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Preparing for Your Job Interview

August 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

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A job interview can be a stressful but exciting time. In order to improve your chances of getting the job that you want, there are a few tips that will help you prepare for your interview and make the best possible impression on the company representative.

1) Prepare your answers.

It is not always easy to anticipate what the interviewer will ask. But there are several common interview questions that you should be prepared to answer. Do some research into the most popular interview questions and how to script your answer for maximum effect. When you are prepared to give the interviewer the information she is looking for, you can make a better impression on the company.

2) Research the company.

The interviewer will ask you questions about the company to see what you know about the company’s history and the position you are applying for. In order to be completely prepared, you should learn as much as you can about the company’s history, recent accomplishments and how the position you are interviewing for ties into the company’s success. You can also go to canada 411 to get some useful information about the company you are applying in.

3) Have all of your paperwork ready.

Arrive at your interview site at least 30 minutes early to fill out paperwork. Have copies of your resume and references on you to give to anyone that may need them.

You can reduce the stress of a job interview by being prepared and having everything you need on you when you arrive at the interview location. Bring your own pen and paper, take a deep breath and be ready to give the best interview you have ever given.

Filed Under: Interviews, Job Search Tagged With: , ,

I Like Me

January 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You need confidence to go on a job interview.  You need to be able to convey to a boss that you are the right person for the job.  You also need to be able to do this without nervousness, without making him feel that you are unsure of yourself.  You have confidence in your skills.  You have been trained well.  You did well in school and you are more than comfortable with every aspect of the career you have chosen.  This is important.  If you are knowledgeable and well versed in your career, you will not stumble over your words, and you may have more confidence when discussing the particulars of your job, as you know it like the back of your hand.

Meeting new people, especially a potential new boss, can make you a little nervous.  Before going on the interview take some time to take inventory of yourself.  You know you can sell your skills, but can you sell you?  Do you like yourself?  Do other people like you?  Are you easy to talk to?  Are you a good negotiator?  Are you someone people can come to and you can help with a problem?  These are all important skills in getting a job.  There are a lot of people out there who may be knowledgeable about your career.  The difference could very well be in your ability to let the boss know you are the right person for the job.  Let him know that you work well with others.  Let him know that you take criticism well and learn from it.  Let him know that you can taken on a problem and figure out a solution with very little guidance.  These are extremely important qualities to a boss.  A self motivated, highly trained individual, who works well under pressure and works well with others is a blessing for any company.

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On Your Best Behavior

January 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It is time for you to go on an interview.  You have prepared for the interview.  You applied for the job, and the boss feels as though you are someone who he needs to talk to.  This is the first step, the all important getting your foot in the door.  You will need to make a good impression.  Be prepared for your interview.  Take time before you go to practice some answers to questions.  The less nervous you are, the more confidence you will show.  Choose your clothing carefully.  What impression do you want to give?  If this is an executive position, dress the part.  Be a little more conservative, dress for success.  Choose your clothes well in advance.  This way you are not scrambling at the last minute, thus making you more nervous.  The better prepared you are, the more at ease you will be, the answers and conversation will flow easily and confidently.

The interview is not the time to let go of your emotions.  You boss does not need to know every personal thing about you at this stage of the game.  He or she is not interested in stories about your family, your pets, or your past work experiences, except as they pertain to this particular position.  He or she however is interested in your skills, your ability to communicate and your people skills.  Make these areas shine.  Watch your language, choose your words carefully.  Try to not to get too excited, but don’t appear as though you could care less.  A perfect balance is hard to find, but this is where being prepared shines through the best.

Most of all, remember your manners.  Remember to thank the prospective boss for taking the time to talk to you, for taking the time to consider your resume.  Make sure you also give him some idea of how much better his business would be with you as part of the team.

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Keep Your Hands At Your Sides

January 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You are getting reading to go on a job interview.  You are confident that you are knowledgeable of the job you are applying for and your skills are top notch.  You know that you have already impressed the boss or you would not have been called for an interview.  Now you need to sell yourself, so to speak.  You have to let the boss know that you are the best choice for the position.

Unfortunately, in these days of the Internet and the cell phones, too many people do not have the skills to interact face to face.  Most friends are not even talking to each other face to face every day.  We are texting, e-mailing and leaving voice messages.  There are studies that show that some of our young people, teenagers, and young adults do not know how to read facial expressions.  They just do not have that experience.  If you are not seeing someone’s face and reactions to what you are saying, the impact of what you are saying can be distorted.

