Five Simple Steps to Ace Job Interviews
By Judi Perkins, FindThePerfectJob.com
If you haven't looked for a job in a while, skydiving might be preferable to interviewing. But there are a few simple steps that will remove the fear and give you the confidence you'd otherwise wish you had.
1. Be Prepared
Common sense says you need to research the company via their website, brochures or the library, although you'd be surprised at how many skip the obvious. Basics also include bringing a few extra copies of your resume to hand out if necessary, arriving early, dressing professionally, and knowing what you have to offer the company.
2. Ask for Details
But those are no-brainers, or they should be. What even experienced interviewers often fail to do is ask, in detail, about the position. So get away from the job description and dig into the actuality of that job in that company, as it stands right now. Find out why the position is open and how long it's been vacant. Ask also how long the previous person was there. If that person was there less than two years, find out how long the previous person was there. If both are short, chances are you won't be there long either.
You want to know what the first priority to be addressed is, if there's a time frame for accomplishing it, and if so, what it is. Is it a realistic one? And overall, in what condition is the job you'll be picking up? Is it maintenance? Troubleshooting and clean up? Is there smooth, accelerated growth? And how do the answers sit with you?