A Successfully Navigate the Big Interview

The reason that people have a lot of fear and anxiety before and during an interview is because of what the interview could mean for that person. An interview is an opportunity for a better job or a better life; performing well in this interview could mean a world of difference. The fear of failure causes the anxiety that we all have experienced at one point in time. The opportunity was only obtained through work and effort that has accumulated. Whether that hard work was in college, an entry-level position, or a position that you have had for a while, a lot of time and dedication has landed you an opportunity for a new position or promotion. There is a lot riding on this interview. I want to give you some helpful tips that helped me to get many different offers for companies in a multitude of different industries. My hope is that these helpful tips will help you be successful in landing the job in your chosen field.

When it comes to an interview, there is no such thing as over-prepared. Preparedness helps to drive away anxiety and stress. It is easy to speak with confidence if you truly know what you are speaking about. With the age of technology, it is easy to see what kind of background your interviewer has. Take a look at the individuals LinkedIn profile. With this information, you should be able to relate to the individual that you are meeting with and create meaningful, professional conversation. Also make sure to take a look at the job description as well as individuals who hold that position in the company. If you look at multiple different profiles of people who are in this position, you will start to see trends in experience which the recruiters and interviewers are looking for in you. After looking at the position and profiles, read about the company history as well as people who have changed the industry in which you are entering. For example before my interview with a major transportation company, I looked into some of the challenges that the company had overcome. I had read an article about a government regulation that was mandating Electronic Driver Logs which caused a decrease in revenue for transportation companies. I developed questions based on this knowledge which showed that I was knowledgeable about the industry and showed that I was prepared for the interview. They told me that I was hired before I left the building. Preparedness goes a long way into making an impression on the people with whom you are meeting.

Once you are in the interview, ensure that your attire is appropriate. Dress for the job that you want. It is better to be over dressed than to be under dressed. First impressions take 20 seconds. 5 of those seconds are looking at your attire and shaking your hand. Being dressed correctly is crucial!

After preparing and making your first impressions, now comes the showcase of your accomplishments, knowledge, and personality. Your preparedness for this meeting will make or break you. Know what accomplishments to talk about and what strengths to demonstrate. When questions are posed to you, do not just answer with your opinion; relate your opinion to a scenario or accomplishment. An example is as follows: "Do you work better as an individual or as a team member?" "Personally, I work better as a team member. When I served in the U.S. Military, I was part of a cyber law team. We were able to accomplish many different tasks because of how we encouraged each other. I was eventually promoted to Squad Leader because I encouraged my comrades daily. I received an accommodation medal for leading multiple successful missions as team member." Notice how the example ended with a tie back to the original question. It is easy to get lost in your story and not make the connection back to what was originally asked. But if you can clearly define the relevance, you will be successful in highlighting why you would be the best candidate.

After you complete your interview, giving hand written thank you notes will make you memorable. When I finished college, I gave out thank you notes to every interview that I did in person. I had 22 offers and about half of them mentioned the thank you notes. Few candidates hand write thank you notes. If you do, even if you had an average interview you will stick out and be remembered.

Right Way To Conduct An Easy Informational Going Interview

Many managers don't know how to conduct an interview well. Here's some advice.

- Prepare in advance. Create an agenda and a structure for the interview, including time limits.

Establishing an Interview/Selection Panel

The panel must be composed of a minimum of two people, however it is strongly recommended that panels are made up of at least three staff members.
The Chair of the interview/selection panel must have completed the mandatory training.
The panel should represent a diverse representation of perspectives and backgrounds, egg gender, race, dis/ability. If you are not able to achieve this from within your department, consider inviting colleagues from cognate areas to contribute or contact your customary HR contact to discuss options.

Create an Agenda

Prepare in Advance for the Interview

Know what you want in a candidate before you begin the interview. Review the job specifications and requirements that have been prepared.

Know the job and its responsibilities. Review the job description.

Prepare a list of standard questions concerning the candidate's skills, abilities and past work performance that you want him/her to answer.

