The 24 Hours Before Your Job Interview - NOW WHAT ?

Job interviews, whether we're speaking of the inexperienced candidate or the candidate who hasn't had to look for a job in years, can serve to be a nail biting experience. Here you are, front and center before a stranger, or group of strangers who are scrutinizing and judging your abilities, knowledge, and experience. One wrong move on your part, and that could mean your competition stepping right in front of you. That is why it's important to instill self confidence in yourself days or at the very least, the day before you go for your interview.

From the outset, you have to come to an understanding that you are being granted an interview because your potential employer obviously saw something special about you. That something special was conveyed in your cover letter and or resume. Otherwise, why would they have called you in? And if you think that doesn't say a lot, how about asking the other 100 or more candidates who applied for the same job, and are not getting an interview. Would you rather be in their shoes?

YOU MAY JUST BE THE ANSWER TO THE COMPANY'S PROBLEM
Let's start with the problem at hand, which in effect is not your problem, but really is the problem of the company or organization that is calling you in for this interview. They are either in desperate need of an employee, or are expanding, and thereby require more qualified professionals. Pretty obvious, right? True, but you have to convince yourself of just that, fully understanding that they are looking for help. Your role in turn is that you are the solution to this problem. And once you convince them of that, you pretty much have the job. But how do you do that?

Well, now we're delving deeper into the world of interviewing techniques. In a nutshell, all you have to do is demonstrate your unique qualities and communicate them. And believe it or not, as you begin to convince yourself, first and foremost that you are special, and that you are the right person for this job, then you will be amazed at how effectively you will be able to articulate that part of yourself. What will happen also is that the interviewer will detect your confidence as a sign that you are prepared. Additionally, he or she will also believe that you do in fact have the skills and abilities required for the position.

A JOB INTERVIEW IS LIKE A SALES CALL
If on the other hand you do not have that sense of self belief, then you will inevitably fail in attempting to sell yourself. Because remember, job Interviews are much like a sales solicitation. You, the salesperson, are selling yourself to the buyer, being the employer. And much like a salesperson who sells with enthusiasm and passion, they also reflect their confidence in the product they sell. So start believing in yourself and you will be able to influence the employer to buy you, the product that you are selling.

BUILDING A FOUNDATION OF YOUR ABILITIES
If you still need more convincing of your abilities, then make a quick list of your strengths and weaknesses. Start off by trying to recall what you enjoyed from your current or past jobs, or projects and or volunteer organizations that you belonged to. Think ahead of those things that you enjoyed that may even be applicable to this position, which you can also relate to the interviewer. Then, start thinking about the particular aspects of those experiences that you didn't like. From that point, your list should slowly begin to develop.

The next thing you should do is make a quick list of where you see yourself five years from now, and ten years from now. Do you see yourself going on to College, or maybe even Graduate School? Do you see yourself married? Settling down? Advancing as a manager in your career, or higher?

If you exercise these several steps and convince yourself that you are in fact the solution to the company's problem the day before your interview, chances are you will never have to question your self confidence before an interview again. You will also gain a better understanding of yourself as a person and as a professional. Because half the battle of gaining self confidence comes down to self awareness.

You have 24 hours before your big job interview, and the last thing you want to do is go out and party it up till the wee hours of the morning. Advance preparation the day before, in more ways than one, is the key to success when it comes to job interviewing. Therefore, leaving anything for the last minute would be highly unadvisable, because it would simply increase your stress level, which would only distract you, and ultimately lead to self destruction when battling with your nerves.

HAVE YOU DONE YOUR HOMEWORK?
Hopefully you have done some research on the company you are interviewing with already. But if you haven't, sit yourself down now before your computer and get on the internet.

Start off by doing a Google search on the company and visit its website. Make sure you check the latest press releases on the company, as well as any WebPages they have regarding their products or services. Other areas you may want to research include the age and size of the company, its major competitors, the location of corporate headquarters, the name of the CEO/President of the company, advancement opportunities, and if there have been any recent layoffs. Also, if you know the name of the person who is interviewing with, Google their name. You never know what you may find.

Additionally, make sure you try to find the company's corporate culture or mission page. From there you should be able to extract certain buzzwords reflective of the company's culture and employee base that you could incorporate into your interview.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING?
Have you printed out either Google or mapquest directions to where you have to go? If not, because you have a GPS system that you will be relying on, do yourself a favor and print out directions as well. You just never know when the GPS may go down because of cloudy or inclement weather.

