An interview is a two way process. The employer will try to determine through questioning if you have the right experience and qualifications to do the job. You also need to establish if the company will give you the opportunity for growth and development that you seek. Ensure you have a clear understanding of the job and if possible try and obtain a detail job description prior to the interview.
Be prepared to explain why you are interested in the role in question and why you want to leave your present employer. If you are asked about your strengths and weaknesses try and give practical examples of where you have utilised your strengths and how you have overcome your weaknesses.
Modify your appearance to reflect the organisation or role you are being considered for but as a general rule dress conservatively for an interview even in this era of dress down/casual wear. One of the most common reasons for an unsuccessful interview is poor personal appearance
Be confident but not overly confident. Avoid condemning previous employers. Be diplomatic about personal conflicts. Know what you want and if you don't know the answer to something don't pretend you do. Honesty is appreciated far more than a weak insincere response.
Remember the interviewer is on your side. You are being interviewed because the interviewer wants to hire somebody not because he or she wants to trip you up or embarrass you!
Your next job will probably come either from your friends or from their friends, so networking (building personal relationships) is vitally important.
If you find networking hard because you don't want to use your friends, or because you dislike asking for help, overcome this by genuinely caring about those you call. Your interest will delight them, and they'll gladly share information. Remember, you'd willingly help them if they came to you needing similar support.
Force yourself to use the telephone; it gets easier as you call. Your telephone calls will soon produce face-to-face meetings. In the beginning, be friendly and establish rapport. Set the stage by asking how much time you'll have. State your purpose clearly and directly.
Listen 80% and talk 20%. Personal meetings should be interactive, like tennis; but in general, others would rather talk than listen. Therefore, give them your full attention. Listening builds trust and says, "I care about you." If you're having trouble getting hired, try listening 50% more.
When appropriate, establish a next step: a phone call, follow-up meeting, something to be mailed. If you end with no next step, you miss the chance to involve this person in your campaign--possibly a big mistake.
Your contact network should always be growing, not shrinking. The best way to expand it is to seek out new people and build relationships. It doesn't really matter who you choose, so long as you like them, they like you, and you can help each other.
As you go networking, remember the 8 tips:
1. Be optimistic and upbeat. If you have fun, they'll have fun. If they have fun, they'll like you. If they like you, they're more likely to help you or hire you.
2. Dress well. Never go into a meeting without checking your appearance in a restroom mirror.
3. Don't be pushy; don't require others to help.
4. When someone helps, offer something in return: a book, an article, a favor, or the name of a contact.'
5. Seek information only, don't ask directly for a job.
6. Send a thank you note the same day you talk or meet.
7. Ask for a business card or for the correct spelling of name, title, and address.
8. Always give more than you get.
So the secret behind a successful job hunting is create relationships and the relationships will create the jobs. That's exactly how it works.