Prepare a list of prioritized and measurable criteria, either in the form of a worksheet or other method, for analyzing and comparing the candidates.

 Review the candidate's CV prior to the interview.

Set specific appointment times and reasonable time limits.

Be prepared to justify the use of any required employment test. Typically, the most legally defensible tests are those that involve a "piece of the job."

Have a Structure for the Interview

Collect Pertinent Information During the Interview

Have a list of no more than ten relevant questions, and be sure the questions have a structure by following a process "Ask a question and a serious of questions to gain a desired response"

Select ten questions from the list below:

 Starting the interview with "Tell me about yourself".
 Why did you leave your last job
 What are your strengths and weaknesses?
 Why do you want the job?
 What can you bring to this company?
 What can you tell me about our company/the industry?
 What are your career goals?
 Can you work well in teams?
Tell me about an achievement you were proud of?
How would your last employer (or current employer or   school teacher, etc.) describe you?.
What mistakes have you made in previous jobs?
Do you have plans to go traveling soon?
What salary expectations do you have?

Managing your Time

Set each interview up for 60 minutes initially and if your day is very busy set the interviews up every 30 minutes.

Keep your questions precise and take notes throughout the interview process.

Answering Interview Questions For Job Change

To start with, let's accept the fact that a happy employee never quits, and a recruiter is not a fool to believe this statement. Every employee changes job for a reason. The reason can range from a variety of issues - issues pertaining to salary; supervisor; colleagues; management; company policies; market performance; branding; and many more that are, sometimes, personal and circumstantial.

Most candidates think that if they tell the correct reason, they could get rejected; hence resort to lying. However, lies don't help. The recruiters are trained to catch, and weed such candidates out of the selection process. Most people are perplexed as to why such a question is asked, because they don't understand the perspective that a recruiter wishes to gain by the answer to this question. Recruiters aim to hire employees, motivated by goals that are logical, long term, and mutually fulfilling. They also wish to understand the psychology and environment within which the employee must have been working. Environment and psychology have lately attracted a lot of attention with in job market as people have savored the consequences of not paying heed to them.

Unfortunately, most of the candidates look for a job change for all the wrong reasons. Listed below are all those wrong reasons, along with the explanation as to why they are considered wrong.

 For Better Salary: The biggest reason behind changing the job is dissatisfaction from the current salary. Quoting Salary as the sole reason for changing the job is never considered healthy. This shows that the candidate is not concerned with the job profile, and is greedy for only the short term desires. Such candidates reflect the tendency to hop, every time a better offer is thrown at them. Stability is a big issue with them. Most people are dissatisfied with respect to salary not because of their own lower salaries, but for the higher salaries of other people that they know of. It's the comparison, which creates the problems. No recruiter would consider salary as a valid reason if a candidate's salary is at par with the market standards, with respect to the industry, profile, and designation, the person is currently associated with. However, if in your case salary really is an issue, then you must frame your answers in way given below: "I am extremely satisfied with my role, and the company. Working with this organization has been a great learning experience. As evident from my resume, I am a very stable person, and for me, profile and the learning hold a great importance. However, given the market standards, my current salary is much lesser, and it has caused a little dissatisfaction. I have spoken with my company HR about this issue, and I am sure that they must have tried hard, but unfortunately, despite my consistent good performance and repeated reminders, they have not considered the possibility of giving me a raise. I am sure that they must have had their own valid reasons. However, I believe that I am ready for a salary raise. I applied with your organization, because the working environment and the learning process is the same in this company as well, along with the possibility of getting a better compensation, which would be as per the market norms." In this answer, you have actually addressed to a host of issues. You told the recruiter positive things about your current role and company, your expectations related to salary, your awareness and research about current market standards, and a valid reason for applying to this company. You have also justified your demand through research, while not demeaning the importance of long term goals, profile, and learning. This will definitely be considered.

