| 10
Tips for a Successful Interview
Interviews
are an art not a science. There are many ways to tip the
odds in your favor during an interview. Here are 10
incredible tips that can guarantee a successful interview.
Practice
– You can always use your friends to practice perfecting an
interview. If you need practice questions, you can easily
find them online. Here is an article with a
list of tough interview questions. If you do not want to
bother your friends with practice interviews, find a minimum
wage job opportunity in the local paper. Make sure it is a
job you certainly have no interest in doing. Go through the
interview process and kindly let the employer know that you
are not interested. Be sure to thank them for the
opportunity to interview. They might be opening a higher
level position in the future and you want to leave a
positive impression.
Be Clear About Objectives
– Remember an interview is aimed at achieving the best fit
for both parties. You may not want to work for your
prospective employer after knowing all the details
pertaining to his or her company. Always assume that the
employer will do everything in their best interest during
the interview. Knowing that, if you want to fast track your
way to the top level positions, you need to let your
employer know. Your prospective employer is obliged to let
you know if their company can offer the upward mobility you
need to stay happy and motivated.
Keep Things Professional
– Not everyone is a professional interviewer. An interviewer
may actually be unprofessional. You should not try to match
their demeanor. They might not be able to recognize the
unprofessionalism in themselves, but they will immediately
identify it in you.
Anticipate Awkward Silences
– Many companies are required to write down your answers.
So, if the interviewer is writing and there is silence,
don’t panic. By the way, don’t worry if you need a few
seconds to think. People who take a moment to weigh their
comments are few and it might make you seem like someone who
actually thinks before they speak. Literally!
Put yourself in the
Interviewer’s Shoes – Do you like
what you see? Do you like what you hear? What would you be
looking for in an interviewee?
Get Dressed Thoughtfully
– Your clothes need to match. If you have a suit, wear it.
They will probably assume you can dress down, but do they
know you can dress up. An interviewer makes a large part of
his decision to hire you within the first 7 seconds of
meeting you. Much of their opinion is determined by how your
dress to the interview.
Impressions Start While
You’re Waiting – Be courteous to
everyone. You never know who is watching or whose input
matters. Some companies will always ask the receptionist how
an applicant behaved. If you were rude or impatient, they
will know it. You might be in the waiting room with a friend
of the CEO or better still, the CEO!
Develop a firm handshake
– Practice makes perfect. Nothing is worse than a weak
handshake. It is usually interpreted as low self esteem. On
the other hand, don’t crush people’s hands either. This is
usually interrupted as people trying to cover up a low self
esteem. Your handshake should be a medium strength grip
that tries to match the firmness of the other person’s
handshake.
Answering the Weakness
Question – This one can be tough.
It can also be a deal breaker. Basically, this question can
be interpreted to say, “Tell us why we shouldn’t hire you.”
If you are going to discuss a weakness, you need to follow
it up by how you overcame it. This can work towards your
benefit. Another option is to use a strength disguised as a
weakness.
Show appreciation
– Learn to show appreciation for the opportunity to
interview without losing your professionalism. Don’t act
like you’re doing them a favor, it’s a big turn off.
However, communicating that you truly wanted to be at the
interview leaves a lasting favorable impression on your
prospective employer. Remember some people interview so as
to meet some unemployment quota.
RGV Jobs Online Home
| Jobs Listings
| 10 Tips for a Successful Interview
About Jobs in the Rio Grande Valley |
Don't Pay a resume service
|
Data Entry Jobs
Contact Us
In association with
www.rgvpride.com |
