7 Tips to Nail Your Next Job Interview
You’ve researched companies that are hiring, updated and sent out your résumé and you've finally received the call that you love and hate to get. Are you available for an interview? At first, your heart leaps then takes a nosedive into your stomach as your thoughts race toward the stress that is involved in the interview process. Will I make a good impression? Will I say the right things? Will it be enough to get the job? It’s enough to cause some serious pit stains on that starched white oxford you’ll be wearing. Or is it?
For those of us who aren't able to work from home, job interviews are just a part of the process. For some, they can be quite frightening and there are plenty of interview horror stories being told around the water cooler. However, your story doesn’t have to be one of those. If you’re headed out for the mother of all job interviews, take a minute to read these seven steps about how to nail it.
1. Research the company you’re interviewing with.This may seem pretty obvious, but many interview collisions are caused when the person being interviewed didn’t know anything about the company. If you are one out of hundreds who might be interviewing for a position, you will stand out by knowing a bit about the history of the company, the CEO and if possible, the person who is interviewing you. Research also provides you with the knowledge you’ll need to ask relevant questions about the job that you’re seeking.
2. Practice.
Seriously? Yes, seriously. Any time you have a poor economy and you’re looking for a job, you’ll be going up against a fair amount of competition. Sitting in front of the mirror and practicing how you speak and answer questions can help you make a better impression. You’ll pick up on small mistakes you may make and be able to eliminate them. You’ll also be able to practice delivering more concise answers to common job interview questions.
3. Use appropriate etiquette during the interview.
There are some things that you want to do during interviews and some things you absolutely want to avoid. Here are a few:
Be sure to listen to the interviewer. Sadly, the skill of listening seems to have exited the building like a bad Elvis impersonator. Everyone wants to be listened to and this includes the person doing your interview. Besides, you don’t want to have to ask her to repeat the question, do you?
Keep your overall demeanor relaxed, but make sure you have good posture. This doesn’t mean sit stiffly like you’ve got crowbar spine, but it does mean don’t slouch. While you’re working on your posture, be sure you smile.Avoid complaining about a previous job or supervisor. No one likes a whiner. Talking about how awful your last boss was makes you appear to be negative and hard to work with. This is a great way to turn the interview into a nightmare.
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