MonsterTrak.com offers 10 tips for a
successful interview. These rules will help job seekers to maximize potential employment opportunities.
Speak clearly and enthusiastically about your experiences and skills. Be professional,
but don't be afraid to let your personality shine through. Be yourself. Don't be afraid
of short pauses. You may need a few seconds to formulate an answer.
Be positive. Employers do not want to hear a litany of excuses or bad feelings
about a negative experience. If you are asked about a low grade, a sudden job change,
or a weakness in your background, don't be defensive. Focus instead on the facts (briefly)
and what you learned from the experience.
Be prepared to market your skills and experiences as they relate to the job
described. Work at positioning yourself in the mind of the employer as a person
with a particular set of skills and attributes. Employers have problems that need
to be solved by employees with particular skills; work to describe your qualifications
appropriately.
Research information about the company before the interview. Some important
information to look for includes what activities are carried out by the employer,
how financially stable the employer is, and what types of jobs exist with the
employer. Researching an employer during the job search can help determine more
about that organization and your potential place in it. Know how you can help the
company and prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the company.
Arrive early for the interview. Plan to arrive for your interview 10-15
minutes before the appointed time. Arriving too early confuses the employer
and creates an awkward situation. By the same token, arriving late creates a
bad first impression. Ask for directions when making arrangements for the interview.
Carry a portfolio, notepad or at the very least, a manila file folder labeled
with the employer's name.
Bring extra resumes and a list of questions you need answered. You may refer
to your list of questions to be sure you've gathered the information you need to
make a decision. Do not be preoccupied with taking notes during the interview.
In many career fields, the lunch or dinner included during the interview day
encompasses not only employer hospitality, but also a significant part of the
interview process. Brush up on your etiquette and carry your share of the
conversation during the meal. Often social skills are part of the hiring decision.
After the interview, take time to write down the names and titles (check spelling)
of all your interviewers, your impressions, remaining questions and information learned.
If you are interviewing regularly, this process will help you keep employers and
circumstances clearly defined.
Follow up the interview with a thank-you letter. Employers regard this
gesture as evidence of your attention to detail, as well as an indication of
your interest in the position.
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search
terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.
