Perfecting The Interview

Job interviews can be very stressful

Job interviews can be very stressful. There is no way to get around it because there is so much at stake. The saying "you only have one chance to make a first impression," is ever-present on the mind of the job seeker which only adds to the stress. But if you keep these few simple rules in mind, you will be able to ace your job interview.

Arrive On Time

One of the best ways to make a great first impression is to arrive at the interview site on time or even a little early. Your interview is an appointment on their calendar, and people are busy nowadays. Every minute that you are late takes away from your meeting with the human resources representative or your potential boss. But worse than that, it already tells them that you don't respect this opportunity to interview and that you will probably be habitually late for work.

If you were caught in a traffic jam, or the situation was outside of your control, you can protect yourself. Call the person who set up the interview. They may want to reschedule for another time or another day. Apologize for the inconvenience and give them the option to reschedule.

In The Interview

Smile and treat everyone you meet with respect when you arrive at the office. You may feel the person at the front desk is your subordinate if you are interviewing for a manager position. You would be wrong. At some companies, anyone can fill in at the front desk, don't make negative assumptions.

A firm handshake can help you when trying to make a good impression. A Fish-tail handshake is the worst thing you can do. The fish-tail is that floppy half shake that only takes hold of the other person's fingers. Avoid this. Don't squeeze too hard, but make sure to take their whole hand and use a firm grip to shake. It may seem irrelevant since it has nothing to do with any task you will be given at work. But it plays an important role in your evaluation. Strong handshakes signify strong people.

Make sure to sit up straight like you were taught growing up, during the interview. It gives the impression that you are alert and interested. Make sure to make eye contact, but don't make it uncomfortable by staring. You are allowed to look at any information or notes they hand to you. The time to look them in the eye is when they are speaking directly to you or when you are answering a question.

Don't forget to ask the interviewer a few questions too. Knock the bosses socks off when he asks if you have any questions by asking him how he is impacted by his job. This is a great question and one that too few people think to ask. No matter how high the rank, every employee at the company has a boss. Making that person's life easier is your job.

by: Catrina Rogers

POST COMMENT

Job Interviews Are A Give And Take Process 5 Dumb Answers To Frequently Asked Interview Questions 5 Of The Best Answers To Interview Questions Ever Wild Card Interview Questions Polish Your Listening Skills for Interview Success First Respondres: 4 Easy Steps To Field Interviewing 3 Ways To Turn Good Interview Answer Into A Great One How The Weakness Interview Can Cost You The Job How To Give Good Interview Answers Involving Salary Job Interview Tip: Don't Kill Your Chances With Your References Simple Secret Tricks To Interview Answers Job Interview Soon, What Should You Do? Dengeki's E3 interview FFXIV