Body language, long considered one of the most important parts of the interview, has all but gone by the way side, replaced by the tone of a text or the beep of a waiting message.  This skill, however, can mean the difference in having to keep looking for a job, or getting that job you so desperately want.  If you are confident, it will show through.  If you are nervous, you can compensate.  Your body language will do the talking.  Try not to talk too much with your hands.  Let your words tell the boss how perfect you are for this position.  Do not fidget, it breeds a lack of confidence.  Leave the gum home, as snapping and chewing are not attractive at any age.  Keeping just these small things in mind, you will be able to present yourself with the best possible presentation.

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Resume Tips: Choose the Right Resume Design

December 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

When it comes to glancing at your resume, employers are likely going to make snap judgments about who you are. If they see skills or job titles on your resume that are unrelated to what they are looking for, then the odds are good that they are going to make an immediate bad assumption about your qualifications. If you do not want employers to think that you are unqualified for the job or jobs for which you are applying, then you need to find ways to stand out to them.

Employers do not have time to read everything on your resume, you really only have a few seconds to capture their attention. What this means is that you need to take steps to make your resume friendlier for these quick-moving employers so that they can quickly skim your resume and actually find what they are looking for. The design of your resume is a great way to get the ball rolling, because your resume design can highlight all of the most important details about your skills, your experience and your education.

When an employer looks at your resume, he or she is going to want to be able to pinpoint attention on the things that truly matter. If your potential employer glances at your resume, then they should be able to see the skills, the abilities, the keywords and the other information that is most important to them. Make sure that the design of your resume supports this. The design of your resume can have a profoundly positive impact on your ability to be called in for job interviews by showing employers that you do have the skills, the talents, the education and the experience that they are looking for. A little bit of fine tuning in the design of your resume can really go a long way for this purpose.
 

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Resume Tips: Creating Content that Sells

December 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The actual design of your resume should definitely be capable of grabbing the attention of a prospective employer, but a principle that is even more important when crafting your resume is to create content that is going to sell. The content of your resume, including descriptions of abilities and skills, is really what is going to determine how many different job interview invitations you are going to generate. The types of content and information in your resume will also influence what level of salary you end up receiving. Make sure that you pay close attention to how you can re-work your resume to create content that truly sells.

Creating Content that Sells

If your resume says something like “Maintained accounts receivable and payable records”, then you might try to rework it to say something like “Worked directly with company’s Chief Financial Officer to manage more than 1,000 accounts in accounts payable/receivable”. Do you see the difference? The specifics in the second sentence play a truly essential role in showing a prospective employer what you are truly capable of. You did not just maintain records, but you managed 1,000 accounts, a much greater feat than your original resume wording let on.

Which one of these examples will present you as having a higher level of skills and being more qualified? The better writing is going to lead to more job interviews and better salary rates. As this and similar examples are going to demonstrate, when you elevate your capabilities in your resume, you make them stand out. A little bit of creative working with your resume can turn it into a professional document that really sells you as a viable candidate for the job rather than droning on about the same skills that every other resume in the pile highlights. Standing out is essential in getting the attention of your future employers.

Filed Under: Business, Interviews, Job Search Tagged With: , ,

Job Interview Tip Series

December 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Job Interview Tip Series

Your resume and cover letter are designed to get you an interview, which is an entirely new ball park when it come to proving your abilities to an employer. If you want to ace your interview, there are some specific tips that are going to steer you in the right direction. Consider the following two tips when preparing and planning for your upcoming job interview so that you can make sure to do a good job and impress your prospective employers and your interviewer.

Tip #3: Prepare your attire ahead of time.

Make sure that the attire you plan to wear to your interview is tidy, neat and completely appropriate for the job that you are interviewing for and the company that you are interviewing with. Make sure that you have everything you need prepared for your interview, such as a portfolio along with a fresh coy of your resume and cover letter. Make sure that you also have a notepad and a pen so that you can take notes during your interview. You should also have a list of questions that you want to ask the interviewer.

Tip #4: Arrive to your interview on time.

Make sure that you arrive to each and every interview on time. Being on time does not mean arriving at the moment that the interview is supposed to begin. Instead you should arrive between five and ten minutes before the interview is supposed to begin. You should drive to the office long before the interview so that you know not only exactly where the interview is going to be held, but also so you know exactly how long it is going to take for you to get there.

