The Secret to Successful Job Interviews

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As if being unemployed isn’t stressful enough, then you have to face the dreaded job interviews. No one enjoys being put in a position that requires you to sell yourself, your skills, your character and your work history. It is all part of finding a new job, and it doesn’t have to be as stressful as most of us find it to be, there are secrets that can give you an edge!

The first thing you need to do is find out about the company that will be conducting the interview. What do they do, how long have they been around, what is their mission statement? These things can be found easily through the internet or public library. Doing your homework on the company shouldn’t be a secret but it is amazing how many people do not take the time to do this before showing up for an interview.

Knowing about the company, the culture of the company, the history and checking out any press releases to see what they are up to in the near future gives you a serious edge over other candidates for the job. You can walk in and be able to talk intelligently with the interviewer about the one thing they care about at that moment, their company!

The other part of this secret is by doing your research you can easily determine if this is even a company you want to work for! Maybe they are a chemical company that uses animals for testing and you are against this practice. Doing your research before the interview allows you to learn important aspects about the company before even deciding to be interviewed. Maybe they require professional attire and you want to work someplace that is business casual. Maybe they just announced that they will be doing serious downsizing in the near future. You may want to decline this interview. Knowledge is power!

Another secret that many job seekers overlook is taking the time to prepare the answers to commonly asked interview questions. Just about every interviewer will ask what you liked best and least about your last position. They will almost always ask what you consider to be your weakest skill, how you handle stressful situations, and why you want to work for their company.

Take some time and write out your answers. Sit in front of a mirror and go through the questions and answers. Being comfortable with what you want to say is so important, because confidence shows through! Often time’s people wait until they are in the interview chair to come up with answers to the tough questions. They end up stumbling on their words, saying things like “umm and uhh” and basically looking unprepared and unprofessional. Prepare for the tough questions in advance! Know what you liked best and least about your last job. Know what your weaknesses are and how you can turn those into positives. Know why you want that particular job with that particular company!

Being prepared can make the difference between hearing “you are hired” and “don’t call us, we will call you.” If you want the job, be prepared to prove yourself during the interview! These secrets will get you the job you need and want!