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Quick Tips for Successful Job Interviews
By Administration | July 12, 2007
Many people feel that a job interview is a stressful experience- this shouldn’t be the case. A job interview is a friendly meeting of two interested parties: you, as the interviewee, and the interviewer. If you have been invited for an interview it is because they have read your cover letter and resume and they like your qualifications. You are literally almost hired at this point.
So, it’s time to stop over-thinking what you are going to say before you attend a job interview. Over analyzing what you are going to say will cause you to spurt out words and phrases that won’t make any sense or may sound fake or insincere. Obviously, when it is in your best interests to sound sincere and understanding, this goes against your best interests.
How can you conduct an interview in a way that you are able to maintain your confidence, poise, and appearance without appearing pompous or cocky? Easy- just follow a few simple steps:
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Be polite - You are in a job interview, so your first and foremost goal should be to maintain an atmosphere that is both polite and professional. Mimic your interviewers mannerisms, though not too much. This will help ease the tension, making it easier for you to openly communicate.
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Be honest - Honesty is the best policy, so don’t start fabricating lies to make yourself look good. Be honest with your interviewer, and if they ask tricky questions that you are unsure of the “ideal” answer for, answer honestly.
If your interviewer asks if you have upcoming commitments, don’t lie and tell them no if you have a wedding to attend next month. Maintaining a mutually honest relationship right from the get go will ensure mutual respect down the road.
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Use warm body language - Smile. The most effective way of communicating and giving a great first impression is to smile. Your smile will tell your interviewer that you are an interesting and dynamic person with a lot of personality and attributes to offer.
Warm body language will help you appear friendly, outgoing, and approachable. These are all traits that you want to give off when you are in a job interview, as you want the interviewer to develop and maintain some kind of personal connection with you- if you are able to do so you have just tripled your chances at getting hired.
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Dress accordingly - Your appearance says a lot more than you think. Considering that over 90% of all communication is non-verbal, a large part of your focus should be the attire that you attend the interview in.
If you are applying for a professional position, dressing in a suit and tie is appropriate. In an interview, it is always better to overdress; showing up in jeans and a t-shirt is a surefire way not to get hired.
- Trim your hair - Pay attention to your grooming, as along with maintaining a your physical appearance, good grooming says a lot about someone. If you arrive to the interview unshaven or with your hair all ratted you are likely to cause the interviewer to pre-judge you based on your unkempt appearance.
Armed with the basics on how to conduct a great interview, you should hopefully have come to the understanding that conducting a great interview is more about common sense and a polished resume than anything else.
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