Get That Job: Mastering Job Interviews

I've heard it said...in fact, it might well have been me that said it - there are few things more excruciating in professional life than the job interview. Job interviews are awful! Throughout my career I have attended many and conducted many more, and the truth is whether you are the candidate or the interviewer, job interviews are challenging and confronting and difficult - but you can not only survive but learn to be a masterful interviewee by developing an understanding of what it is the interviewer needs to see and learning to conduct yourself with clarity and confidence.

Be prepared. Sounds obvious, right? You'd be surprised how many people don't get this part right. Make a detailed list of all the information you need about your interview, including the:


Address
Time
Name of the person you are meeting
Correct pronunciation of the interviewer's name
Approximate length of time the interview is expected to take
Directions to get to the meeting venue

Know the style of interview. When you make the appointment, ask what form the interview will take; is it a one-on-one interview? A panel interview? Or a group assessment activity? Ask if there will be any testing involved also. Knowing the style will help you to be better prepared and will prevent you from being surprised by an interview format different to what you were anticipating.

Know how to get there. If you plan to travel by public transport allow extra time in case of delays. If you are driving, allow extra time in case of delays. If you are walking, allow extra time in case of delays...you get the picture - no matter how you plan to get there, allow extra time in case of delays, there's not many worse ways to start an interview than to arrive late and flustered.

Dress appropriately. Different workplaces and different professions have different codes of dress. Understand what is appropriate for the type of position and organisation you are interviewing for and err on the side of more conservative. Don't wear too much make up, jewellery, perfume or aftershave.

Do your homework. Research the company before the interview - look at their website, pick up a copy of their annual report and ask others what they know about the organisation. It is inexcusable to front up for a job interview not knowing anything about the company and you'll never convince anyone that they should employ you if you don't even have a general understanding of the organisation you'd be working for. Use the information you find to develop some questions to ask at the interview.

Good first impressions. When you meet the person or people who will be interviewing you, look them in the eye, smile and greet them with a firm (not too hard) hand shake. If you aren't used to shaking hands or don't know how to shake hands properly... learn.

Smile. Concentrate on projecting a pleasant, relaxed, confident image. Smile and be personable throughout the interview - you may feel nervous or even scared...but don't let it show.

Be conscious of your body language. Don't fidget, don't fold your arms, don't wave your arms about, don't lean back on your chair...it's just like your mother always told you!

Name drop. Address your interviewer by name frequently during the interview. People love the sound of their own name.

Listen intently. Give the interviewer your full attention when he or she is speaking. This will help you answer their questions appropriately and show that you are interested in the role and have a good grasp of common courtesy and professional behaviour.

Be a STAR. Formulate your responses using the STAR technique when responding to questions. Most interviewers use a competency-based interview technique. Many believe your past behaviour will predict your future behaviour so they ask questions to help them to understand what your past behaviours have been. STAR means:


S - Situation
T - Task
A - Action
R - Result

Always try to respond the following way: "The situation or task was ..., the action I took was ... and the result was..". Don't answer questions with words such as, "I would do this ... in that situation". Interviewers want specific examples of situations you have been involved in not hypothetical answers.

Be positive. Use positive, lively language. Act as though you already have the role - use phrases such as, "When I am in the role", "When I start the job" and "When I begin working with you".

Take notes. Let the interviewer know that you will be writing down points as you discuss the role. This will help you to remember details after you leave and it gives you something to do that stops your hands from fidgeting and it can help to settle the nerves a little too. But, make sure you use a good pen, don't use a cheap pen for your job interviews. If you can't afford a nice one, borrow one. It is important to give a good impression and these small details can make an impact.

Know the content of your resume well. The interviewer is likely to refer to something you've written in your resume - make sure you know it intimately and can answer questions about all your past roles, responsibilities and achievements. Also, know the timeline of your employment history well; it'll sound like you're trying to cover something up if you stumble over your own career chronology. Take additional copies of your resume with you - one for yourself and another for your interviewer should they need it. White paper, black ink, staples in the left-hand corner is an ideal format for most roles - leave the plastic folders and fussy presentation out.

Ask questions. Ideally an interview is an exchange - you are getting to know the people and the organisation you might be working with as much as they are getting to know you. Make the interview interactive by asking your own questions in response to theirs and at the end of the interview ask any questions that have not yet been addressed. Always have questions ready to ask, you won't convince anyone that you rally want to work for their organisation if you don't want to know all about it. These are good questions to have on hand:

When will I be notified I am successful for the job?
When will I start this new job?
How many people would I be working with?
What floor would I be located on?
What is the dress standard here?

Send a note. Take a few minutes to write a hand written thank you note to your interviewer and send it the same day. This will probably arrive quite unexpectedly and help to seal your interviewer's good impression of you and help you to stand out from the other candidates.

Neen is a Global Productivity Expert: by looking at how they spend their time and energy ? and where they focus their attention ? Neen helps people to rocket-charge their productivity and performance. A dynamic speaker, author and corporate trainer, Neen demonstrates how boosting your productivity can help you achieve amazing things. With her unique voice, sense of fun and uncommon common-sense, Neen delivers a powerful lesson in productivity. Find out more at http://neenjames.com/

Funny Interview Questions

Job Interview is generally a set of questions asked by the interviewer to test the ability of a candidate, his/her knowledge and personality. It is the employer's way of assessing prospective candidates, to find if they are good enough for the job for which the company is recruiting. During the interview process the interview will ask different types of questions to know more about the candidate. In most of the companies the interview questions is divided into different types.

Job interview questions differ according to the work structure of a company. But most of the job interview questions asked by the companies are related to the three categories. In the first set, the interview asks about the candidate's family background, education, and interests. The second set comes with question meant to assess the technical knowledge of the candidate. While the last is to judge the candidate's personality - his/her nature, decision making capacity, ideology, and ability to solve problems.

But some interview boards also ask a few funny interview questions to the candidate. This is a tricky method to check the candidate's reaction. Many candidates don't know how to answer a funny interview question. Hearing a funny interview question some candidates get irritated. What is there in getting irritated hearing a funny interview question? The candidates have to know that these questions are meant to check the psychological structure of the candidate. There is nothing to get panic or irritated hearing funny interview questions. Just answer the funny interview questions as other technical questions in a simply way.

By asking funny interview questions the interviewer is trying to test the nerve of the candidate. Just relax and show enthusiasm to answer the funny interview question as the other interview questions. The interviewer is trying to check what type of person you are. That is whether you have enough humor sense. Funny interview questions are asked to put the candidate at ease. By asking funny interview questions, the interviewer is also trying to make you relaxed and enthusiastic. The interviewer also needs to remove the tension in you and make the interview process very informal. This is done so as to smoothen the interview process.

If the interview feels that you are tensed, he cannot judge clearly whether you are fit for the job or not. When the interview is done in a tensed manner, you will also be not able to answer all the question correctly as you may forget many answers because of the tension which remains in your mind. This is the main reason why interviews ask many funny questions to you.

So now you get the idea what are these funny interview questions meant for. There is nothing to worry about funny interview questions. Simply answer the questions with a funny answer so that the interview will enjoy your answer. By answering the funny interview questions in a funny way or responding to the question in the same enthusiasm as the other questions you can sometimes make a ticket into the list of expected winners.

Sonali Sen for http://www.creativeinterview.com Read more about Interviews http://www.creativeinterview.com/Tips-for-Job-Interview.html Copyright 2005 http://www.creativeinterview.com

Interviewing Styles: Should You Learn Them?

There is much talk about Interviewing Styles: The Directive Interview, The Behavioral Interview, The Stress Interview, The Qualifying Interview, The This Interview, The That Interview. Articles outline different styles, list typical questions for each and tell you how to prepare for them, as well as suggesting appropriate answers.

That's all well and good, but there's an obvious question here that begs to be asked: how do you KNOW which style you'll encounter? When you phone to schedule the interview, do you ask, "Oh, by the way Mr. Interviewer, what interview style do you use? I'd like to study that one and ignore all the others."?

I absolutely endorse asking questions that you need to know the answers to (when it's the appropriate time)......but THAT question is obviously an exception!

So do you study all of the styles? Memorize every question that applies to each style and all the recommended answers to prepare for each one? And when the interview begins, you say to yourself, "AHA! It's The Abstract Theoretical Look Sideways Style!" and then you know exactly what to say and do.

