Good article on interview tips in general
Take Care of Your Personal Appearance Be well groomed. Clean hair and fingernails are essential. Dress appropriately. Your clothing should be appropriate for the position you are seeking. Wear comfortable business attire. Abstain from chewing gum or smoking. Do not wear perfume, cologne, or other strong scents. The interviewer(s) may be sensitive to the fragrance.
Be Yourself Relax and try to enjoy the interview. If you are not yourself, it will show. If the interviewer feels that you are comfortable, this will ease the tension, for the both of you. Try not to be too "scripted" and remember to adapt to the conversation.
Know Your Resume and Cover Letter Inside Out Review your career history thoroughly. Review dates, positions, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Mentally review your past achievements and be prepared to describe your work experience in detail. Practice describing your experience in terms of your responsibilities and accomplishments at each job. Be prepared to cite specific examples of accomplishments and how your contribution can help the company solve its problems.
Be Punctual Do whatever it takes to arrive a few minutes early. If necessary, drive to the company the night before and time yourself. Allow extra time for traffic, parking, and slow elevators.
Be Friendly and Courteous Be friendly and courteous to all the people you meet. Try to fit in. Receptionists and others are sometimes asked for their opinion of you. Do not disregard them. Be tentative to body language. Send the right message by standing straight, moving confidently, and sitting slightly forward in your chair. The outcome of the interview will depend largely on the impression you make during the first five minutes. To succeed, you must project a professional, competent, and enthusiastic image. Remember that 85% of the verbal content of the interview will probably be forgotten within an hour of your departure. What remains is the overall impression and a few notes.
Be Adaptive Listen and adapt. Be sensitive to the style of the interviewer. Pay attention to dress codes, office furniture, and general decor which will afford helpful clues to assist you in tailoring your presentation.
Have Your Own Agenda and Know Where the Interview Should Be Heading Having your own plan will give you confidence and help you move from one area of questioning to the next. Remember that most interviewers are as uncomfortable as you are. If you can put the interviewer at ease by helping things move smoothly, you’ll improve your chances of being hired. Have some degree of control over the interview by asking questions.
Be Prepared to Share You may be asked to share past experiences with the interviewer. For example, you may be asked to describe a situation in which you applied your knowledge to overcome obstacles or problems. Ideally, you should briefly describe the situation you found yourself in, summarize the actions you took, and state the outcome based on your actions.
Be Prepared to Answer Unexpected Questions That’s designed to see how you cope with the unexpected.
Avoid Making Negative Statements about Previous Jobs or Employers Be diplomatic. No matter how bad your last job or boss was, there’s probably something good you learned from the experience. Emphasize the positive - with a smile.
Leave a Lasting Impression Maintain your enthusiasm right through to the end. Don’t let your guards down. Smile, shake hands firmly and be sure to thank your interviewer for his or her time. Don’t hesitate to say, "I hope we’ll have the opportunity to work together in the future."
Be Confident Talk about your strengths and abilities with pride, but don’t be cocky or conceited. Make eye contact. Let them you know you can do a good job.
Practice Simulate interviews with friends and family. Practice on questions you think you might be asked. Practice can help you be calm and confident during the interview. Plan out the answers to expected questions. Write down answers if it helps to make your presentation more concise. Try to keep your answers to the information your new employer will want to know.
Create a List of Questions You Want to Ask Beforehand Think of one or two questions that are really important to you and consider asking those same questions for all your interviews so you can compare the answers. Do not ask questions that are already answered on the firm’s website. Employers are as interested in your questions as they are in your answers. They will react favorably if you ask relevant questions about the position, the company, and the industry.
Eric Walker Resume Writer for Checkmate Resume http://www.checkmateresume.com
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Resume Writer for Checkmate Resume
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