| Many well qualified and extremely able | | | | critically with a view to identifying any |
| candidates fail at job interviews simply | | | | weaknesses or negative aspects which the |
| because they are unaware of the conventions | | | | interviewer might spot. Having identified |
| of the job interview and the expectations of | | | | such negative aspects, you should be ready to |
| the interviewer.Successful candidates, on the | | | | answer tricky questions by preparing positive |
| other hand, manage to impress prospective | | | | answers.Since interviewers are looking for |
| employers precisely because they know how to | | | | candidates who display a positive attitude, |
| present themselves.Thus, they study the job | | | | you should state that you enjoy your job; |
| advertisement; they analyse what is required | | | | that you are enthusiastic and ambitious; and |
| in the way of skills qualifications and | | | | that you welcome challenge.It is important to |
| experience; they assess their own suitability | | | | tell the truth in interviews. However, try to |
| for the job; and finally, they present | | | | present the facts as persuasively as you can. |
| themselves in a thoughtful and carefully | | | | It would be pointless and self-defeating to |
| prepared manner.Their written applications | | | | reveal negative facts which are largely |
| are comprehensive and business-like, | | | | irrelevant and which only serve to highlight |
| containing all the relevant information | | | | weaknesses in your case. So examine and |
| presented neatly and concisely.They prepare | | | | assess your own case and tailor the facts to |
| themselves carefully for interview, | | | | give the best and most positive impression.It |
| anticipating likely questions and rehearsing | | | | is essential to develop a rapport with the |
| their responses. They study the structure of | | | | interviewer. If you can give the impression |
| the interview and devise a strategy to | | | | that you are in agreement or have something |
| satisfy the interviewer's requirements. In | | | | in common with the interviewer and if the |
| short, they prepare themselves to succeed.Let | | | | interviewer takes a liking to you, you are |
| us begin by giving some general advice to | | | | off to a great start. So be pleasant and |
| candidates who are considering the daunting | | | | agreeable.On the other hand, it would be a |
| prospect of an interview. As a candidate, you | | | | grave mistake to appear as a grovelling 'yes' |
| should be able to express yourself with | | | | man or woman. Discretion should be your |
| clarity and precision. To do this, you must | | | | watch-word in this as in other |
| make adequate preparation, anticipating | | | | areas.Interviewers usually place a greater |
| likely questions and rehearsing your | | | | emphasis on experience than on paper |
| responses. However, this does not mean that | | | | qualifications, so it is up to you to |
| you should learn your responses by heart.To | | | | convince them that your experience qualifies |
| do so would make you sound unnatural. Your | | | | you for the job on offer. This will involve |
| answers should appear spontaneous. At the | | | | using your experience as evidence to support |
| same time, you should come across as | | | | statements that you make in answers to |
| thoughtful, articulate and coherent. So | | | | questions.Now to sum up: here are the success |
| preparation is essential.During the interview | | | | secrets known understood and applied by |
| you should speak confidently, making sure to | | | | thousands of successful job interviewees.1. |
| support your answers with relevant examples | | | | Make adequate preparation to enable you to |
| from your work experience. Sometimes the | | | | express yourself fluently in the interview |
| questions might not be wide-ranging enough to | | | | situation.2. Be confident but try not to |
| enable you to present your case as fully and | | | | sound conceited: use examples to support your |
| convincingly as you would wish. In such | | | | answers.3. Make sure to acquaint the |
| circumstances, it is up to you to take the | | | | interviewer with all the relevant information |
| initiative and acquaint the interviewer with | | | | in support of your case.4. Relate all your |
| whatever information you consider to be | | | | answers to the job for which you are |
| important in advancing your claims to the job | | | | applying.5. Look out for indirect questions |
| on offer. Remember, it is up to you to sell | | | | and know how to cope with them.6. Concentrate |
| yourself.Always relate your answers to the | | | | on the positive aspects of your case and be |
| job for which you are applying. This is | | | | ready to deal with questions relating to any |
| particularly important in the case of | | | | negative aspects.7. Do not tell lies but |
| candidates who are faced with the sort of | | | | tailor the truth in order to present a |
| indirect questions favoured by many | | | | positive impression of yourself.8. Determine |
| interviewers. For example, the interviewer | | | | to establish a rapport with the interviewer |
| may ask you to describe your current job. | | | | right from the start.9. Convince the |
| This is an indirect way of asking you to what | | | | interviewer that your experience entitles you |
| extent your present skills and experience | | | | to the job.Gerard McLoughlin, author of 'Four |
| relate to the job for which you are | | | | Minutes To Interview Success', has |
| applying.Always present a positive face. | | | | contributed career-related articles to |
| Having studied your application form, | | | | hundreds of recruitment companies, websites |
| interviewers will have identified the weaker | | | | and publications throughout the world, |
| aspects of your case. They will often use | | | | including: USA Today, JobBankUSA.com, |
| such material to build up a negative | | | | US-Recruiters.com, etc.To receive FREE career |
| impression of you. So it is in your own best | | | | tips on a regular basis, sign up today for |
| interests to examine your application | | | | The Assignments Plus Newsletter. |