What if you missed a style? And you find yourself saying "What the heck style is THIS? I don't recognize it! HELP!" Which completely throws you off and you bomb the rest of the interview.

Worrying about interviewing styles is ridiculous. Not only is it too much information to memorize, but it's also a waste of time. An interview is nerve-wracking as it is without worrying about which style you're going to encounter.

The interview is about the company and how your presence will benefit them, the preparation (with the exception of your company research) is about knowing who you are and what you're looking for. It's not about the company or anticipating their interviewing style.

Interview preparation is an absolute, non-negotiable, unequivocal must, but preparing by learning different styles is not. That's why your interview preparation needs to be focused on learning about yourself, listing questions to ask, forming your answers to fundamental interview questions.

You prepare by focusing on yourself because you are seeking your perfect job. You want to have the power to decide if you want to return for another interview instead of giving that power away. You want to be in control of your future.

An interview is a sales process. The product is, essentially, you. And you need to be real about who you are, AND be prepared enough to interview well. Do THAT properly and the style you encounter is irrelevant.

Interviewing is 85% prep and 15% common sense. Sometimes it does involve a bit of mirroring, but some of that is common sense. Do it without losing your individuality. For instance, if the interviewer is chatty, longer answers are okay. If the interviewer is crisp and serious, keep your answers focused and on the topic.

Occasionally you'll run into an interviewer who wants to make you sweat. You feel as if you're under a bright light - they're grilling you, and you might as well have been fingerprinted. There's no need to get all worked up (besides, they WANT you to). If that's his interview style, what do you think it will be like to work for him?

The answer to that should calm you down. You won't care what he thinks, because you probably won't want to return. Good money? Eventually you'll hate your boss, then you'll hate your job, then your life will be hell, because the salary won't be worth it. Short drive? Eventually you'll hate your boss, then you'll hate your job then your life will be hell, because the drive will STILL be too long - you don't want to go where you're driving. Great advancement promised? After how long? How many people have held that position in the last 6 years?

If you want to work for a control freak or someone who needs to appear tough and all-knowing, you've found the place. If he's rapid firing questions at you, hoping to trip you up, let him feel important . Finish the interview and then cross the company off your list.

Another interviewer might leave you thinking "What's UP with this guy?" He seems sort of at a loss as to what to ask you. His questions are all open ended and don't seem to have any firm direction or point. Just use common sense. You've done your interview prep work - jump in and sell yourself. That doesn't mean talk non-stop, but you don't have to sit there and be uncomfortably silent for long periods of time either.

Ease the awkwardness. Help him out. Lots of holes? Gracefully and professionally answer some of the questions you were prepared to answer, even though he hasn't asked them. He may not know how to interview very well.

(Face it, NO ONE - except maybe a human resources person - should have a lot of experience interviewing. If they do - they either can't keep a job....or they can't keep employees!)

If your first interview is with human resources, often they can be crisply black and white, detail oriented, and by the book. Don't let it throw you. If you know yourself and what you're looking for, you've done your research on the company, and you've thoroughly prepped yourself for the interview, you're much less likely to get flustered.

Mirror their style, but don't drown your personality. SOME human resources people are adept at giving you enough rope to hang yourself - so don't be lulled into a warm cozy camaraderie. Watch their visual cues - which can be subtle. Follow your instinct, but follow their lead. They're screeners, but in that sense, they are also decision makers.

Don't waste your time memorizing styles and how to handle each one. There ARE different interview styles, just as there are different types of people. The hiring authority's interviewing style is usually a reflection of his personality. Stay aware of what's happening at the moment, what you're saying, what you're learning, and how you're feeling about what's taking place.

The more you've done your homework in accordance with what I've suggested, the more relaxed you'll feel. The more relaxed you feel, the more confident and in control of your answers you'll be, and the less likely you'll be to worry about interview styles and types. When you know your background and who you are - the hows and whys and whats - you're also less likely to be blindsided by an unexpected "type" question.

So before you interview, it is imperative for you to give significant thought to:


Why you chose your current field

What environment you work best in and why

What your personality traits are

Why you liked and didn't like your previous jobs and what you learned from them

What your skills and talents are

How you've handled diverse situations and what you might have done differently, or why what you did was effective - be able to back it up

What you've accomplished in your previous positions and how those accomplishments contributed to the success of the department and the company

In what areas you feel you need some work or polish

Where you see yourself going and how you plan on getting there

Why you chose to leave one company to go to the next

In addition to knowing the answers to the above topics, you need to think about the most appropriate way to phrase those answers AND how they relate to what you've learned about the company from your research on line or at the library.

In fact, some of the topics on the above list you should already have given thought to before you began your job search. If you don't know who you are, what you want, in what circumstances you perform best and in what circumstances you don't perform well at all, what type of management style helps you to flourish and give back to the company, and what the goal of your next job is - you won't know what you're looking for, much less be able to recognize it.

Put effort into making sure you know who you are and what makes you that way. Know what you've accomplished and what contributed to those accomplishments, what motivates you and what turns you off. Spend time learning about the company with whom you'll be interviewing. Make a list of questions to bring with you, and know what kind of answers you're looking for. Be able to address issues by showing how who YOU are will benefit THEM.

Then it won't matter what style you encounter. You'll be comfortable with any style you meet. And when they want you to come back for another interview, you can decide if you want to....or not.

copyright: Judi Perkins, VisionQuest

Judi Perkins has been a search consultant for 25 years in both the contingency and retained market, with a short stint in the temporary and local permanent placement markets. She has owned her own firm and successfully assisted numerous repeat clients in hiring all levels of management. She is a Career Expert and Forum Moderator with http://www.CareerCube.net. To sign up for her newsletter or learn thousands of powerful concepts to find your perfect job go to http://www.findtheperfectjob.com.

4 Interview Styles For the Job Seeker to Prepare For

Welcome reader! By opening this web page you are basically opening the doors of human resource and hiring manager offices across the USA. As a corporate recruiter consultant, for over twenty years I work closely with hiring managers, human resource professionals and of course job-candidates.

My job has me working anywhere from 3 months to 2 years at a single company then I'll move on to the next company to help staff people to fill their open positions of employment. My career has allowed me to work in many different H.R. departments across the U.S.A. I've witnessed first-hand what a company both wants and needs in their next new employee. I've also learned that there are different ways to interview a candidate during a face-to-face interview. Step into my office and I will tell you about the four most common face-to-face interview styles. In learning about these interview styles you will also learn how to prepare for them thus gaining greater self-confidence and a greater chance to secure the position from the competition.

Obtaining a face-to-face interview is always a good thing...even if you end up not being selected for the job. Meeting with someone that represents the company allows you to properly sell yourself and get a foot in the door for future opportunities.

Not all interviews are held in a stuffy human resource office, some are held in a stuffy hiring manager's office. Some interviews are conducted over a meal at a local diner or in a large conference room where several key players have gathered. If you are fortunate you might be told in advance what type of interview you can expect. Being organized and prepared will help you be relaxed and make the entire interview process flow smoothly.

Traditional Interview- Traditional interviewing revolves around asking a series of questions which typically elicit straight-forward answers centering on education, qualifications and the experiences of the candidate. Traditional interview questions are excellent for laying a foundation of what to expect from the candidate. For example, in a traditional interview the hiring authority can discover that a candidate is a Registered Respiratory Therapist with five years of clinical experience; with this knowledge the interviewer will expect the candidate to be able to have a shorter new-hire ramp-up time than the Certified Respiratory Therapist with six months home health care experience. Most traditional interviews are conducted in an enclosed room in a one-on-one setting.

Following are some traditional interview questions:

• What are your major strengths and weaknesses?

• What is your favorite web site?

• Who do you turn to for help in making decisions?

• Where do you see yourself five years from now? (Personally I despise this question and I wouldn't fault the fool that says they see themselves on a beach in Hawaii sipping Mai-Tai's. If you are unfortunate enough to be challenged with answering this mind-numbing question try to answer in terms of skills or experiences you hope to learn.)

• Why are you interested in working for us?

• What would you do if you won the lottery?

Panel interview- This type of interview can be highly efficient and yet rather nerve-racking for the candidate. I remember my first panel interview where I was seated at the end of a very long table as 15 people began to announce their name and title. "Mary, Director of E.R.. Bob, Director of Laboratory. Sam, Director of Oncology. Dr. Danforth, Director of Nursing..." By the time they got to me I wanted to blurt out, "Hi, I'm Kelly and I'm going to need one of you as soon as I faint from a severe case of intimidation." I managed to make it through the interview and get the job. Once I got over the willies I found the process to be an effective way to exchange a great deal of information, with a lot of different people, in a short amount of time.