 

Because you don't get along with your manager or team: Another major reason to look for a change is, when an employee doesn't get along well with the manager or the team members. Now, as a rule, an interviewee can't gripe about the current company, manager or the team members, because that would make recruiter suspicious about the candidate's own behavior, and ability to gel with people around. Even if you are the only right person in the entire company, a recruiter can't promise you a favorable environment in the new organization, and I believe neither can candidate himself. It also negatively highlights the people handling skills of the employee. An ideal advice to such a candidate should be to go back, and stop applying. Sit back, and think; analyze the situation. Realign the focus from "Who's wrong?" to "What's wrong?" If there is a problem with the manager, fix up a one-to-one meeting. Take feedback, and understand the expectations. Sometimes, rather most of the times, no one is culprit, except the differences in perspectives and expectations. Make the notes or the minutes of the meeting, and assure your manager that you would work on the shortcomings. 

Once both of you will be on the same page, I am sure that you won't have to look for another job. Let's talk about the differences with team members. I understand that the problem is bigger, because the biggest hindrance is your ego. The first and the most difficult task, is to put your ego aside. Once it is done, go and speak to them, but only in separate meetings. Try, and explore if everyone thinks alike about you. Find out the reasons, but don't talk about the issues that you face because of them. The key is to change your own behavior, reasonably of course, and starting a spiral of behavior change in the rest for you. As an interview coach and a soft skills trainer, I have mostly observed that team issues vanish very soon if there is leadership support. Leader must always be kept in loop while doing all this so that he or she knows, and recognizes your steps and efforts. At the end of the day, the leader will garner the credits for entire team's coordination and performance. Ideas proposed above, were for people, who have a long term career approach, and wish to make things better through right channels. For others, however, the best way is to keep lying until someone believes you.

When your current company is not performing well: Times are turbulent, and any company may face such a situation, any day. People, especially the recruiters, are aware about every company's performance within their industries. A highly foolish thing that most candidates do is to keep avoiding the truth. I have even faced candidates, who insisted that their companies were performing greatly, and they were changing only because of the better opportunities. Such candidates never make it through, because from the recruiter's perspective, either they are lying or living in oblivion. There are candidates, who openly criticize the company policies, and management decisions. Now, they might be technically right, but an employee is not supposed to be judgmental. What happened with one company may become the fate of another. Judgmental employees spend most of the time in analyzing things beyond their scope, and view every management process and decision with suspicion. Suspicions cause arguments, debates, and battles, and no one wants any of that. A recruiter expects the candidate to first accept the situation at hand, while maintaining a non-judgmental attitude. The ideal way of handling this is by saying, "As you know that the company, I am currently working with, is facing a turbulent time, and the employees have got a clear indication from the management; hence, I am looking for a job change in order to secure my future." But don't think that this matter would end like this. The trail of questions would be more difficult, however, can be made easier by rational thinking and preparation. Candidates should be prepared for questions like, "Where do you think your company's decisions went wrong, because of which such a situation came up?" "Do you think you could have done things differently, if you were the CEO? What were those things?" "What if, God forbids, something like this happens to this company tomorrow? Would you leave us too?" I will surely tell you how to answer the above questions, but some other day. 

 For an on site opportunity (in case of IT companies):There are two phases of IT recruitment - a desperate one and a non-desperate one. These times are largely governed by the requirements of particular skill sets, and the number of such requirements. During desperate times, IT companies do compromise on this term, in order to fulfill their project requirements. Candidates even have the courage to negotiate on the basis of on site opportunity with some companies. However, during the other times, when no such desperation exists, such candidates are rejected outright. The simple reason being that if the company you are working with, doesn't think of you as a deserving candidate to be deployed on site, how can they? It simply implies that for you, role, responsibilities, project quality, learning and development or any such organizational virtues weigh lesser than a simple on site opportunity, which is more of a short-term wealth accumulation mechanism. The
verdict is simple - 'you don't understand business'. While some may disagree, I have never shown a green signal to any such candidate. Change is a highly welcomed phenomenon, but only for the right reasons.

