Monday, August 24, 2009

Job Interviews Tips

Job interviewing never seems to get any easier but it does get tougher. You have to meet new people, promoting & selling yourself and your capabilities, and convince people that you are better than the rest. With prompt & proper preparation, one can help alleviate some of the stress that comes with job interviews. These ten interview tips will help you go through an interview with a breeze!

1. Prepare.

Do a little homework prior to the interview. Research on the background of the company first and relate to your answers as much as possible. Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions. When discussing your career accomplishments match them to what the company is looking for. Think of actual examples you can use to describe your skills. Providing evidence of your successes is a great way to promote your candidacy.

2.Practice.

Practice answering interview questions and practice your responses to the typical job interview questions and answers most employers ask. Be prepared with the answers for possible common interview questions such as "what do you know about our company” or “why do you want to apply for this job?”. Thus you should prepare your answers for the type of questions you'll be asked, especially, be able to say why you want the job, what your strengths are, how you'd do the job, what your best achievements are.
Then rehearse your answers and pay attention to your speech, clarity, confidence, etc. prior to the interview.

3. Be On time.

Be on time for the interview. On time means five to ten minutes early. If need be, take some time to drive to the office ahead of time so you know exactly where you are going and how long it will take to get there.

4. Dress appropriately.

Avoid revealing clothes or being underdressed - stick to conventional dressing, i.e. mono colours and minimal accessories.

5. Exert proper body language.

Avoid weak or too strong handshakes, minimal or almost no eye contact with the interviewer and slouching when seated. Sit straight and avoid fidgeting or shaking your legs, biting your nails, twitching your nose, or other signs that showed your nervousness. Be aware of your body language. Your body language tells your interviewers more about yourself than your speech.

6. Stay Calm.
During the job interview try to relax and stay as calm possible. Take a deep breath to remain calm and take a moment to regroup. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Listen to the entire question carefully before you answer and pay attention so you won’t be embarrassed if you forget the question!

7. Be Positive!

Don't criticise past employers, particularly within the industry. Focus on positive achievements and views. In particular, avoid negative comments about past employers. Adopt an enthusiastic, alert, positive mind-set.

8. Be honest.

There really is no point lying about your background and/or skills. Employers have their ways of finding out the truth, and when they do, you can be sure you won't be around for long. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you can’t sell yourself i

9. Never give up!

The fact is that you will not get every job you applied for, however perfect you think you may be for it or however well you’ve performed. Feedback from interviews where you have been turned down can be invaluable for improving future results, so ask politely if they can give you any feedback. Always bear in mind that there is a job out there for you somewhere.

10. Follow Up.

Always follow-up with a thank you note reiterating your interest in the position. If you interview with multiple people send each one a thank you note.


Hopefully, these tips would better prepare you for the daunting tasks of facing the interview as it does me! ;)

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