Some corporations prefer the Panel interview as it embodies their culture of team-work, or perhaps it embraces their non-hierarchical approach. Whatever the reason, the Panel interview is not only an efficient use of time but a great way to see how the candidate handles stressful situations as well as witness how they interact with peers and superiors.

Behavioral interview - Behavioral interviewing has been quite the rage for the past couple of years. Behavioral interviewing emphasizes past performance and behaviors thus indicating predictable future behavior. A candidate will not be able to prepare a canned answer for the behavioral question. This method of interviewing seeks examples of how interviewees have behaved during certain situations that are important in the position. For example, "Describe the last time you had to handle an angry patient."

Following are some behavioral questions:

• Decision Making and Problem Solving

Give me an example of a time when you had to keep from speaking or making a decision because you did not have enough information.

Give me an example of a time when you had to be quick in coming to a decision.

• Leadership

What is the toughest group that you have had to get cooperation from?

Have you ever had difficulty getting others to accept your ideas? What was your approach? Did it work?

• Motivation

Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty.

Describe a situation when you were able to have a positive influence on the action of others.

• Communication

Tell me about a situation when you had to speak up (be assertive) in order to get a point across that was important to you.

Have you ever had to 'sell' an idea to your co-workers or group? How did you do it? Did they 'buy' it?

• Interpersonal Skills

What have you done in the past to contribute toward a teamwork environment?

Describe a recent unpopular decision you made and what the result was.

• Planning and Organization

How do you decide what gets top priority when scheduling your time?

What do you do when your schedule is suddenly interrupted? Give an example.

• Other Behavioral Questions

Give a specific example of a policy you conformed to with which you did not agree.

Give me an example of an important goal which you had set in the past and tell me about your success in reaching it.

Describe an instance when you had to think on your feet to extricate yourself from a difficult situation

The key to answering behavorial-based questions is to provide clear, concise yet detailed responses where the interviewer can understand how you played a role in the situation.

Mass interviewing - More commonly referred to as a 'Job Fair'. When an organization has a large amount of the same type of job to fill within a short amount of time then a mass interviewing event may be the best way for them to go. One large corporation that I was hired to assist with their recruiting department needed to hire 100 RN's within a four month time span. A marketing firm was hired to spread the word about the special day where all hiring resources would be available. In order to catch the RN's that had different shifts to work the event lasted from sun-up to sun-down for two days. This corporation was very wise in not calling it a 'Job Fair' but a 'Hiring Event', this way the RN's knew that the company was serious about extending offers on the spot. This event was a tremendous success netting over 60 new hires to fill the vacant RN slots. Mass interviewing events more commonly are arranged to hire call center and customer service professionals.

Dinner interview - There are generally three reasons why an interview is conducted in a public place while dining. One reason is flexibility with time and/or location is a necessity in getting the interview accomplished. Reason two is that the interviewer is trying to please or impress the candidate. The third reason is that the interviewer wants to witness how the candidate might interact in this setting as dining out with clients is going to be part of the job that the candidate is vying for. The interviewer will watch to see if the candidate orders alcoholic beverages, do they use proper table manners, what do they order from the menu, do they talk with their mouth full, are they polite to the staff? If you are invited to interview while dining out it is without question your hosts' responsibility to pick up the tab. Be sure to thank the host for the meal and their time.

The dinner interview should have a more informal feel to it where perhaps the interviewer might get to know you on a more personal level. Types of questions asked might relate to your educational experiences, your reasons for choosing your career path, some of your outside interests or what are your greatest passions in life. The dinner interview isn't the proper setting for a strong set of behavioral-based questions.

No matter how informal the interview setting the interviewer should never ask you questions pertaining to your race, age, religion, whether or not you are pregnant or disabled. If an interviewer blatantly or mistakenly asks you a question relative to one of these topics, simply respond with, 'I'd rather not answer that question' and quickly change the subject.

Thank you for visiting my office. Now you have the necessary information to open the door to your next interview. Best wishes job seeker!

Kelly Smith is a Corporate Recruiter Consultant. Kelly works alongside human resources and hiring managers to source, screen, review resumes, interview, negotiate and extend offers to thousands of candidates throughout her more than 15 years in staffing. Visit Kelly's web site at http://KellyStaffingExpert.com see her blog, view jobs, and visit her store to buy her book, The Recruiter's Hiring Secrets. Also, in the store link you can send Kelly your resume for her to review and to make recommendations from her corporate recruiter perspective. Happy Job Hunting!

Interview Preparation - How Much Time Should You Give?

Interview Preparation

It's very easy when you're looking for a job to apply for every suitable job vacancy available but what if you're putting all your energy into a job which you have a very low chance of winning, and not leaving yourself enough interview preparation time to jobs which you have a greater chance of winning? The result is that your interview self-confidence is dented and it becomes more and more difficult to exude confidence in each consecutive interview.

Before you prepare for an interview you need a framework in place to analyse and prioritise your job opportunities so that you can make an informed decision about the job to apply for, and you can then channel your resources to prepare for an interview which is important to you. This requires you to research the results of your job hunting over the last six month but the effort is worth it.

Interview 'sales funnel'


How many job applications have you applied for?
How many times have you been asked for an interview?
How many times have you been short-listed for the job?
How many job offers have you had?
How is your interview preparation process?

Analyse each job application in as much detail as possible. Look at the industry sector, the type of job, location, level, and salary. How did you come across the job? Can you see any pattern emerging? If you discover than you're losing jobs at the first stage and not being invited for an interview then you need to review how well you understand the job specification and how well you meet it? Make sure that you avoid the most common CV mistakes. If you have all right skill set and experience then this suggest that you need help preparing for an interview.

The first step is setting career objectives. However, if you feel that there are no barriers to stop you achieving you career goals then you need to look at how you sell yourself. Promoting yourself starts with understanding your strengths and competences and selling your 'brand values' on the CV. It is essential to sell the interviewer the skill set they value.

Not being short-listed for Interviews?

If you're getting interviews but you're not being invited short-listed for a second interview then this suggests that you might need interview training. Interview training can significantly improve your preparation for the interview so that you make a confident first impression. An interviewer will inevitable choose someone they like and feel they can get along with. It's helpful to learn techniques to control interview nerves and to have some interview practice so that you know how to answer common interview questions. Today communication skills are an essential competence for most jobs so you should expect to be asked communication interview questions. Interview preparation and interview practice is essential if you want to make a favourable first impression.

Short-listed for Interviews but no Job Offers?

If you're regularly being short-listed for jobs you're obviously preparing for an interview well. So why didn't you get the job? Some typical questions to ask yourself are:


How much did I want the job?
Did I have a track record in this area to support my pitch?
Did I recognise my weaknesses and support them?
Did I substantiate my expertise to carry out the job?
Did my references support my application?
Was I assessed in an area that I am less experience in such as a job interview presentation?

Interview training can help to provide an independent assessment of how well you perform in the more stressful second interviews, and give you strategies to cope with competence based questions and tough questions. Interview training can give you greater self-confidence in an interview. Subliminal Message software can be an easy and effective method to give yourself a boost of confidence throughout the job hunting process.

Interview Training

Now you have applied your criteria review what you have learnt? Following your review of your interview 'sales funnel' would you apply for the same jobs? Do you need interview training to build confidence and get the job you want?

Interview Preparation


create a great first impression
voice techniques and body language
handle nerves and strategies to perform well on the day
improve your personal branding
identify what's needed
explore your transferable skills
explore your strengths and weaknesses
identify competences
interview tips

Interview Practice


questions and answers
a mock interview
strategies to answer competency based questions
explore story-telling based on your experiences
identify tough questions & practise the answers
explore insightful questions to ask

If you would a free interview coaching video 'know yourself' sign up for my Interview Tips newsletter which is packed with interview tips & how to answer tough interview questions. You'll immediately be sent a free video 'know yourself' coaching session which will help you identify your unique strengths to promote in an interview. http://www.howtointerviewtraining.com

10 Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid

If you've read one or several of the countless publications about job job interviews and how to avoid messing up the interview, you may have some good tips and suggestions.

Most of that information may be just fine, however here are 10 common mistakes made in one fashion or the other. Consider these just the "cliff notes" version.

