23 Tips for Mastering the Phone Interview

Waiting for a phone interview can be more nerve-wrecking and exhausting than the phone interview itself. But when it comes, you had better be ready! Use these 23 tips to increase your odds of getting a phone interview, impress the interviewer while you are on the phone, and seal the deal after you say goodbye.

Before the Phone Interview

Include your phone number and email address on your application, cover letter, and each page of your resume. The worst reason for not receiving a phone interview is because the interviewer didn't know how to contact you.
If you have special contact instructions, list them in your cover letter, but don't expect they will be followed. Many interviewers just look at whatever paper is in front of them, find your number, and dial. They may not necessarily read the part of your cover letter where they are asked to call your home number between 2:00pm and 5:00pm EST or your cell phone number after 6:00pm EST.
Make sure your voicemail greeting is appropriate. One interviewer may laugh at the song you play or the joke you tell during your greeting, while another might just be annoyed and subtract points from you. A simple greeting such as "You've reached Sean Haggard. Please leave me a message" or "You have called 555-235-1212. Record your message at the tone" is fine. You can always change your greeting back after you get the job.
Let the phone go to voicemail. Although your family or roommate may have the best of intentions, messages sometimes get lost. The easiest method is just to give out a phone number that you know will either be answered by you or by no one.
Keep the company information on hand. I track my applications with a folder system on my computer. Each folder has a name, such as "IBM_ProcessEngineer_012811" (company_job_date). Then inside that folder I keep the job description (I make a PDF copy of the website if it was online), the resume I submitted, the application I submitted, and any notes that will help to refresh my memory when they call. If you do answer the phone when the interviewer calls, you want to be able to access all of this information on the spot.
Return messages promptly. An un-returned call for a phone interview is a missed opportunity. Also keep in mind that most interviewers call batches of people to schedule phone interviews. If you don't answer, I leave a message, hang up the phone, and call the next person on the list. Whoever gets back to me first has the first pick of a slot on my busy schedule. Whoever gets a phone interview first has the potential for having an in-person interview first. And that leads to the shiny, new job.
Remind interviewers who you are. If you return a call and must leave a message, give your name and phone number, mention you are returning the person's call for the (insert your position name) position, and state that you are still interested in the position. I suggest saying your name and phone number once at the beginning of the message and again at the end. If you speak slowly enough, the interviewer will be able to write down your information or grab your file without too much effort.
When you arrange the phone interview, confirm the details. You need to know the date, the time (if you are in a different time zone from the recruiter, confirm the time zone), who will be calling whom, and the phone number to call. Add the appointment to your calendar and set a reminder for at least 15 minutes prior.

During the Phone Interview

If you are calling the interviewer, call exactly at the scheduled time. Wait by the phone for a few minutes if necessary. If you do not reach the person, leave a voicemail, wait ten minutes, and try to call again. If you still aren't able to make contact, see if you can "opt out" of the person's voicemail and reach a receptionist or assistant.
If the interviewer is calling you, be ready for the phone interview whenever you are called. It is possible that you will be called 5 minutes early. It is possible you will be called 15 minutes late. Do not act offended either way; just get on with the phone interview.
Limit the negatives. If you are interviewing on your mobile phone, make sure the battery is charged, that you are in an area with little background noise, and that you are outside of a dead zone. Do not chew gum, eat, smoke, or drink (you may sip quietly if you need to).
Avoid distractions. Keep babies, dogs, vacuums, and construction equipment out of the background. If you have difficulty hearing the interviewer, say something polite like, "I'm having trouble hearing you. Are you able to hear me ok?"
Have the position information, your resume, and your notes in front of you. Don't ever expect the interviewer to wait for you to find those things.
Take notes (with either a pen and paper or a computer). Write down the person's name and role (or the people's names and roles if you are conducting a phone interview with a committee).
Smile. I was taught this trick in a call center many years ago, and it still works. If you smile while you are on the phone, it will come through in your voice. If you feel cheesy, just make sure no one else is around. It's worth the extra effort!
Answer questions. Focus on the job's needs, the hiring manager's needs, the company's needs, and how your past experience and future possibilities fit into all of those.
Ask questions. Show interest by asking questions throughout the phone interview and also at the end.
Treat a phone interview like a real interview, because it is.
Find out the next steps. When will you receive information about additional interviews? How long should you wait before following up? Should you contact this interviewer or someone else?

After the Phone Interview

Breathe! It's over.
Flesh out any notes or questions that you have, while they are fresh in your head.
Send a thank you note via email. Express your appreciation for the opportunity to discuss the position, say how much you are interested, and reiterate why you are a good fit. Include the position name, your name, your phone number, and your email address.
Address any outstanding questions. If the interviewer asked something you didn't know, answer it now. If you feel you didn't give your best answer for one of the questions, clarify it now.
Follow up. If the interviewer doesn't call you back when he said he would, call him. If the interviewer asked you to call him on a certain day, do it.
Don't count your chickens. Continue to pursue other opportunities and apply for other jobs. No matter how perfect this job may seem, it sadly may not be in your future. The good news is that the more applications you submit, the more phone interviews you will receive, the more interviews you will have, and the more jobs you will get. Any rejection just means that you're that much closer to your dream job!

Do you know what is happening behind the scenes when the interviewer doesn't call? Do you know the 14 secrets to boost your interview confidence? Go find pages of useful job interview tips, directly from the hiring manager, at InterviewBackdoor.com.

Copyright ? 2010 Sean Haggard. All rights reserved. This article may be shared or reprinted only as a whole, with the title, body, author byline/signature, and copyright intact. This article may not be sold without prior permission from the author.

How To Get a Job Offer From Every Interview

About four years ago a friend told me one night that she had an interview the next week and was looking for some comfort as she was extremely nervous, as most people are about interviews. I thought back on my my carreer and realized that in the nine year of my career I had been to thirteen interviews and, more importantly, that I had received a job offer from every one of those interviews. I did not accept all the offers, but the point is that I had not once been to an interview without getting a job offer from it.

In the past four years, I have been to another 6 interviews, of which I did not get job offers for 2 of them. The one was an interview at Volkswagen which a friend had setup because he "wanted" me to work there and by the time we started the interview, I realized that the position was not in my field at all. The second one was a telephonic interview, which I hate, and I simply did not see eye to eye with the person who interviewed me. I did go for an interview with another manager at the same company a couple of weeks later and started working there 2 days later.

Job offers from 17 out of 19 interviews is not a bad track record and no, I am not some kind of a technical genius that every company would want to employ simply by looking at my resume. I am a computer programmer and there are many programmers out there with better technical skills than me.

The secret, I believe is confidence. Not necessarily confidence in yourself, but creating confidence in your interviewer's mind. I once had a 4 1/2 hour interview in Sydney, Australia. Before that I could not imagine such a long interview was possible, it was for a very senior position. If, like most people, you don't like interviews in general, imagine sitting there for 4 1/2 hours. Anyway, about halfway through the interview, the interviewer told me that he had another 2 or 3 people that he's considering for the position, but that he's got a "warm and fuzzy feeling" about me.

Not something I really want to hear from another male, but when he said that, I realized that the job was mine.

Your objective, then, is to create that "warm and fuzzy" feeling in your interviewer's mind.

Before an interview, I always think of what I would like to see in the other person if I was on the other side of the table, in other words, if I was interviewing somebody else for this position. Computer programming is considered as a technical field, even on a managerial level, but the technical aspect has very seldom been the deciding factor, unless the interviewer has poor people skills or a lack of experience.

Generally anybody with a bit of experience will be more interested in your personality than your technical abilities. I am assuming, of course, that you are applying for positions which you are in some way qualified to fill. So how do you focus on your personality and what personality traits should you try to demonstrate? Let me give you some examples of what I consider as important in an interview.

There are two dreaded questions that used to come up in every interview a couple of years ago, though I haven't heard them for a while now. What are 5 of your strengths and what are 5 of your weaknesses? Whenever I got the first of these two questions, I would start my answer with "Yes, I knew this was coming so I thought about it last night and..." or something along those lines.

It sounds wrong, because the intention of those questions is to see whether you know yourself. If you have to think about it the previous night, it doesn't say much about your self-knowledge. Nonetheless, I do this for two reasons. Firstly, I'm being honest with them. Everybody prepares for an interview, or at least you should! I'm just showing them that I'm a real person and that I don't claim to have all the answers. Secondly, it's a tension breaker. Quite often, if it is an experienced interviewer, they will make some comment about you having to prepare your answers in advance and this gives you an opportunity to sidetrack from their "prepared" questions. The more you can get to speak freely with the interviewer and not as a response to a question, the more opportunity you have of showing them your real character. It also passes the time so that they don't have to think up irrelevant technical questions to make the interview "long enough".

