How to Knock Them Dead at Your Job Interview

Make eye contact, nothing is more of a dead give away of poor self-confidence than a person that will not look someone in the eye. Walk up to your interviewer, extend your hand and look in them in the eye when you greet them and express your pleasure of meeting them. And don't beat around the bush when you are talking. Saying thinks like, "Well, I kind of helped with a project but I didn't run it myself," screams I do not think I am worthy of this position. Instead, say this, "I assisted in a very successful project and played a key role in bringing it to completion." Your role in the project may not have changed the perception the interviewer has of you has.

If you haven't been on very many interviews or it has been some time since you last attended one, it is understandable to be nervous. The more interviews you complete, the more confidence you will gain in your abilities to sell yourself. And you have to remember that if you were not qualified you would not have gotten the interview in the first place. Use that knowledge to your advantage and instill confidence in yourself. As a back-up measure, get some friends or family members to remind you of all of your great traits and what makes you special - an ego boost before an interview can certainly boost your confidence level.

There is a difference between telling a story highlighting the positive to make you sound better and lying to the interviewer. It is rare for a company to not conduct reference check these days so don't say anything that can not be verified by your boss or other references that you provide.

There are many ways to get into trouble during an interview and lying is the most severe. Common fibs that are told include educational degrees that you do not hold, saying that you are a manager when really you are a team lead and taking credit for a project that was
completed by a coworker. All of these things can make you sound good at the time of the interview, but what if the interviewer talks to your boss about the stellar project you ran for the company when it really wasn't you. Your boss is not going to lie for you and if you were in the running for the job, you won't be anymore.

The best way to handle these scenarios is to tell the truth but put you in the best light. Maybe you were a part of the project, instead tell the interviewer the part you played and share the success of the project as a whole. An employee that can recognize and share in the success in others is preferable to one who doesn't tell the truth or wants all of the credit for themselves.

This does not mean that you have to share all anything that doesn't put you in a positive position though. The key is to be honest and only bring up examples that are going to highlight your talents and work history in the best possible way. Don't claim or state anything that cannot be backed up by your references.

Sometimes - or more like every time - you go for an interview, your nerves make it hard to concentrate and answer questions to the best of your ability. The important thing to remember is to really listen to the questions being asked. If the interviewer tells you they want a specific example, don't answer with a general how you would do something - it is a surefire way to ruin your chances for the job.

These types of questions are known as situational questions. If an interviewer were to say to you, "Tell us about your favorite vacation." You wouldn't respond by telling them about all the places you would like to go or make a generalization:

"My favorite vacation is to go someplace hot with my family and sit on the beach."

Instead, you should answer as specifically as possible including all the pertinent details:

"My favorite vacation was two years ago when I went to California with my family. We spent a lot of time on the beach. It was very relaxing."

The second answer adds credibility. It is obvious that you are providing information from something that actually happened as opposed to making something up just to answer the question.

Potential employers are trying to gauge how you react or perform in specific situations. Common questions that are asked include:

"Tell me about a time you led a team project." Include what the project was, how many people, and any challenges including how you overcame them.

"Tell me about a conflict you had with a co-worker." Only pick situations that had a positive outcome.

Employers today want to know how you are going to perform on the job before they even hire you. By answering situational questions specifically you can assure the interviewer you have the skills and thought processes that they are looking for.

When you get to the interview, be prepared to discuss your resume. In addition to explaining why you left previous companies and chit chat about the position, if you have any gaps in employment be prepared to explain them. Many people are scared that an interviewer is going to discover that they were without a job for a period of time. It is not necessarily a bad thing, but you do have to be able to tell the interviewer why in the best possible light.

You should always be honest when explaining any absence from working, but you do have license to spin what you did do in the best possible light. For instance, if you were laid of your job and had a hard time finding a replacement but spent a lot of time with your children you could say, "I took an opportunity to spend a few months with my children in between jobs." If you took any courses or classes that adds value to your
skills as an employee be sure to mention that as well. You may find it beneficial to add a brief explanation on the resume itself or in a cover letter. Most times it is hard to get to an interview if there is a lengthy and unexplained employment gap.

If you are unsure what possible questions could be generated from your resume, have another person look at it. It is best to be prepared for certain questions and scenarios that will likely come up in an interview. You do not want to be caught unaware or floundering for an answer. Give yourself time to figure out the best explanation for times of unemployment so an interviewer sees it as reasonable or even beneficial to them in the case of additional education and classes.

This may seem obvious, but it happens way too often. No matter the reason, there is no excuse for it (besides an injury or family emergency and then kudos for you for showing up). Getting lost, bad traffic, or losing track of time doesn't matter to an interviewer. They are taking time away from their primary duties to sit down with you to try and give you a job. It is rude and disrespectful to not show up on time.

Here are a few tips to ensure this doesn't happen:

* Do a dry run. If you are going to a city or a part of the city you are not familiar with drive there a few days before. Ideally you will do it during a week day at a similar time to your interview time to gauge the amount of time it takes to get there.

* Leave early. Not just 15 minutes early, you can plan to arrive 30-60 minutes before your interview time. Don't go into the building though. Get into the area, find a coffee shop and relax while reading the paper or reviewing your resume. Not only will this ensure that you are on time it also gives you time to relax and calm yourself before walking into the building.

* Pay for parking. Don't circle the block 12 times looking for cheap parking on the street. Pay the money to park in a parking garage. You do not want to waste valuable time looking for parking and start to stress yourself at the same time.

If you are running late (but really, you shouldn't be), make sure you call. The interviewer may not have time to complete the interview if you are running late and you will save both of you the time if you let them know. You can try and salvage the faux pas by trying to book another appointment right away. And if you are lucky enough to get a second chance, follow the tips above to arrive not only on time, but early.

During an interview you need to mind your manners and follow an unspoken code of etiquette. This is more than your mom's "keep your elbows off the table." Business manners are going to be key, an interview is so much more than what you have to say - it is how you present (or sell) yourself. If part of the job you are applying for is dealing with clients or executives from other companies, you can be guaranteed how you act is part of the decision making process.

Eye contact, you have to be able to maintain eye contact without being uncomfortable. There are some acceptable ways to do this. If you are answering a question, it is okay to glance away when gathering your thoughts but if you are listening to someone keep your
attention focused on them (even if their eyes are wandering). This shows good manners and that you care about what they have to say.

Do not under any circumstances have gum or a mint in your mouth during the interview. If you want to be sure that you have fresh breath, chew gum or suck on the mint before arriving at your destination but discard or finish them before you enter the building. It is
distracting and rude to have them in your mouth when answering questions.

Use your interviewer's name, ideally you found out who you would be interviewed by when the meeting was arranged. If it isn't provided to you, be sure to ask who you will be meeting with and their position. When you arrive, shake hands and greet the person
by name. If you are just learning their name, repeat it and remember it. You want to be sure to get it right and thank them for their time when you are leaving.