Avoid These 10 Mistakes

1. Arriving late for your job interview. The one thing you avoid at all costs is being late for your interview. ?If you're hired you'll be expected to be on time and your ability to be on time for the interview is often a judgement of whether you'll be late if you're hired.

Some suggestions to prevent tardiness are:

Obtaining through directions to the interview location from the recruiter or hiring manager or the HR representative. When possible inquire further about just how much time to allow to either drive (or use public transportation) to your job interview location from wherever you'll be coming. When it's a big organization or plant setting, find out which building your interview will take place in. Don't forget to ask about parking your car and if the parking is free or paid.

Get phone numbers of the interviewer just in case you need them during your trip to the interview, or should you need to reschedule your interview date/time (illness, family emergency, current work conflicts, etc.)

If at all feasible make a trial trip, by driving to the location for the interview. This includes driving to that location at about the same time during the day that your job job interview is planned. This provides you with the best idea of just how much time to allow to get to the interview. This is a good time to also scout out the parking arrangement.

Permit yourself a minimum of a 10-15-minute safety net. It's much better to be early, instead of being late.

When you are running late despite all your planning and best efforts (traffic jam, flat tire, inclement weather, etc.) phone the interviewer so that you can notify her or him that you'll be a little late and include the causes for your delay. See whether you can still be interviewed or if you need to reschedule.

2. Overlooking a last minute personal grooming check. By arriving early ask for the nearest restroom and look in the mirror so that you can make certain your grooming is still appropriate. Make certain your clothes are strait and neat and comb your hair if needed and if you've eaten recently check your teeth to be sure that you don't have food lodged in your teeth. Remember this is a good time to also take that "pit stop" so you won't have to ask to use the restroom in the middle of interviews.

3. Dressing inappropriately. No mater what level of job you're interviewing for, your clothes must clean and neat.. For professional positions, men and women must dress professionally and what that means may vary from company to company. For many jobs, well put together business informal clothing will be all you need. This isn't right time or place for jewelry or clothing that is flamboyant. You wouldn't want anything to draw attention away from focus from your qualifications to do the job. It's best to inquire about proper dress code when setting up the interview appointment. And just in case, it's always best to err on the side of being a little over dressed, vs. under dressed.

4. Being trapped into making casual conversation. Numerous interviews start with a casual conversation to place the two you at ease. No matter what, stay away from topics such as politics and religion. Acceptable subjects for casual discussion include sport or the weather,regardless and if you needed any assistance locating the company facility for the job interview. Making comments about photos or other things at place of work is generally effective. Nevertheless, be sure you are in the actual interviewer's office, instead of in a office just being used for the job interview, before you discuss workplace items.

5. Being unable to communicate effectively about your current and prior work background. Many interviewers are certainly not really experienced and often a few of the more knowledgeable ones will use your resume as a guideline during job interview. Be ready to discuss everything in-depth that you've listed on your resume. If you can, rehearse having an interview with an associate or friend. Your practice may not be optimal, but it will sure help you increase your interviewing ability all of which will place you ahead of many of your competitors.

6. Being unfamiliar with the job you are being interviewed for. The more knowledge you get regarding the job and the organization, more probable it is you'll be able to represent yourself as the solution to meet the employer's needs. When you're in a major job hunt, you ought to have completed considerable company research prior to getting the interview.

Information sources for could be:

The Internet. Both the company's website and/or websites focussing on the profession or industry.
The library. Industry magazines or publications like the Occupational Outlook Handbook tend to be helpful.
Networking. Talk to individuals who are acquainted with the actual job or business. Linkedin is a great resource for this. In case you do not know a person with the knowledge you seek, you probably know somebody who knows somebody who has that information. Networking begins with asking them questions, so you shouldn't be reluctant to ask others for information and facts.

7. Failing to pay attention for hints in relation to requirements from the company. Numerous interviewers begin the job interview by supplying you with an understanding of the business and its needs. Treat these details as a treasure. As soon as you've acquired these details, you'll be able to customize your replies to how you are able to assist them fulfill those needs. The company is trying to find somebody to solve their challenges and, if you are able to persuade them that you are capable of doing so, you will end up significantly ahead of your competition.

8. Failing to recognize when to quit speaking. When you have practiced your interviewing, you will definitely have the ability to plainly and briefly answer their questions and explain your accomplishments. Avoid rambling replies that will move away from subject of the job interview. Use the SMART method for structuring your answers. This should be a one to three minute initial response in most cases.

S = Specific

M = measureable

A = Action oriented

R =Results oriented

T = Time specific

Don't be frightened of silence during the interview and don't try to fill in lulls in the conversation. If you're unsure whether or not the job interviewer has gotten adequate details from your answer, ask them if your response was sufficient, i.e. "have I given you enough information, or would you like more detail?"

9. Failing to ask insightful questions. Usually, at the conclusion of the job interview, you'll be asked if you have any questions. Avoid using these times to inquire about benefits or when you might take your very first holiday. The questions you ask need to display your desire for the job. You might want to ask questions like:

The most important long term plans for your company? The most important plans for the position you're interviewing for?
Exactly what do you believe are the most crucial skills needed for this job?
How will you evaluate my progress and my accomplishments in this job?
May I answer any questions for you before I leave?

10. Failing to remember to always use a thank-you / follow-up response. Attempt to get business cards from every person you interview with and make at least one key note about what you talked with during interview with that person (use the back of the card), then include a comment about that point in your thank you letter. Emails are OK to use. The interviewer's email should be on the business card.

A thank you correspondence has a number of excellent points.

It's going to help remind the interviewer of both you and your qualifications. Very few people really send this sort of correspondence and submitting one should cause you to differentiate yourself.
You can use it add to the responses you presented during your interview.
You could strengthen areas in places you thought you failed to thoroughly explain during your interview.
It is possible to add more details - the points you "wish you'd have stated" during the job interview. This could even include a document or white paper or a link on the web that points to what you've done.

All through the job interview process, remember that the process is actually a competition. Its not necessary to be perfect, just superior to the competition. By eliminating these ten ways to mess up a job interview, you will have a high probability of beating your competitors.

(c) 2009 by Carl Bradford - I am an Executive Recruiter with over 40 years of recruiting and hiring experience. I am also a recognized expert in this field. I train corporate and independent recruiters in the Lou Adler recruiting methods and am currently the only individual that is permitted to certify other recruiters in this coveted methodology.

You can find all of my current search assignments at:
http://www.BradfordConsulting.com and my blog posts at: http://www.theemploymentguy.com/

The Interviewer - Friend Or Foe?

The hostile interviewer

We often anticipate the interviewer to be friendly and well mannered. However, there are occasions in which the interviewer turns out to be hostile, impatient, inconsiderate and even aggressive. This may be due to their lack of experience, being unprofessional or plainly because they have an unpleasant personal nature. An interview conducted by such a person may induce apprehension or even anger on the applicants' part. In addition it may even compromise their self confidence. The higher the sense of insecurity and sensitivity is on the applicants' part, the greater the negative effect it will have. This may manifest itself in unwillingness to cooperate with the interviewer and subsequently disqualify the applicant.

The job applicant may also think:

"If the interviewer is so hostile this may be indicative of the atmosphere at work and I have no wish to work with such colleagues or in such atmosphere"

This attitude is counter-productive. First and foremost it may inhibit the applicants' ability to effectively cope with the interview and second, the conclusion drawn may be wrong altogether. Perhaps the interviewers' behaviour is not indicative of anything - just of their own inappropriate behaviour and you may lose out on a wonderful opportunity. Moreover, perhaps the interviewer has deliberately acted in such a way to assess your ability to handle unpleasant situations.

Regardless of who the interviewer is you must always be well mannered and respond in a concise and professional manner. Your goal is to prove that even when you face an unpleasant interviewer you can face up to the challenge and be professional. If you have faith in your self, avoid trying to please the interviewer. Believe in your abilities and you will be able to cope with any interviewer. The interviewer will know that you are a person that is easy to get along with, a person that can withstand pressure and deal with unpleasant situations.

The friendly interviewer

In some cases you will meet a friendly, calm and welcoming interviewer. This may come as a relief to some and may lead them to act enthusiastically and at times in a careless and perhaps unmeasured manner. Some may be voluntarily open to a degree in which they disclose information that is not necessarily required. The job applicant may think: "Since the interviewer is so friendly I have nothing to be concerned about, I presume they really like me and I can tell them anything".

Disclosing unnecessary information may be damaging and may even lead to disqualification.

