How to Ace an Interview
Monday, June 30th, 2008Perhaps nothing is as daunting as interviewing for a position - many people feel extreme nervousness, uneasiness, and self-doubt before (and sometimes during!) the interview. Fret not. There are several easy guidelines to follow, which all aim to help calm the nerves, clear the mind, and hopefully land you that coveted job.
Prior to the interview, it will behoove you to learn a bit about the company. Sometimes the company in question does not have a lot of information for you to find - but any information at all is better than none. Try and learn the overall picture and feel of the company based on the information you found; during the interview, if you can interject tidbits of company knowledge into your conversation, you will definitely impress the interviewees. Remember, you must do your homework in order to ace the test!
To help calm your nerves, try and conduct practice interviews before the official interview. Find a trusted family member or friend to role play the part of the interviewer - ask them to rate your handshake, your body language, and your answers. These practice interviews will help you highlight your strengths and weaknesses, and during the real interview you will be much more confident and calm. When its Showtime, you will be very grateful you went through your interview rehearsals.
A very common question asked during the interview process is, “Why do you want/deserve the job?”. Have at least three good reasons prepared, and be ready to explain them. Many people freeze on this question so if you are prepared you will outshine most of your competition.
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