How To Prepare For Your Interview

Your Interview Checklist

There are a few things you should do before going on a job interview. To begin with, conduct research on

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the company. Study the company's history, their products, and the services they offer. Learn how you can fit into their organization, and visualize the types of questions you could be asked.

If possible, ask a friend or other experienced person to conduct a mock interview to help you prepare. Also, prepare an honest resume. You'll need to highlight your skills and experiences and mention your academic qualifications.

Have your resume, pen and paper together in a briefcase or folder and keep a handkerchief in your pocket just in case you need it. Get a good night's sleep before the interview so that you are fresh and alert.

Enjoy The Interview Experience

Think positively when entering the interview room. Even if you do not get the job, think of it as a learning experience - it is natural to go through a number of job interviews before you land a job.

Even if you have had a negative experience during a particular interview, do not get depressed, just learn from it and move on. Keep your mind fresh and focused on the questions that are being asked. Do not try to bluff your way out of questions you are not sure how to answer. Be honest.

Attending interviews (and doing well!) is a mind game. Keep yourself calm and focused and you will be fine. You can do it!

Going for a job interview is already stressful enough without the interviewer asking point blank, "What's your greatest weakness?"

There is no easy way out - but understand that the very nature of this question is designed to catch you off-guard. Don't fall for it.

Go In Prepared

Preparation is the key to successful job

301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions

interviewing. Know as much about the company, their products and their people as you can before the interview begins. That way, your interviewer will have fewer chances to make you uneasy during the interview process.

They will probe you with various questions to find out what your weaknesses are. Do not try to bluff your way out of difficult questions. It will only give the impression that you will resort to cheating when you are put under pressure.

Answer Straight And To The Point

Some interviewers still like to ask the question "What's your greatest weakness?" during an interview. You can answer this question by either stating a weakness that you encountered during your previous job and how you overcame it, or you could reveal a weakness not at all related to the job profile.

Don't say that you do not have any weaknesses, because after all, you are human. This is the quickest way to torpedo your chances. Rather, you should use the approach of converting your weakness into a strength. You will sound confident and resourceful if you are able to recognize your own weaknesses and find strategies to overcome them.

Being prepared for this question before each interview is the key to succeeding. Try to turn negatives into positives. You will impress your interviewer with your adaptability if you handle this question well.

Just as employers will expect you to adhere to a certain dress code when you work in their offices, they expect you to dress in a certain fashion for interviews and the application process. Violating this unspoken dress code can easily lose you the chance at a job.

New Women's Dress for Success

'Dress for success' isn't just a catchphrase - you want to convince a potential employer that you take an interviewer seriously and make the best impression you can. Most career counselors will tell you that, because of this need to impress, it is practically impossible to overdress for a job interview.

Professional appearance is an absolute must. While you may not be applying for the sort of job that would require you to wear a suit every day, it still could be worth wearing one for your interview, whether you are male or female. Many women choose interview outfits that include a skirt: with a nice skirt, it is considered professional to wear hose. In general, for both men and women, professional attire should be conservative. This goes beyond avoiding low cut shirts - colors should be on the subdued side, as well.

Furthermore, your clothes should be clean and

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wrinkle-free. Avoid clothing with stains and holes. Your personal appearance (hair, fingernails, etc.) should be equally neat. Make up, perfume, and aftershave should be just as subtle as your clothing choices.

But dressing for your interview goes beyond just picking clothes. Accessories can be very important. Many applicants will pick out a very professional outfit but will grab any pair of shoes to wear with it. Consider the effect of your entire outfit. Dress shoes will match professional attire far better than tennis shoes would.

Jewelry can also play a crucial role. Just as your clothing should be subdued, try to choose jewelry that will not distract an interviewer from your abilities. Depending on the company you are interviewing with, you may also need to consider removing certain types of piercings. While some employers have no objection to them, others prefer not to hire candidates with obvious piercings, especially facial piercings. The same can hold true for tattoos and certain ways of dying one's hair. If you do have tattoos, generally, you can improve your standing as a candidate by wearing clothing that covers them, or at least does not bring attention to them.

Many career counselors also recommend wearing clothing that downplays certain parts of your appearance. For instance, if you have a scar or birthmark on your arm, you might consider wearing long sleeves that can cover it. While employers do not refuse to consider applicants with scars, a scar can distract you and your interviewer from the real issue at hand: your ability to perform the job in question.

