Job Interviewing Tips
Conquering The Interview
You've made it to the interview and like any normal human being,
your feelings of happiness will not supersede the anxiety that
accompanies interviewing, even for those who have been through
it before. The only way to really alleviate some of that stress
is to make sure you are truly prepared for the interview. Young
Jobs guidelines of interview preparation will provide you with
the means to have a successful interview.
Research: Getting to know the Company
Being knowledgeable about the company you will be interview with
is by far one of the most important steps in the interview
process. Without a doubt, the interviewer will be impressed with
someone who has taken the time to research the company before
arriving at the interview. If you make an effort to get to know
the organization, you will find yourself ahead of the other
candidates. Employers don't just want someone that can get the
job done; they also want someone that respects their company and
has interest and enthusiasm for their work.
Nowadays most businesses and organizations have their own
websites or can be researched through articles found on the
internet. However, we do acknowledge that not all companies can
be researched this way and not all job seekers have a great deal
of access to the internet. If either of these are the case, try
going to your local library and finding articles or books about
the company and/or the field of work it falls under.
Research: Getting to know yourself
Because you have taken the time to research the company and
learn what it has to offer, you can now deduce what they might
want in their employees and incorporate your paralleled
capabilities in to the interview. Rather than thinking of
yourself as an anxious job seeker on an interview, think of
yourself as a sales person, selling your skills and ability.
Review your resume a few times before your interview. Consider
each piece of experience you have listed and the skills that
were required. Did you gain collaboration skills working at a
restaurant or leadership skills as president of a club or
organization? Whatever the case may be, chose appropriately for
each position you are interviewing for and utilize those skills
in your "selling points". This not only provides you with
conversation pieces but you will also find that knowing more
about yourself as a potential employee will give you more
confidence.
Also keep in mind the skills or assets that you have acquired in
everyday life. For instance, most companies are looking for
determination in their employees, so if the moment arises to
tell them that you finished 3rd in the city marathon after
months of training, take it. Even though it is not necessarily
related to the work, it will make a good impression on your
potential employer. To avoid sounding arrogant, express your
experiences as learning tools and your skills as a gift. The
tricky part is trying not to create so much to talk about that
you dominate the conversation. It's better to give a shorter
answer that's direct and to the point, than to babble on for
several minutes in a disorderly fashion. It is always best to
follow the interviewers lead. This brings us to the importance
to practicing...
Practice
Doing research and knowing your "sales pitch" will definitely
help you interview with greater success, but there is truly no
substitute for actually rehearsing for the interview. Ask a
family member or friend to act as the interviewer, providing
them with a list of questions to ask you. While you might feel
funny doing this, just remember that it will be even harder to
interview with a stranger, so practicing can only help ease the
process. Before you sit in the hot seat, make sure you have an
idea of how you would like to answer the questions you have
selected. Even having a notion as to how you will respond will
build more confidence and impress the interviewer.
If a question arises that is not familiar to you, do not make
something up or change the subject. Rather, tell them that's a
good question but you do not have an answer for the time being,
but are eager to gain the knowledge. Your potential employer
will respect your honesty and readiness to learn new things.
Aside from verbal communication, it is also important to
acknowledge your body language. Making eye contact is crucial.
If you fail to look the interviewer in the eyes while they are
speaking they will think you are disinterested; if you fail to
look them in the eyes while you are speaking, they will think
you are nervous of fabricating your answers. Try not to fiddle
around with your hands too much, or you will appear nervous. A
more affective way to use your hands is with slight gestures to
evoke enthusiasm for what you are talking about. While it is
common knowledge to sit up straight and observe good posture,
you don't want to seem uneasy. Try to sit back in your chair
with your head held high so the interviewer will know you are
self-assured as well as attentive to what he or she is talking
about. Try practicing your body language in a mirror or with a
video camera.
Appearance
Let's face it, we all know that the visual impression is the
first impression you make when meeting someone face to face for
the first time. That's why it is essential to dress the part.
When interview for a job, it is important to dress the way that
you would if you had the job. If you don't know what the attire
is, ask when you are setting up the interview or dress slightly
more formal than you think you might need to. Wear clothes that
are freshly washed and ironed. Along with the clothing, make
sure you are up on your grooming: Comb your hair, clean your
fingernails, and be sure to brush your teeth before you go to
your interview. Try to avoid overdoing perfume or cologne, too
much make-up, and excessive jewelry.
Arrive Early
Getting to your interview early does not only make you look good
in the eyes of the employer, but it will also make the interview
process that much easier. Trust us, there is nothing more
stressful, than arriving late to an interview. Not only are you
worried about what the interviewer might think, you are more
likely to forget most of what you've practiced because you are
so overwhelmed with being tardy. When you arrive 10-15 minutes
early you have time to look over any last minute notes, use the
restroom, and most importantly, take deep breathes. Nothing
throws up the red flag quicker to a potential employer than an
applicant showing up late to an interview.
Proper Introduction
As intimidating as this may sound, you are under observation
from the very first moment you meet the interviewer. In order to
make a proper introduction, make direct eye contact, extend a
firm but nonabrasive handshake, smile with enthusiasm, and let
them know your name and what a pleasure it is to meet them.
These might seem like obvious and mundane gestures, but all
potential employers will be examining your interpersonal skills
by how you introduce yourself.
Returning the Questions Towards the end of your
interview, you will most likely be given the option to ask any
questions you might have for the company. This is a great way to
let them know that you are just as interested in getting to know
them as they are in getting to know you. Asking the interviewer
questions, is a great opportunity to make sure you have complete
clarity in regards to the position and its expectations. If you
feel uncertain about where you will fit in the company, what an
average day will look like or anything else to do specifically
with the job, feel free to use this time to inquire further. You
can also ask about the environment of the company or the report
between co-workers. However, it is never wise to ask about pay,
benefits, sick days, etc. during the first interview. Once you
have been offered the position, you are free to ask those
questions before deciding to accept the job.
Now would also be a good time to tie in any final reasons as to
why you are a perfect match for the job. It doesn't hurt to make
reference to things that were said during the interview.
Emphasize your enthusiasm for the position and anticipation for
moving forward within the interview process. Avoid sounding
desperate or too eager while maintaining your interest.
Be clear on what happens after the interview. Find out when they
will be contacting you again or how you should follow-up if they
would prefer it that way. Just as you entered with a proper
introduction, make sure you exit just the same, with direct
eye-contact, firm handshake, and a smile.
Follow Up
Even though you have made it though your first interview, you
have one more crucial step in completing the interview process,
the follow-up. This is best accomplished by sending a thank you
letter to those you were interviewed by. Make sure it goes out
within 1-2 business days. Reiterate points that were made during
the interview and why you are the right fit for the position.
Try to customize your thank you letter rather than sending a
generic thank you that won't make much impact on the company.
Remember to acknowledge your appreciation for their time and
consideration. From there, if you do not have instructions to
wait for them to contact you, follow up with a phone call around
one week later to check the status on filling the position.
The last piece of advice Young Jobs would like to offer job
seekers in conquering the interview is to BE YOURSELF!
We would say good luck, but if you follow our guidelines, we
know you won't need luck to succeed!
Young Jobs -
www.youngjobs.com