Also keep in mind that nobody is expected to have all the right answers. As I said before, I am not the know-it-all genius of computer programming, so in most interviews there is at least one question for which I do not have the answer or topic that I do not know about. When this happens, I do not pretend to have the answer or try to sound intelligent about the topic. I simply tell them that I do not know.

What's important, though, is the way you say you don't know. Even if the words coming out of your mouth are as simple as "I don't know", the perception that your attitude should portray is that he or she does not know, but it's okay that they don't know. In other words, say it with confidence and self respect. "I don't know because I've never needed to use that in the past" or "I normally use such and such instead" and, if possible, tell them why you prefer your alternative. Also try to tell them how you would learn this topic if it is required in your new position.

This, again, achieves two objects. It shows them your problem solving abilities and it gives you another opportunity to speak freely. Finally, if you have no clue what they're talking about, ask them to explain the topic or to give you an example. Again, speaking freely and showing them that you are interested in learning and also that you are comfortable in their company.

I also think one of the key factors for anybody in an interview is to see that you can think for yourself and that you have your own opinions. DO NOT use yes/no answers!! Every question that an interviewer asks should be seen as an opportunity for you to speak and not a hurdle that you have to cross as quickly as possible. Of course you must stay on topic or they will think you are trying to evade the question. However, try to elaborate and give them examples to show your experience and understanding of the topic.

Even if this is your first interview and you have no working experience, it should not be a problem - remember you are trying to steer the conversion towards your personality and not your technical skills. Even after 13 years in the industry, I still use a lot of examples and stories (short stories, stay on topic) from my personal life to answer interview questions.

I have now mentioned this "speaking freely" a number of times and I guess that's the basis of it all. Remember that the person on the other side of the desk is nothing but that, just another person. I always try to be early for an interview so that I have some time to relax after the traffic. During those last couple of minutes, I stand outside having a cigarette and I play out a little scene in my mind, which I would rather not repeat here. Anyway, it boils down to me having a casual conversation with the interviewer and explaining to them that we're all in the same boat. We're all here on this planet for a short time and all just trying to make the best of things. Yes, it sounds stupid, I know. But for me it re-affirms in my mind that the person I am about to talk to is just another person and that I should treat them as that.

So let me summarize. Focus on your personality, not your technical abilities. Unless you're the best in your industry, in which case I'm talking to the other 99.999% in your industry. Remember that the interviewer is just another person and treat them as one by speaking to them as you would somebody that you have known for a while. This is the only way you can have some control of steering the conversation in the direction you want. While being comfortable and speaking your mind, do show respect at the same time and remember, it's still their interview, so let them have the final control. Finally, BE HONEST.

About The Author

Dirk Wessels is a computer programmer and runs www.jobsatlarge.com [http://www.jobsatlarge.com] in his spare time. You may reproduce this article as long as you include this About the Author section and a reference to Job Search [http://www.jobsatlarge.com]

How to Interview Brilliantly and Get Your Dream Job - 27 Interview Tips

How to interview brilliantly to get your dream job

Learn how to interview well and get the job you want rather than waste your energy applying for every suitable job available. This can drain your energy and leave you with insufficient time time for interview preparation. Think of interview preparation as project in itself, with various stages. Here are 27 key Interview Tips to help you prepare and get the dream job you want.

Interview Tip: How to be amazing

1. Focus on one industry sector at a time so that you can become knowledgeable in your specialist area before the interview. Read and subscribe to relevant blogs, trade journals magazines, and newspapers. Use web feed subscription tools such as Google reader to keep up-to-date on industry news.

2. Know what impression you want to make. In an interview you're essentially asking people to 'buy into you' so you need to know what 'added value' you offer before you go for an interview.

3. Know your competences and transferable skills and this will dramatically improve your CV and how you interview. Competences are the specific skills which are needed to perform the job and are usually outlined in the job application pack or advertisement. Transferable skills are your unique skills which you've developed through other jobs and personal interests and can differentiate you from the competition

4. Check that your social media profile is consistent with your CV profile as many employers now check out applicants online. For example, Facebook, Linked-in, trade and professional networks. Social networks can also be used effectively to network for work opportunities.

5. Work as a volunteer. Only one thing gets people stressed more than work and that's not working! You can use the experience to broaden your skills and demonstrate self-motivation.

6. Join a local business or social network. They offer a great opportunity to practise social skills with strangers such as: starting up a conversation, smiling, actively listening to others, asking questions and promoting yourself. These are key interpersonal skills which will improve your confidence in an interview.

7. Setting career objectives. Be clear about your career goals and take a step by step approach to achieve your dream job. Learn your personal career barriers and how to overcome them.

8. Improve your interview self-confidence whilst you're looking for a job. Use the help of subliminal messaging software to keep up your motivation and self confidence during the job hunt.

Interview Tip: Your CV is the basis for every interview

Initially a recruiter will spend about a minute looking through each job application but once you're selected for an interview your CV will directly influence the interview questions you'll be asked.

9. Don't bluff on a CV as the interviewer will almost certainly trip you up in the interview and you'll have done yourself no favours.

10. Keep your CV relevant and consistent with what they'll discover in an interview. Focus on your competences that match the competences outlined in the job application pack.

11. Include transferable skills on your CV as these strengths can give you a competitive edge.

12. Tailor your CV for each job application and use the best format for the job depending on your experience. Chronological CV are the most common but a Qualification Based CV can promote your skills better if your have recently qualified or retrained. A Skills Based CV is good for people who've had a career break or are changing careers. However if the company asks for your CV in a specific format you must comply.

13. Avoid the most common CV mistake. Substantiate your CV. This is one of the most important interview tips because if you do this it will differentiate your CV from the majority of applications. Go through your CV with a 'fine-tooth comb' and ask yourself, 'How do I do this?' against each statement. Descriptive words such as 'innovative' 'good with people' are meaningless unless you can substantiate them.

Interview Tip: How to interview brilliantly

14. Interview preparation is the best way to dispel interview nerves and improve your chance of being offered the job.

15. Prepare answers to interview questions. Draw up a list of interview questions which challenge every claim you've made on your CV. If it says on your CV that you managed a sales campaigns ask yourself,'What quantity of sales?', 'How profitable were they?', 'How did I manage?', 'What did I learn?' Practise your answers.

16. Prepare answers to common communication interview questions. Communication skills are an essential competence for most jobs so be prepared to interview ten of the most common communication questions before you go to the interview.

17. Try using the STAR system for responding to competence based questions such as 'Describe a situation where a conflict arose in your team. What did you do?'

S: First describe the situation you were in
T: Describe the task that was involved
A: The action that you took (be careful to say I and not we in this situation)
R: Explain what the result was

18. Identify two anecdotes to support each of your key strengths. For example, if you're applying for a leadership position you might focus on achieving goals and motivating others. Practise telling the anecdotes out loud in the much the same way that you would tell a story to a senior colleague at work. Keep the anecdote brief and to the point.

19. Acknowledge a genuine weakness or failure in a project. This is more appealing than candidates who try to disguise difficulties with trite answers. Show how you've learnt from the experience and gained empathy with others.

20. Demonstrate your knowledge of the company when answering interview questions such as 'Why do you want to work for us?' and 'What will you be doing in five years time?'.

21. Always have questions to ask the interviewer otherwise it looks like you're not interested in the job. Use research to strengthen your questions. For example ask, 'How will my performance be measured?', How will you know if I'm doing well?', 'Are there any aspects of my application where you need further evidence?' This gives you an opportunity to address any of their niggling concerns.

22. Know how to dress for an interview. This doesn't mean you have to dress in a dreary way. Select your outfit by dressing for the role, culture, interviewer and yourself.

23. Spend more time on personal grooming on the day of the interview. This will help you feel more confident and relaxed.

24. Practise your answers to the questions out loud. Video yourself in a mock interview. This is particularly useful for checking body language. You need good eye contact and an open stance (no folded arms), sit up straight but relaxed and without fidgeting.

25. Double check all interview arrangements a day before the interview.

26. On the day, relax. You've done your interview preparation. Smile and go in to the interview looking to build up a rapport. Generally it's not your qualifications or experience that will get you the job but what the interviewer thinks of you as a person. Even if you don't get this job, if they like and trust you, they may call you back for another role.

27. Follow up the interview with a short letter saying that you're enthusiastic about being offered this job and determined to demonstrate the contribution you can make to their company. It may sound 'cheesy' but reinforcing your commitment could help you get your dream job.

