Keys to Interviewing Success

By Steven Rothberg

President and Founder

CollegeRecruiter.com

Interviewing for a job is an essential part of the career hunting process and preparation is a key to success. An interviewer may ask an applicant about their ideas for the future, past jobs and most significant accomplishments. Job applicants should prepare for the interview by preparing answers to these questions.

Be informed about the interviewer and the company prior to the interview. Get the interviewer's full name with correct pronunciation and their job title. Candidates are often asked why they want to work for that particular company. By doing some research at a library, you will be better able to demonstrate that you care about the company and are not just looking for a paycheck.

Before leaving for the interview, examine your personal appearance, including your clothes and grooming. Your clothes should be appropriate for the position you are seeking. If you are seeking an industrial position, you may dress less formally than if you are seeking a professional position.

Arrive a few minutes early. If you are wearing an outer coat, ask if you can hang it up. Have several copies of your resume with you. After reading it first, fully complete any employment application presented to you. Greet the interviewer. Use the name used by the person making the introduction. Shake their hand firmly and with confidence. Smile and make eye contact. Do not sit down unless a chair is offered.

Interviewers will examine your body language. Pay attention to your posture and be confident, courteous and enthusiastic about the position and what the interviewer is saying. Ask relevant questions about the company and position. Maintain steady eye contact.

If you have little relevant experience, emphasize your interest in learning and growing in the position. Don't focus on salary and benefits. Many people believe that candidates should wait until they've been offered the position before they ask about salary and benefits.

Because the interviewer may speak to your former employers, prepare and bring a reference sheet. Be honest about your employment history. If you were fired or laid off, the best time to explain the reasons is during the interview. Do not, however, speak negatively about your former employers.

At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for their time and consideration and tell them that you are impressed with the company and the position, believe you would do excellent work for them and that you are excited about working for them. Within one day of the interview, write a brief thank you note to the interviewer and reiterate what you told them at the end of the interview.

Remember that you got the interview because you appeared to have the right qualifications. Relax, prepare, practice, and be confident. Above all, enjoy the process. Your positive attitude will help to ensure your success.

Steven Rothberg is the President and Founder of CollegeRecruiter.com at http://www.CollegeRecruiter.com , the highest traffic, non-password protected, site used by job hunting students and recent graduates and the employers who want to hire them.

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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