For an opportunity to work with a better brand: This answer is like a swamp; once you jump into it, you slide down with no comeback. Harder you try to come out of it, deeper you sink. The recruiter of a bigger company knows that he represents a bigger brand for which, there are valid reasons. However, he would be keen to know your definition and parameters of big brand. The term 'bigger brand' has different meanings for different people. For most, it is fatter pay packages. Some other shallow perceptions include larger teams, big market presence or share, swanky offices, and happening crowd. However, interviewer is searching for a person, who identifies and values true reasons like, well defined processes and systems, opportunity to work in cross functional teams, strong training and development platform, multifaceted learning opportunities, a bigger platform to showcase the performance, to gain enormous recognition, and finally, to achieve a comprehensive development as a professional human being. I hope you must have checked by now what factors you had included in the definition of 'bigger brand'. Remember one thing, though. No matter how strongly you establish the new company as a bigger and better brand, never ever demean your current organization. Always start your answer with praises for your current company, and the way it helped in your evolution as a professional. 

Being ungrateful is never appreciated. I once encountered an aspirant, who devoted 10 minutes to disgrace his first organization, and the many ways, in which it pulled his career down. My next question was, "But don't you think that this was the only company that gave you the first chance, and that too during recession, when most of the people were not offered jobs? Don't you think that, if not for that company, you, like many others, would have become a lecturer in some small engineering college in an inconspicuous town?" I know my questions carry a glimpse of my anger, however, the point to be noted is that he did not have any answer, and all he could come up with, was a sheepish smile.

There are weirder reasons like, the present company not allowing the pets inside the company premises, and this article won't be of much use to such candidates. But I am sure that this article will be circulated among those, who are truly trying to find the right answer to this inevitable question. In my next articles, I will discuss about the right reasons, which should instigate the job change. Till then, remember what not to say as an answer to this question.

Well Dress Up Present During A Job Interview

Applicants always rely on their skills and qualifications when they go for a job interview. They just think that these are what matters most to their prospect employer so their appearance does not really bother them. Besides it depends on the position they are applying for.

Such thinking is very irrational. Personal appearance really matters to employers. Dressing up is also considered by employers in choosing their employees. Do you think the employer will hire you in a corporate setting if you wear only a shirt, jeans and sneakers during a job interview? Come to think of it, even if you have the qualifications for the vacant position, still the employer might have second thoughts of hiring you especially if you look like a goon in your attire.

Improper attire is detrimental and may lead to your rejection. Hence, aside from preparing for the job interview, you should also prepare for your outfit. Or else, most likely you will suffer the consequences. Therefore you should do your part to establish a good impression. With this, you will position yourself as the frontrunner's among the applicants.

But the question is, how will you present yourself during a job interview to nail the vacant post as far as dressing up is concerned? Well, it's not simply donning the fancy or fabulous clothing. But it is not also advisable to wear timeworn clothes. The following tips should be taken into consideration seriously for you to succeed.

1. Attire. This is basically the first thing that will be noticed by the interviewer. Even if the company has no dress code, still you should wear an appropriate outfit. Do not just wear shirt and jeans but rather a black suit which is more suitable. Make sure that it is clean, has no wrinkles all over and it was ironed. If your suit is old-fashioned, you better buy a new one that is simple yet elegant or simply borrow from a friend if you have financial constraint.

2. Shoes. Wearing dirty shoes will leave a negative impression. As much as possible, wear clean and traditional shoes so that you are comfortable with it.Your personality should radiate professionalism so wear simple yet stylish shoes because you will be working for at least 8 hours straight and your feet must be comfortable with it.

3. Hair. It is the crowning glory of a person. As such, it should be washed and styled. Women should fix their hair perhaps

ponytail for that matter while men on the other hand should trim their hair to give a professional impression.

4. Fragrance. Colognes are very prevalent and nothing wrong with using it but too much use of this can be very damaging during the interview. If you put on much cologne, there might be apprehension when you sit in front of the interviewer. That is why it is prudence on your part to be conscious of the effects of your cologne to other people so as not to irritate them.

5. Accessories. True enough, accessories can enhance your outlook. But do not try to wear many ornaments as this can be disturbing for the interviewer. Use only a simple watch and perhaps a pair of earrings instead. Simplicity is beauty indeed.

