Nail That Interview

It’s a competitive world out there in the job market. Maybe you’re not thinking about changing jobs right now, but eventually you may be searching for a new position with another company.

To follow are four proven interview tips and strategies for making the most of every job interview you go on:

Research, research and more research.
One of the surest ways to nail an interview is to find out beforehand as much as you can about your prospective employer. Go online and do a search about the company, chances are the company has its own web site that will tell you a lot such as who their customers are, what their markets are all about, what their business plans are, etc. The person interviewing you will be very impressed that you took the time and the initiative to find out as much as possible about the company you want to work for.

Ask questions of your own.
Certainly, the bulk of your interview will be spent answering questions from the person or people who may be hiring you. Yet, it’s a great idea to make the conversation two-way by being prepared to ask some questions yourself. Doing so demonstrates your interest in learning more about the prospective position and how you can best fill it. Try to keep the questions positive and proactive, for example, ask something like: what role do you see my experience and talents playing in the future growth of the company?

Put key accomplishments in your resume.
Simply listing your previous job positions may not be enough. Today’s corporate recruiters and prospective employers want to see results. In other words, not only what your job description was but how you took that job to a higher level. For example, maybe you saved your previous employer thousands of dollars each month by coming up with an innovative new way to ship products. Or, perhaps you contributed a great idea for a sales presentation that helped your company attract a multi-million dollar client. Put that kind of information right in your resume. Then be prepared to explain further during the actual interview.

Be you.
When you’re on the interview, keep in mind that besides your experience, skills, knowledge and background, you’re also being judged on your personality...how well you’ll be able to get along with future co-workers, how easy you’ll be to work with, and other traits. Resist the temptation to try and change your personality when interviewing because chances are you will appear rehearsed, or worse, phony.