REHEARSE FOR YOUR JOB INTERVIEW PERFORMANCE
By Ann Baehr, Best Resumes of New York

If you feel like pulling the curtain on the job interview moments before you arrive for fear of failure, you have not properly rehearsed. Remember, the show must go on if you want to land that job.

Confidence in a job interview is something you must build before that day arrives. It is not enough to be sure of who you are; you must know who the hiring company is, as well. That takes research and lots of thought about what information might be exchanged based on that knowledge.

If you are thinking that an interviewer is going to ask you dozens of questions about your background, think again. You have been invited to the interview because they read your resume and have pre-qualified you. So, if they do ask you questions about your background, it is probably to see how you communicate.

There are many interview strategies used these days. One of the more popular include behavioral-style interviewing, which is basically a set of questions that are posed to see how you behaved in certain scenarios on the job. It is not just about what you did, but how you handled yourself and solved problems.

Sometimes they will ask you off-the-wall questions that have absolutely nothing to do with the job itself. That is to see how you react to the unexpected.

Many job seekers prepare word-for-word what they are going to say in an interview. That is a big mistake. There is no way of knowing what will be asked. When you realize that your overly prepared responses will not get their debut, your anxiety will rise and you might appear too nervous and, ironically, unprepared.

So how do you build your confidence before you arrive to your much anticipated job interview? Start by researching the company. There are many sources available online, including news archives and the company's own website. Gain an understanding of how the company was founded, how it grew in products, service and locations.

Think about how you qualify for the position in detail and how your experience would be an asset to the company. Think about things that you want to know about the company, not just about your salary. You want to convey that you are very interested in the company, not just about getting a job.

If you are aware that the company was recently acquired, acknowledge this information in the interview and ask how the acquisition affects the position you are interviewing for. For example, have the responsibilities changed or broadened in any way?

Asking questions based on what your research reveals is a great way to learn about the company. Moreover, it shows your interest and sets the stage for a conversation because this approach is natural, not (obviously) rehearsed.

Keep in mind that it is not enough to be qualified. The interviewer must like you, as well. There is always the human factor to consider. You are speaking to a person, not taking an online survey. For this reason, posing questions about their company will help you to establish a rapport with the interviewer. You will also make a great first impression.

Knowing that you are armed with knowledge of their company and have lots of key questions to ask will prove to be a powerful confidence builder. As you pose your questions and they respond at length, you might even forget you are interviewing. That is a good sign that the interview is going well.

Just be careful not to let your guard down, laugh too much, or get personal. Keep your edge at all times. As long as you are in control of your own behavior, you will feel more prepared, relaxed and confident. That, coupled with your qualifications, will increase your chances of getting a second interview and a job offer.

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Ann Baehr, Best Resumes of New York