6. Makeup. It is essential especially for women to wear makeup. However they must be extra careful on how to apply it. Avoid using too much but rather apply only a minimum amount enough for your beauty to be emphasized.

If you will simply follow the tips above, you will be on the right track of pulling it off in the interview. As you can see, it is very important for you to have proper attire as this is one of the factors being considered. Of course, this is not the main point but this will certainly work out.

Ask Yourself Question For New job Interview

Try for interview and you get the job offer, but you are not sure whether you will accept the offer. Do you have cold feet and buyer's remorse or is this job not really the best move for you at this time?

Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine whether to accept the offer or to stay at your same job.
 

1. Have I learned everything I can at my current job?

You need to look at the pros and cons of your current job. There must be a reason you started looking at other positions. If you truly have nothing more to learn and the job is boring and repetitive, then this may be a good time to leave.

2. What are the real opportunities at the new job other than money?

Look at what your new job provides beyond salary. Will there be better mentors, cutting-edge technology, or better working conditions? If the answer is yes, then it may be a good time to seek those opportunities. 

3. Does this job fit in with your long-term goals?

The job may sound very exciting and fun, but does it fit in with your long-term goals? If it doesn't, perhaps your goals have changed. The point is that you have to look at a total career for every job move. If the job adds new skills and experience, it may be a good fit for the long haul?

4. Is this a once-in-a-lifetime job that you will regret if you don't take it now?

The conventional wisdom is that "opportunity only knocks once" and that "opportunity often comes at an inopportune time." Only can you make that decision. If you have been looking at jobs for a long time, you should know how often a job like this comes onto the market.

5. Can I afford a lower salary? Do I need a second job?

If the employer has offered you a lower salary than your present position, can you afford to take the position, even if it is your "dream job?"

Be realistic about hos much salary you will need to live comfortably. What is the cost of living in the new area? If it is lower, that will help your expenses. If it is higher, you may need to consider a second job. If you take a second job, does that diminish the positive aspects of your "dream job?" Will you have the energy and stamina for the new job if you are worried about day-to-day living expenses?

Before making your final decision as to whether to accept the position, you may want to ask when your first performance evaluation will be and whether you would be eligible for an increase at that time.

Key Post Job of an Accountant In An Interview

Good accountants are needed in practically every company. But what characterize such a person? In a world where accounting standards are changing on the way, the formal education is not enough anymore for a good applicant for this job. One really needs to improve his knowledge on daily basis, have a good idea of what's going on in a world of finance and study new standards regularly. What more, creative accounting becomes more and more popular. Tight margins between profit and loss increased the importance of applying creative accounting in business, to save some money here and there.

If you want to get this job, you need to get ready for extremely difficult job interview. To show your diploma and say some phrases is not good enough. Employers know very well that universities can not prepare accountants for the real job, even the good one. It is about your own initiative and studies, to make yourself able to flourish in an interview and to answer all accountant interview questions.

But it is not only about questions and answers. Actually there is much more behind it. Nowadays, one has to study some practical examples and prepare for exercises from real accounting, not only for answering some questions like at school. In this world everything can happen. If you can deal with every situation in a way that helps the employer to cut costs (direct or indirect, it doesn't matter), you will have a good chance of getting this job.

Being the one who can cut the costs is exactly how you need to present yourself in a job interview. Such person represents an ideal accountant from a point of view of nearly every interviewer. Of course, other skills and abilities are also required. You should be confidential, reliable, responsible and have an ability to transform the financial terminology in a language employees from other departments can understand. Book-worm is not an ideal accountant anymore. You need to have good communication skills to be able to do this job.

Presentation of these skills in an interview leads towards success. Do not hesitate to prepare a working portfolio, or at least to have some references on you, in order to show them more than other applicants can show. You need to stand out from the crowd, not be just one of the group of fifty job applicants. This should be your primary focus in an interview. 

