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