Copyright Elizabeth Conley 2010

If you would like more help on how to interview successfully sign up for my How to Interview Training Newsletter. This is packed with interview tips and techniques on how to answer 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

Interviewing Applicants Can Be Hazardous to Your Wealth

1st Fact: Interviewing applicants is the most common way companies decide whom to hire.

2nd Fact: Research proves most interviewers do lousy at predicting if an applicant will succeed - or flop - if hired.

3rd Fact: Research shows that customized pre-employment tests do great at predicting if an applicant may succeed or fail on-the-job.

4th Fact: Since you must interview applicants, even if you use tests, you need to make better predictions based on interviews.

If you do not learn how to do this, it will prove hazardous to your wealth! When you hire the wrong person, you will pay a huge price. Your business financially suffers, and you can destroy your management career.

WHY MANAGERS DO ROTTEN INTERVIEWS

Unfortunately, most managers base hiring decisions on interviewing job applicants. But, most managers do not know what they are doing. They often do not know

1. talents the applicant needs to succeed on-the-job

2. questions to ask

3. how to take useful notes

4. ways to stop applicants from lying about work experience

or skills

CUSTOMIZE INTERVIEWS FOR EACH JOB

Since you still must interview applicants, let's pinpoint how you can conduct useful interviews. Start by listing key talents a productive employee needs in the job. I use a 35-item checklist to help managers identify crucial talents.

For example, one company desired to hire better salespeople. Using my checklist, the sales executives chose crucial seven talents their salespeople need to succeed:

1. Mental Abilities

2. Friendliness

3. Persuasiveness

4. Flexible about Following Rules & Procedures

5. Optimism

6. Desire to Make Lots of Money

7. Desire to Control Sales Situations

INTERVIEWING MADE VASTLY EASIER

With the job talents list, make a customized interview guide form. This helps you conduct an insightful interview. It includes these parts, as shown in the accompanying example:

Job-related talents, such as Friendliness and Desire to Make Lots of Money

Place to insert test scores, e.g., scores on the Forecaster(TM) test's Money Motivation scale

Actions to look for in the interview. Example: Craves pay linked to his/her productivity

Questions to ask. Example: "What inspires you to do a good job?"

Note-taking space

Ratings: positive rating, moderate rating, & negative rating

The accompanying example shows how the interview guide form section for one of the seven job talents: Desire To Make Lots

of Money.

-------------------------------------------------------

Example: Section of Interview Guide Form

DESIRE TO MAKE LOTS OF MONEY

___ Score on Forecaster(TM) test's "Money Motivation" scale = _____

Note: Benchmark scores on Forecaster(TM) test:

7 - 11 = Positive Rating

___ Enthusiastic about earning commissions or incentive pay

___ Craves pay linked to his/her productivity

"When you work each day, what ingredient of your job that you feel most enthusiastic about?"

"What inspires you to do a good job?"

Rating:

__ positive rating

__ moderate rating

__ negative rating

-----------------------------------------------------------

OPEN PANDORA'S BOX

Your goal is to ask questions that force the applicant to reveal how he or she would perform on-the-job.

But, most interviewers ask questions that elicit little worthwhile information. Why? Most interviewers ask closed-ended questions, like "Did you like your last job?" or "Can you do creative problem-solving?" Any applicant with an IQ above room temperature knows the 'correct' answer to closed-ended questions. For example, if you ask, "Can you do creative problem-solving?", applicants will answer "Yes" - even if they have the creativity of a dead insect. Closed-ended questions start with words like "Do," "Can," "Would," or "Is."

In contrast, skilled interviewers ask open-ended questions. Open-ended questions do not give away the 'correct' answers. Plus, they force applicants to reveal their thoughts, feelings, goals, and experiences. That juicy information enables the interviewer to predict if the applicant may succeed if hired. Open-ended questions start with "How," "What," "Describe," and "Tell me."

SECRET TIP

Few managers know it proves best for two people to simultaneously interview each applicant. This boosts the likelihood of making accurate predictions about the applicant. One interviewer asks 99% of the questions while the second interviewer takes notes on the interview guide form. Both interviewers discuss the applicant after the interview. You will be amazed at how this approach improves interview results.

2 WAYS TO HIRE THE BEST

When you buy expensive clothing, like a fine dress or suit, you take it to a tailor who makes the clothing fit perfectly. The same principle holds true when you hire employees. You increase your odds of hiring winners by custom-tailoring your two key prediction methods: (1) tests and (2) interviews.

First, do a test "benchmarking study" on behavior tests and mental ability tests by having your superstar employees take the behavior tests and mental abilities tests. For instance, to hire profitable salespeople, first have your superstar salespeople take the tests. Their scores are "benchmarks" which you compare against applicants' test scores.

Second, devise a customized interview guide form for each job. If you are hiring salespeople, customize the interview guide form for your company's salesperson job. Interviewers use the form to ask questions, take notes, and link test scores to interview observations.

Remember: Research proves you probably will not hire the best if you only interview applicants. So, customize your tests and interviews and - most importantly - only hire applicants who rate high on your interviews and tests.

© Copyright 2005 Michael Mercer, Ph.D.

Michael Mercer, Ph.D., is a nationally-known expert on hiring, professional speaker, and president of The Mercer Group, Inc. Many companies use his Abilities & Behavior Forecaster? Test to test job applicants, you can view at http://www.MercerSystems.com

Dr. Mercer authored 5 books, including, Hire the Best -- & Avoid the Rest? & also Turning Your Human Resources Department into a Profit Center?. You can subscribe to his free e-Newsletter at http://www.DrMercer.com or call Dr. Mercer at 847-382-0690.

How to Have a Great Interview on the Radio

Doing live and taped interviews on the radio is an effective way to promote your business, your products, your book, or your knowledge and expertise, if you are trying to become a Recognized Expert in your field. Not only are there many national radio shows that may want to book you as a guest, but also there are syndicated shows that air in markets around the country as well as shows on local radio stations that are always looking for interesting, informative people to interview. In addition, there are now many Internet radio stations, like BlogTalk Radio, for example.

Although some radio shows will only books guests who can do in-studio interviews, most shows these days will allow you to do an interview from your home or office. However, nearly all of them require that your phone be a landline and not a cell because the quality of sound is not always good when someone uses a cell and cell phone connections can be unreliable.

Some radio shows archive interviews on their web sites as podcasts. If you do an interview that is available as a podcast, put a link to it on your own site and post the link on the social media sites you're active on.

Given the potential value of doing radio interviews, it's critical that you know how to be a good guest. Here are tips that will help you have a successful radio interview:

• Think About the Main Points You Want to Make During Your Interview. Spend time before the day of your interview, identifying the key points you want to make during the interview - what do you want listeners to take away from it? Then write those points on a piece of paper and keep that paper in front of you when you do the interview.

• Use Sound Bites, Analogies and Anecdotes. When appropriate, short, memorable, sometimes witty statements, interesting comparisons, and stories can be effective and entertaining ways to convey information during an interview.

• Provide Interview Questions Ahead of Time. Offering a radio host a suggested set of questions to ask you during your interview is an excellent way to help ensure that you have the opportunity to make the points you'd like to get across. Although many interviewers will ask for questions, if that doesn't happen, don't hesitate to offer them. (If you're working with a publicist, he or she should make the offer for you.) Be forewarned however: Although some interviewers will stick to your list of questions, others will pick and choose from the list and may throw in their own questions too.

• Practice Makes Perfect. If you have little or no interview experience, it's a good idea before your interview to do some practice interviews. I always spend time with clients who are new to radio going over the questions they are likely to be asked, critiquing their responses to those questions, and offering suggestions for how they might rephrase or shorten their answers. Not only do these practice sessions help my clients improve their interview skills, but the sessions also help them build their interview self-confidence.

• Find Out How the Interview Will Work. Make sure that you know who will initiate the interview - will the show call you or are you responsible for calling the studio - whether the interview will be live or taped, and if it will be live, if you'll be asked to take calls from listeners. Also, regardless of who will initiate the interview, always get a number you can use to reach the show's producer or host in case there is a problem at the last minute that affects your ability to do the interview.

• Know Where You Are Going. If you will be doing an in-studio interview and you're not sure where the station is located or where you can park your car, drive to the station before the day of the interview. Your trial trip will tell you about how long the drive will take and minimize the likelihood that you become stressed and panicked on the day of the interview because you can't find the station or parking. That experience could rattle you and cause you to have a bad interview.

