| Job interviews can be tough going, even for people | | | | one answer for each question, you will never sound |
| who don't have problems talking about themselves or | | | | stale or rehearsed. I actually have a notebook with all |
| striking up conversations with total strangers. While | | | | my job stories written down and I re-read them 15 |
| virtually any book on job hunting will recommend doing | | | | minutes before walking into any interview. Do the |
| a mock interview with someone you know - practicing | | | | same and you will get more job offers. |
| standard question and answer routines -- there is | | | | Once you've been on about three interviews, you'll |
| nothing like real first-hand experience | | | | have heard virtually every question phrased in every |
| As far as I'm concerned, the best way to improve | | | | possible way. Build your interview playbook from those |
| your interview skills, especially if you find you get very | | | | questions and start practicing your anecdotes. Prepare |
| nervous and tongue-tied, is to simply go on more job | | | | an anecdote for each question about your former |
| interviews. If it's really bad, start with jobs you wouldn't | | | | jobs. You can now walk into all your important |
| take in a million years. That way you can stop | | | | interviews ready to respond to the scripts. And |
| worrying about actually getting the job and can spend | | | | remember to be flexible. You should know your stories |
| your time simply experiencing the interview and trying | | | | well enough that you can adapt them to each situation |
| out different choices for how to field questions. So just | | | | so they sound unique and not like a spiel. |
| get yourself into at least three interviews. After the | | | | You can practice your interview technique with friends |
| first interview, sit in your car or on the bus or at a | | | | or family, talk to yourself in a mirror or read lots of |
| coffee shop and try and remember everything they | | | | books about interview techniques, but when it comes |
| asked you. Write those questions down! | | | | down to it there is no experience like an actual job |
| Now go over how you answered each of those | | | | interview. Think of even failed job interviews as a |
| questions and pull apart what you did right and what | | | | learning opportunity and get what you can out of the |
| you did wrong. Start developing the set of questions | | | | experience so you'll be better prepared for the next |
| that you'll know you get asked and start formulating | | | | one. |
| your answers to them. If you come up with more than | | | | |