You may even want to take a dry run at driving to your destination ahead of time. This way you will truly appreciate potential traffic hazards. And needless to say, the day of your interview, try to listen to the early morning traffic report. The night before, pay attention to the weather report and prepare accordingly.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT REFERENCES?
Choose at least three people that not only know you, but more importantly know your professional or work abilities, as well as your sense of work ethic. And that doesn't mean family or friends. This would mean former supervisors or Managers, former work colleagues, college professors, and even volunteer coordinators who you may have worked for. Be absolutely sure these people will give glowing references of you. Then make every attempt to contact them ahead of time (if possible) to forewarn them of a potential call from an employer.

PREPARE YOUR ATTIRE
Put aside what you plan to wear ahead of time. This may sound a little anal retentive, but if you set aside your socks, your undergarments, shoes, your suit/dress and so on ahead of time, it's less time and things you have to think about as far as what to wear the morning of. Remember, it's all about saving time the day of and reducing any unneeded stress resulting from lack of preparation.

PRACTICE YOUR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Write down a list of 10 or so expected interview questions you may be asked, and practice answering them. Even if they are not asked, by practicing to answer the questions, you are beginning to instill a level of confidence in yourself. Try if you can the day before, to practice these questions with a friend of family member. Here are several common questions:

• Tell me about yourself


• Where do you see yourself in five years?


• Why did you choose to apply for this job?


• What are your strengths/weaknesses?


• Describe a situation in which you had to
  deal with a difficult person? How did you
  handle the situation?

GET A GOOD NIGHT'S REST
This should go without saying, but it must be emphasized. Try to make it to bed no later than 10 or 10:30 p.m. and don't eat anything late or drink anything caffeinated that may cause your stomach to be upset, or to keep you up late at night. If anything, try having a cup of hot herbal tea before you go to bed if you have trouble getting to sleep in a timely fashion.

Don't be down on yourself if you don't get the job after one interview. Sometimes it takes several job interviews with several different companies before you and the company click. As they say, if you don't get it the first time, try, try, again.

Appropriate interview attire must be thought of and prepared for ahead of time. Waiting till the last minute, such as the morning of your interview, is probably the worst thing that you can possibly do. The self imposed panic and stress of rushing around, will be guaranteed to mentally throw you off course.

Let's say you have applied for a surf board company, and everyone at the office wears shorts and Hawaiian shirts. Your decision as to what to wear for this interview should not however be dictated by the style or uniform of this company or this particular position for which you're interviewing. So, if you get the job with the surf board company, save the shorts and Hawaiian shirts for after you get the job. For now, make sure you wear a conservative and professional business suit. Remember, attire is appropriate and dictated by the event that you are attending. Therefore, a job interview should be treated if anything, as a professional business meeting.

For men, that would mean that a suit and tie is appropriate, and for women, a suit jacket with slacks or dress would be advisable. By all means, try to avoid loud patterns or excessive colors. You don't want to distract your interviewer by your attire.

Your clothing does not have to be designer brand or new. However, they should be clean, well-pressed and well-fitted. Make sure that you also try your clothes on ahead of time. If for instance, you have a suit that you haven't worn for years, and you haven't tried it on, nothing could put your nerves on edge more than when you discover last minute that the suit no longer fits you.

Additionally, make sure that whatever you plan to wear, matches as well.

Try not to wear cologne or perfume. It may smell good to you, but you just never know how the person interviewing you will take it.

Make sure your clothes match as well as your socks.

Polish your shoes, and make sure they match your clothes. Your shoes should also be conservative in appearance.

Don't wear clothing with loud colors.

If you carry a purse or briefcase, these too should also be conservative in appearance.

Make certain your nails are manicured. Do not arrive to the interview with nails that you bit or chewed off. As far as nail polish, men should not wear polish and women's polish should be conservative in color. Your nails should also not be an excessive length.

Check your clothing for stains, tears, loose stitching and/or loose buttons - and repair.

Try not to smoke and avoid being around others who are smoking because the odor will stay on your clothing and may be considered offensive.

Limit the amount of jewelry you wear. Keep it simple and conservative.

OVERWORKED I have found out the real reason why I'm tired, because I'm overworked! The population of this country is 237 million: 104 million are retired. That leaves 133 million to do the work. There are 85 million in school, which leaves 48 million to do the work. Of this there are 29 million employed by the federal government. This leaves 19 million to do the work. 4 million are in the armed forces, which leaves 15 million to do the work. Take from the total the 14,800,000 people who work for the city and state government and that leaves 200,000 to do the work. There are 188,000 people in hospitals so that leaves 12,000 to do the work. Now there are 11,998 people in prison. That leaves 2 people to do the work, You and Me...
AND YOU'RE SITTING THERE SCREWING AROUND ON MY JOKE PAGE!

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