PREPARING FOR A JOB INTERVIEW? Here are Some Tips to Help You Succeed

The essential part of any interview is in the preparation because your failure to prepare means you’re preparing to fail. While preparing for the interview, be optimistic and don’t forget to do the important such as:

1. Learn about the company:

This is the first step towards achieving success in an interview. Find out much about the company that you have applied for and have requested to interview you. Find out their product and services, their vision, mission and objectives, customer’s relation strategy as well as the goal of the company.

Also, prepare to be interviewed by a group of managers or human resource persons that way when persons below the rank decide to interview you, fright will not be a problem.

2. Practice greeting your interviewer:

You should always greet your interview with friendly smile and firm handshake. You will set off the right energy and the chances of the interview going well will increase.

3. Study your resume and know everything on it:

Any work experience or skills you have listed on your resume are fair game to talk about during the interview. Your resume is all the interviewer has to go by in order to get to know you. They may pick things out from it and ask you to elaborate.

Even though you may have a previous job listed that was many years ago, the interviewer may ask you to explain what you did at that job and you are responsible for providing an answer. This is one step you absolutely won’t want to skip on how to prepare for a job interview.

4. Get ready to back your answers with illustrations:

Be ready to back each of the interview questions with real example or stories of your achievement in your previous company or life generally and how you have solved work problems. It will put you on a high scale. Talk about times you've really felt proud of an achievement at work or school. These stories demonstrate all those hard-to-measure qualities like judgment, initiative, teamwork or leadership.

Don’t completely memorize your answers so they come out rehearsed, but have a clear idea of what you are going to say. When you are asked, you want your answer to come out intelligently and natural. Be open to other questions as well and really know what you can offer to the company.

5. Practice how to answer these Job interview questions

· “Tell Me about yourself” – Tell your interviewer a pinch of your resume with an elevated pitch to show that you are ready and know what you are doing.

· “Describe Your Current (or Most Recent) Position” – You can’t completely overrule this question because it will set a pace for your interviewer to know what you can do for the company. May see easy but you’ll still need to use it to highlight your job-relevant greatness.

· “Why do you want the job?” – Don’t make it look like you are desperate. Let them know it was time to move on and that is what you are doing.

· “What are your strengths?” – Your strength should not be about been a workaholic but it should be what you can do without been tired. Like writing, solving difficult puzzle, etc.

· “What is your greatest weakness?” – Talk about something that you are fond of doing that hinders your work pace and don’t forget to add that you are working towards making sure it doesn’t have adverse effect on your job. That way your employer can trust you.

· “Where do you see yourself in five years?” - For a company with long time goals, they need employees with long term vision who they can trust to stay around for a long period of time. So don’t be greedy in your answer, be diplomatic and skillful. Make them understand that you are not ambitions but would want to see where your hard work will take you to.

· “Why should we hire you?” – It is an opportunity to make your interviewer fell if they don’t give you the job, they will be missing a life time opportunity. Take them through your competencies, skills and why you think you are best for the job.

· “Do you have any questions for me?” – Don’t make the mistake of not asking questions. Let your interviewer know you have been attentive. Ask questions about the company that you are not sure of.

· “How much were you paid” – If they ask this question, it is because they want to know if you are concern about money or you the job. Let them know the range at which you were been paid but don’t give an actual amount. It limits your chances of getting an attracting pay when employed.

· “How much should we pay you” – This is a tricky question. Don’t fall into your employers trap by stating you want to be paid exorbitantly. If you have paid attention since the beginning of the interview you should be able to peg your pay to suit the business environment. Think about the pay of other workers in the company and give a reasonable amount. Don’t be selfish and don’t bring yourself too low because you need a job. Be sensitive to your interviewers so that when you beat around the bush to avoid answering this question, it will be understandable.

6. Pick your outfit, and go to bed early

What you wear on your interview is an absolutely crucial part of how to prepare for a job interview. After you choose your outfit, make sure it is cleaned and pressed and you have the appropriate accessories and shoes to go with it. It doesn’t hurt to try the outfit on ahead of time, just to make sure everything fits and you look great. Put on an outfit that will give you confidence and portray you as ready to work.

Get to your interview venue at least 20 minutes before time so you can be settled before the interview proper.

Remember during the interview: Thou shalt not lie; Honour thy interviewer; Thou shalt practice. Seriously; Thou shalt always keep the job requirements in mind; Thou shalt not be boring; Thou shalt be specific; Thou shalt not babble on and on; Thou shalt always answer the question asked; Thou shalt make non-creepy eye contact and Thou shalt be thankful for the opportunity.