For example: An applicant for a financial and administrative position is interviewed by an informal and friendly interviewer. She asks the applicant if in his current position in a financial and administrative position the bulk of the work is financial or administrative. Since the applicant feels comfortable he discloses the fact that most of the work he does is administrative by nature (even though there is a financial aspect to it). This kind of response has in effect compromised his chances of succeeding in the interview since the impression made is that he does not have the kind of experience they are looking for.

In fact, the applicant may have all the skills and experience required but since he decided to disclose all the information in an uncalculated manner he has made an unbalanced impression.

In most cases, a friendly and informal interviewer is an experienced one that 'seduces' the job applicant to act freely. Some applicants may feel overly comfortable in such situations and may disclose their weaknesses to an extent that may lead to their disqualification.

Important! We recommend you focus on giving a concise presentation of your professional abilities. There is no need to disclose unnecessary private information and/or weaknesses to reciprocate the interviewer for his good natured behavior.

Treat the interviewer in a professional manner

Instead of fearing the interviewer and subsequently undermining and diminishing your professional accomplishments, or behaving in a disrespectful or aggressive manner in the interview we recommend you learn how to be professional and practical.

Being able to act in a professional manner in an interview is important.

Heightened vulnerability and sensitivity may cause you to fail a work interview. A lot of people view the often personal nature of the questions as intrusive and as a result take offense or behave in a cynical, aggressive or introverted way towards the interviewer. By doing so, they expose their weakness and may cause themselves to fail the interview. Treating the interviewer in a professional and practical manner is the way to communicate well and deal positively with the interviewers' authority in an interview.

Prior to an interview it is important to change your attitude towards the interviewer and remember a number of facts:

1. The interviewer is not trying to fail you but rather he/she are trying to assess your skills and abilities. If you truly believe in yourself you will have no difficulty facing the interviewer. This fact seems straight forward but research shows that over 90% of job applicants are concerned that the interviewer is trying to set traps for them. These concerns impede your ability to feel confident in an interview. Try to internalise - the interviewer is not trying to set traps or fail you he/she are only trying to assess your compatibility. The more you comprehend this fact the more your attitude will become professional.

2. In most cases the interviewer is a professional that has the ability to assess if a candidate is compatible for a certain or position or not. Therefore, it is important and appropriate you treat them with respect. Some job applicants arrive at an interview already in a defensive and critical state of mind. These applicants may think that no interviewer has the ability to assess in the space of 20-30 minutes if a candidate is truly worthy. They may also think that the interviewer is not capable of spotting their true abilities and therefore if they are disqualified it is due to the interviewers lack of ability. This is a misconception at heart. Mostly, the interviewer has probably interviewed tens if not hundreds of job applicants and has all the required skills to make a sound judgment regarding their abilities.

Remember!

An interview is an opportunity for you to exhibit your qualifications and skills rather than an opportunity to engage in friendly conversation and gain sympathy. Just as there is no reason for you to be offended or defensive when meeting a hostile interviewer, you must not celebrate and 'let your guard down' when meeting a friendly and informal interviewer. In both cases you must be concise, well mannered and answer adequately to the questions asked - nothing more or less.

Ron Clover is an organisational psychologist, part of the team of psychologists at JobTestPrep that have created leading preparation courses for psychometric tests for jobseekers worldwide On-line psychometric test preparation at: http://www.jobtestprep.co.uk

10 Tips For The Perfect Job Interview

Preparing for a job interview is extremely stressful - there's simply no denying it. The 30 minutes of intense questions and answers will decide the direction your life will take for you, so it's imperative to make it count. At our online travel jobs website, we try to prepare our visitors for their job interviews by giving an insight into what's expected. Nonetheless, having worked in recruitment for over 10 years I have seen the same job interview mistakes occurring time and time again. The good news is that all of them are fixable with a little research and some practice when preparing for a job interview.

In preparing for a job interview, be sure you don't fall into the following 10 traps:

1)Poor presentation or dressing in the wrong way for the tone of the job interview.

Why it may ruin your job interview:

If you don't give the impression that you care about your appearance then you will be judged accordingly - after all, if you don't make the effort when preparing for a job interview, why would you pull your weight for their company if appointed?

How it can be corrected:

Take some time to appear well groomed and professional looking. Although some offices are increasingly less formal with clothes, you don't want to assume it applies to interviewees too, so phone up in advance and enquire about the dress code. If this is impossible, it's best to err on the side of caution and appear overdressed rather than under, for the reason explained above.

2) Nervous job interview body language

Why it may ruin your job interview

If you find yourself fidgeting, slouching or refusing to hold the interviewer's eye contact in the interview, you will come across as lacking in confidence, and no employer will be impressed by someone so timid and awkward around people.

How it can be corrected:

Some nerves are expected and acceptable in a job interview, so don't make yourself more nervous worrying about this one. On the other hand, appearing more confident than a rival candidate with similar ability can give you the edge, so try to seem assertive. Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact and stand straight.

3) Not listening at the job interview

Why it may ruin your job interview:

Some people who are worried about their job interview performance actually manage to shoot themselves in the foot by planning too carefully! If you attempt to counter your nerves by planning your responses to potential questions while the interviewer talks you may miss out some valuable information about the work, the questions and any tasks you are to be set.

How it can be corrected:

Just relax, listen and show the interviewer you are hearing their points. Match their style and pace, and they will be aware you are following their lead.

4) Verbal overkill!

Why it may ruin your job interview:

The point of the interview is to find out about you, your aims and your attitude, but if you overdo it, they'll have their answer! This is often a problem with under prepared candidates, who make up for their lack of succinct answers by rambling.

How it can be corrected:

Carefully preparing for a job interview is essential - match the job specifications to your own abilities and be sure to only share relevant information with the interview panel. Listen to yourself talking, and if you feel yourself slipping off the question, then sharply bring yourself back around.

5) Appearing over confident in your job interview

Why it may ruin your job interview:

If there's one thing worse than a timid interview candidate, it's one who's overconfident to the point of arrogance. Nothing can get an interviewer's back up than a candidate's brashness, and it's all too common for this to result in no job offer at the end of the process.

How it can be corrected:

This one is usually the result of reserved candidates going too far the other way, but if it's a personality issue it's quite hard to correct because you may not know you're coming across as brash! While it's important not to play down your achievements, try and be slightly modest about them without ever make them seem easy for just anyone to accomplish.

6) Not maintaining formality in the job interview

Why it may ruin your job interview:

No matter what the tone of the interview, the dynamic remains the same: the interviewer is in control, and you need to be polite and respectful at all times, maintaining the decorum of the situation. Different interviews have varying levels of formality, but even if the interviewer is being casual and informal, don't assume you can relax and behave how you would with your friends - it makes you seem a less serious candidate unaware of the situation.

How it can be corrected:

Try to match the tone your interviewer adopts, but don't step beyond it. If it's a stuffy environment with no room for humour, then don't crack a joke. On the other hand, if they are being deliberately informal to help you relax; show you appreciate the effort by dropping the formality a notch.

7) Answering questions without thinking

How it may ruin your job interview:

If you jump straight in to answer a question without thinking your answer through, you'll end up rambling and, unless you're very good at blagging, you're unlikely to impress the interviewer this way.

How it can be corrected:

It's understandable that you don't want to leave an awkward pause, but most interviewers would rather you take time out to think of an appropriate time you showed the required skills than for you to list any old thing because you're under pressure. Ask if it's okay for you to take a moment to think - don't take too long, but ensure there will be no pointless ramble.

8) Failing to keep your job interview language formal

How it may ruin your job interview:

This one seems obvious, but if you don't keep your language formal and appropriate you may end up causing offence and ensuring that you don't make the impression of an on-the-ball employee.

How it can be corrected:

Don't try and temper this to the degree that you sound forced and insincere, but ensure that there is no slang in your speech, and steer clear of any references to age, politics or religion.

9) Any Questions? No.

How it may ruin your job interview:

It may seem like an innocent question to give you something to say at the end of the interview, but often the "Do you have any questions about the job" enquiry is designed to test your enthusiasm for the role. Unless they've been remarkably detailed in their talking, there's bound to be something to ask - and if you don't and your competitor does, guess who seems more excited about the role!

How it can be corrected:

Listen carefully to everything said in the interview, and if a point appears that you'd like more information about, make a mental note to bring it up later. If they've been incredibly thorough and there's nothing to say, you can either ask about when you'll hear the outcome of the job interview, or turn it into a compliment of how thorough they've been!