However, even if you do so, it does not have to be enough. Nepotism is present on practically every workplace and positions of accountants are extremely popular. Therefor, it is maybe better to apply for an accounting job in bigger company, where your chances to succeed are better. On the other hand, such companies rarely give you a chance to work on real tasks. You will be most likely doing the same three or four processes day after day, hour after hour.

To conclude it, it is not easy to get a good job of an accountant. One needs to devote a lot of time to interview preparation. And still, it does not have to be enough. What more, even if you get a job, sometimes it can be a big disappointment, plus you need to deal with pressure from all stake holders of an organization.

Success Job Interview Tips

All the people who are serious about getting a job always prepare for an interview, but rather than the usual tips, we're giving you some little bits of rare insight from ourselves, a specialist recruitment firm, that may well give you the edge over your competition.

The interview stage of applying for a job can be the make or break moment that either lands you the role or sends you packing.

Everyone knows the usual nuggets of advice: dress well; be polite; research the company; don't waffle. But what is going to make you stand out? Here are some lesser known tips that will hopefully do just that:

 1. Ask the right questions. When an interviewer asks you if you have any questions, it's easy to fall in the trap of asking the same old ones like or 'What will I be doing day to day?' But if you ask questions that are insightful and show you are passionate about the company and role, it can make you stand out. Something like, 'What were the best things about the last person in this position?' would be good. Get some more ideas for questions in this article.

 2. Know your interviewer. Although many interviewers are experienced seniors who know what they're doing, it's not uncommon for someone with little or no experience interviewing candidates to be sat on the other side of the desk. Get a feel for who's interviewing you, and if they're struggling or not asking very good questions, try to guide the interview and ensure that you get a chance to fully demonstrate your skills, abilities and achievements. And don't forget to have a conversation with them.

 3. The best candidate doesn't always get the job. Unfortunately it's often the person whom the interviewer feels they have most in common, or gets along with the best which lands the role, so along with showing off your abilities, make sure this is you. Ask about the company culture so that you can show you'll be a fit for the role. Don't complain about your old boss and avoid confrontation at all costs. If the interviewer mentions something about their lives or themselves, take an interest, and try to draw genuine similarities between them and yourself.

  4. Actually ask for the job. Well, perhaps not overtly, because that would be weird. But if the selection process is a very close-run thing, it can often be hard for recruiters to choose between candidates. Saying things like "I would really like this job" in the interview is going to stick in the employers mind, and when there's nothing between the abilities of you and the next person, it will come down to who wants it more.

 5. Smile, be happy and relax. OK, so this one is not that unusual, but it's surprising how many candidates don't take it into account. Smiling and being happy is important because employers want to hire happy people. Simple! Being (or at least appearing) relaxed contributes to an overall professional and prepared demeanour.

Job Interview And Nervousness

Interview nervousness. The way I always looked at it was if you're not nervous for an interview, then you really don't care about the job. If you are nervous about the interview, that shows that you really care and it's something important to you because you want to do your best.
 

How Do You Overcome Interview Nervousness?

Preparation

It's all about the preparation you give it. For example, how much are you researching the companies you are interviewing with? Do you know their slogan, motto, office locations, revenue/profit, CEO, philanthropy, products, services, current news, etc. These are just the basics that you need to know, not including all the little things!

Just by going through the motions of researching the topics listed above, you will find that you are learning more about the company you're about to interview with. By doing this, it will help give you the necessary confidence you are seeking.

Get Dressed Up

There's only so many occasions in life where you can get dressed up and an interview is one of them. When we get dressed up, it tells our brain, "hey, this is something important, this is serious!" Because of that, it creates the nervousness however, it also creates confidence. It's just simply which one you will be exuding. When we are dressed to the nines, we feel like a million bucks. So let that confidence show, use it to your advantage!

Memorization

Big red flag if you are doing this!! People feel that if they can memorize all the perfect answers, they will nail the interview. The problem with that thought-process is when you are asked a question that you didn't prepare for! You cannot memorize answers and don't try too! You have to be "yourself" because that is who the employer is buying... you! not your memorized answers. Any good interviewer will be able to see through your rehearsed answers and adjust accordingly to ask questions you might not have prepared for.