Many companies use several interviews in order to narrow down the candidate pool. If you have made it through the first round of eliminations, you may find yourself asked back for a second interview.

Second interviews can often take up a full day. You may actually face several interviews in one day, as well as having opportunities to tour the company, and meet informally with members of the company. If possible, obtain a schedule or agenda of your interview in advance, to make sure that you prepare for each portion adequately. For instance, if your interview is a full day affair, you may need to select comfortable clothing that, while looking professional, allows for walking.

You may not feel the need to prepare for a second interview because you've already made it through the first. However, it is worthwhile to at least review your preparations and make sure that you still feel confident. While a first interview may be difficult, later interviews can be very competitive, because all of the unlikely applicants have been eliminated. The candidate pool is down to you and a few other qualified individuals. Prepare yourself by considering what sets you apart from applicants with similar skills and backgrounds. Don't limit yourself to work: consider what skills your hobbies might let you bring to the table, as well as individual experiences.

During a second interview, you will typically meet with other members of a company beyond your initial interviewer. Subsequent interviews are usually intended to offer other staff members a chance to consider the options. You will need to prepare yourself to meet with a wide variety of individuals: potential co-workers, managers, human resources personnel, etc. Consider what questions you might ask each person, and make sure that you bring plenty of copies of your resume.

Some companies view second interviews as opportunities to test applicants. Formal tests can include skill assessments and other psychometric measurements, but you may also face informal observation. There is, unfortunately, very little that you can do to prepare for such tests. Your best option is usually to get a good night's sleep the night before and relax as much as possible during the testing.

Your second interview may culminate in a job offer. You don't need to accept the offer on the spot, but you may want to negotiate compensation and benefits before you leave the interview. You can often have a better chance of ironing out details in person than over the phone or by email. Don't allow yourself to be pressured into agreeing to take the position, however.

If you need to take some time to think about it, tell your interviewer that. You may also be asked to come back for additional interviews. A few companies have been known to require five or more interviews during the hiring process. However, if you've been called back for a high number of interviews without receiving a job offer, it is acceptable to politely inform your interviewer that you need to make a decision by a specific date, or withdraw your candidacy.

This sort of ultimatum is typically not very risky: a company's internal hiring process may be taking an unusually long time and a warning that they might lose you can speed up the gears.

Your interviewer isn't the only person who should be asking questions during a job interview. You should consider an interview a chance for you to have your questions addressed, as well as an opportunity to impress a prospective employer. You may find out information that makes you reluctant to continue the application process, or you may discover details that will help you justify your position as the best candidate for a job. Prepare a list of questions before your interview. While you will not want to ask questions directly from your list, simply writing them down can help you remember them during your interview.

If you have adequately prepared for an interview, you will have researched the company in question. Typically such research raises questions about how you might fit into the corporate structure, and how the company generally operates. Your interview is a chance to discover the answers to these questions, as well as demonstrate to the interviewer that you went to the effort of preparing for the interview.

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An obvious question to bring up is the issue of compensation. While the question of money can make many job applicants nervous - no one wants to appear greedy - there may be salary levels that you simply cannot afford to accept. It is better to discover this fact before you complete multiple interviews, paperwork and other parts of the hiring process.

Be sure to ask about the work environment. In addition to considering whether you want to be part of such an environment, you can create an opportunity to tell your interviewer how you can adapt to such an environment. It is also worthwhile to ask about how your performance will be measured, and rewarded. While it is hard to truly understand these structure issues before starting a job, you may be able to recognize warning signs ahead of time.

Bring up your special concerns. If you are specifically looking for a position that will allow you to advance, ask about the job's potential during your interview. If you are interested in working for a company that offers opportunities to give back to the community, discuss them now.

If you have questions after an interview, most hiring managers are willing to answer them at a later date, either through email, or by phone.

Many employers cast wide nets when looking for applicants. The number of telephone interviews has risen with hiring managers' willingness to consider candidates who are not local. During your job hunt, you may be offered an interview by telephone. These tips can help you prepare.

Remember that a phone interview is still an interview. Just as you prepare for an interview that takes place in person, you should make sure that you are ready for a phone interview. Practice answering questions, and consider which questions you may need to ask your interviewer. You should also do some research into the company you may soon be working for.

