Job Interview Tips

In today's economic climate, when there are numerous qualified candidates for every one of the few job openings out there, it is more important than ever to have good interviewing skills so you can set yourself apart from the crowd. Here are some tips on how to interview well and make a good impression to give yourself the best chance possible at getting hired.

Tips for Before the Interview

Before you go to a job interview, make sure you are interviewing for a job you really want. It is difficult to sell yourself as the best candidate for the job if you are not convinced of it yourself! Research the company so you know a little about what they do and what their values are. You may need this during the interview.

The night before the interview, set out the clothes you will wear, including accessories. Make sure they are clean and wrinkle free. If you have not worn them in a while, try them on a couple of days before to make sure they still fit-if they do not, you will need time to come up with an alternate plan.

Put together a portfolio that you can give the prospective employer. Include a cover letter, resume, copies of awards you have received and samples that show what kind of work you are capable of doing. You may need to leave it with the interviewer, so do not put anything irreplaceable in it.

Finally, prepare a few questions to ask the interviewer, such as what it is like to work for the company. This shows that you are interested in making an informed decision about taking the job.

Tips for During the Interview

Even if you are nervous, do everything you can to appear cool and collected during the interview. Take deep breaths to keep yourself calm, and speak slowly and carefully. Take a moment to consider each question and formulate your answer, then speak in a calm voice, presenting your answer in an organized logical fashion. Take a pad of paper and a pen with you and take notes during multi-part questions so you do not miss anything. Look your interviewer in the eye as much as possible and try to smile.

Interviewers generally like examples. If they ask how you would do something, try to tell a story of a time when you were presented with that situation, how you handled it, and how it turned out (they do not always ask you to give an example, but you should still provide one). Even if you made the wrong decision or action during the incident you describe, you can explain what you learned from it and what you would do differently the next time.

Do not be afraid to let your personality show-if you fumble, laugh it off and continue. Anyone who conducts interviews on a regular basis knows that their subjects are likely to be nervous, so a flub here and there will not knock you out of the running. Laughing about it will set both of you at ease and show that you might be someone the interviewer wants to work with.

Tips for After the Interview

After the interview is over, you have another chance to leave a lasting impression. Send the interviewer a Thank You letter for the interview, telling them what a pleasure it was to meet with them. Take this opportunity to remind them of three key points you want them to remember about you and why you are the perfect fit for the job-your experience, training, etc.-and tell them you look forward to speaking with them again.

Having good interview skills is vital in today's job market. By preparing ahead of time, remaining calm and giving thorough answers during the interview and sending a follow-up letter afterward, you are sure to leave a positive, lasting impression on your interviewer.