Job Hunting——Equip Yourself with Job Interview Tips!

by Annie459236 On September 3, 2009 | Careers | Hits: 109

Job interviewing never seems to get any easier - even when you havegone on more interviews than you can count. You are meeting new people,selling yourself and your skills, and often getting the third degreeabout what you know or don't know.Here are a few job interview tips to help you to prepare interview effectively.

Before an Interview

1. Be Prepared! Look at the employers' websites and learn something about the company before you attend your interview. Prepare a response so you are ready for the question "What do you know about our company".Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions and feed them the opportunity to talk proudly about something positive you have found.

2. Properly Dressed! Make sure your interview attire is neat, tidy and appropriate for the type of firm you are interviewing with. Bring a nice portfolio with copies of your resume. Include a pen and paper for note taking.

3. Write Down and Practice Possible Questions! Practice answering interview questions and practice your responses to the typical job interview questions and answers most employers ask. Think of actual examples you can use to describe your skills. Providing evidence of your successes is a great way to promote your candidacy.

4. Be on Time! Practise getting to the venue to see how long it will take. Public transport may be useless, the traffic may have been heavy, but however reasonable it won't affect the fact that your chances are reduced if you are late.

Aim to be early - you can always find a nearby cafe/shop/pub to wait in. And if worst comes to worst and you are going to be late, then definitely ring in and let them know.

During an Interview

5. Stay Calm! SMILE! During the job interview, try to relax and stay as calm as possible. Take amoment to regroup. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer - without glaring! Listen tothe entire question before you answer and pay attention - you will be embarrassed if you forget the question!

6. Be honest! There really is no point lying about your background and/or skills. If you get caught, or even manage to get out to resort and then get found out, you can be sure you won't be around for long! Job interviews are about matching needs - if there isn't a good match, then chances are that the job won't work out.

7. Be Enthusiastic and Positive! Don't criticize previous employers, particularly within the industry. Bad mouthing a previous boss in a job interview is a huge negative. They may have been the worst boss in the world but expressing that in ajob interview is a huge mistake. Focus on positive achievements and views.

8. Ask Questions! At the end of the job interview make sure you have some questions to ask. If the interviewer doesn't offer you a chance, ask to ask. Again,it reinforces your strong interest in the job.

After an Interview

9. Send a Thank You Note! It's easy to send an email but take the extra effort to mail your interviewer a hand written thank you note. It reinforces your interest in the job. It doesn't need to be long, just make it sincere.

10. Don't give up! The fact is that you will not be offered every job however perfect you think you may be for it. Usually it's because the interviewer was completely blind to the talent that stood before them. However, just on the off chance that it was not, feedback from interviews where you have been turned down can be invaluable for improving future results. Ask politely if they can give you any feedback for the future - there's a job out there for you somewhere.