Practice

As with anything else in life, the more you practice, the better you will become. Most people feel that the more interviews they go on, the better they will become. This is true! Without a doubt. However, why take the chance to lose out on your dream job because you didn't practice enough prior to the interview? There are resources available to you to practice interviewing; why not use them? We offer mock interview services at an inexpensive price so you don't have to break the bank to land your dream job!

Common Interview Questions and Answers

Common question and answers While every job interview is unique in its own way, most interviews come with a list of similar questions. Some questions are harder to approach and answer than others. Have you ever attended a job interview where the person you're meeting with asks, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" It's a trick question, really. The main point they're weeding through is how long you plan on staying with the company. Some will take this question and spin it to focus directly on them and not the company. This is a big mistake. Set some goals for yourself prior to heading to the interview. The goals you discuss should revolve around the company directly and what you're going to do to help it along.

It's important to know about the company you're going to interview with. The internet is a wealth of knowledge if you decide to use it to your advantage. Most companies have their own website and it's a good idea to understand what they're all about. Find out how long they've been in business and what is currently being practiced. Reading your potential employer's blog is an excellent way to stay on top of what the company is going through and what it practices on a day to day basis.

Make a list of your strengths and weaknesses prior to attending an interview. You're likely to be asked about both. Don't be too hard on yourself but at the same time, don't brag too much either. You'll want to find a fine middle ground that you'll be comfortable with.

Toward the end of an interview, the interviewer is likely to ask you if you have any questions. It's best to come up with something simple that he or she did not cover. This isn't the time to show off or to complain.
 No job is complete until the interviewer asks why you have left your last job. Don't use this time to point the finger and blame anyone at your former employer's office. You don't want to go on and on about how much you hated the mundane tasks are your former job. All jobs come with a job description and you're bound to dislike a handful of the tasks. No job comes with a list of things everyone will be happy with. So keep your answer simple and to the point.

Following up with the interviewer can be a sticky situation. It's a good idea to send an email thanking them for their time. This is a good time to ask any lingering questions you may have forgotten to ask during the interview.

These are just a few tips to take into consideration when heading over to your interview. 

Improve Your Interview Skills For Job

The job interview

It is a time when nerves can ruin your chance for an amazing career. It is a time when the right attitude can make a world of difference.

This right attitude, when combined with good planning can, and does, make a world of difference - getting you through to second stage interviews and beyond.

The trouble, in my humble opinion, a lot of information is out there - all ready to help you land that job. The problem is the amount. It is bewildering, causing many to spend too much time searching and not enough time understanding the job applied for.



To help you save some time, and improve your interview skills, I have conducted the research for you. The result, 5 simple tips that are proven to improve your chances of landing your dream job - kick starting your career, and adding years of happiness into your life. The right job with the right employer makes so much difference.

Before we dive in, I have conducted interviews as the employer and attended them as a prospective employee - so many that I have lost count. So I thought I would share some of my experiences. Some funny, like the person applying for an executive assistant role, who could not even get the time right, and the person who couldn't find the office, and some great, where I have wanted to employee the person right away.

Seriously, your attitude is the starting point. Approach the job hunt with a self-branding mindset and confidence, and you will notice the difference.

The branding commences with the resume, your first contact with the prospective employer. It is the most important tool you have, and the most difficult part of the process. Stop fooling yourself, the interview is easy, it is your resume that gets you the interview. This is your time to rent just a little space in the minds of the employer.


With your resume, you not only summarize your career and achievements, you are making your first pitch - you are advertising you and what you stand for. That is right, from your resume and cover letter, the prospective employer can understand who you are, and what you have to offer.


You have an advantage though, you know the employer has a problem and they have been nice enough to
define that problem for you. That is right it is the employer who has the problem, they have something they need done, they think have an idea of what they need, but in most cases have no idea who is the right person to do it and the best way to do it.

All you need to do is sell the employer on how well your experiences; qualifications and achievements will make their job easier. It is you who will solve a problem and it is you who will get to make some money - it's going to cost the employer if they get it wrong.

