Congratulations! You have been selected as a contender for that one job you really want. Now, you want to prove to the recruiter that he/she made the right decision by calling you for an interview. Interviewing can be quite intimidating if there is no preparation. Listed below are 4 steps to help you prepare for an interview. 1. Pray and ask God if the position is what he wants you to have. If so, ask him to touch the hearts of the interviewers, so that he may extend his favor through them to you. 2. Perform research on the company where you are interviewing; you are likely to be asked some trivia questions about the company. 3. Rehearse your answers to common interview questions (a link to 50 common interview questions is provided at the bottom of this page) with friends and relatives; perhaps they can provide some feedback as well.
4. Learn from past interviews. You may not have aced your last interview, but look at it as a learning experience. You can reflect on any mistakes made in your past interviews to make improvements.
Remember, non-verbal communication is just as important as verbal communication. Non-verbal communication ranges from what you wear, your hairstyle, posture, and other body language. These factors may seem minor, but many good candidates have been rejected because they didn't take them into consideration. You can say all of the right things, but your body language says more about you.
Always convey yourself with confidence. Now, understand the difference between confidence and arrogance because there is a thin line between the two, and arrogance will inhibit you from landing the job. Confidence is relaying to the interviewer that you are competent and that you possess the skills necessary to meet the demands of the position. Exemplifying confidence is also done by maintaining constant eye contact with the interviewer, projecting your voice when answering questions, and giving a stern/firm handshake. Conversely, arrogance is easier to convey than it seems. You want the interviewer to know that you are independent, but can also work in a collaborative effort with others to accomplish one or multiple goals. Team work is just as, if not more desirable than independence.
Presentation is pertinent. Everyone is familiar with the saying, "First impression is the last impression." People's initial perception of you is the lasting one; it isn't fair, but it's human nature. For this reason, it is highly important to present yourself in the best way possible. Even attending a job fair, job seekers should dress as though they are going to an interview. Some recruiters conduct interviews on the spot.
The dress code for business is rather simple, yet many job seekers neglect to meet its requirements. Some details are small and unnoticeable to the average eye, but are apparent to the professionals.
Listed below are a link to common interview questions and how they should be answered, the do's and don'ts for interview attire, and types of interviews.