Interviewing is one of the most important and most neglected parts of your job search. Unfortunately many people try to “wing it” with often regrettable afterthoughts. With careful preparation and practice, you can learn the necessary skills to avoid blowing your interview.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

1. Know Yourself. It is not easy to articulate your strong points to an interviewer if you cannot articulate them to yourself. Be sure you can discuss your skills/abilities, training, experience, education and career plans/goals. A common reason a recruiter rejects a candidate is their inability to convey goals, strengths, and career direction. If you need assistance in identifying your strengths and/or goals, set up an appointment with a career counselor.

2. Know Your Career Field. By reading and researching information online and in print resources, you can learn typical areas of responsibility in a given job, and the skills and personal traits necessary for success. Networking contacts can provide an inside view of the industry, describe a typical work day, and speak to you from first-hand experience.

3. Know the Employer. Find out about the company’s products, services, location(s), growth and future prospects, and also any current events of the employer. You can obtain this information from employer directories, google.com, online newspapers and industry magazines.

4. Know the Specific Job. Before going into an interview, you should have a clear description of the job and the required skills. Being willing to "do anything" suggests lack of preparation, lack of self-knowledge and indecisiveness. Again, research is the key!

ENHANCING YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS

1. Typical Questions. The purpose of an interviewer asking you questions is to evaluate: 1) How prepared and motivated are you for this job with this company?, and 2) How would you fit in with this company/department? Sample questions might include: "What would you like to be doing 5 or 10 years from now?", "Why should I hire you?" and “What is your greatest weakness?” Prepare a brief statement about yourself and say it over and over, so you get used to talking about your strengths in a succinct way. However, memorizing your answers will sound too “canned.”

2. Presentation. You send many nonverbal messages in an interview. In fact, many employers say that nonverbal communication can tell them as much about a person as the content of their answers. The interview is decided in the first 2 minutes based on these five areas: 1) strong posture, 2) good eye contact, 3) firm handshake, 4) clear and concise language skills, and a 5) a contagious smile.

WHAT TO DO DURING THE INTERVIEW

1. Know Where and When. Ask in advance the exact location of your interview, including the building and room number. Plan to walk into the office no more than 10 minutes early. Being late can be an interview killer.

2. Dress Professionally. Your interview attire should be appropriate for the position for which you are applying. If you are unsure of what to wear, opt for conservative dress. If you dress as if you don’t care, the company will reciprocate.

2. Think of the Interview as a Two-way Conversation. The interviewer wants to gather information about you, and you want to gather information about the employer. You also want to help the interviewer learn what you want him/her to know about you. Keep your answers to each of the questions to less than a minute; you don’t want to ramble.

3. Don’t be Afraid of Silence. If the interviewer wants more, he or she will prompt you. If there is a deadly pause after your answer, you can always ask, "Would you like me to go on?"

4. Be Yourself and Professional. It is self-defeating to portray yourself as someone else, or to attempt to fabricate or misrepresent your experience. You will not be happy in an organization which does not match your style.

5. Listen. It is easiest to answer effectively if you listen effectively. You should strike balance between selling your skills and experience and listening to them to discover if this is going to be a good match.

6. Use Examples Whenever Possible. "I have a lot of initiative." sounds nice, but it is not as powerful as the following: "I have a lot of initiative. For example, I thought it would be beneficial to my company to get a new project started, so I recruited interested co-workers and went to the administration with a proposal. Now we have a new product and service that has improved our bottom line."

7. Be Positive. Interviewers don’t want to hear why they should not hire you!

8. Find out What Happens Next. Will the interviewer get in touch with you? If so, when?

WHAT TO DO AFTER THE INTERVIEW

1. Take Notes. The first 30 minutes after your interview is a crucial time. Before your interview becomes a fuzzy memory, take the time to jot down notes about your meeting so you can plan your next steps. Try to write something about the positive and negative aspects of the interview.

2. Thank You Letters. These should be sent as soon as possible after every interview. It is not only common courtesy, but because most people do not write them, your note will set you apart from most applicants.

3. Follow-Up Phone Calls. If you have not heard from them within the designated time, call to follow up. As Tom Jackson states in Guerilla Tactics in the Job Market, a follow-up strategy will increase your odds of get-ting the offer by 30% or more! Reinforce the positive aspects of your candidacy and your interest in the job. Ask about the status of the search process. Arrange the next step in the selection process. The idea behind the follow-up phone call is to reinforce the favorable image you projected during your interview.