Perhaps nothing is as daunting as interviewing for a position - many people feel extreme nervousness, uneasiness, and self-doubt before (and sometimes during!) the interview.
Fret not.
There are several easy guidelines to follow, which all aim to help calm the nerves, clear the mind, and hopefully land you that coveted job.
Prior to the interview, it will behoove you to learn a bit about the company.
Sometimes the company in question does not have a lot of information for you to find - but any information at all is better than none.
Try and learn the overall picture and feel of the company based on the information you found; during the interview, if you can interject tidbits of company knowledge into your conversation, you will definitely impress the interviewees.
Remember, you must do your homework in order to ace the test! To help calm your nerves, try and conduct practice interviews before the official interview.
Find a trusted family member or friend to role play the part of the interviewer - ask them to rate your handshake, your body language, and your answers.
These practice interviews will help you highlight your strengths and weaknesses, and during the real interview you will be much more confident and calm.
When its Showtime, you will be very grateful you went through your interview rehearsals.
A very common question asked during the interview process is, "Why do you want/deserve the job?".
Have at least three good reasons prepared, and be ready to explain them.
Many people freeze on this question so if you are prepared you will outshine most of your competition.
Another important step leading up to the interview is getting directions to the place and planning your route! Punctuality is critical - if you are late for the interview, your first impression will not be very favorable.
Plan the route and leave a bit early so that you give yourself plenty of time to arrive safe and sound.
If you leave early, the worst case scenario is either a.
) there is an accident/traffic/unforeseen circumstance and you still arrive on time, or b.
) there is no disturbance and you have to wait in the parking lot a little bit before walking in.
Try to arrive in the office ten minutes before your interview - it's not too early and it's not too late.
I can't stress this enough - being on time is very important! On the day of the interview, make sure you dressed for success.
A good maxim to remember is dress for the job you want, not necessarily the job you are applying for.
Basically, that means a suit and tie for men and a dress or suit for women.
Look clean and professional, and generally speaking, keep the embellishments to a minimum.
However, the job field you are applying for make call for a different attire; for example, if you are applying to work at a young, entrepreneurial, cutting edge fashion magazine, it would probably benefit you to wear one or two "statement" pieces.
Today's workforce is constantly changing as far as dress codes, so the field and company you are applying for will greatly determine your wardrobe.
Once again, doing your research (is the company conventional or cutting edge? Does the workforce consist of young and hip, or old and conservative? etc.
) is your best weapon to doing well in your interview.
During the interview, be sure to speak clearly, not interrupt, make plenty of eye contact, and sit up straight.
Your body posture and mannerisms all give subliminal clues to your personality and state of mind, so try to give off the vibe of well-handled confidence.
Bring a notepad and pen so that you can jot down important points you hear, or questions that might arise.
If you have questions, after the interviewee is done speaking, ask them.
It's fine to ask questions, for that shows that you were actively listening and that you are interested in knowing all you can about the company.
When asking questions, or explaining your answers, be sure to speak slowly and clearly - many people have a tendency to rush their speech when they are nervous, which sounds unnatural and undesirable.
Your handshake upon arriving, and leaving, should be not too hard or soft, and your palms should be dry (no one likes a clammy, weak, handshake!).
When the interview is over, thank the person for their time.
In fact, thank them in person, and then immediately upon getting home from the interview, right a short and simple thank you card.
This will help you stand well above your competition.
Everyone likes to feel appreciated, and time is valuable, so thanking the interviewer for setting aside time from their busy day is a very impressive gesture indeed.
Following these tips will help calm your nerves before, during, and after the interview.
In a nutshell, always remember to do your homework, arrive on time, have prepared answers, look clean and professional, and thank the person who interviewed you.
Following these certain tidbits of advice should help you land that job in no time!