• Be Early. If you will be doing an in-studio interview, arrive at the radio station a little early. If you're doing a phoner, be by your phone 5 minutes or so before the interview is scheduled to begin. The show's producer may call you before the start of the interview to make sure that you are there, that there is no static on the phone line, and so on.

• Keep Your Answers Short and To The Point. You'll lose your audience if you provide long, overly detailed or rambling answers to an interviewer's questions. Furthermore, given that some radio interviews can be quite short - maybe just 5 to 10 minutes long -- if your answers are too long, the interview may be over before you've had a chance to make your main points.

• Pay Attention and Be Responsive. During an interview, listen carefully to the questions you are asked and as best you can provide answers to each one.

• Express Opinions. Don't be afraid to state what you think. The media love guests who have something interesting to say and your listeners are more apt to remember you if you have opinions. However, avoid sounding bombastic, arrogant or dismissive of people who don't share your thinking.

• State the Essentials. During an interview, make sure that you mention the URL for your web site and the name of your company, book or whatever it is that you want to promote, assuming it's relevant to the subject of the interview. A good interviewer will mention this information for you, usually when you are introduced, but if it doesn't happen, try to slip the information in at an appropriate point in the interview - maybe at the end. If you do however, avoid sounding like an advertisement for yourself.

• Be Prepared to Take Charge. Occasionally you may encounter a host who does little or nothing to guide you through your interview. If that happens you'll have the opportunity to steer the interview in the direction you want it to go.

• Be Polite. If the host of the show you are a guest on is antagonistic towards you, maintain your cool and be polite. The same advice applies if you take calls from listeners during an interview and some of the callers are confrontational or ask you questions that you think are irritating or off-the-wall.

As the owner of MR?PR, a marketing and public relations firm, I've been arranging local and national radio interviews for business owners, experts and authors for more than 23 years. My clients have been guests on such national radio shows as NPR's Morning Edition, Bloomberg Radio, MarketWatch, the Jean Chatsky Show, The Dolans, Home and Family Radio, Survive and Thrive, Moms Making a Million, and The Small Business Advocate. I've also booked my clients on countless local radio programs.

Please visit my site, http://www.get-your-message-out.com, to learn more about my marketing and public relations services. While there I invite you to check out my public relations packages and public relations coaching services.

Job Interviewing Tips

Conquering The Interview

You've made it to the interview and like any normal human being, your feelings of happiness will not supersede the anxiety that accompanies interviewing, even for those who have been through it before. The only way to really alleviate some of that stress is to make sure you are truly prepared for the interview. Young Jobs guidelines of interview preparation will provide you with the means to have a successful interview.

Research: Getting to know the Company

Being knowledgeable about the company you will be interview with is by far one of the most important steps in the interview process. Without a doubt, the interviewer will be impressed with someone who has taken the time to research the company before arriving at the interview. If you make an effort to get to know the organization, you will find yourself ahead of the other candidates. Employers don't just want someone that can get the job done; they also want someone that respects their company and has interest and enthusiasm for their work.

Nowadays most businesses and organizations have their own websites or can be researched through articles found on the internet. However, we do acknowledge that not all companies can be researched this way and not all job seekers have a great deal of access to the internet. If either of these are the case, try going to your local library and finding articles or books about the company and/or the field of work it falls under.

Research: Getting to know yourself

Because you have taken the time to research the company and learn what it has to offer, you can now deduce what they might want in their employees and incorporate your paralleled capabilities in to the interview. Rather than thinking of yourself as an anxious job seeker on an interview, think of yourself as a sales person, selling your skills and ability. Review your resume a few times before your interview. Consider each piece of experience you have listed and the skills that were required. Did you gain collaboration skills working at a restaurant or leadership skills as president of a club or organization? Whatever the case may be, chose appropriately for each position you are interviewing for and utilize those skills in your "selling points". This not only provides you with conversation pieces but you will also find that knowing more about yourself as a potential employee will give you more confidence.

Also keep in mind the skills or assets that you have acquired in everyday life. For instance, most companies are looking for determination in their employees, so if the moment arises to tell them that you finished 3rd in the city marathon after months of training, take it. Even though it is not necessarily related to the work, it will make a good impression on your potential employer. To avoid sounding arrogant, express your experiences as learning tools and your skills as a gift. The tricky part is trying not to create so much to talk about that you dominate the conversation. It's better to give a shorter answer that's direct and to the point, than to babble on for several minutes in a disorderly fashion. It is always best to follow the interviewers lead. This brings us to the importance to practicing...

Practice

Doing research and knowing your "sales pitch" will definitely help you interview with greater success, but there is truly no substitute for actually rehearsing for the interview. Ask a family member or friend to act as the interviewer, providing them with a list of questions to ask you. While you might feel funny doing this, just remember that it will be even harder to interview with a stranger, so practicing can only help ease the process. Before you sit in the hot seat, make sure you have an idea of how you would like to answer the questions you have selected. Even having a notion as to how you will respond will build more confidence and impress the interviewer.

If a question arises that is not familiar to you, do not make something up or change the subject. Rather, tell them that's a good question but you do not have an answer for the time being, but are eager to gain the knowledge. Your potential employer will respect your honesty and readiness to learn new things.

Aside from verbal communication, it is also important to acknowledge your body language. Making eye contact is crucial. If you fail to look the interviewer in the eyes while they are speaking they will think you are disinterested; if you fail to look them in the eyes while you are speaking, they will think you are nervous of fabricating your answers. Try not to fiddle around with your hands too much, or you will appear nervous. A more affective way to use your hands is with slight gestures to evoke enthusiasm for what you are talking about. While it is common knowledge to sit up straight and observe good posture, you don't want to seem uneasy. Try to sit back in your chair with your head held high so the interviewer will know you are self-assured as well as attentive to what he or she is talking about. Try practicing your body language in a mirror or with a video camera.

Appearance

Let's face it, we all know that the visual impression is the first impression you make when meeting someone face to face for the first time. That's why it is essential to dress the part. When interview for a job, it is important to dress the way that you would if you had the job. If you don't know what the attire is, ask when you are setting up the interview or dress slightly more formal than you think you might need to. Wear clothes that are freshly washed and ironed. Along with the clothing, make sure you are up on your grooming: Comb your hair, clean your fingernails, and be sure to brush your teeth before you go to your interview. Try to avoid overdoing perfume or cologne, too much make-up, and excessive jewelry.

Arrive Early

Getting to your interview early does not only make you look good in the eyes of the employer, but it will also make the interview process that much easier. Trust us, there is nothing more stressful, than arriving late to an interview. Not only are you worried about what the interviewer might think, you are more likely to forget most of what you've practiced because you are so overwhelmed with being tardy. When you arrive 10-15 minutes early you have time to look over any last minute notes, use the restroom, and most importantly, take deep breathes. Nothing throws up the red flag quicker to a potential employer than an applicant showing up late to an interview.

Proper Introduction

As intimidating as this may sound, you are under observation from the very first moment you meet the interviewer. In order to make a proper introduction, make direct eye contact, extend a firm but nonabrasive handshake, smile with enthusiasm, and let them know your name and what a pleasure it is to meet them. These might seem like obvious and mundane gestures, but all potential employers will be examining your interpersonal skills by how you introduce yourself.

Returning the Questions

Towards the end of your interview, you will most likely be given the option to ask any questions you might have for the company. This is a great way to let them know that you are just as interested in getting to know them as they are in getting to know you. Asking the interviewer questions, is a great opportunity to make sure you have complete clarity in regards to the position and its expectations. If you feel uncertain about where you will fit in the company, what an average day will look like or anything else to do specifically with the job, feel free to use this time to inquire further. You can also ask about the environment of the company or the report between co-workers. However, it is never wise to ask about pay, benefits, sick days, etc. during the first interview. Once you have been offered the position, you are free to ask those questions before deciding to accept the job.

Now would also be a good time to tie in any final reasons as to why you are a perfect match for the job. It doesn't hurt to make reference to things that were said during the interview. Emphasize your enthusiasm for the position and anticipation for moving forward within the interview process. Avoid sounding desperate or too eager while maintaining your interest.

Be clear on what happens after the interview. Find out when they will be contacting you again or how you should follow-up if they would prefer it that way. Just as you entered with a proper introduction, make sure you exit just the same, with direct eye-contact, firm handshake, and a smile.

Follow Up

Even though you have made it though your first interview, you have one more crucial step in completing the interview process, the follow-up. This is best accomplished by sending a thank you letter to those you were interviewed by. Make sure it goes out within 1-2 business days. Reiterate points that were made during the interview and why you are the right fit for the position. Try to customize your thank you letter rather than sending a generic thank you that won't make much impact on the company. Remember to acknowledge your appreciation for their time and consideration. From there, if you do not have instructions to wait for them to contact you, follow up with a phone call around one week later to check the status on filling the position.

