JOBS RESOURCES
By Charles Jackson
M
ost of us get nervous about going to
job interviews and it is partly this
degree of anxiety that often makes
many people leave a bad impression during the
interview. Preparing yourself in such a way that
you can come across as confident, genuinely interest and hopeful will help your interview to go a lot
more smoothly. If you have a job interview coming
up, take the following steps to prepare for it.
Learn about the Company
Displaying your knowledge about the company
during the interview will typically leave a very
good impression. The interviewer will see that you
have taken some time to learn about the job and
the company itself. There’s no excuse in today’s
information-packed online world not to do a bit
of research first. Learn about the company that
you are trying to get a job at by searching for them
online. Familiarize yourself with the company’s
goals and achievements as much as possible and
you can be sure that your interviewer will be
impressed by your level of interest.
Know which Questions
to Ask
However, it is also important that you show a
genuine interest in the job by asking questions
of your own. Your interviewer will no doubt give
you the opportunity to do this anyway and, if you
don’t have any questions to ask at the time, you
will probably come across as disinterested. Prepare
your questions in advance and write them down
to memorize them before setting off for the interview.
Provide a Good Résumé
Your interviewer should already have seen your
résumé when you originally applied for the job. In
order to prepare for any possible interview which
you might be invited to, it is important to spend
plenty of time and effort to formulate a good résumé. It should be presented in a formal, recognized
format and contain a brief personal statement and
a list of your qualifications and past jobs. It is also
important to advertise yourself while keeping your
résumé honest, since you will likely need to be
able to back up your claims when it comes to the
interview.
Dress Appropriately
First impressions count for a lot and, if you go
to a job interview for a placement as a manager
at an upmarket hotel, for example, you’re simply
not going to look the part wearing casual clothes.
Consider the job that you are applying for as well
For the most part, job interviews are about
you being asked questions by the interviewer.
as the company itself. Take the time and effort
to dress suitably for the occasion lest your interviewer want to get you out of the door as soon
as possible. Never underestimate the importance
of first impressions. It is better to overdress than
underdress for things like job interviews.
Familiarize Yourself with the
Right Etiquette
If you haven’t been to a job interview for a
while, then your knowledge of appropriate etiquette may be a little rusty. Ensure that you give
the impression of being confident by appearing
relaxed and comfortable (but not too much!).
When you meet your interviewer, introduce yourself and greet him or her with a firm handshake.
This is essential for coming across as confident.
When it comes to the interview itself, let the
interviewer speak first. Answer questions honestly
and only ask your own questions once given the
opportunity to do so. Avoid talking about things
such as salaries until the end of the interview.
When leaving the interview, thank the interviewer
and follow it up with a handshake. Leave a positive
impression by maintaining good etiquette from
start to finish. u
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