A little bit of planning, preparation and consideration beforehand can go a long way in making sure that you have the best possible interview experience imaginable.

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Job Interview Tips: Preparation and Personal Appearance

December 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A job interview is going to give you the opportunity to truly showcase all of your talents, qualifications, experience and education to a prospective employer. Because of this, it truly pays to be prepared. Preparation and personal appearance play an important role in having the perfect job interview, so consider the following tips when you are preparing for your job interview for the best results.

Preparation Tips

Tip #1: Learn about the organization beforehand so that you have something to talk about during your interview. If the interviewer asks you what you know about the company, or why you want to work for the company, then you are really going to want to have an answer prepared.

Tip #2: Make sure that you have a specific job or several different specific jobs in mind.

Tip #3: Review all of your qualifications for the job that you are applying for so that you will be able to talk about them when asked during your job interview.

Tip #4: Be prepared to describe your experiences prior to this job during your job interview. You are going to want to be able to describe how your past experiences can relate to the job that you are applying for.

Tip #5: You should also be prepared to answer questions about yourself, such as why you want the job, why you are the best candidate for the job, what your strengths are, what your weaknesses are and so on.

Tip #6: Practice your interview questions and answers beforehand with a friend or a family member to make sure that you are comfortable and confident about your interview technique prior to walking in to the real thing.

A little bit of planning and preparing can go far in making sure that you have a killer interview.

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Job Interview Tips: Preparation and Personal Appearance pt 2

December 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
MIAMI - MARCH 27: Gregory Tai, who lost his j...
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A job interview is going to give you the opportunity to truly showcase all of your talents, qualifications, experience and education to a prospective employer. Because of this, it truly pays to be prepared. A little bit of planning and preparation can go far in making sure that you have a killer job interview, so consider these top tips on preparation and personal appearance for your job interview.

Personal Appearance Tips

Tip #1: Make sure that you are well groomed from head to toe.

Tip #2: Make sure that you are appropriately dressed for the interview and the company and job that you are interviewing for.

Tip #3: Do not smoke, chew gum or participate in other actions or activities that may take away from your professional appearance before, during or just after the interview.

Interview Tips

Tip #1: Make sure that you arrive early for the interview.

Tip #2: Learn your interviewer’s name before the job interview so that you can greet him or her by name with a firm and professional handshake.

Tip #3: Make sure that you exercise good manners with every single person that you meet.

Tip #4: Make sure that you are relaxed, and ensure that you answer each of the questions posed of you concisely and clearly.

Tip #5: Make sure that you utilize proper English, and avoid using any slang.

Tip #6: Be enthusiastic and cooperative from the moment you walk in the door until the moment you leave.

Tip #7: Make sure to ask questions about the organization and the specific position in question. Make sure to avoid asking any questions that you could have answered yourself using company literature or the company website.

Tip #8: Use interested body language like good eye contact, and avoid slouching so that the interviewer knows what you are interested.

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Job Interview Tips: What to Bring to a Job Interview

December 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

There are certain things that you are going to want to do in order to come prepared to your job interview. Arriving at your job interview with the right information, the right paperwork and the right knowledge and understanding is going to have a profoundly positive impact on your ability to “ace” your interview and get the job that you are looking for. Here are some of the things that you are going to want to have ready in time for your interview:

1. Your social security card.

2. A government-issued identification card, such as a state identification card or a driver’s license.

3. A copy of your resume and cover letter or a copy of your job application. While not all employers are going to require that you have a resume, you should still be able to furnish the interviewer with information regarding your previous employment, your training and your education.

4. References from family members, past employers, colleagues and other similar individuals. Employers are typically going to ask that you provide at least three references. Make sure that you obtain permission before you list anyone as a reference for a job interview, and make sure that they are going to give you a positive reference before using them as well. While you can use relatives as your references, it is generally recommended that you avoid doing so.

5. School transcripts. Your prospective employer may require that you furnish them with an official copy of your transcript from high school or college in order to verify your grades, your coursework, your dates of attendance and the highest grade that you completed or the degree that you were awarded.

Furnishing your prospective employer with all of this information during your interview is ideal, especially if you are hired, because all of this information will be needed for your hiring paperwork.

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