The last piece of advice Young Jobs would like to offer job seekers in conquering the interview is to BE YOURSELF!

We would say good luck, but if you follow our guidelines, we know you won't need luck to succeed!

Young Jobs - http://www.youngjobs.com

CEO Young Jobs Inc.

The Stages of Interviewing

Not long ago the job search and interview process was a lot easier than it is today: locate a position through the newspaper classified advertising jobs section or on the Internet, answer the ad or job posting with your basic chronological resume, a few days later get a call from the hiring manager for an interview, answer a few fluffy questions about your background and experience, get a job offer on the spot for a higher salary than you were making, start work the next day.

As we all know, today's job market it is quite a bit different from yester 'year with employers being a lot more selective than they use to be in choosing who to interview. Today, if your resume makes it through the employer's automated scanning program, you will more than likely receive a per-screening phone call, and if you pass that then possibly several onsite interviews.

Your goal during this time is to impress the interviewing employer with your knowledge of the position, with the way you speak of the job, and how your experience and achievements will benefit the company.

Every interview is going to be different in its own way, and have its own flow and personality as I like to call it. Knowing the basic stages of the interview process will help alleviate some of the stress of your job search, the angst of wondering what the employer is up to and help you present yourself with greater confidence.

Pre-Screening Stage

The purpose of this stage, which has become quite commonplace in today's job market, is to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, if you appear to be a good cultural fit and if the company can afford you.

The per-screening and interviewing calls can come at any time and may be made by a lower level screener, a recruiter, the hiring manager, an automated interview system, or a "Skype" call where you talk with and respond to the potential employer through your computer web cam. Typical per-screening interviews can be less than 30 minutes or possibly longer depending on the depth of questions. There will usually be a review of your resume, your experience, background and current employment situation so it is important that you be prepared for a call like this at anytime.

If you are working with a recruiter be prepared to address the salary question. Remember, one of the primary objectives of the per-screening process is to determine if the company can afford you. This is not the time to tell to the recruiter your salary is "negotiable." They will want a number or a salary range in order to keep the process moving forward.

Try to have your resume and job postings near the phone you so you can easily pull them up to talk about your experience and how it fits with the position. Be sure to get the name, phone number and email address of the person you are talking with so you can follow-up with a snail mail Thank you note.

Day of the Interview

Try not to arrive more than 10 minutes early to your interview. Find the restroom and take care of any pending business, check and comb your hair, freshen your makeup if a female, look to see there is nothing in your teeth and make sure your appearance is professional.

As most professional athletes do, run your pending performance through your mind seeing how you are going to be the best candidate they have interviewed. Then take a deep breath, relax, collect your thoughts and get ready for show time. Remember, when you walk through the office door your interview has begun.

The first person you will probably meet on the day of your interview will be a secretary or receptionist; treat them nicely and with respect as they may be asked to give their impressions about you to the hiring manager after you have left.

You may be asked to have a seat in the lobby or a conference room and wait for the interviewer to arrive. While waiting, stay relaxed and in control any nervous habits. In this stage, I like to be reminded of what a duck is like; calm on the surface, but paddling like crazy under the water. So, practice being like a duck.

Also, without being too noticeable, observe your surroundings; get a feel for the work environment, the type of people coming and going and the general personality and culture of the office. You're checking this out for what I call 'your cultural fit.'

Introduction Stage

This is the stage is where you meet your interviewer for the first time and where the interview is either won or lost. At this point first impressions and your body language are what counts; stand up straight, smile, look them in the eyes, shake their hand firmly and introduce yourself with a positive tone. Say, "It's nice to meet you, and restate their name?" This boosts your chances of remembering their all important name. Then ask for a business card so you can send a thank you note with correct spellings and address at the end of the interview.

This common exchange of names, small talk and casual questions is your chance to make a positive impression. Try and talk about the weather or traffic staying away from personal issues, sports teams, politics, religion or any other such controversial topics. No need to sink your chances here if the interviewer likes the Giants and you like the Jets.

Getting Started Stage

Notice your surroundings very carefully, especially the types of pictures or items that decorate the office or conference room. Make a positive, non-personal comment about them to help make a connection and break the ice.

During this stage, the interviewer will also try to get you to relax in what is always a tense and stressful situation. He will work on building rapport and then move the conversation into the substance of the interview.

General Interview Stage

The interviewer may begin by outlining the agenda and will most certainly scan your resume. If a time frame hasn't been set, try and get a sense of how long the interview may be so you can adjust your answers to the available time.

Because of varying personalities, interviewers will show a wide range of interviewing styles during this stage. Most like to start with general questions then move into details about your current and past work experience, decision making style, professional credentials, your specific job skills, educational background, your interest in their company, your career focus and goals and anything else they may have found of interest on your resume.

Questions at this stage of the interview may be open-ended behavioral or specific closed end. Occasionally, scenarios or work related problems will be presented for your comment or solution.

(Note - Be careful of problem solving related questions as companies have been known to use interviews to gain free consulting.)

Be succinct, clear, self-assured and to the point when answering the interviewer's questions. Focus on the process and talk about the Who, What, Where and How of your experience. In other words, tell a story using concrete and specific details. It is suggested to avoid the 'Why' in your answers as this may lead to a more personal, subjective answer rather than a factual, detailed one.

On-a-roll Stage

As the interview progresses, the interviewer will begin to ask more exacting questions to see if you have the required qualifications to be successful in the position and how you might fit in with the company. You will need to be able to discuss and show how your experience and qualifications match the job requirements and how your work ethic, values and behavioral style fits in with the organization's culture.

Asking Questions Stage

In my opinion, this is probably the most critical part of the entire interview. At this stage you will be asked if you have any questions; this is your cue the interview is over, the interviewer has made up his mind and you should get ready to leave.

At this stage many applicants lose their edge by asking questions that re-open the interview which in turn shows they were not prepared or were not listening carefully throughout the interview.

Instead I feel it is better to acknowledge the interview and interviewer by saying something like:

"I had a lot of questions when we started, but you did a good job of answering the ones I had. I would like to ask two things though, first, would it be Ok if you gave me a quick walk-around the facility so I can see what it would be like working here, and lastly, where do we go from here?"

With that response you should be told how to follow up; will they contact you or should you contact them and how soon.

You also do not want to ask about salary or benefits at this time either; wait until an offer is made. If you re-open the interview at this point after the interviewer has closed it, you run the risk of asking or saying something that might eliminate your from consideration.

Closing Stage

As with the introduction, the closing stage will be a short but important part of the interview.

After you have been walked around the facility and been told what the next step is, thank the interviewer for the time he/she took to interview you; restate that you are interested in the position and look forward to talking with them soon.

Be sure to firmly shake hands again, smile while maintaining eye contact and gracefully exit stage left.

On the way out, say goodbye to the secretary or receptionist whom you met when you arrived, as again, they may be asked to give their impressions about you to the hiring manager after you have left.

Follow-up Stage

To stand out from the crowd, as soon as you leave the building, complete and drop in the nearest mailbox your Thank-You cards to all those who interviewed you. The notes should thank them for the time taken and restate your interest in the position.

If you haven't heard from the employer by the time they said they would contact you, you probably are not their number one candidate.

If this happens, send a short e-mail to the interviewer reiterating your interest but do not call to check on your status. The reason being is that I'm finding in the job search literature, comments from overworked employers and recruiters of potential candidates being overly aggressive in wanting responses; this just causes them to push the delete button sending you to the cornfield.

What I've found from talking with successful candidates, though, is that if you are the one they want to hire, you will be tracked into the job so fast your head will spin. If you are in second place you will probably hear nothing.

Reference Stage

In today's job market, employers are checking references and doing background checks on almost every candidate they wish to hire.

Prior to a job offer, the employer will probably ask you for a list of references.

When using someone as a reference it is good etiquette to ask them if they would like to be a reference for you and if it is OK with them before submitting their name to the potential employer. The last thing you want is for your reference to answer a reference check call with "Who is using me as a reference?"

Background Check Stage

If the employer is going to formally check your background, they are required to obtain your signature prior to their check; be sure to request a copy of their background report on you. A checkbox of some sort should be on the background check authorization form where you can request a copy be provided to you. If not, write on the form that you would like a copy of their background check report.

You want a copy of anything the employer receives in your background check as it tells you what they are looking for and allows you the opportunity to correct any errors that may show up.

