How To Find A New Job

An interview can be an intimidating experience. Partly because often you want the job very badly and thus you feel like you are going to walk away just a little bit of a failure if you don’t get it, and partly because you are putting yourself on display and will have to answer questions that you will have fired at you.

Let’s look at the ways in which we can get a handle on those interview nerves and stop them in their tracks.

Preparation is a key element. Do as much research on the company as you can before you arrive. Look them up on the internet and understand what they do, their position in the market and who their competitors are. This works at whatever level you are seeking a position and for whatever role. If you are looking at working behind a counter, understand that shop’s place in the market or if you want to be a top legal assistant, again look at the firm and what its ethos is.

Although you cannot prepare for every question that will be asked of you at interview, you can do some groundwork and at least have some likely answers ready. Key areas will be what you feel you can bring to the role, how you think your previous experience relates to what they are looking for, your strengths and of course those darned weaknesses. When you are preparing your answers try to think particularly of the role for which you are being interviewed. You know what was outlined in the job vacancy, have a think about what skills and experience you have that could demonstrate how well you could do this new role. When asked about your weaknesses, try and suggest something that maybe at one time was a weakness, but which have now overcome and how you did it. Alternatively put something forward that could have both a negative and a positive spin. For example, ‘one of my weaknesses is that I tend to take on too much however, I have learned to handle this through prioritization and where applicable delegation.

On a practical level always find out the location of the interview in advance and make sure you have your route well mapped out, and that you know where the nearest parking or public transport is located. If possible visit the location a couple of days beforehand so that you know the route. On the day itself, leave in plenty of time and make sure you are not late. Even if it means getting there an hour before and sitting in a cafe round the corner for 50 minutes, do that. Not only is lateness a huge negative mark against you at interview but you don’t want to be all stressed and hot and bothered when you arrive. You want to walk in calm and collected, you may have butterflies, but the world would not know it, as far as they are concerned you are in control.

Dress and body language: Make sure that you are dressed smartly and appropriately for any interview. The company itself may have a dress-down policy but at interview stage you want to err on the side of caution and show yourself at your best. That said, make sure that the clothes you are wearing fit well and that you are comfortable in them. There is nothing worse that a too tight collar or a skirt that twists around constantly, to make you feel uncomfortable. When you first shake hands with the interviewer, do so with a firm grasp and throughout the interview keep eye contact and try not to fiddle with your hair, jewelry or clothing. Also nerves can get the better of our speech and we can either start muttering very quietly or talking at breakneck speed at the top of our voices. If you know that this is sometimes an issue for you, keep taking deep breaths and focus on the speed and volume at which you are talking. All of this seems a lot to be thinking about but after a couple of interviews it will seem like second nature.

Lastly, the key thing to remember is that whilst you are being interviewed for a role, you are also interviewing the company to see if it is right for you. Now I know this might seem an impossible dream when you are really desperate for a job, but coming from this standpoint does give you a mindset of greater confidence. Thus, you also need to ask pertinent questions of the interviewer about the company. For example, ask about its direction, its levels of success, why the role became vacant and about other members of your prospective team. If you approach the interview in this way you take back just a little feeling of control for yourself and can approach the interview as a two way dialogue.

With these points in mind you should be a lot calmer as you approach the interview process. Even if you are not successful the first few times, you are gaining experience and confidence at every step, and remember you are not just looking for a job where you are right for the company, but where the company is also right for you.

Alison Wood has been the HR Manager for a large international company for over 12 years. To get further insights into career planning and job hunting success, check out the Career Planning Guide Toolbox

It is important for your career going forward to become comfortable in an interview setting. If you are not comfortable at interview, it will be difficult to obtain a quality position within a company.  The employers will assume that if you cannot handle an interview, then how will you handle the full responsibilities of the position they are offering.

Now, let’s take a look at what employers are looking for.  One of the most important traits in an employee that the employer is looking for is a positive attitude.  Come in to the room with a smile and an eager handshake.  Give the interviewer the impression that you are very excited about this interview and the position with their company.

Be sure to express interest in the position, as well as interest in the company.  Make sure to do some research about the company and the position you are applying for.  This will be especially helpful when you are asked the question, “why do you want to work for us?”   and this is a question you can almost always expect to be asked.

If possible, try to find out about the interviewer beforehand.  If you are referred to this job by a friend that already has a position with the company, make sure to ask him or her questions about the interviewer.  Get some tips about what the interviewer likes to hear.  Obviously, do not go in and say exactly what you were told but use this blueprint of a successful interview, and enhance it.  It is not possible for everyone to find out about the interviewer, but if you are able to do so, by all means, take advantage of it.

Be prepared to ask questions at the interview.  This shows the interviewer that you are not just there because it is necessary in order to get a job.  You are there because you have genuine interest in the company and also in becoming an employee for this company.

One obvious thing that employees are looking for is how you dress.  To be on the safe side, be sure to never underdress.  It is much better to be overdressed.  This way the employer knows you take the opportunity with their company very seriously.

When the interviewer is asking you questions, do not give them one word answers, even if you have no experience in what they are questioning you about.  Giving a response that is short, such as, “No, I haven’t” is not acceptable.  Say something like, “I have very similar experience to that and I feel those experiences would be very beneficial for me at this position.”

When the interview is finishing up, it is important to close out strong, because this is often how the interviewer will remember you.  Let them know how excited you are about potentially working with the company.  Find out what the next step is in the hiring process.  Let them know that you are able to excel at their company, and that you are very eager to receive an offer.  Remember, your number one goal is to get a job offer.  As you are leaving, thank them for their time, and let them know how much you would enjoy working with them personally.
 
For more ways to make interview a breeze head over to The Complete Career Planning Guide Toolbox.