How good is that - are you feeling empowered yet?


Maybe not. To make things a bit easier, think of your next job not in terms of the annual salary, but multiply it, most people stay in a job about 3 years, so start with a multiplier of 3. Instead of a $50,000 job, you are pitching to secure work for the next 3 years of $150,000 (this is great advice that I have stumbled across isn't it).

Do you now have incentive to spend that extra time, researching, understanding and preparing a killer resume. All it takes is a bit of time to get a feel of the language the employer uses and a bit more to understand the business.

Today, more than ever, it's easy. Just visit the employers website, check out their videos posted online and maybe even tap into your own network. You can even visit websites that give you all the information you need in one place, including reviews.

Be careful though, and I cannot stress this enough, understand what drives the employer before you jump in, read that job advertisement and make sure you know the keywords the employer uses and to put it in sales speak, the employers 'hot buttons'. Knowing what to say and what to mention in your resume is important. Many employers use software to find their keywords in the 1,000's of resumes they receive.

Enough about the resume, the fun really starts at the interview.


For the best of us the interview is stressful, and is the very reason many of us stick with jobs we hate. All of those people asking questions and a job on the line at the end of it, can make it daunting and too hard.

Stop, if that is you, you are wasting the little time you have and even doing something you don't like, you need to change. Money is important, but so is your life, getting a new job is easy, change is fun and the interview - well take it from me, interviews are easy.

Interviews are not scary and a not worth wasting perfectly good opportunities for, just to avoid the interview.

I have fronted interview panels of 6 people, 4 people and even just one, and have found one thing they all have in common. All interviews are your chance to shine, it is your chance to find out if the employer is right for you, meeting new people along the way.

Remember, you are the problem solver here and is most definitely is not the other way around.


You need to adopt this attitude. Think of the interview, not as an interview for a job, but as another business meeting. A business meeting where the employer is telling why they are right for you, convincing you that they are the right employer for you and worthy of your talents.

This mindset puts you in control, but, and this is a big one, being ready is important. You need to understand the employer and what they are about. This helps you ask the right questions and puts you at ease.


The interview is your time to rate the employer. It the time you get to figure out if the employer and their position is right for you. That's all. Forget about the employer making their assessment, you have a much more important need. After all, you know the employer likes you already, why else would you be there. You need to like them and only then can you confirm for them that you are the best for the role.

This is the mindset I have adopted, it allows me to approach the interview with clear goals, come across articulate as I have a clear head, and best of all, I get to ask the questions I need answered.

The outcome, I generally shine. More often than not, I'm offered the job - that's if I haven't already turned the employer down for not providing the right job for me.

It sounds simple I know, being ready equals being relaxed. So if you need some more convincing, try these tips out.

follows on from our advice - Be prepared, know yourself including your strengths and career goals, and then prepare some intelligent questions to ask the potential employer. During that interview, be engaged - respond to all questions with truthful answers and listen carefully. Try not to focus on the salary side of things too much, and don't bring too much attitude in about your previous employer.

The folks at Life hacker.com tell us that asking the right questions during the interview is just as important as making sure you answer the employers questions. These questions can help you decide if the employer is really right for you while making a lasting impression. The questions to ask include asking the interviewers to tell you what a typical day is like, what the organization defines as success, will you and your teammates be empowered to find better and more efficient way to do things, what projects you can give to and what is the immediate need the employer is trying to fill.

Fastcompany clearly points out that interviewers want to figure out how articulate and confident you are, but remember you are selling yourself and a good sales person understands the target and tailors the message. So when explaining your career achievements start at the top and make sure you focus on your strengths and listen to what the employer needs. Be careful though if you have a job hoppers resume (changing jobs often), some interviews will not get past this question, try build your networks and meet people outside of the interview. Finally when explaining success, be candid without being arrogant - mention what others have said.

employmentGuide remind us to make sure we dress the part - making that first impression is ever so important, including the handshake and keep eye contact.

Most importantly, give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview, and being early is something not worth worrying about.