A Successful Job Interview

A successful job interview

Career counselors say a successful job interview starts well before the jobseeker and interviewer meet. Preparation can be as important as the interview itself. Researching, practicing, and dressing appropriately are the first steps to making the most of a job interview.

This post focuses on research.

One of the best, but most frequently overlooked, ways to demonstrate enthusiasm for a job is to research both the company and the position for which you are being interviewed. Employers say they are impressed by well-informed jobseekers.

Before arriving for an interview, you should know what the company does, how large it is, any recent changes it has undergone, and what role you could play in its organization. Try to learn about the company's goals and values. With these facts, you can show how your qualifications match the company's needs.

The company itself is often the easiest place to start your search. Many businesses fill their websites with information tailored to jobseekers. These sites often include a history of the company and a description of its products and customers. And many companies' human resources departments will send recruiting information if you request it.

Public libraries and career centers also have valuable information about employers, including companies' annual reports to shareholders, reports kept by local chambers of commerce, trade journals, and business indexes, such as Hoover's Business Index and Dun and Bradstreet.

To read more about Company Research, go here: Research the Company

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Why is it Important to Prepare for an Interview?

The Job Interview: Wing it? Prepare for it?

A lot of us tend to think that interviews are just a formality. A substantial number of interviewees also feel that the recruiters ask the same questions in every interview and hence, they do not need to prepare for interview. However, the reality is that a most of the interviewers are not looking for your answers, they are looking for your confidence level and consistency through your answers. Therefore, you need to be very confident and consistent in your interview.

Preparing for an interview is more important when you are sitting for a HR interview in contrast to a technical interview. If you have studied your subject well you will most certainly get through a technical interview. However, HR interviews are more focused upon testing your attitude rather than you knowledge and unless you have done some rehearsal for your answers, you might get deviated and lose the interviewers.

The best way to prepare for an interview is to make a list of commonly asked questions in an interview and prepare your answers for it. Try to be as honest as possible. Do not try to furnish false information to impress the interviewers as it can backfire. Always remember the people sitting in the interviewer chair have seen as lot of interviewees and they are looking for an additional spark in you.

Just be confident and consistent in your answer. Stick to your position, even when they try to confuse you as it is just a strategy they might be using to judge your consistency. A little preparation and a little caution is your key to success in any interview.

For additional information on job interviews, follow this link: Top 10 Interview Questions

Interview Questions

What You Need to Know About Interview Questions

The interview is a sales meeting and you are both the salesperson and the product. The basic question in every interview, whether it is asked or not, is "Why should I hire you?" All other questions center on this one issue. Basic interview questions can take a variety of forms. Generally, questions will ask about you, your qualifications, experience, skills and motivation. If you have prepared for the interview and are confident about your qualifications, none of these questions should be difficult.

Listen carefully to each question asked in the interview. Take your time in responding and make sure your answers are positive. Express a good attitude and show that you are willing to work, eager to learn, and are flex¬ible. If you are unsure of a question, do not be afraid to ask for clarification. Sometimes a good strategy is to close a response with a question for the interviewer. If you have researched the company beforehand, you will be better informed and able to ask more in-depth questions.

Focus on your qualifications but also look for opportunities to personalize the interview. There is nothing wrong with injecting some personal insight into your life. However, do not get too personal or dwell too long on non-job related topics. Show your potential to the company. Support your answers with examples from your experience. Avoid "yes" or "no" responses to questions.

Use caution if you are questioned about your salary requirements. Try to avoid the question until you have been offered a job. If that isn't possible, turn the question back to the interviewer and ask what salary range the position falls in, or what others in similar positions are being paid.

The interview is not over when you are asked if you have any questions. Come prepared to ask a couple of specific questions that again show your knowledge and interest in the job.

Source:
http://jobs.utah.gov/jobseeker/guides/07_34.pdf

Click here for more information about Answering Interview Questions.