Any tips to help ease the worry of a good interview?

Start thinking about your interview from the employers perspective: As an employer, I'm thinking along these lines.....So you want to work at my company. That’s great because I need people who are going to help us design, build and sell my products and services. I offer money, benefits, and opportunities for advancement, education and security too. So what are you offering me in exchange for these things? Now some people are, in reality, offering to simply trade their time for money…they may, “need a job”, “want to work” or “need the money” and from my perspective…..I may need to hire some of these people to get the product or service out the door. ……But the people I really want (and need) are different…. let me tell you who they are. The people I really want are those who are passionate about their work and are going to be the future of my company. They have done their homework and know what we do, how we do it and where we’re going. They want to be involved in moving the company forward and create the innovations and efficiencies that will increase our profitability,market share, and lower our costs. They are the people who consistently perform, help others and want to learn about everything that makes this company work. They know that every position in this company is important to make it run smoothly and efficiently – from the people who sweep the floors to create at safe environment to keep our injury rate (and insurance costs) low, to the people who design the high quality, reliable products we manufacture and sell. They know it’s a team sport and everyone has to play to make it function. They value and respect each of us who plays a part. I'm hiring people who have knowledge AND who fit in my company. While not all companies share these attribute, it really does make a difference if you are not, cannot or are unwilling to fit into the work environment where you are seeking employment. So do your research. You’ll be glad you did.

Your resume. If you’re just starting out it’s going to be short and it’s generally the first thing someone see’s that describes you. You are selling yourself and your skills. If you want to be treated professionally, insure this document is properly prepared, spell and grammar checked, and showcases your best traits, abilities and experience. Many companies now use software to go through many resumes looking for key word or phrases to screen candidates. If you’re writing a resume in pencil on a piece of notebook paper don’t expect to be taken seriously. There are lots of templates; guidance and boilerplate out there…..make sure you’re proud of the product you produced. It makes an employer think you’re a serious applicant.
If you’re trying for employment with a large company you might want to research how they do their screening. Maybe find someone who works for them. Read their Annual Report to see how your skills may fit in (or not) to their future plans. Explore the internet to see what kind of people are working there. If you can build your resume in a way which shows that your interests are aligned with what the work you want and what company does, better yet.

The interview. Most people, except the owners son or daughter, are going to have one prior to being hired. So just a few notes….BEFORE you go into the interview have several people do practice interviews with you so that you have some time to consider the best way to answer questions. Most people who interview people will be pleased that you asked them to do this. They also may offer you valuable feedback on how you did and how you might improve your performance. Practice answering questions concisely and professionally. This is not the time to lay back in the chair and get all comfy…..sit up straight, listen carefully to what the interviewer says and most importantly…..answer the question. It also helps to carry on a conversation with someone just prior to the interview….this really helps to get comfortable talking about yourself before you start the interview. I have mixed feelings about taking notes.....I have interviewed people who I thought were more intent on taking notes than answering my questions. It can be a distraction so be careful to balance listening, answering and note taking.

Sometime before the interview, stop by the company in the morning when people are going to work and see what they are wearing. If everyone is in a suit…dress accordingly. To me, business casual (slacks and shirt) would be absolute minimal.

And have a question or two to ask your interviewer. If you've done your research, it will show. I once interviewed for a job at a research Lab. I knew they had just announced a new project and one of my questions was , Would this position have opportunities to be involved with that new project? Refrain from “If I was hurt my first day would your insurance cover me?” or “when can I expect to get the job I really want?” Those are real questions asked during actual interviews. Be prepared and ask the question that best showcases you…..Good luck!

Don Knapik

You need to own the interview, and show no signs that you are begging to get this job. Let them know through demeanor that you are worth them hiring only you, and that if they don't hire you that they are missing an opportunity of a life time. The interviewer already have things in his mind about you before you ever see him, and he's looking for those things that the company is looking for in the long run. So when you own the interview you take him/her totally off guard, and you let them know that you are positive and enthusiastic about working and will be on time, and very interest in what you are doing for them, while embellishing your career objectives. He wants to act like he's comfortable and in command on the interview, but you have to make him realize that you are more comfortable and that you will be a valuable asset to the entity. So go and get it, and say in you mind, that this job is already yours well before you put foot in the door.

Before your next interview be prepared and do some research on the company and position. Review your own strengths and how those could add value to the company. During your research, come up with some question to ask the interviewer. As others have said, this interview should be used for your benefit as well.

