Redefine Your Career!

 

Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job interviews. Why, you ask? Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. So study these 10 strategies to enhance your interview skills.

Practice Good Nonverbal Communication

It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a good, firm handshake. That first nonverbal impression can be a great beginning -- or quick ending -- to your interview.

Dress for the Job or Company

Today's casual dress codes do not give you permission to dress as "they" do when you interview. It is important to look professional and well-groomed. Whether you wear a suit or something less formal depends on the company culture and the position you are seeking. If possible, call to find out about the company dress code before the interview.

Listen

From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not hearing it, you are missing a major opportunity. Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what was said. Observe your interviewer, and match that style and pace.

Don't Talk Too Much

Telling the interviewer more than he needs to know could be a fatal mistake. When you have not prepared ahead of time, you may tend to ramble, sometimes talking yourself right out of the job. Prepare for the interview by reading through the job posting, matching your skills with the position's requirements and relating only that information.

Don't Be Too Familiar

The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer's demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.

Use Appropriate Language

It's a given that you should use professional language during the interview. Be aware of any inappropriate slang words or references to age, race, religion, politics or sexual orientation -- these topics could send you out the door very quickly.

Don't Be Cocky

Attitude plays a key role in your interview success. There is a fine balance between confidence, professionalism and modesty. Even if you're putting on a performance to demonstrate your ability, overconfidence is as bad, if not worse, as being too reserved.

Take Care to Answer the Questions

When an interviewer asks for an example of a time when you did something, he is seeking a sample of your past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you not only don't answer the question, but you also miss an opportunity to prove your ability and talk about your skills.

Ask Questions

When asked if they have any questions, most candidates answer, "No." Wrong answer. Part of knowing how to interview is being ready to ask questions to demonstrate an interest in what goes on in the company. Asking questions also gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you. The best questions come from listening to what you're asked during the interview and asking for additional information.

Don't Appear Desperate

When you interview with the "please, please hire me" approach, you appear desperate and less confident. Maintain the three C's during the interview: cool, calm and confident. You know you can do the job; make sure the interviewer believes you can, too.

 

You've probably been on quite a few job interviews in your career, and you know that there are certain questions that every hiring manager seems to ask. Because you've heard them so often, you feel you can practically answer them in your sleep.

But, Are you sure that you are providing best possible answers?

A simple question in an interview can have many hidden layers of meanings. To answer those One’s you should understand what is the interviewer really hoping to learn when he or she asks why you want to work for the firm?

Let Us review some important regular interview questions which you're likely to hear the next time you meet with a prospective employer and insight into the qualities employers may be assessing with each one. Armed with this information, you can get to the heart of what a potential employer truly wants to know.

Tell me about yourself?

This is a classic open-ended question. It is a chance for you to divulge your qualifications, skills and background. Do not waffle - keep it to one or two minutes and keep it mostly career and work orientated.

How would you describe your own personality? What adjectives would you use to describe yourself?

Again relate your personality to the job at hand, and the skills you bring to the position. Examples include - hardworking, honest and courteous. Expand why these qualities are relevant to the position.

Why do you want to work here?

This actually means that, "How much do you know about this company, and why are you hoping to work here instead of for one of our competitors?" When answering this question, mention specifics. You might note, for example, that you're excited by the firm's cutting-edge research, a recent merger or the company's corporate social responsibility programs. A detailed response will tell the interviewer that you are interested in more than just a paycheck. At the same time, showing that you've done your research lets the hiring manager know that you came prepared and are serious about the opportunity.

What are your strengths?

Actually it means that, "How have you used your strengths to add value to your employer?" The interviewer wants to know how the particular talents you bring to the table will benefit the firm if you're hired, so put your best qualities in context.

Would you rather work alone or in a team?

This means that,  "Can you work with minimal direction?" and "Can you describe a time when you worked with a colleague or group to solve a workplace challenge?" Managers seek individuals who can take the ball and run with it. They may not always have the time to walk you through a project step-by-step, so you need to be able to work autonomously and devise solutions on your own.

Why do you want this job?

Again, research the company and say what attracts you to the job.

Why should I hire you?

You should clarify your positive attributes that are related to the job and draw on past achievements including compliments from previous managers etc

How much are you looking for?

Well do not discuss about salary, and to leave it to the recruitment consultants as they have experience in salary negotiations every day. However, if you do have to answer, answer with a question such as: "what is the salary range of similar jobs within your organization?" If there is no response, then indicate what you think you are worth in the market place. Be aware this puts you into a trap of being offered the lowest end of the scale.

By knowing what types of responses interviewers truly seek with seemingly simple questions, you give yourself a much better chance of impressing the hiring manager. After all, he or she has probably gotten used to hearing the same responses over and over again. Distinguish yourself with a response that gets to the heart of the matter

As a candidate, you must also demonstrate keen interest in knowing more about your prospective employer.

Be proactive and ask questions about the job and the organization to make the process mutually beneficial and productive.

Questions you could ask about the job

• What are the responsibilities of this position?
• Can the duties of the job be expanded or changed?
• How will I be evaluated, and in what time frames? What performance standards will be used?
• With whom would I be working? Who would be my supervisor?
• What are the key challenges or problems of this position?
• Could you tell me about my growth prospects in your organization?

Questions you could ask about the company

• What are the company's short-and long-range objectives?
• What does the company consider unique about itself?
• Where does the company excel? What are its limitations?

Questions you could ask about the opportunity itself

• When will a decision be made about this position?
• What is the next step in the decision making process?

For the interviewer, it is pertinent to gather as much information as possible about the candidate at the time of interview. To do this, an interviewer may adopt varied techniques ranging from probing questions, open ended-questions to case study analysis.

A CV is a stepping stone to getting a good job. It sets the tone for the face-to-face interaction. The best and most reliable way to excel in an interview is preparation. 

Some generic questions that the interviewer might ask:

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Tell me about your education.
3. Why have you chosen this particular field?
4. Why are you interested in working for this company?
5. How do you think you will fit into this operation?
6. What are your strengths?
7. What is your major weakness?
8. Why do you want to move from current job?
9. If you were hired, what ideas/talents could you contribute to the position or our company?
10. Give an example of how you solved a problem in the past.
11. What do you consider the most important idea you contributed or your most noteworthy accomplishment in your last job?
12. Give an example of a time you showed leadership and initiative.
13. Give an example of a time you were able to contribute to a team project.
14. Think about something that you consider a failure in your life, and tell me why you think it happened.
15. Where do you see yourself in three years?