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Coming To An Interview Prepared

The worst thing that can happen to someone at an interview is the embarrassment of coming unprepared. The person interviewing you will know immediately and the chances of getting the job will drop drastically. Showing that you are prepared for an interview requires confidence and a little bit of knowledge as well. By doing some simple research and preparation beforehand you can ensure that an interview will go smoothly
Do some research about the company you are being interviewed for before going to the interview. By knowing the ins and outs of the company you can better present your skills at the interview by relating to how you would use them if chosen for the position. Remember that the purpose of an interview is to evaluate your character and potential for success at the company. Researching beforehand allows you to illustrate how you would benefit the company if you are hired.

Part of your character is defined by your appearance at the interview. Remember to look professional with a good haircut, nice dress clothes and a fresh shave. This could depend on the type of job you are interviewing for, so do not appear dressed in a suit for a factory job. The second part that defines your character is how you speak during the interview. Talk calmly at a slow pace and do not slur or jumble your words. Answer questions with confidence and pride but never lie about past experience or jobs. By being honest you are gaining the trust of the person interviewing you. An honest person with some skills has a better chance than a dishonest person with more experience
Remember to leave the interview on a high note. Do not try too hard to impress the interviewer with your qualifications and skills. That is what your resume is for. Be personable and try to have an actual conversation.

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Interview Cheaters

There are a lot of great jobs on the internet, but there are also a lot of liars and cheaters out there. It’s important to know the difference, but sometime you can’t tell until you’re already in the interview.

An interview should be one on one. It’s your chance to learn about the company, and the hiring manager’s chance to learn about you. An interview conducted with you, the hiring manager, and one or two other job applicants is not professional behavior by the company. The only reason to have your competition in the room with you is to leave you feeling intimidated and desperate for the job. They’re often hoping you’ll be so wrapped up with trying to get hired that you’ll overlook whatever it is they’re trying to hide.

Don’t do any work for free. The point of a job is to earn money, and if you do any work before you are technically an employee, before you complete any federal tax paperwork, you’re not an employee and they don’t have to pay you. If they ask you to work during the interview as if you’re already hired, then thank them for their time and walk out the door.

You don’t want to work for a liar. If the ad specifically say’s they’re hiring a receptionist, you apply for the receptionist position, they bring you in to interview for the receptionist position, and then tell you all about the sales job you’ll be hired for, they are trying to deceive you and you should leave. If the ad was misleading, and they led you on the entire process just so they could bring you into the office to pitch you their sales job, the chances they’ll lie to you about other things, like your paycheck, is pretty high.

Remember that liars always lie, cheaters always cheat, and you don’t want to enter a work environment that is deceptive from the beginning.

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Just Be Yourself

Interviews can be intimidating, but it’s important to remember to relax and breathe. The hard part is over, you’ve found a job and they like you enough to bring you in for an interview. This is the getting to know you stage. Think of it as a date. You don’t want to pretend to be someone you’re not, the same way you don’t want the hiring manager to lead you on about the position. And the interview is the perfect time to find out if your personality fits with the climate of the company.

If the position you’re interviewing for requires skills you don’t have, don’t panic. They brought you in for a reason, and sometimes a willingness to learn is more important than possessing the skill to begin with. But don’t lie about it, or stretch the truth. If you don’t know how to do something, tell them, because getting hired to do something you don’t know how to do but claimed you did could cause you to lose the job.

Act yourself. If you have a nickname, ask them to use it during the interview. You can tell right away if they’re going to be open to you expressing your individuality that way. If you strongly identify yourself by a shortened form of your name, but they insist on calling you properly then you might have some problems later down the road.

Also pay attention to your language and how you’re received when you use certain words. Having a regional accent or vocabulary shouldn’t affect your interview, but sometimes it does. If you’re judged poorly because you used words acceptable where you grew up, that company probably wouldn’t be a good fit for you.

It’s important to maintain a professional attitude during an interview, but it’s also important to be open about who you are and what you can do for the company.

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Dress for a Job Interview

Mohammed Alim Khan (1880–1944), the last Emir ...
Image via Wikipedia

Dressing for a successful job interview requires planning. Regardless of your qualifications, your outward appearance is the first thing that potential employers will notice about you and it is important for your appearance to match your resume and make you a strong candidate for the job. Some basic guidelines will help you pick the perfect interview ensemble.

Dress on the Conservative Side
When interviewing for a corporate job, it is always wise to dress a little more formally for an interview than you would if you actually worked for the company.
For example, while women in the company may not wear hosiery every day in the summer, if you are wearing a skirt to an interview, it is usually smart to wear it anyway. It’s impossible to know the exact dress code and standards of different people in the office and your best bet is to overdo it a little so as not to offend anyone.

Stand Out a Little
Even if you’re wearing a plain black suit, take the time to choose a few unique pieces, like a tie that makes you stand out from others or a strong piece of jewelry. This will help give interviewers something that helps you to stand out in their head after a day of interviews. If you are interviewing for a job in a more creative field, take a little extra time to plan out an outfit, this will be a window into your talents as a creative professional.

Carry Everything You Need
A Sleek Briefcase or Chic Bag will not only finish off your interview ensemble, but give you a place to carry your interview essentials. Bring extra copies of your resume, copies of a business card that lists your contact information, and a pad of paper to take down any notes during your interview. Being prepared is another way to distinguish yourself as a candidate for the job.

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Body Language for a Successful Interview

The job interview - "Oh, well."
Image by Big Fat Rat via Flickr

Body language has a lot to do with how you are perceived by others. In a job interview, you only have so much time to tell hiring officials why you are the best choice for the job. Being able to sell yourself with body language can help you to say more and show them more about who you are as a candidate for the job.

Take Up Space
People who take up space are perceived as more competent than people who take up less space. When you sit at a board room table, rest your arms on the table in front of you and lean forward slightly when you speak. This is a more powerful position than sitting with your hands folded on in your lap.

Use “Strong Joints”
“Strong joints” are your elbows and larger places where your body bends, “weak joints” are your wrists and hands. When you speak with your hands, make gestures using your whole arm bending at your elbow. This feels unnatural at first, but it shows a great deal more confidence and tends to draw people in to what you are saying more than gestures that originate at the wrists.

Show Confidence
Every job seeker knows that a strong handshake is one of the keys to a good first impression. As you enter the room, make eye contact and repeat names as you are introduced to people to solidify them in your head. Coming off as friendly and confident is important in the job interview process. It is also critical to come across as something that these people would want to work with every day. As much as a job interview is about finding the best qualified person for the job, its also about finding someone who fits in to the office environment and would be a good addition to the team.

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