Following your interview, take a few moments to reflect upon what was asked, how you answered the questions and how you believe your responses were received. Could you have answered that question better or expand upon your response. Use this information going forward.

research, research, research. Go in prepared enough to know what the company does, think about who its' competitors are, what challenges might the company be facing now and in the future. Strong candidates tell me why they are positioned to solve my problems. Even if they get it wrong, it shows me that they've thought about the broader business and care about my company.

You can easily research the most commonly asked questions in interviews and be prepared to answer them! You could even direct the conversation to a topic or fact that you want to be sure your interviewer wants to hear about you. Best luck. Keep it up.

Be transparent, sell yourself and experience. Stand out from others by dressing to impress, ask questions, show genuine interest, show that you can be loyal to an employer; if no degree or experience; show the interviewer that you are adaptable, willing to learn, manageable, and that you are worth the investment. The hiring company will need to invest in the new hire for training and a bright future at the company. Prepare for the position you want, not the one you have. Always put in 110% and it will not.go unnoticed. Most importantly, do not be negative in the lobby, with the administrators or anyone else. You never know who the owner or hiring manager is. Lastly, never turn down an opportunity until you've heard the offer, always negotiate and do not be entitled.

This is a problem many people have. i have interviewed many people and the advice i would give you is this. Do research on the company and job you are applying for. it is very important for you to know about the job you are applying for. It is also important to be yourself, people can tell if you are not genuine.

online you can find the basic questions on an interview. practice them in a mirror a lot this will make you more comfortable when you are interviewing.

Dont be afraid to tell them how you would be good for the positon and why. before leaving ask when you can expect a call back. this shows initiative.

good luck

Great question. Please know, even the best interviewer gets nervous before the meeting! I like to be "human" when interviewing. An employer wants to see that you're firstly qualified for the job, but also that you would work well with fellow employees and/or customers (depending on the profession).
Be insightful. Act like you know the job, you want the job, and you deserve the job. I like to think that the person who is interviewing is "human" too. Stay professional, but be friendly as well.

Best of luck to you!

Breathe! Having good communication with your interviewer can go a long way. A lot of times we may feel like the "technical" aspect of the job is more important that your personality and communicative skills. I beg to differ with that opinion. You can always learn the "technical" but people skills you're born with. Always make sure to have 2-3 real life situations ready to explain and know the pros and cons of each interaction. Good luck!

Ask for feedback after the interview! You can do so in a respectful manner. For example, if you receive an email stating that you were not selected for a certain job, reply back saying

To Whom It May Concern,

Thank you for the opportunity to interview for this position. Could you please let me know what areas I could work on to be a better candidate for this position? I would appreciate any feedback.

In addition to finding out your development opportunities, make sure you are doing all that you can to feel comfortable and confident in the interview. Research the company and the job as much as you can before the interview. I would also recommend having a "practice" interview with a close friend or family member. If you don't have someone around to practice with, at least talk through your resume/career journey at home before so you are more comfortable. This will come off in the interview. Confidence is key!

Best of luck.

As someone that has interviewed thousands and hired hundreds of people, I can tell you that an interview is nerve-wracking for all participants. I have two tips. First, practice. Mock interviews are an excellent way for you to become comfortable with answering questions, developing your "stories" and ensuring a rise in your confidence. Second, if you're nervous in an interview, it is ok to share that information. You will notice an immediate change in the room - Before you admit it, you will be trying to make the interviewer(s) comfortable with you. After you admit it, they will be trying to make you comfortable with them. No one wants to spend time in a bad interview!

Good luck!

Christina

You can ease the fear of a job interview through some of the following tips:

Ask a knowledgeable and resourceful person to conduct a mock interview. the questions may not be same. However you will at least get a warmed up feeling for an interview that will relax you a bit.

Two major soft skills that any job interview will be looking for is Problem solving skills and leadership skills. Mull through some of your real life time experiences that could help demonstrate these skills and explain them in clear terms.

To improve your communication skills, you may want to practice your opening and closing statements standing before a mirror. This will also help improve your body language if is a personal interview.

Hi Antonio!

It might be just the way you are going about the process.

Here are some good tips on having a successful interview:
https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-ultimate-interview-guide-30-prep-tips-for-job-interview-success

Here are some follow up tips. Remember, if it talks about using email, I have found face to face interaction (or secondly phone) follow up to be far superior, because it allows for dialogue:
https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-following-up-can-help-you-land-the-job https://www.themuse.com/advice/pleasantly-persistent-5-rules-for-effectively-following-up

Best of luck! Let me know if and how this might help. Keep me posted. I would like to follow your progress.