Getting Hired Before the Interview
You've been cool and calm up until this moment and making all
the right moves. You've sent killer resumes, along with
fantastic cover letters, out to dozens of employers. And today a
prospective employer has finally contacted you for that first
all-important interview. You've studied and planned for this
dream position for many days; yet now you are terrified.
What has shaken your confidence? You are suddenly finding
yourself obsessing over the horrifying idea of going blank
during the interview. You can't sleep well at night and
butterflies appear in your stomach each time you think about the
big day. Are you alone in feeling this way?
Certainly not. Many job seekers experience anxiety and
apprehension when it comes to interviewing with a potential
employer. After all, what's not stressful about selling yourself
to a total stranger on why he or she should hire you for their
company? It was probably an interviewee who came up with, "You
never get a second chance to make a first impression."
That statement holds true for job interviewing more than any
other situation; but it is possible to prepare yourself for a
stellar interview and to literally steal the job before you've
even sat down for the interview. Learn how you can increase your
chances of landing the job of your dreams with some basic tips
and advice.
Firstly, know thy audience. Do your research on the company's
history and what products or services they offer. Nothing
genuinely flatters an employer more than to know that someone
has taken the time to understand what his or her company is all
about.
Secondly, develop a very short commercial about yourself. Put
together a two-minute summary detailing your strengths, skills,
and goals; then commit it to memory. This brief infomercial that
is all about you serves to effectively promote and sell you to
prospective employers.
A third tip that can't be emphasized enough is to practice,
practice, practice your answers to possible questions. Not only
does practicing ease anxiety and instill confidence in yourself,
but it can also prevent you from going blank during the
interview. Some of the most common interview questions are: *
Tell me about yourself. * What do you know about the services or
goods our company provides? * What are your short and long term
goals? * Describe your strengths and weaknesses. * What is the
greatest challenge you've ever faced and how did you overcome it?
While on the topic of questions, develop a mental list of your
own to ask the employer. After all, this could be your future
employer; therefore, you should demonstrate enthusiasm and
interest for the job for which you are applying. Some
suggestions are:
* What are the key responsibilities of this position? * What is
a typical work day like? But no matter how tempting, do not
ask about how much money you will be making!
A fourth bit of advice is to bring extra copies of your resume
and references with you to the interview. This simple little
step shows that you are conscientious; never take the chance of
an employer not being able to view all of your hard work and
accomplishments just because he didn't have a copy of your
resume handy.
A fifth step that is frequently overlooked is lining up your
list of references before they are contacted by a potential
employer. Your list of contacts should be well-versed on your
work skills and strengths and have direct knowledge of your job
performance. Guarantee that you receive glowing recommendations
by informing your references in advance that they may be
contacted by a potential employer.
The following is a list of do's and don'ts to go over when
preparing for the job interview.
Do: * Verify directions and parking before the day of interview.
* Go alone. That means no Mom or your best friend. * Arrive a
little early. Ten to fifteen minutes early is a good practice. *
Be clean and well groomed. Ladies, avoid nail polish, strong
perfume, and loud colors and jewelry. Fellows, don't use strong
cologne and avoid wearing jewelry. * Smile and shake hands
firmly. * Make good eye contact. * Speak clearly and use proper
grammar. * Ask for clarification if you don't understand a
question. * Take time to think about your answers. * Ask when a
hiring decision will be made. * Thank the prospective employer
for their time. * Write a follow-up letter to the prospective
employer within one day following the interview.
Don't: * Speak too fast. * Smoke or chew anything. * Ask about
salary. * Discuss personal or financial problems. * Criticize
your former employers or colleagues. Remember that the
prospective employer has already expressed an interest in you by
contacting you for an interview. Take advantage of this golden
opportunity by thoroughly preparing yourself to land that dream
job. You may find yourself reporting for work on Monday morning.
"Changing Lives...One Career at a Time."
Contact Details: Warschaw Learning Institute 8424 Santa Monica
Blvd. #A-170 West Hollywood, CA. 90069, USA
http://www.warschawlearninginstitute.com
information@warschawlearninginstitute.com (323) 822-0917
Copyright 2005 by Warschaw Learning Institute
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