The Job Offer Stage

This is what we all wait for; the job offer. If they haven't already told you it's coming, it is best ask it be in writing. When put in writing, everyone is clear about the start date, introductory or probationary period if any, starting salary, performance review dates, benefits, work hours and job title.

In Conclusion

The stages you will go through in a job interview will depend on an employer's interviewing practices, the level of position for which you are applying, and the experience and H.R. training of the people with whom you will be interviewing.

Remember to maintain your professionalism at all times, even in an interview that does not go well. Treat every person you interact with during the interview stages with the same level of courtesy and respect with which you would like to be treated. This will create the strongest impression possible, and in turn, reassure the employer they've made the best choice in offering to hire you.

Chuck Castagnolo has helped people many years in the area of financial literacy, and since 2007, as the Founder and Executive Director of Bridges to Jobs, has used his been-there-done-that perspective to help people with the stress of being unemployed to acquire positive job search skills.

Chuck's common-sense view of what it is like to be out-of-work and the information that he provides job seekers, leaves his audiences inspired and encouraged. He helps people discover their strengths and shows them how their resumes, interview answers, body language and personal behaviors can affect their interview performance, self-confidence and job search success.

As a published author, Chuck's articles on body language, writing better job descriptions, developing a positive internet presence and the ADDIE training model have been linked on the Internet to numerous professional and international websites as well as having been cited in university research papers. Chuck has also appeared as a guest on television discussing mental health matters for those going through the stress of unemployment.

Chuck has presented his information all across the San Francisco Bay Area thru community and career vocational colleges, Silicon Valley employers, various adult school programs, and State of California employment development and community service organizations.

Interview Bias: Overcoming the Silent Forces Working Against You

Your job interview is tomorrow. You know your appearance will matter, so you polish your shoes and brush your hair. You realize your interviewer will have your resume in hand, so you've come prepared to explain every minute detail included on it. You've even done practice interviews and prepared your responses to all the trick questions. Are you ready? Not yet.

There remains a single type of preparation that you should do that can make or break your interview-knowing how to handle the possible biases of an interviewer. You need this knowledge because of a simple reality; interviews are subjective, no matter how many objective indicators are introduced. Interviewers are human, and all carry with them some assumptions about different types of people. Despite what may be valid attempts to leave these assumptions behind in the process, even the most earnest interviewer may be letting some of these biases make their way into the decision-making process. The best candidate for a job has many a time been passed over in the interview process because of bias. You don't want to be one of them.

You're not likely to be able to change the bias itself in the short duration of the interview, and you may not be able to recognize it with so much else going on. You can, however, increase the chances that the interviewer will not apply their biases or assumptions toward you. This means preparing for the possible biases of an interviewer before you encounter him/her. You therefore need to recognize the most likely biases people have toward you and prepare to address these biases in interviews to minimize their impact.

Pinpointing Potential Biases

Many people think biases surround visible differences that people have, like race, gender, or appearance. This is true. However, biases usually run much deeper and assumptions are made about a number of other potential differences you may have with your interviewer. An interviewer may unconsciously make assumptions about you based on the way that you speak, your age, or any of the background information you have listed on your resume.

To figure out some of the biases that may surface, give some thought to comments people have made to you in the past that surprised you. Have people thought you were much younger or older than you actually are? Have they assumed you were less intelligent because of your accent? Have you been labeled because of the way you dress? Have people been surprised to learn something in particular about you? Make a list of some of these assumptions or obstacles that could impede on the interviewer from seeing you as the best candidate.

Use your friends to add to your recollection. Ask them what their first impressions of you were. Colleagues from the past are especially valuable since they know you in a work atmosphere and work attire. Have friends read through your resume and create a list of five statements they would make about you based on your resume. Ask them to limit their responses to information on the resume and explain your goal in the exercise so you get honest answers. Combine these statements with ones people have made about you in the past and keep a list handy with all of these assumptions.

The Information Inundation Technique

Once you get a sense for the impression you make and the biases people may have against you, make sure you address them. You should still be focused on demonstrating why you are a qualified candidate for the job. Therefore, while delivering persuasive responses to interviewer questions, saturate your responses with information that will also undo biases. Here are some suggestions:

1. Match their speech and behaviors. It is a good idea in general to match your interviewers in terms of their speech and behaviors for etiquette purposes. If an interviewer is formal in their speech, you should be as well. If they sit up straight, don't slouch. This will help reduce assumptions they make about you based on differences they perceive they have from you.

2. Acknowledge & Spin It. If you sense a bias, don't be afraid to address what it is you think is being held against you. If you have an accent, explain what you do to make yourself understood. If you are young, note it, but also explain what your age adds and focus more on the experiences you have had that makes you worthy of the position. If you are a woman working in a male-dominated profession, explain what you can add to the position very specifically because you are female. Make a point to show the value of the aspect in question.

3. Find a connection. When you get the chance to ask your own questions at the end of the interview, work to establish a connection with your interviewer. Ask them what they like about the company in question, and communicate your ability to relate to some of the traits he or she identifies. Make a point of smiling and try to be friendly. An open, communicative style on your part is helpful to address any negative biases that person may unconsciously be holding against you.

4. Communicate your Bridge Building potential. A successful job candidate is not only someone who can do the job, but someone who can work in the organization's culture and be able to do the job well in the long run. Interviewers with biases may assume that you will not fit well into the organization's culture because of your differences. Communicate your ability to work with different people, think from different perspectives, and be open-minded. Give examples. Ask about the company culture and talk about your ability to work with and relate to different people.

5. Make it a strength. Have you had to deal with this someone who has been biased before because of something about the way you are? Use the experience to show your interviewer how you successfully overcame a difficulty. Emphasize the learning and growth you experienced as a result. This can help an interviewer recognize that their own unconscious bias is impacting their impressions. Make sure you don't insinuate in any way that your interviewer is biased. Your job in the interview is to demonstrate that you are a highly-skilled individual equipped to do the job for which you are applying. Critiquing your interviewer is not a step in the right direction.

6. Assume you are the best person for the position. Have you noticed that it is that much harder to sit up straight when you are feeling down in the dumps? Most people show their emotions in one way or another, and facing a biased interviewer is likely to stir some serious emotions of anger, frustration, devastation, or defeat. It is important to push through these feelings during the interview so that it doesn't impact your demeanor during the rest of the interview. You can decide later whether you want to work for the company the interviewer represents.

7. Make a Habit of it. Finally, get into the habit of building bias prep into your interview prep. Build these techniques into your responses and practice saying them so you are comfortable in the interview. Have a friend role-play the biased interview. Make it realistic. How will you face this practice situation?

Interview bias exists, but it doesn't have to impact your potential to get hired. Use these techniques to improve your chances of getting hired based on your qualifications and motivation rather than being excluded because of

interviewer bias.

Simma Lieberman helps organizations create environments where people can do their best work and be successful. She specializes in Diversity and Inclusion, Diversity Dialogues, and Eliminating Fear and Self-doubt. Simma is the co-author with Kate Berardo and George Simons of the book "Putting Diversity to Work." She can be reached at http://www.simmalieberman.com

Job Interview Preparation - How to Create That Powerful First Impression

Job interview preparation is one of the key areas for being a successful job interview candidate. But wait a second. Did you know Stamford research department looked into what forms the basis of successful communication between individuals and this applies to job interviews too. The results were surprising. What you say accounted for just 10%. Your tone of voice accounted for 20%. The remaining 70% was body language and image.

People will always create an instant first impression of you within 5 and 30 seconds of your first meeting. Job interviews are no different. That is a very short time in which to create a good impression!

Job interview preparation is to a large extent centered round first impressions. These are made based on appearance, stance, body language, smile, eye contact and the way you speak. It is therefore so important to make a good first impression.

However it is not necessarily a level playing field. It is unfortunately well documented that tall good looking men are much more likely to succeed in an interview and in their careers than shorter less good looking men. This is particularly true if your profession is selling. I say unfortunately because if you do not have that genetic advantage then you start with a disadvantage.

Either way you need to make the most of your chance to create a good first impression.

When you look at the percentages above you will realize that the first impression you give to an interviewer can be key to your success. This is even before the interview has even started. If you look the part you are half way there....and some! Once the first impression is established the interviewer will look to reinforce their initial thoughts. So every reply you give will be viewed in conjunction with that first impression in mind. Let us look at how we create a good first impression.