10) Candidate seems unnervingly desperate (Employ me, pleeeeease!)

How it may ruin your job interview:

This really is quite understandable, especially if it is your dream job or you're currently unemployed, but unfortunately appearing incredibly needy is a major turn off for employers. It undermines your confidence and makes you seem desperate.

How it can be corrected:

Try to dampen your desperation - appear keen and enthusiastic, but not unnervingly so. Remain cool and calm and let your performance and skills do the talking. Also, make sure you don't follow up your job interview with endless pestering emails and phone calls - it can really undermine the impression you gave the employers.

Gail Kenny is the managing director of Puregenie http://www.puregenie.com ? an online recruitment agency for the travel industry. The site caters exclusively to talented individuals with skills and experience to succeed in the online environment, and businesses looking to increase their online presence. Although the site is mainly travel focussed, it also displays vacancies in the hospitality and leisure industries.

10 Easy Ways to Be Much More Confident in Job Interviews

No matter how many interviews you have gone to it never really seems to gets easier, does it? That's because each interview is different. Each interviewer is different from the last one and often the position you are applying for, although in your field of expertise, is different even if only slightly.

However, there are ways you can feel more relaxed and prepared for interviews, and increase your chances of getting that job or promotion that you're going for.

Here are 10 tips to help you approach a job interview more confidently and increase your chances of success. They don't appear in any particular order as everyone needs to improve in different areas, but there is something here to help everyone who has ever been nervous about a job interview... and who of us hasn't!

1. Treat each interview as special

As was already mentioned you should approach each job interview as a new experience. Each interview requires you to sell yourself and your skills differently. An interview is about finding out if you are a good fit for a job, so you should not try to parrot answers you rehearsed months ago for another job.

Being well prepared for each interview will help minimize your stress and increase your chances of landing that perfect job.

2. Do your homework

Part of interview preparation is in knowing something about the company you will be interviewing with. It also means knowing at least the name and the position of the person who will be interviewing you.

Knowing the job description of the position you are being interviewed for is another important part of your interview preparation. If don't already know this information you can get it by going online to the company's website or by making a phone call to their human resources department.

There is one question every interviewer asks during the interview. That question is:

"Why do you want to work for this company?"

The question may not be asked exactly like this, but something like it will be asked. If you have researched the company it will make it much easier to answer questions like this without having to figure it out at the last minute and you'll also feel more confident.

3. Make time for job interview practice

Once you have the information concerning the company and the job position you are applying for you can develop some anticipatory practice questions you might think you will be asked in the actual interview. After making a list of these questions you can then begin practicing answering them in front of a mirror or in a mock interview.

Ask a friend or family member to help you with the mock interview. Also, many school career centers are a great resource for interviewing help. Your local library may have employment videos that you can check out and watch from the convenience of your home.

The point is to take advantage of as many resources as possible to help you sharpen your interviewing skills.

4. Dress the part

The day before your interview select the clothing you are going to wear to the interview. As you get ready to go to your interview make sure that your clothing is appropriate for the type of company you will be interviewing with.

Men should wear a nice pair of slacks with a dress shirt and tie, or a suit. Women can wear either a skirt or slacks with a decent blouse.

Both men and women should not dress provocatively or outlandishly, or with an excessive amount of jewelry. If you are going to wear jewelry keep it simple.

5. Take what you need to the interview

You will want to bring copies of your resume to the interview to give to the interviewer, even if you had submitted one with your application. Your resume should be neat, clean and professional looking.

Also, take along a pen and pad of paper to take notes. Doing these things demonstrates your sincere interest in obtaining the position.

6. Be punctual

Make every possible effort to arrive to your interview on time; in fact, be there a little early. Never be late.

If you show up to the interview late you just told the employer that you are not punctual and will be late to work. If you are going to be late you need to have a very good reason then call the employer to explain the reason in advance and see if you can reschedule the interview.

7. Stay calm

During the interview stay calm and answer questions in an even and friendly tone of voice, expressing what you know about the company and how your skills can enhance and benefit the company.

As the interviewer is speaking demonstrate interest in what they are saying, keeping eye contact while they talk. Never let your eyes wonder around the room as this will show a lack of interest in not only the position, but the interviewer as well.

8. Sit comfortably

You don't want to slouch in the chair at your interview, but you do need to be comfortable. Try and sit up straight, right back in your chair and take a few good, deep breaths.

This posture will not only make you look calm and in control; it will help to make you feel this way too.

9. Ask questions

You don't give over all control in an interview: at least, you shouldn't! An interview should also be about finding out whether you want to work within in this company and do the job you are being interviewed for. It may seem quite a different place once you are actually there, so you want to find out what the place is really like.

Also, asking questions like this will impress your interviewer. It will make you appear interested and intelligent and also willing to learn and to listen to people. Realizing that you also have the right to ask questions at your interview should help you stay calm.

10. Closing the interview

As the interviewer brings the interview to a close let them know that you appreciate the opportunity to have received the interview and restate your interest in the position you were interviewed for. Leave the interviewer with a positive impression of you and you will feel that reflected back at you.

You will feel much happier as you leave the interview room.

These tips are tried and tested ways to approach a job interview more comfortably. If you prepare for your interview well, and realize that your world will not end if you don't get this job, and also that you have the right to refuse the job, even if it is offered to you, you should feel much better about going through the interview process.

Be calm, friendly and open. The interview is not threat to who you really are. There will be other jobs if you don't get this one and it may not be a job you would be happy in.

Approaching the job interview in a more detached and rational and less emotional way, will help you to feel calm, and that will mean you are much more likely to do well at the interview.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular mini-seminar about how to develop high self confidence. Take a look at this new site now because it reveals some controversial ways to become confident quickly and easily:
job interview confidence

Questions to Ask Your Interviewer in the Job Interview

Prepare a list of good questions to ask your interviewer and show that you are better organized and prepared than the other candidates. Use these practical guidelines to prepare your questions and know how to present your questions in the job interview for maximum impact.

Prepare questions that go beyond just exploring the the usual details

Questions to ask your interviewer should demonstrate an in- depth understanding of the position and the company. Interview questions about working conditions or that can be answered by reading the job posting show a lack of thought and initiative. Focus rather on questions that explore aspects such as role expectations, the priorities of the position, current and future departmental and organizational strategy and management style and expectations. Your interview questions should show how much thought and consideration you have given to this job interview and that you have taken the time to conduct background research on the organization before the interview.

Ask open-ended questions

Avoid closed questions that only require a one word answer. These tend to impact negatively on the flow of the interview and provide very little information. With a little thought a closed question can easily be turned into an open-ended question which allows for discussion and the building of rapport in the job interview. For example instead of asking "Who will I be reporting to?" rather ask "Can you tell me about the person I will be reporting to?"

Stick to relevant questions

Only ask questions that are about the job, department, management and the organization. Candidates can make the mistake of trying to engage interviewers on a more personal level by asking questions about their interests, family or their own job believing that this will help establish rapport. Keep it professional and stick to objective and factual questions that refer directly to the job you are interviewing for.

Avoid challenging the interviewer

Interview questions that are designed to challenge the interviewer by demanding knowledge and information that the interviewer probably doesn't have will be regarded negatively by the interviewer and give rise to an uncomfortable atmosphere. Consider the position of the person interviewing you and be aware of the sort of questions he or she will be able to answer.

Questions to avoid asking your interviewer

Questions that focus on company benefits can give the impression that you are more concerned about what the company can give you than with finding out about the job and your fit with it. The "What's in it for me" approach is disconcerting in a job interview where the emphasis should be on what you can contribute to the job and the company. Company benefits are important but the first job interview is not the place to focus on them. Towards the close of the interview you can ask the interviewer, "Where can I get details about the employment conditions for this position, I don't want to spend your time on that now?". This shows that the benefits are of secondary importance to the job itself.

Timing the questions to ask your interviewer

At some point the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions. You can wait for this question to ask your planned questions or you can evaluate the situation as the interview progresses to decide when to ask your questions. If the interview does not appear to be flowing well asking a relevant question can help improve the situation.

Avoid interrupting the interviewer with a question, be sure that it is an appropriate point to ask your question. If the interviewer doesn't directly ask you for your questions you can take the opportunity towards the close of the interview to present your questions by asking "Is this an appropriate time to ask you some questions?"

