Tips About Interviewing

Interviews can be intimating for anyone, especially if it is your first time. However, by following these sixteens tips when being interviewed there should be no more fear present.

1. There is no such thing as "employers." This means each "employer" is different from the next individual, therefore, no one can generalize "employers."

2. An interview should be prepared for, before you ever go in. This means do research on the company you are interested in so they see you really want the position and they are impressed that you took the extra time and effort to find out about the company.

3. Honor agreements. Make sure if you are the one who asked for the interview you set a time limit and stick to that time. This shows you are a woman, or man of your word.

4. An interview for a job is a lot like dating. The interview is to decide if the employer as well as yourself want to both "try going steady." Both get to learn a little about each other before making a drastic decision in life.

5. Questions to expect from them, then questions to ask. "Tell me about yourself" is an important question asked because it gives room to answer and can truly make a person stand out from all the other perspective candidates for the position offered. Make sure to talk about experiences, skills, or knowledge you have, that are relevant to the job trying to be filled.

6. During the interview, determine to observe "the 50-50 rule." Make sure you talk 50% of the time and then listen the other 50% of the time. This makes the interview run smoother and more efficient.

7. In answering the employer's questions, observe "the twenty-second to two-minute rule." Do not drag an answer on too long because this makes the interviewer not as interested. Keep it short and to the point.

8. The employer is primarily concerned about risk. An employer is afraid that once they hire you you will not end up working out. In many cases, you cost the employer a lot of money. Prove the employer wrong and show them how you will be dedicated to the work at hand.


9.  It's the small things that are the killers, in a job interview. Your appearance and personal
habits are what stands out during an interview, therefore, dress appropriately and have confidence in yourself.

10. Be aware of the skills most employers are looking for, these days, regardless of the position you are seeking. Employers are looking for people who are dependable, have a good attitude, are driven and have a great sense of enthusiasm, are punctual, can handle people well, and use language effectively.

11. Try to think of some ways to bring evidence of your skills, to the hiring interview. Bring portfolios of the work you have accomplished in life that also relates to the job you are trying to fill.

12. Do not bad-mouth your previous employer(s) during the interview, even if they were terrible people. This is excellent advice to follow because future employers wonder what you will say about them if you end up not working out for the company.

13. Throughout the interview, keep in mind: employers don't really care about your past; they only ask about it, in order to try to predict your future (behavior) with them, if they decide to hire you. This means talk about your past in a positive way and assure the employer you are a dedicated individual really for anything life has to offer.

14. As the interview proceeds, you want to quietly notice the time-frame of the questions the employer is asking. This allows you to measure how the interview is going. Which gives you a good sense on whether or not the employer likes you or not and sees you as a potential employee.

15. Before you leave the (final) interview there, assuming you have decided that you like them and maybe they like you, there are five questions you should always as: 1. "Can you offer me this job?" 2. "When may I expect to hear from you?" 3. "Might I ask what would be the latest I can expect to hear from you?" 4. "May I contact you after that date, if for any reason you haven't gotten back to me by that time?" and 5. "Can you think of anyone else who might be interested in my skills and experience?"

16. Thank-you notes must be sent after every interview, by every job-hunter.  By doing this, many employers can recall you and see the interest you truly have for the company.