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REHEARSE FOR YOUR JOB INTERVIEW PERFORMANCE
By Quick
and Affordable Resumes
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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