Not having prepared good questions to ask your interviewer during the job interview is a lethal interview mistake, it indicates a lack of interest and thought. Use your questions as the ideal opportunity to present yourself as a positive and confident candidate for the job. Good sample questions to ask the interviewer are provided at Questions to Ask in Your Interview.

Julia Penny is a recruitment and career management specialist with over 20 years experience across a wide range of industries. Her website Best Job Interview provides comprehensive and expert resources to help you get the job you want.

Killer Series - 7 Steps to the Killer Interview

The mere thought of interviewing makes many people break out into cold sweats. In many ways, the interview process can cause so much stress, people lose their marbles. They may be as limp as a soggy cornflake by the time they actually sit down for the "BIG" talk. Do you remember your first ever interview? How do you think you did?

Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned vet, the interview could still be a stressful event in your life. The fear of rejection is high and the anticipation of failure can be rather dreadful. Weak knees, sweaty palms, woozy stomach and cotton mouth are all some people can imagine when they think of answering the deadliest question an interviewer can ask, "So tell me about yourself" which, by the way, is technically not a proper question but, you get the point.

Anyway, what if I told you that you could ace an interview anytime you want and leave the interviewer nearly stupefied by your masterful self presentation, he'd have no choice but to hire you on your terms, would that be something in which you'd be interested?

Good... stick around then!

Yes, the interview process may put the fear of the devil into some people but after reading this article and practicing the proven techniques shared, the devil himself will fear you.

Following are the 7 Steps to the Killer Interview which can virtually guarantee you ace every interview from this day forward.

Step 1: Killer Resume

Your resume is usually the first point of contact that a potential interviewer will have with you. As such, you want to make sure that it leaves a blazoning impression on the reader. The resume is so important to this process; I may have to devote an entire article to the topic. For now, here are some key Dos and Don'ts of resume writing.

Unless you're a recent college graduate, don't begin your resume with an objective. Nothing screams amateur more than to begin with a header like "Objectives:" Instead, start with something simple like "Overview of Qualifications" or "About." It's succinct and easy to digest.
Do not use the term "Employment History." Everybody else does and you'll just be another rat in the pack. If you want to stand apart from the rest, use something like "Career Experience" or, "Overview of Experience." Either approach will work way better for you in making that first impression.
Don't regurgitate your daily and routine tasks from one job to the next... that's just "monkey work" and I guarantee you that no one cares and brownie points go way down. First of all resumes are tough to read as it is, why make it boring too? Instead of writing what your tasks are/were, exercise verbs in stating how you solved problems for your company or made them more money or saved them time and made them more efficient. In other words, your bullet points should begin more like this, Developed a new system that saved..., Implemented procedure that increased productivity by X%, Devised strategy that made the company $XXX in 3 months..., and so on and so on... you get the idea. Oh yeah... don't forget to choose to highlight the accomplishments that are most closely aligned with the position for which you are interviewing.
Please include your hobbies, awards and community service affiliations. This is who you are. Contrary to what many believe, no company worth working for wants to hire machines and buy people, they want to hire people and buy machines. Show them who you are. Besides, since most people present the machine, this will be another way you stand out plus it provides fuel for meaningful conversation and possible common interest connection during the interview... more on that later.
Finally, under no circumstances include salary requirements. Even if the company insists, fight the urge to comply and tell them you'd rather discuss that in person.
Spell check, proofread and then... save... print... send!
Step 2: Killer Cover Letter

Writing a Killer Cover Letter is definitely an art but can be easily mastered with a few pointers. Remember the cover letter goes along with the resume so here again is another opportunity to really present you. Don't waste it!

Firstly, your cover letter is not your autobiography. It is not an endless pontification about your accolades and many talents. No one cares how long you can hold your breath under water before shaking and flailing like a fish on a hook (Unless they're recruiters for the Navy Seals). What they do care about are the challenges their company faces and how you can help them overcome them. The only person that can let them in on that secret is you. The best way to utilize a cover letter is to use it as a way to align your skill set and experience with the position for which you are interviewing and the company's goals.

To do this effectively, you want to use specific language and include certain elements to bring it home. Here are some key things to remember.

Start by introducing yourself and stating exactly why you are contacting them; your language might read something like... My name is John Resume and I am writing you in regards to the Marketing Manager position you are seeking to fill in your Professional Products Division... simple, right?
Next, state the main requirements of the position and then follow that with how your experience might fill their needs. Your language in this case might look something like... I understand that you are looking for someone who can do X and with my experience in Y, I know I can accomplish this with tremendous success...
Conclude with a bold statement about their company goals and how you see your own goals aligning with them. Your language might look something like... I know that your company is spearheading many initiatives in clean air technology and I have done extensive community service work in this area...
Keep your closing and salutation nice and simple. Your language might look something like... I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, John Resume...
Step 3: Killer Research

I wasn't sure where to place this step because it affects the outcome of this entire process. Ultimately, I decided to put it somewhere in the middle since it impacts every step directly or indirectly plus, I like the number 3.

Skipping this step simply means you want the other guy next to you in the lobby to kick dust in your face as he refurnishes the corner office that was supposed to have your name on it... or was it? Research is vital to the interview process; it could mean the difference between the shredder pile and the resume that makes it all the way under the nose of the CEO.

Before you show up to interview, you want to know what you're getting into... know the landscape so you can anticipate and navigate challenging situations. Be proactive in finding out all you can about the company, its mission, and its people. Done thoroughly, your research should cover 3 key areas, Company, Prep and Recon or as I like to call it CPR.

Company - know everything you possible can about the company

Research the products and/or services the company provides and then summarize that into one sentence you can easily remember
Go through the website and any paraphernalia you can find to weed out the mission statement of the company
Make sure you look up their earnings for the last 12 months if it's public knowledge - if you can get specifics on why the numbers look the way they do, even better
Know about any special projects on which the company might be working or are sponsoring
Know about their public service accolades




Prep - I've never been accused of being too prepared

Study what you discovered in your research and make sure you know it well enough to carry a stress-free conversation
If at all possible - have someone of prominence from the industry for which you are interviewing, conduct a mock interview with you before hand... this could yield a lot of insights you wouldn't gain otherwise
Know the three words you might use to describe yourself and be ready to give examples of when and how you've exhibited these traits in a past situation - ask your family, friends and colleagues for help if you need to for this one
Finally, know the fair market value for the salaries paid for the position with your level of expertise - perform several comparisons across different firms and industries if applicable (Try www.salary.com)





Recon - fail to do this and your research and prep may be all for naught

Take the mode of transportation you will use, the train, the bus, a cab or your car and drive to the interview location during rush hour before hand to gauge the amount of time you'll need to get there - then add at least 30 minutes
Visit the interview location in the morning to see what time people arrive, what they wear to work and whether or not they have coffee in hand
Find a coffee shop nearby where you might sit, have a coffee and wait for your interview


With CPR covered, you are armed to the teeth with everything you need to kill the interview. Do you feel the stress lifting already? Hold on, you're not quite finished yet.

Step 4: Killer Outfit

Now that you're completely prepared to kill the interview, you need to dress to kill. So many people dismiss this element without giving it a second thought. Why would you want to distract your interviewer by wearing inappropriate, boring and uncomplimentary clothing to the interview? Take the time to choose an outfit carefully, it will be time and/or money well spent.

Remember the recon tasks you performed earlier? This is going to help you big time with choosing the right dress code. You should now know what the employees wear to work... right? If not, go back to Recon. The aim is to pick an outfit that compliments the company's culture and dress it up just a tad.

For example, if most of the employees wear jeans and a t-shirt to work by all means feel free to wear jeans, a t-shirt and then dress it up by throwing on a nice, classic blazer... no rips and tears in your jeans of course. If the idea of wearing jeans to an interview scares you, don't let it. As long as the outfit you wear is in line with the company's culture, you will be viewed as intuitive... trust me. Just remember, your killer outfit is meant to kill them, not you.

Here are 7 "general rules of thumb" on interview outfits and overall appearance. These apply to both men and women.

