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Free Job Interview Tips
Nimish Thakkar, MS, MBA,
CCMC, CPRW, SaiCareers.com,
New York
Free Job Interview Tips: Before the Interview
Practice, practice, practice
The easiest way to improve your
interviewing skills is through
practice. Write down responses to
common interview questions
and practice repeatedly. Practice does make a person perfect, well,
almost perfect. (A word of caution: don’t confuse practice with
memorizing.)
If possible, role-play the interview with friends, peers, or
professionals capable of providing constructive feedback.
Research the company
Thoroughly research the company you will
be interviewing with. Know everything possible, including financials,
management, products, projects,
industry trends, competition, etc.
Our
company research resources can help
you with researching companies. If you personally know someone who has
interviewed with the company, ask them for tips, sample questions, and
suggestions.
Analyze the position (company’s requirements) and develop
impressive responses
Conduct a thorough analysis of the
position’s requirements. What are they looking for? What do you have
to offer? (For a sample tabulation of the analysis, please visit our
interviewing skills page.)
Think about stories and examples from your career that you could use
to support your interview responses. Our
CAR stories worksheet and
interview scripts and sound bites will help you
remember accomplishments, examples,
and stories from your past jobs. Wherever possible, use lots of
numbers and quantifiable
accomplishments to support your
answers.
Prepare for tough questions
Don’t get caught off-guard. Are
there any red flags? Any questions you feel uncomfortable answering?
Try to prepare for questions that have historically made you nervous;
you will feel relaxed knowing that you have taken care of the
monsters.
Research salary norms
Research
salary norms for your level, skills,
industry, and background. Knowing your salary expectations can help.
Prepare a reference list
Prepare a list of 3-5
references before the interview; type
this information on a
reference list.
Free Job Interview Tips: Before the Interview
Carry
basics
Make an effort to organize important documents, such as
extra
resumes, reference sheet, portfolios,
copies of work authorization papers, reference letters, etc. Carry
basics, such as a pen, pencil, etc. If possible, take networking cards
to the interview.
Start early, drive slowly, reach safely
Arrive well ahead of
time. Turn off cell phones, pagers, and any distraction that may
interfere during the interview.
Rest well
Take plenty of rest before the interview; it helps.
Calm yourself
It is very natural to feel nervous so relax,
take a few deep breaths, clear your mind of all the clutter, meditate
… do whatever you can to calm yourself before the interview (oh, but
please don’t drink or smoke).
Dress appropriately
Formal business attire is generally the
safest strategy for an interview. Check for spots, missing buttons,
loose threads, etc. Check body and mouth odor. Professionalism always
counts.
Avoid damp hands
A good strategy would be to wash your hands
with cold water before an interview. This will avoid excessive
perspiration.
Firm handshake
A firm handshake is an indication of a
confident and assuring personality.
Next: Free
Job Interview Tips - During The Interview
Related Articles:
Sample Interview Questions
Interviews
How To Improve Your Interviewing Skills
a
Fired? How To Handle A Previous Termination Or
Job Loss During Interviews
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