What to wear and appearance:

A safe rule of thumb is to wear darker clothes as opposed to light. It portrays a sense of seriousness. Avoid trying to be fashionable. It is best to dress in a conservative way. For a man this is usually reasonably easy to summarize. Wear a suit and tie! You cannot go wrong dressed in a dark suit, white shirt with 'serious' plain tie. For goodness sake do not wear a comical tie with a cartoon on it for example. It may be fine but is just as likely to portray the wrong image.

Why take the chance?

Wear the most expensive dark suit you can find. Make sure it is clean, ironed and fits. A job interview promises the reward of a better paid job. Make the investment! Buy a new white long sleeve shirt. Make sure you wear smart dark leather shoes, preferably black and definitely polished.

If it turns out you are over dressed then this will not count against you. Anyone dressed too casual or not neat or tidy will do their chances plenty of harm. Make sure your hair is cut neatly and washed. Also it has been proven that facial hair will reduce your chances of success. Something about hiding behind it! It will not be the deciding factor, but if you are thinking of removing your beard do it before the interview! For women it is a little bit more complicated. Avoid lots of jewelery. It is distracting! Avoid the bright colors and stay conservative. Make sure the skirt isn't too short or the blouse too low.

Don't try to be too individual. If you normally spike your hair up this could create the wrong impression. Being individual in your dress and presentation is at best risky and at worst disastrous.

Posture and body language

Make sure that your posture says 'I exude confidence'. Not aggressive or over-powering just confident and self-assured. Improving your body language improves your attractiveness to other people. In previous chapters we discussed the need to visualize the interview and the feeling of self-confidence. If you feel self-confident this will transfer to your body language.

Ideally you want your body language to reflect that of the interviewer. This will sub-consciously make them feel more at ease and comfortable. Of course this applies to all social situations not just interviewing. From the start sit up straight in the chair, do not slouch in your chair. If you have a confident posture then you will feel more confident. You will also give the 'air of confidence' to the interviewer. A confident straight posture also aids breathing which will help with nerves. Loosen up your shoulders so they feel relaxed.

Do not cross your arms or legs, this looks defensive which puts a barrier between you and the interviewer. It also gives the impression of not caring. Whether this is your view or not doesn't matter, because this is the impression it gives.

Mirror body language

The mirroring of their body language is a sure fire way to gain empathy with the other person. Practice this with other people you are talking to. If they lean back you try doing the same. People who are 'comfortable' in each other company will tend to have similar body language.

Open hand gestures

As part of using your body language effectively use open hand gestures. This implies you have nothing to hide and are being open and honest. The opposite of this is closed fists, a sign of aggression or nervousness.

Smile

You must always try to smile. It creates such a good first impression. Don't grin relentlessly it will make people nervous. Make it natural. If you do not smile naturally then practice smiling in the mirror. It is important that you do this right. During the interview you want to try to smile as often as possible. But do choose your moments. Grinning like a cat will look odd! If you smile the interviewer will smile. If they don't respond back smiling don't let this rattle you and keep persevering.

Handshake

Your handshake should be firm but not overpowering. You will never get penalized for having a firm handshake but a weak one will create a poor impression. This is however less important than the other factors.

Eye contact

Eye contact is so important. If you constantly look away from someone it conveys two impressions. Either you are lacking in confidence or you are not trustworthy. Make sure that you maintain eye contact with all the people you meet. Secondly throughout the interview maintain eye contact for a 'natural' length of time. This is about 50-60%. Too much and you will be form the impression of staring or being aggressive. Too little and you will be considered defensive or evasive.

Keep it natural.

Build rapport from the first moment. Both parties in an interview are looking to feel comfortable with their opposite number. When two strangers meet in such a formal way there can be awkward silences and over politeness.

In most interview situations the interviewer will come to the reception area to meet you and then take you through the building to the interview room, probably stopping off to grab a drink. These few minutes should always be used to make small talk and start to build a rapport. The interview starts, from the moment you meet the interviewer. It is not from the moment you enter the interview room and you are asked the first question. This is a crucial distinction.

The interviewer has to like the person they are interviewing otherwise they are unlikely to get the job. In over 95% of the situations the interviewer will be working closely with the interviewee on a daily basis. It is important you use this time try to build rapport with the interviewer before you enter the interview room. Of course smiling and eye contact will help with this process. Make an effort to make conversation during this 'pre-interview' time.

Imagine you meet the interviewer at reception, walk for two minutes to the interview room, sit down and there has been no small talk or rapport. Both of you will feel a little awkward. This is a poor start to the interview as you need to build rapport to stand the best chance of getting the role.

Speak clearly

Make sure you speak clearly and confidently. Communication skills are a key element for any successful candidate. If you think you mumble or your speech is poor then practice. Having prepared thoroughly for the interview will help in this aspect.

Pay complements

It is often left unsaid but by paying an interviewer a complement they will think better of you. So, do you tell them they have nice hair? No of course not.

The complement should be low-key but get noticed. There should be opportunities when the interviewer is discussing the company, perhaps their recent expansion or their impressive sales growth.

''.....that is one of the things that attracted me to applying to this company''

''.....one of the reasons I applied is because my friend Joe works here and said what a dynamic organisation it was. He really likes it here.''

''.....that is really impressive sales growth''

''.....I like the open plan office environment you have here''

Even a casual comment about the better quality of the coffee from the vending machines helps to build rapport. But be careful not to shoot yourself in the foot. ''Your organization has a much more professional working environment than my current one''. This implies you come from an unprofessional one with weak management which is hardly a selling point for your skills. Complements need to sound natural because in an interview you are expected to be polite and complimentary.

Next, learn the interview secrets that will really help you, just visit http://www.JobInterviewPerfection.com

Number 1 Cause of Bad Hires - Lack of Interview Technique on the Part of the Employer

There is a vast amount of data on interview techniques for candidates but little for interviewers. In a sense the system is skewed to the candidates, but in order for the interview process to work properly, both interviewers and candidates must be capable of conducting themselves properly in an interview to best insure that a proper exchange of information takes place during the interview and proper fit can be examined. Here's some basic information for interviewers along with some interview tips how to conduct an interview.

Types of Interviews

First let's start with some of the basics like the different types of interviews. Here are several of the more popular interview types and a brief description. One-on-One This is the standard interview where the candidate sits with an employer or manager and they talk about the candidate

Panel Interview - This is when a team of interviewers simultaneously interview a candidate.

Round Robin Interview - This is a blend of the panel and one on one interview. Instead of a group of interviewers simultaneously interviewing the candidate, the candidate spends time with each member of a team of interviewers.

Behavioral Interview - This is an interview technique where the interviewer is trying to place the candidate in a situation and understand how they may react to that situation.

Working Interview - This is an interview where the candidate performs as if they are working at the company. An example of this might be someone who's interviewing to run a piece of equipment and claims to have the skills currently to perform the job. The interviewer may have the person work on the equipment for a short period of time to allow the candidate to demonstrate their skills.

How to Conduct an Interview as an Employer

The number 1 cause of bad hires is interviewers using their gut instinct to make a decision. The root cause of this problem is that nobody trains interviewers how to conduct an interview. It seems that if you are a professional in charge of people you automatically should know how to conduct an interview. This is simply not true.

The first thing an interviewer needs is training in interview techniques. These skills include how to ask good interview questions, how to listen for the right answers and how to follow up to drill down and follow up on answers given by candidates. Remember these days there is a great deal of training for candidates on how to succeed at an interview. Interviewers need to be equally prepared.

The next thing an interviewer needs to do is maintain control of the interview. This means they need to be asking 80% of the questions and let the candidate do the talking. The only way to learn about a candidate is to get them to talk. Don't let a candidate turn the tables and ask all the questions.

Finally an interviewer must have a system for recording and rating the candidates. This is a must especially if there are multiple candidates interviewing for the same position. Without notes and a rating system, an interview can rely more heavily on their gut feel or how likable the candidate was in the interview process.

About the Author; Trained as an electrical engineer, Tom now applies the process and analysis skills to attracting and hiring top employees for his clients. For those who want to give it a go for themselves, Tom has created http://www.staffing-and-recruiting-essentials.com/, a web site for small and medium size business who want to attract and hire great people. Of course the hope is that someday you will want to hire Tom and his company but in the mean time, give it a try yourself or get his free e-book titled, 'The Top 5 Hiring Mistakes - and What to Do About Them'.

Job Interview Practice - You've Done Your Interview Prep, Now What's the Best Way to Practice?

You've done your interview preparation, now what's the best job interview practice?

You've done a great job of interview prep, put together a great resume / CV, and don't want to let this excellent work go to waste. But now what... you want the most effective way of ironing out any possible errors so you can confidently go forward and ace your interview.

