Job Interviews
Everyone feels nervous when it comes to job interviews but a little preperation helps to minimize those pre-interview jitters as well as giving you an advantage when being interviewed. No-one ever knows exactly what questions they are going to be asked in an interview but you can generally guess the type of questions likely to come up and prepare for them. Visiting their website and gathering a good knowledge of the company in question including history, products and services will prepare you for any questions about them in particular. Even if they don't ask you anything about their company you can always drop it into any answers you are giving and show them you have done your homework.
Apart from specifics about their company, potential employers are also likely to ask you a selection of general questions including why you want to work for them, what direction you see your career going in and any activities you partake in when not working. Essentially, what the employer is doing is expanding on what youput in your resume. As long as you've worked hard on preparing your resume and know it back to front, you should be able to answer any question thrown at you.
It is a good idea to sit down with a friend or family member in a mock interview to give yourself a practice run. You should get them to ask you questions as though you were in a real interview and you should give your answers as though you are actually there. Have a list of questions ready that they can ask you but also, have them write their own list of questions to ask you as they may think of something you didn't. Not only does this prepare you for questions you may not have thought of but it also gets you used to having questions sprung on you and helps with your reaction to surprises.
Tips For Job Interviews
What to Wear to a Job Interview - When choosing what to wear at a job interview, you can be safe in the knowledge that you cannot be too overdressed. To be safe, a suit is always the best choice and make sure you don't wear any bright colors. Make sure you are comfortable in what you are wearing, if you don't feel right the interviewer will pick up on it.
Be Confident in the Job Interview - Everyone gets nervous when it comes to job interviews but you need to hide that from your interviewer. Maintain eye contact, speak in a strong, clear voice and tell them why you are the best candidate for the job. Do not say things like 'I think I could do that', tell them 'I certainly can do that' and explain your best traits to them.
Answering Difficult Interview Questions - Every interview has at least one difficult question which you may find difficult answer. When you come across one of these, take your time to answer. A prolonged silence is far better than a stuttered answer. Break the question down into small sections and answer each one in turn. If you really can't think of an answer straight away, tell the interviewer you would like to think about it and come back to the question later in the interview.
Be Specific when Answering Questions - Make sure you listen carefully to each question asked by the interviewer and compose your answers as specifically as you can. Tell the interviewer exactly why you would be best for the job, exactly what experience you've got and exactly where you will take their company should they employ you. Being vague with your answers makes it look like you're not really interested in their company or the job.
Ask Your Own Questions - At the end of the interview, you will likely be invited to ask any questions you may have for the employer. Have a list prepared beforehand, whether memorised or written down and don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you like. You should steer clear of asking any questions about how your interview went or what they think of you. In order to create a good impression, ask about the company and what direction it's going in.