Expert Interview Skills Will Help You Land That Dream Job

So you just got a call about an open position at the company of your dreams

. They want to speak with you further about your experience and qualifications and you have scheduled an interview in the next few days. Your feelings of nervousness may outweigh your excitement if you have little experience being interviewed or if it is has been awhile since you have participated in a professional interview. The best thing to do is to be prepared and to practice so you will make a good impression and stand out from the other candidates being considered for the job. Your resume was strong enough to get you the interview, but now you must impress them further. This can feel intimidating, but if you know what to expect, it will help calm your nerves. The first thing to do is put aside concerns about salary and benefits. Do not go into the interview asking questions about how much they will pay you, whether they provide workman's comp insurance or general liability insurance, and how much vacation time you will be entitled to. In some cases, you can ask for a range of salary, but haggling for your offer needs to occur at a second interview.

You should view your initial interview as time to learn about the job and to sell yourself. Both you and the company are trying to determine if you will be a good fit for eachother.

Remember to sell yourself, but do so subtlety. Interviewers love confidence and they love an employee who has a can-do attitude about things. They also enjoy knowing what made you happy at your last job. They will not enjoy hearing about how great you are and why everyone likes you and how lucky they would be to have you. You need to make them think they would be lucky, but saying something like that outright would be perceived as cocky or egotistical. Show that you are personable and that you are a teamplayer. No company wants a trouble maker who will stir the pot. Do your best to come of a confident and competent and likable, without putting the interviewer off by bragging.

Prepare for a few challenging, thought-provoking questions. Most people will be asked to explain their strengths and weaknesses, so consider a strong answer ahead of time. Take some time to truly think about what your strengths and weaknesses are and why.

Be sure to explain your answers in a concise way that makes sense. Try to turn weaknesses into something that will be beneficial to the interviewer. For instance, workaholics may bother their family and friends, but your new company will love a go-getter.

by: Connor Sullivan

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