Part and parcel of a job search is the interview process. There's just no getting around it. You have meticulously gone over your resume and written a compelling cover letter. You've stayed organized in the job search and understand the needs and wants of the companies you desire. You may feel like you are already the perfect employee and yet, you still have to go through the job interview.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make in their job interviews is coming unprepared. There are many aspects to getting prepared for a job interview and the first starts with getting to know the company. Research information about the company's goals, mission, products and services, and structure. You can usually glean this from the Internet, the public library, professional magazines or from former employees. This knowledge not only shows your interviewer that you are interested in working for their company but it also helps you to prepare a list of targeted and focused questions which help you to know if you and this company are a good fit.
Your next step while preparing for this interview is to practice answering common questions that you anticipate from your interviewer. One of the most common questions is "what are your strengths and weaknesses?" Or "tell us a little bit about yourself." Individuals who arrives at an interview unable to articulate a string of thoughts for these particular questions gives the interviewer the idea that you will be unable to work in a business setting at all. This is because these questions should be anticipated, and if you can't anticipate questions for your interview you won't be able to anticipate the needs and future of the company.
Preparing for the interview also means understanding what your body language is telling your interviewer. You may have the verbiage down pat but your body language may be giving a whole other impression. For instance, if you arrive chewing gum it indicates that you feel either much too relaxed or are too nervous. If you are sitting back, with your back against the back of the chair, it looks as if you're uninterested in what the interviewer is talking about. Sitting too far foreword indicates nervousness and eagerness.
One trick that headhunters often give to their clients is to use a mirror. Practice answering questions in the mirror and watching your own body language. Sometimes this can be difficult and doesn't always work well because you're watching yourself at the same time you're answering the question. If you have the option to use a camera, either a digital handheld by your friend or a web cam mounted on your computer, videotape yourself answering questions and going through the interview process. This gives you the opportunity to evaluate your performance before the interview, making adjustments where required.
If you don't have access to a video camera or a tape recorder then ask a trusted friends to read you the list of interview questions, add a few of their own, and give you feedback at the end of the interview. Write out any questions that you have difficulty with and practice your delivery smooth. This includes your introduction of who you are and why you want the position, as well as saying goodbye to the interviewer.
Preparing for your interview takes a bit of time and diligence, but in the long run it pays off.
Resource: "Boost Your Interview I.Q." by Carole Martin
http://www.amazon.com/Boost-Your-Interview-Carole-Martin/dp/0071425470
Presented by Trish King
You can also find Trish at www.trishking.com or http://blog.stayathomebizreview.com
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