How To Job Interview

A job interview is just as important as your resume and cover letter in landing the job. Obviously, the hiring manager was impressed enough with those two documents to spend their time with you in person to determine if you are the right match for the organization.

You want to spend a lot of time beforehand learning about the company, and the position being applied for. Do as much research on this as you can. If you have a friend, partner or relative who can help you practice for the interview, get their help.

You should familiarize yourself with the questions that are commonly asked during interviews if you don't already know them. Also think of what questions might be asked specific to your field of work and the specific position being applied for. Practice answering these questions with someone if you can.

There is no way of knowing what the interviewer will ask you. They may decide to throw you a curve ball. If you get a question that you hadn't anticipated and is really difficult to answer, just do your best, and try not to get flustered. Even if you don't do a great job answering the question, the interviewer may still be impressed, and they are just testing to see how you respond to unexpected things in high pressure situations.

If you dress appropriately for the interview, then you will feel comfortable and confident. Make sure you know the culture of the organization so that you aren't over or underdressed. Make sure your hair looks presentable, and your breath is fresh. Arrive a few minutes early in case you need to use the washroom. Whatever you do, don't be late.

When you meet the interviewer (sometimes there are more than one), shake their hand and look them in the eye and smile. A firm handshake is a way of displaying strength and confidence. Make sure you have good posture. Slouching whether seated or standing gives a bad impression, because it makes you look lazy.

If you feel a little nervous, that's normal, and a bit of nervousness will actually help you, because it keeps you alert. However, if you are very nervous and this is evident in your speech or body language, it will send the wrong message to the interviewer. There are a number of relaxation exercises you can do prior to an interview that may help. But if you are well prepared, you will probably be less nervous. It helps to make sure you're not hungry or thirsty, so have a good healthy snack before your interview.

Often during an interview, you will be asked if you have any questions. You should prepare at least one or two questions to ask in advance. Try to make them specific to the organization or position being applied for in order to demonstrate your knowledge and interest. If you don't have a question, then it shows you haven't given things much thought.

At the end of the interview thank them for their time and express your interest in the position. Follow up the interview with a thank you letter or email. That's all there is to it. Interviewing is something you get better at with time, so don't be discouraged if you bomb the first couple of times. And even if you do a great job, often you are competing against people who are more qualified, so keep your chin up if you don't get a call back. And be prepared for a second interview which is becoming increasingly common these days. Good luck!