresh breath. Anything you can do to present yourself in a positive light is important.

Some of these things seem like mere common sense, but it can be surprising how many people fall short on simple elements. Lastly, present yourself as curious, humble, confident and easy to work with. So much of what employers look for is the ability and the willingness to get along with co-workers in pursuing a task. Make it obvious your goal is to contribute to the company and to get along internally.

Don’t be overly cocky and come across as smug. Just present your best self that is positive and goal-oriented. Come across as someone who will be a drama free employee who is not the sort that would get bogged down in petty office politics. I believe following my advice would help a prospective employee to present their best self- and land that job in a economic period when employers must be ever more selective about whom they hire.

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Finding a New Career

One day you are sitting at your desk, working steadily on a project, and the next thing you know, you are out pounding the pavement, looking for another job. While it may not seem like things can turn around like this, Americans experience it every day. As the job market continues to fluctuate, and more people are widening their search parameters when it comes to new careers, it is important for people to be looking for jobs outside of their chosen profession.

Widen your job search by opening up your career field and salary range choices. Apply for everything that you might remotely be good at. If you get calls for interviews to jobs that you later decide you have no interest in, you can turn down the interview. If you go to an interview for a job that you do not know if you want or not, accept it for what it is, a chance to practice your interview skills. Even if you are offered a job you decide you do not want, you will be able to turn it down with a little more confidence than you had before.

While many people choose a career and stay there for 20, 40, or even 50 years, many more hop from job to job their entire lives. The average person changes professions seven times over the course of his or her life. You may have gone to school for a particular subject or career, but you must remember that times are tough in all aspects of business. There is no shame in take a job you do not love while you continue to look for another one. You never know, the job you thought you were taking to help you squeak by, could end up being what you love to do after all.

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The Art of the Interview

Jobs are in low supply these days, so the interview process is more important than ever. Your resume will show your qualifications, but personality is what matters after that. Here are some tips to help you nail your job interview and be remembered.

  • Practice for the interview before it happens. This may seem cheesy, but it is important in order to make a good first impression. People may be able to point out flaws in your interview skills that can be fixed, like saying, “um…” too much or using too many hand gestures.
  • Don’t chew gum – it might offend your interviewer. Plus, it looks very unprofessional.
  • Dress the part. If you are going for an office interview, be sure to look smart. Jeans are out of the question. A white shirt and suit are your best bet. The same goes for women. If you are going for a job interview in a warehouse, however, a little less dressed up may be in order. Use your best judgment, and be well groomed no matter what you choose to wear. This means shave a few hours before and check your appearance in a mirror before showing up to the interview.
  • During the interview, be sure to make eye contact. This shows that you are serious about the job and that you have confidence in your ability to do it.
  • It is also a good idea to bring a copy of your resume in case the interviewer does not have it on hand. Some people will ask for it just to see if you are prepared. A sheet of paper with your references may also come in handy.
  • At the end of the interview, leave your business card so they can contact you easily. Business cards also show you’ve had a position of importance in the past, which means you know how to handle yourself.

With a little luck and the advice mentioned above, you’ll nail the job.

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