A job interview is the time where you have the opportunity to sell yourself. You will be meeting new people, answering questions and feel as though you are being given the third degree on what you do and do not know!

Following are the top ten best practices that will help you give a successful job interview.

1. Practice — before going on an interview you should take the time to practice with a friend or family member. Get them to ask you all kinds of questions.

2. Check out the Company — research the company before hand. Make notes of any awards and achievements that have happened recently. Be sure you know the name and position of the person interviewing you.

3. Be prepared – make sure you are dressed appropriately. Take extra copies of your resume. It doesn’t hurt to take a notepad and pen with you too. This helps to create a professional appearance.

4. Be on time – you want to arrive at least five or ten minutes before your scheduled interview time. It may be worthwhile to visit the company the day before so you know exactly how to get there and where to park if necessary.

5. Relax – being anxious at a job interview is normal but try to remain as relaxed as possible. Look your interviewer in the eye and concentrate on what they are saying. Make sure you understand the question before answering.

6. Show Your Skills – when answering questions try to include ways that your current experience and skills can be used in the answer. If you are asked about accomplishments and goals try to make them match the requirements of what the company is looking for.

7. Follow Up – if you are introduced to other people during the interview be certain to make a note of their names. Then follow up the next day with a thank you note and include the names of everyone you met.

8. Contacts – if you know employees at the company be sure to bring this up during your interview. This can make a huge difference and help place you nearer to the top of the hiring list.

9. Make sure you have a professional email address. You may have a fun email address that might turn an interviewers head. It will be much better to have an address that includes part of your name in it instead.

10. Interviewers may check out your social profiles. Ensure that these are set up to look professional or create a new page just for this purpose.

By following the above tips you will be on your way to having a great interview and increase your chances of getting hired.

How to Ace those Interview Questions

Any interview can cause you to become anxious and answer questions inappropriately. Below we have listed some of the most frequently asked questions with some great responses. Practice these before you go on your interview and you will be more confident.

1. What did you like or dislike about your last job? Try not to be too negative. Answer: I enjoyed the people I worked with and made personal connections with many of them. One of the reasons why I want to leave is that I am not challenged in my current position. I really did enjoy working there but feel my skills would be better put to use in a company where there is room for growth.

2. What problems did you have at your previous company? Always include a positive outcome. Answer: I always tried to solve a problem by talking about it directly with the person concerned. With one issue I had it turned out that is was simply a matter of misunderstanding the information. The issue was discussed and resolved quickly.

3. What do you consider your best the requirements of the job you are always over delivered on my sales bonus for doing so. Or: I have excellent and am organized and efficient.

4. What are your salary expectations? You should know what wage this type area. Answer: Give a salary range of earning. Or: Ask for more information expectations of the job before the salary

5. Why do you want this job? There are various answers for this question use the following as a base. Answer: Your website states that your company is young and growing and I would love to be a part of this growth. Or: This job is a great fit for what I have been interested in during my career. I love the thought of having both long and short term goals to reach.

Practice your answers to the questions above as much as you can. Try to customize them to include relevant information about your experience that matches what the company is looking for. Remember you are selling yourself while coming across as a professional. Taking the time to practice can make the difference between landing the job or receiving a rejection letter.

Marenda (Posts)

Living Life Abundantly Motivator Blogger Entrepreneur Extraordinaire! Living Life Abundantly is a life style choice of personal development, self improvement, and inspired action. I created this blog with the intention of entertaining, educating, and empowering those ready for change.