Keep at least one navy blue and one pinstriped gray suit in your closet at all times
Wear light blue dress shirts or blouses whenever possible - this color conveys trust
Keep the jewelry to a bare minimum - watch, 1 chain/necklace, 1 bracelet
Earrings are for women only - sounds like a double standard but it's still true
Hide all body art unless you're interviewing for the NBA, a rock n' roll band or a biker gang
Absolutely no beach wear or flip-flops (I know I'm not talking to you here but I've seen some whoppers.)
Grooming is a must - combed hair, clean nails, clean teeth, pleasant body and oral odor (Again, I know I'm not talking to you but in the interest of being thorough...)
What makes a killer outfit for an interview is one that resonates with the identity of the company for which you are interviewing as well as represents your personal style. You have to decide what that balance is and then go for it. If all else fails, nothing is sharper than a navy blue or gray pin-striped suit with a white or blue dress shirt. Depending on the company culture you can choose to where a tie or not.

Step 5: Killer Discipline

An impression is formed about you in the first 3 minutes of a person meeting you. Many of us will decide whether we like a person or not in less time than that. What this means then as it pertains to interviewing is that you want to maintain discipline. Your diligence in preparing for the interview may seal the deal for you before you've even exchanged the first words of the interview.

The fact is that what you say means less to people than what you do. It's an old cliché but it is universally true - your actions speak louder than your words... one thousand times louder.

There are a few simple rules to follow when it comes to interview discipline.

Be on time for your interview - by "on time" I mean that if your interview is at 10 AM, you arrive between 9:40 AM and 9:50 AM. You want to be no more than 20 minutes early and no less than 10 minutes early. This gives you time to hang up your coat, accept a coffee graciously from the assistant, relax and collect your thoughts.
Use the bathroom before your interview - this is the time to handle #1 only... handle #2 at home and check to make sure all your efforts in grooming are up to snuff. With everything in its place, there will be fewer distractions.
Dial down the wind chill factor - you're not the "Fonz"... being too cool will backfire quicker than a lemon with fire crackers in the muffler. Maintain professionalism, you don't get brownie points for the "Clint Eastwood" cool factor.
Step 6: Killer Instinct

This is where you shine, where you combine your wonderful research and prep with your wit, charm and charisma. These elements taken in combination will give you the Killer Instinct.

Now that you are prepared and dressed to kill, you can calmly and confidently field ambiguous questions like the dreaded "So, tell me about yourself." For the sake of clarity, let's make sure we understand what is really being asked with a question (or not a question) like this.

What the interviewer is really after is, how and why did your experiences bring you to us and how will we benefit from the association. With this insight in mind, it will make it much easier for you to focus your answer on the parts of your life that directly relate to the company and the position for which you are interviewing.

This is to say that "So tell me about yourself" is not an invitation to tell your life story. It is however and invitation to tell the interviewer everything about you that matters most to him and his company. The caveat is you have to give just enough information to wet his or her pallet and leave it somewhat open ended inviting a probe for more information if he or she so chooses.

For example, if you had an interview for a Marketing Manager Position at Lancôme Cosmetics and you were asked the dreaded question; your answer might sound something like this.

"Well, I have always loved make-up, especially mascara which is the department I worked in at XYZ Company. The idea of accessorizing my look with cosmetics has always been interesting to me and that's why my Thesis in Graduate School was about how much women spend on cosmetics and how it makes them feel. I spend a lot of time in places like Saphora just trying different kinds of cosmetic products."

Do you see how that answer might resonate more with your Lancôme interviewer than something that started out with the following?

"Well I moved to New York when I was 12 years old and I attended P.S. 252 Junior High School before going to Midwood High School. My major in college was marketing and once I graduated I worked at..."

To your interviewer, the latter would not only be boring but somewhat disconnecting unless he or she too moved to New York at around the same age and had a similar experience as you did... not likely but it would be a lucky break. Personally, I am not willing to take that chance... are you?

Another element of the Killer Instinct is the "graceful refusal." This is the art of refusing to answer an inappropriate question and have the interviewer be happy with it or at the very least respect your position. This is often a scary moment for many but it doesn't have to be.

This moment often occurs with the money question. "So, what are your salary requirements?" or my all time favorite "How much do you earn at your current job?"

Now really, what does this question have to do with this interview? That's right, absolutely nothing! So, why ask the question?

In the halls of Corporate America where I've worked for 15 years, this question is what I like to refer to as "sizing up." This is a great opportunity for the interviewer to accomplish 2 things.

See how confident you are and whether or not you are able to think quickly on your feet
See whether or not your salary requirements fit into there pay scale
Regardless of the motive though, this is a question to avert at all cost in an interview. It doesn't matter at what level you are in your career; this question is taboo from all sides. It immediately places you in a box and there goes any leverage you might have. And, if you didn't come in with any leverage at all, you've essentially turned over your fate to the interviewer because once you answer this question, they get to keep the ball and decide where it lands. This is a no-no!

If you are asked this question, remain calm, pause and then confidently reply something like this...

"If we are going to discuss salary, I'd rather discuss a salary for this position that you consider to be fair market value and in line with my level of expertise."



OR...

"I realize that this may be a standard question, however, I'd much rather confine our salary discussions to the parameters of the position for which I am interviewing and my level of expertise as I am sure you will agree that these are most relevant."

In choosing a reply like the ones above, you avert the question and leave the door wide open for dialogue and negotiation. Furthermore, any interviewer would be hard-pressed to argue or rebut your position. At the very least he or she would respect you and you would have shown that you are confident and shrewd...BIG plus.

Whatever you do, don't answer this question out of fear. I have never answered this question and I have used variations of the suggested replies above and they've worked every time. At the very least, trust your instincts and if you can't trust yours (yet)... trust mine. I've been there and I am sharing my experience with you... leave this question alone and you will undoubtedly separate yourself from the many lambs that are doomed to the slaughter.

Step 7: Killer Close

You're not quite finished yet. Now that everything has gone as planned right through the interview and you're feeling great about yourself, no need to blow it by neglecting the little things.

The clincher to the deal may just be the Killer Close. It's simple and may even be deemed trivial by many when you look at the whole. I on the other hand believe that more often than not, it's the other way around. Without the close, all your efforts in steps 1-6 may be forgotten. Don't forget that the interviewer may have seen many candidates before you and probably many more after. You just never know so it's your duty to make sure that he or she remembers you and that you stand apart from the pack.

As my father use to say when I was growing up, "Dean, observe what the crowd is doing and do the opposite." These are wise words that ring true in almost any situation and certainly in this one.

While others may forget this small detail, you will perfect a memorable Killer Close that will leave your mark on anyone you meet.

So, what's the Killer Close all about?

This is where you crystallize all your efforts from step 1-6; it's where you make sure that the impression you made is a lasting and positive one.

The Killer Close entails 3 simple steps and if followed could make all the difference in the world.

The closing handshake - once your interview is finished, reach across to the interviewer with your right hand to shake his and then grip his elbow firmly with your left hand and say something like...
"It was a pleasure to meet with you and I look forward to meeting with you again. Thank you for your time." Former President Bill Clinton is famous for this type of exchange. It's a professional approach with a personal touch that makes people feel validated... use it!

No more than 24 hours after the interview, send an e-mail to the interviewer letting him or her know how much you enjoyed your meeting and are looking forward to another. Your e-mail should be succinct and personalized with one or two specific details of the interview. This emblazons you in the mind of the interviewer. It could read something like...
"Dear Mr. X, It was a pleasure to meet with you today. I enjoyed our conversation especially when we discussed corporate social responsibility. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you for your time."


Wait 14-21 days and if you have not heard from the company, send a follow up e-mail to say thanks once again for the interview and request that they keep your name on file. The purpose for this is to keep your name top of mind so that if other opportunities arise in the company, you are one of the first called. Your e-mail could read something like...

"Dear Mrs. Y, Thank you for meeting with me on (Date goes here). I realize that it is a competitive market and I understand if you have already filled the position for which I interviewed. Please keep me in mind and my resume, which is attached for your reference, in your files should another opportunity become available at your firm. I look forward to meeting with you again."

Going beyond these 3 steps is not necessary unless working for this company is your ultimate goal. If that is the case you should continue to follow up via e-mail once every 3 months with inquiries about new opportunities. One caveat is that this could border on annoying and persistent... it will depend on the contact person and substance of your e-mails.

Well, these are the 7 Steps to the Killer Interview and I have used them all successfully on several occasions. I can share with you from first hand experience that these techniques work very well.

Happy hunting.

About the author
Dean Forbes is the brilliant creator of Powerful Principles of Personal Growth website and the P3G Newsletter where he shares his best personal growth and development insights that help you consistently achieve the results you desire in your self-leadership, relationships, finances, career, and entrepreneurial goals. For your FREE insights visit Dean L. Forbes.com today.