Getting Hired Before The Interview
Posted by Cathywarschaw in CareerYou’ve been cool and calm up until this moment and making all the right moves. You’ve sent killer resumes, along with fantastic cover letters, out to dozens of employers. And today a prospective employer has finally contacted you for that first all-important interview. You’ve studied and planned for this dream position for many days; yet now you are terrified.
What has shaken your confidence? You are suddenly finding yourself obsessing over the horrifying idea of going blank during the interview. You can’t sleep well at night and butterflies appear in your stomach each time you think about the big day. Are you alone in feeling this way?
Certainly not. Many job seekers experience anxiety and apprehension when it comes to interviewing with a potential employer. After all, what’s not stressful about selling yourself to a total stranger on why he or she should hire you for their company? It was probably an interviewee who came up with, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
That statement holds true for job interviewing more than any other situation; but it is possible to prepare yourself for a stellar interview and to literally steal the job before you’ve even sat down for the interview. Learn how you can increase your chances of landing the job of your dreams with some basic tips and advice.
Firstly, know thy audience. Do your research on the company’s history and what products or services they offer. Nothing genuinely flatters an employer more than to know that someone has taken the time to understand what his or her company is all about.
Secondly, develop a very short commercial about yourself. Put together a two-minute summary detailing your strengths, skills, and goals; then commit it to memory. This brief infomercial that is all about you serves to effectively promote and sell you to prospective employers.
A third tip that can’t be emphasized enough is to practice, practice, practice your answers to possible questions. Not only does practicing ease anxiety and instill confidence in yourself, but it can also prevent you from going blank during the interview. Some of the most common interview questions are:
