Career Tools: Interviews: Relax… It's Just the Rest of Your Life
Now that you know how to appear thoughtful and energetic through your body language and your clothes, all that's left are your words. Unfortunately that's a bit tougher than remembering to take your suit to the dry cleaners for a pressing.
The secret to a good interview is being able to explain everything that you already know how to do. For whatever profession you are choosing, take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle. In the left-hand column make a list of whatever skills are needed to succeed in that job. Then think of personal experiences in your life where you can show how you fit the required skill set. In the right-hand column jot down a few notes and maybe a key phrase or two next to each skill. As you prepare for the interview, develop a clear, concise and coherent story to describe each skill and the related experience.
Another good mind-set to have before going into an interview is one of a problem-solver. Jobs have obstacles that employees are supposed to overcome. You are not there to smile and look pretty (we hope!). Try to turn each of the required skills into a problem and then show how adept you are at deciphering an innovative and quick solution.
You will have to be able to answer questions on the fly: Describe a situation in which your work was criticized. How did you react and what did you do to correct it? What is something you are proud of and something you are not proud of? Tell me the most crucial aspects of this job and why you are best qualified for them? The name of the game here is salesmanship. Can you do better and explain it clearer than the next candidate through the door?
Not only do you have to sell your talents but you have to sell your drive; why do you want to work at this company? Interviewers usually like their organization and they expect an applicant to as well.
While piecing through your past, formulating why you are the ideal candidate, it will be helpful if you create a theme to your answers. This does not mean tell the same stories. What this means is try and pick examples that showcase a character trait. Are you a goal-oriented person with a desire to get things done? Do you vibe with other people, in other words are you a team player? Does your history say anything about your reliability as an employee? About your analytical or listening skills? These are the types of traits employers expect and you must exhibit them in order to have any chance of being hired.
