Firstly, think of yourself as being the ?product? that you are selling. You are now in a very competitive environment and you have to want to ?win?; otherwise you would not be sitting in the foyer of this office right now.
As a matter of course, the employer will make a choice between you and other applicants and eventually, there will be a short list and perhaps even another interview.
Right now, it is your job to create an impression and influence the employer or interviewer, that choosing you is the best possible choice they will ever make. You must take into account that this is your first and last impression ? you will not get a second chance if you ?stuff? it up, so some important guidelines are listed below:
INTERVIEW PROTOCOL
Arrive 10 to 15 minutes prior to the interview. Definitely not after the scheduled time.
Turn your mobile phone off.
Dress appropriately - its better to be a little over dressed than the reverse. No sandals, sneakers, white socks with dark pants.
Offer your hand and use a firm handshake and sincere smile.
Always refer to the interviewer by name i.e. Mr/Ms/Mrs? (Name).
Be alert and ready to react from beginning to end.
Ask questions when invited to.
Be calm and confident; never cocky or forceful.
Project a keen interest in the company and the interviewer/s; never act disinterested.
Be positive and confident. Do not get defensive at any question or comment at job interviews.
Try not to look petrified - even if you are - but smile and be good-humoured.
Maintain eye contact with the interviewer without crossing the boundary into staring. Just look at the interviewer the same way as you would if you were having a conversation with a friend.
Approach the interviewer with a firm commitment. You will lose the job if you are unthinking in your approach.
Have your resume in a smart binder that shows your interviewer that you are willing to invest in time and effort to land your next job.
Speak clearly and answer all questions with confidence.
When asked of your accomplishments supply specific examples, i.e. any certificates or documents that support those activities.
Do not ask for refreshments of any kind. If they are offered, you may accept.
Do not smoke - even outside the building prior to the interview.
Do not swear no matter how informal the interview.
If asked about former employers or colleagues, do not destroy your status by criticising them.
Do not speak disrespectfully. Most if not all interviewers, think their particular company is a great place to work and they will not take kindly to any attempted humour at the company's expense.
When it's your turn to ask the interviewer a questions, be sure to ask about aspects other than just the wages or salary you may expect.
Be mindful of all possible cues such as body language from the interviewer. These will give you hints when to stop and when to continue.
Convince yourself before the interview that you have something special, which will influence the interviewer your way.
Do not excuse yourself to go to the bathroom during your interview. Make sure you attend to those personal comfort basics prior to the meeting.
Remember not all interviewers are terrific at their job - so do not judge the company by the interviewer.
_____________________________ Want to know the job interviews worth your time and effort? Come to http://jobs.OzFreeOnline.com , Australia's free job classifieds. It's as easy as signing up for free, posting resume for free, and browsing the best Australian jobs offered today.
Get a job; Get a really good one at OzFree!
When was the last time that you had a job interview? If it has been a while, you may want to consider doing a few practice runs. These practice runs are commonly referred to as mock interviews. Although mock interviews may seem a little bit silly, there are a number of benefits to doing them. The number one benefit is that you will be better prepared than most of your competition also applying for the job.
There are a number of approaches to setting up your practice sessions. The primary approach is to take the process very seriously. This means you need to do some research in advance of any practice sessions.
Too many times job applicants think they can ?bluff? their way through an interview with charm and poise. In today's competitive market the job always goes to the applicant who has knowledge to go along with charm and poise.
Job interviewers are usually professionally trained in Human Resources. They can see through an unprepared applicant within a few minutes of the interview.
So, what should you do to prepare?
First, you should go on the Internet and look for information related to being successful at interviews. Your Public Library should also be a good source of information. You may also have a local Department of Labor office that can provide tips towards being more successful at interviews.
Once you have compiled enough information, make a list of common interview questions but throw in some tough ones as well. Ask your friends and family members to role play with you for mock interviews based on those questions. Be sure to answer with professional responses, just as if you would in real job interview and be ready to accept suggestions as to how to improve your answers.
Dress as if you are at an actual interview. If the job you are applying for requires a suit and tie, wear them during your mock interview. Make it as realistic as possible.
You can also practice your answers in front of your mirror. While this approach may seem foolish, it can help you practice your facial expressions and demeanor. You are after good eye contact, not staring, just sincere eye contact during your responses.
Even if this isn't your first job interview, such practice will certainly mitigate some of the nervousness associated with interviews. Many job seekers find that holding mock job interviews with their friends or family members helps to ease nervousness because they can make many mistakes without fear of criticism. Because of this, many also have reported a slight increase in confidence.
The goal of a mock or practice interview is to help you prepare for the actual interview but there is more to practice than just questions and answers. This preparation includes giving a proper greeting, as well as departing properly from a job interview. When entering the room, look the interviewer in the eye as you are seated. If they offer a handshake greeting, give a firm handshake, not squeezing, and a smile as you exchange greetings.
As you leave the interview, smile, look them in the eye, and offer your handshake. Thank the interviewer for the opportunity and ask when you might be hearing about their decision.
These tips should help you handle job interviews more successfully.
Both Barbara Thorp & Jim Desantis are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Barbara Thorp has sinced written about articles on various topics from Personal Desktop, Web Development and Stress Management. Barbara Thorp is an article contributor for http://jobs.ozfreeonline.com. Barbara Thorp's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
Jim Desantis has sinced written about articles on various topics from Depression Cure, Get Ex Back and Affiliate Programs. Jim DeSantis, a former TV News Director, provides cutting edge employment tactics. For scripted job interview answers see and for the latest resume' techniq. Jim Desantis's top article generates over 2240000 views. to your Favourites.