Job Interviews A job interview is the opportunit

Job Interviews
    A job interview is your chance to show an employer what he or she will get if you’re hired. That is why it is essential to be well prepared for the job interview. Preparing means knowing about the industry, the employer, and yourself. It means paying attention to details like personal appearance, punctuality, and demeanor.
    I always feel that knowledge is your best weapon. Let’s start by some information about how to prepare for the Interview.
    The first step is to research companies. Before you begin to think about how you will dress for the interview, or answer questions, you should do your homework. By that I mean gather as much information about the employer as you can. Not only will you appear informed and intelligent, it will also help you make a decision if a job offer is eventually made. Gathering employer information is not always an easy task, especially if the employer is a small private company. After that, you’d better research yourself. Try to list some traits about you that they most admired—work related, of course. Meanwhile, try to find some faults as well. You won’t, obviously, spontaneously tell a prospective employer about these faults, but you may be asked to. One question that sometimes comes up in an interview is "What is something that has been a problem for you at work?"By studying your faults, you will be able to choose one that is somewhat innocuous or could be turned around into a positive. Finally, practice, practice, and then practice some more. You want to seem somewhat spontaneous, but you also want to appear self-confident. The way to do that is to rehearse, not exactly what you will say, but how you will say it. A great method is to rehearse in front of a video camera. Study your posture, the way you make eye contact, and your body language. If you don’t have a video camera, a mirror will do. Have a friend do mock interviews with you. The more you repeat a scenario, the more comfortable you will begin to feel with it.
    In the next section of this lecture, I will talk about succeeding strategies on the Interview. What I want to mention first is the dressing for the interview. Appearance is very important and whether we like it or not, it is the first thing people notice about us. You should match your dress to employees in the workplace in which you are interviewing. Then, good grooming is essential. Your hair should be neat and stylish. Your nails should be well manicured and clean. Men’s nails should be short. Women’s nails should be of a reasonable length and polished in a neutral color. Also for women, makeup shouldn’t be heavy. Perfume or cologne should be avoided as some people find certain scents offensive. Besides, body language. They say that body language gives more away about us than speech. Eye contact is very important but make sure it looks natural. A smiling, relaxed face is very inviting. Hands resting casually in your lap rather than arms folded across your chest also is more inviting. If you normally move your hands around a lot when you speak, tone it down some. You don’t want to look too stiff, but you don’t want to look like you’re a bundle of nervous energy. Asking questions is another point worthy of close attention. Usually toward the end of the interview, the person conducting it will ask you if you have any questions. You should have some. You should ask about what a typical day would entail. You could also ask what special projects you would be working on. As in every other aspect of the job search, you are trying to show the employer how you can fill their needs. By asking about a typical day on the job or special projects, you are putting yourself in the job and showing the employer how you will satisfy the employer’s needs. Don’t ask about salary, benefits, or vacations, as those all imply "what will you, the employer, do for me?" Last but not least, we have to prepare in advance the money questions. Money is a very sensitive topic. As discussed earlier, the candidate shouldn’t bring it up. However, the interviewer may bring it up first. You must prepare for this question before the interview. Find out what others in the same position are earning. Always give a range, not an exact number. This will help keep you from pricing yourself out of a job. You don’t want the employer to think they can’t afford you, but you also don’t want them to think you are a cheap commodity.
    Finally, there is something that is too often neglected after the interview. It’s the thank-you note or follow-up letter. It is your chance to reiterate something you mentioned on the interview or bring up something you forgot to mention. It is also a nice gesture and a simple matter of politeness.
    You should try to send a note to each person who took part in your interview. If you don’t remember the name of each person, call the receptionist for some help. Keep your note brief. Make sure it is typed. Someone at a workshop once asked me if the thank-you note would make you look like you were "kissing up" to the employer. I don’t believe so. I do believe that it sets you apart from everyone else who forgot to or chose not to do this.
    Good luck in the interview!