Keep both your resume and the job advertisement within easy reach during your conversation. While you may be tempted to prepare a stack of information for your phone interview, limiting it to the job listing and your resume will keep you from shuffling papers and making noise during your interview.

Use a landline, if you can. While cellular telephones continue to improve, you don't want to risk static, dropped calls or interference during your interview. A wired line is more reliable and can offer better reception. You will also want to avoid taking a call in a noisy area or in a place that you cannot talk for long. Some interviewers may suggest using a software program in order to conduct a video interview through the computer. A telephone interview may be preferable - you are less likely to experience technical difficulties.

Budget time for a lengthy interview. You don't want to risk having to cut your interview short or needing to interrupt it. You may also need some time before your interview to get into an appropriate mindset, as well as a few minutes afterwards in which to relax. Limit the interruptions that might occur. Take your phone call somewhere away from children, pets, etc., and turn off call waiting.

Speak as clearly as possible. You are relying on your voice to convey all the emotion and enthusiasm that you would be able to use your entire body for during an interview. While you need to speak expressively, avoid becoming too excited, especially if your voice becomes difficult to understand.

If you are worried about presenting yourself professionally over the phone, consider dressing for a telephone interview just as you might for a face-to-face interview. Professional clothing can often help you move into the appropriate mindset for your interview, even though you'll be the only one able to see it.

Some interviewers will call after reviewing your application and as to interview you on the spot. If you do not feel prepared, suggest that it isn't a convenient time and ask if you can return the call.

There seems to be a belief that an applicant should show up to an interview with nothing more than themselves. This practice, however, can make an applicant seem unprepared and make it much harder to land a job.

There are a few items that you should bring along on a job interview. You should bring at least one spare copy of your resume, even if you provided it earlier as a part of your application. If you know that you will be interviewed by multiple people, you should bring a copy of your resume for each. You should also bring spare copies of your list of references.

If you are applying for a job that has specific

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certification or licensing requirements, you should bring proof of your eligibility. A wide variety of jobs require some form of licensing, from hair stylist to accountant, and employers are more likely to choose a candidate whose paperwork is already in order.

You may also want to bring along a portfolio. A portfolio could be as simple as examples of your work on past projects. No matter the depth of your portfolio, however, consider two factors before you bring in your examples. First, limit the number of pieces in your portfolio to your best. During an interview, you will have only a few minutes that you can devote to showing off your work. While you may make arrangements to leave your portfolio behind after the interview, you will want to be sure that your interviewer has already seen your best pieces. Second, consider how you will display your portfolio. If it is on a CD or DVD, you may need to make arrangements to have some sort of player available.

There are a few items that you might also want to consider bringing along for emergencies. You might want to stick breath mints in your bag, for instance, or bring a couple of safety pins, just in case. These sorts of emergency preparations can vary between individuals, but just knowing that you can deal with anything that comes up can help reassure you before your interview.

Whenever you go for an interview, you should know that many other applicants will be interviewing for the same position. If you want to land the job, then you need to learn how to put your best foot forward. By doing your absolute best, you will be giving yourself the best chance at being successful.

If you want to stand out, you need to impress the interviewer and make them believe that you are the best candidate for the job. Now, how do you accomplish this? Simple: don't follow the same age-old methods. Explore new techniques and try to be different. Send follow up letters to all of your potential employers.

What's A Follow Up Letter - And How Can It Help You?

A follow up letter is similar to a thank you letter. Once the interview is over, you should immediately send a follow up letter to the interviewer.

This may be surprising, but not many people follow up with companies after their interviews, even though it is proven that a well-written letter will give you a better chance of being hired.

Because you're not one of the above people, your follow up letter should be simple, short, and impressive.

What To Write

First, thank the interviewer for his or her time. Remember you are not sending out a follow up letter just to thank the employer, but also to highlight your achievements. Reiterate to them that you are the right candidate for the job.

You should highlight your skills and education. During the interview, if the interviewer made positive comments about you, you should include them in the letter. If the interviewer raised any concerns during the interview, you can address those as well.

For example, if the interviewer asked you when you could join their team, it is a good idea for you mention again how soon you can start. However, you should not raise any concerns regarding a start date, as doing so might cause confusion.

Always conclude the letter by again expressing your interest in the open position. Your follow up letter should be short and to the point. At the latest, the letter should be mailed one day after the interview.

In a competitive job market, sending a follow up letter could tip the scales in your favor.