Before going into the detail of your best interview practice techniques, I just want to confirm you have done your job interview preparation?

It's critical that you have researched the marketplace your target employer operates in, the competitors, the company itself, the department you're interviewing for, and the role itself.

Don't stop your research yet dig a little deeper to uncover employers are really looking for; in terms of what skills employers look for, and what personality traits employers value most. These are really important things to find out before you pitch up at interview.

Your interview prep should also cover the types of job interview you may face, and the types of interview questions that'll be coming your way, how to answer those tough interview questions and the best questions to ask your interviewer.

Your job interview preparation needs to prepare you for group interviews, panel interviews, competency and behavioural based interviews, and the different type of questions that may be asked.

I like the STAR Method technique for answering those difficult behavioural and competency interview questions, as it gives the interviewer exactly what THEY want, and is easy for you to remember under interview pressure.

Wow!

If you've done all this you should give yourself a pat on the back, or celebratory glass of your favourite tipple, because you've done more interview prep than most would... You're well on your way to acing your job interview!

But how will you perform under the scrutiny and pressure of the interview itself?

This is where diligent job interview practice will help you seal the deal.

Job interview practice isn't easy, as it's nigh on impossible to do yourself.

So you're likely to need to draft in a friend, relative or colleague to help you. If the role is valuable enough you can also go to a pro interviewer, who for a fee will put you through your interview paces, and coach you to a better performance.

This option isn't cheap, so most people opt to draft in a friend relative or colleague to run through a job interview rehearsal.

You can take the list of commonly asked job interview questions and lists of the tougher behavioural interview questions, and give them to your kindly stand-in interviewer.

You should also blend in some specific technical questions, and by technical I mean your key technical skills if you're an account, lawyer, doctor, project manager, there will be skills associated with the profession and associated qualifications that you will need to know about.

By running through this form of practice interview, you'll be able to practice you're prepared answers, and see how they play out in an interview rehearsal situation. Though the pressure won't be the same this will enable you to flush out problem areas, and fine tune your interview technique.

This level of job interview prep will also help your confidence no end.

There are a couple of interview preparation techniques that you can practice on your own. Firstly when building your STAR method answers to tough interview questions, I would suggest writing them down and saying them out load, because what often looks brilliant on paper doesn't always translate so well into natural language, and it's vital your answers trip naturally from your tongue.

I would also suggest using visualization, all top athletes use visualization as part of their training routines, and though this may sound a little airy-fairy this stuff really works in building clarity and confidence.

Visualization is like day dreaming with purpose, take your time and enjoy the experience of running through your job interview in your head, see yourself smiling and confidently greeting your interviewer, see your interviewer enjoying the interview with you, run through some of your answers...

I know visualization may seem a bit strange but trust me; it's a great form on job interview practice.

There is now also an interactive on-line practice service that is designed around specific jobs, and is a fantastic option if you'd prefer to do your job interview practice on your own.

To find out how to turn interviews to offers and get your free interviewing answers eGuide click here.

Or visit our best Interview Tips page on my site. As a pro recruiter I know this stuff works great and wish you the very best of interviewing success.

Thanks for reading

Richard Penfold.

Guide to Interviews - Prepare for Your Interview to Get That Job

1. Introduction

Before attending an interview, you first have to sell yourself on a CV. It doesn't stop here, this is when you start to prepare for the interview by fact-finding about the company and researching questions you want answering.

The most important aspect of the interview is not only is the interviewer assessing your suitability for the role, but asking yourself if this is the right company for you, and will you fit in to the company's workplace.

2. Preparing for the Interview

Once you have been successfully selected to interview stage you'll need to think about how to tackle the interview. The more prepared you are the more confident you will be.

Preparation - Who are you? Think about your skills, competencies, qualifications and experience.

How are you perceived? Talk to friendly colleagues, present or recent, about their view of you as a team member, your strengths and ask their opinion of your CV as it shows these

What is your objective? What job function(s) can and should you do and in what sector or environment? Try and get some advice from this perspective as well.

Getting on the interview is not the objective, just part of it.

Who are your targets? It is important for you to know if there are any companies you don't want work for, have already contacted or on the other hand are very interested in working for, and the industry types you want to work in.

This gives a basic idea to work from and if any other jobs come up that may suit you then you have a better chance of being contacted to discuss how you would feel about companies being approached on your behalf. There's no point you being put forward for a position that you will not want to follow-up.

Once you have been offered an interview, what do you need to know about the company? Products, size, locations, style, reputation both as employers and suppliers, and the sort of job they would have for you.

Before the interview itself it may be handy to read the rest of this guide, so you strengthen your good signals and curb the weak ones.

3. Interview Types

There are different types of job interviews you may participate in during the recruitment process. Each interview you attend will be different in many different ways, the information below outlines the more often used processes and gives you some tips on how to handle them.

One-on-one Interview (Most commonly used)

In a one-on-one interview, it has been established that you have the skills and education necessary for the position. The interviewer wants to see if you will fit in with the company, and how your skills will complement the rest of the department. Your goal in a one-on-one interview is to establish rapport with the interviewer and show him or her that your qualification will benefit the company.

Screening Interview

A screening interview is meant to weed out unqualified candidates. Providing facts about your skills is more important than establishing rapport. Interviews will work from an outline of points they want to cover, looking for inconsistencies in your resume and challenging your qualifications. Provide answers to their questions, and never volunteer any additional information. That information could work against you. One type of screening interviews is the telephone interview.

Stress Interviews

Stress interviews are a deliberate attempt to see how you handle yourself. The interviewer may be sarcastic or argumentative, or may keep you waiting. Expect this to happen and, when it does, don't take it personally. Calmly answer each question as it comes. Ask for clarification if you need it and never rush into an answer. The interviewer may also lapse into silence at some point during the questioning. Recognize this as an attempt to unnerve you. Sit silently until the interviewer resumes the questions. If a minute goes by, ask if he or she needs clarification of your last comments.

Lunch Interview

The same rules apply in lunch interviews as in those held at the office. The setting may be more casual, but remember it is a business lunch and you are being watched carefully. Use the lunch interview to develop common ground with your interviewer. Follow his or her lead in both selection of food and etiquette.

Panel or Committee Interview

Committee interviews are a common practise. You will face several members of the company who have a say in whether you are hired. When answering questions from several people, speak directly to the person asking the question; it is not necessary to answer to the group. In some committee interviews, you may be asked to demonstrate your problem solving skills. The committee will outline a situation and ask you to formulate a plan that deals with the problem. You don't have to come up with the perfect answer, they are interested in how you deal with different scenarios, can you think quickly and they will be looking to see your problem solving abilities.

4. Body Language

Interviewers will start to make judgement about you as soon as you enter the room. These first impressions are very powerful in influencing their final decisions, however relevant they are to successful job performance.

How you present yourself

When walking and standing, keep reasonable erect. When seated do not lean too far forward or backward nor adopt a bolt-upright position. Try to open up your body and only move forward when you want to show interest.
Give the interviewer as much eye contact as you can - to catch their attention, when you are not speaking to them, when you would like to get into the conversation, but do not stare them out.
Try to maintain open postures with your hands, arms and body. Do not fold and cross arms, do not clench and unclench fists. Use these parts of your body to express yourself.
Try not to talk too fast or too slowly. You will be appreciated best if you can divide your time more or less equally between being seen to talk and listen. Make sure you can be heard without deafening the interviewer and are modulating your voice a little from time to time for the sake of emphasis and variety.
Eye contact is important. Research suggests that if you make contact more than 65% of the time, you could be making the other person feel uncomfortable. Alternatively, if you make eye contact for less than about 50% of the time, you could be seen as untrustworthy.

Develop your Listening Skills

Your listening skills are important. Possibly for as much as half the interview time, you will be required to listen. Ideally a trained interviewer will be encouraging you to talk more than half of the time. Only by listening can you discover what other people want and how you can satisfy their needs. It is vital that you remain an attentive listener throughout your interview. You cannot afford to let your thoughts wander off in to any of your "hidden agendas" - the other things on your mind, which are unrelated to what is going on in front of you.

As a good listener you will:

Make eye contact
From time to time nod up and down to show agreement and understanding
Let the speaker talk without interrupting
From time to time ask for clarification of what has been said
Keep your prejudices and emotions under control
Keep your mind open until the speaker has finished and don't try to evaluate what is being said halfway through the statement

Read How to sell yourself at interviews

Paul Gless

SIGMA IS Recruitment
http://isrecruitment.co.uk

SIGMA IS Recruitment introducing IT professionals to deliver technical projects and services to businesses that value quality and service.