Finding a good job-and maybe even any job in a difficult market-requires hard work and perseverance.
Unfortunately for many job seekers, the hard work stops when securing the job interview, which is a major mistake.
Successful interviews rarely come naturally; they require planning and preparation and not just reliance on luck or good fortune.
A poorly managed interview process by a job seeker can ruin a great deal of effort that probably went into obtaining a strong resume and implementing an effective job search strategy.
Here are five tips to keep in mind when preparing for a job interview.
1.
Distinguish yourself from other applicants by learning as much as possible about a prospective employerbefore the interview.
Demonstrating your knowledge of a company during the interview shows your interest and willingness to prepare.
This makes a very good impression, and employers will appreciate your efforts.
You can Google the company or review its website to quickly gather information prior to the interview.
2.
Respect the interviewer's time and willingness to consider you for employment.
Prospective employers are doing job seekers a favor by providing employment interviews.
Make sure to demonstrate a genuine interest in the needs of the company considering you for employment.
In most cases, an interviewer will provide a summary of the position requirements and what type of skills the company is seeking.
Be sure to acknowledge the company's needs and relate your own background to the required skills.
Refrain from discussing your own requirements, including salary and other benefits, until the end of the interview, generally when prompted by the interviewer.
3.
Keep responses focused and relatively short.
When responding to interviewer questions, refrain from embellishing too much; instead provide a direct and complete answer without moving off target with unrelated details.
An interviewer is usually planning to ask many questions under strict time constraints.
Therefore, providing time sensitive and targeted responses will be appreciated.
4.
Consider the interview to be a performance.
It is critical to understand that you are being observed by an interviewer the minute the interview begins.
Never let down your guard, no matter how well you believe the interview is going.
Many job seekers have lost job opportunities by becoming too casual and informal at the end of interviews, demonstrating a lack of focus and discipline that is not very appealing.
5.
Keep in mind that soft skills are as important to interviewers as hard skills.
Specific skills and abilities needed for a position will be important to an interviewer.
However, soft skills, such as dependability, positive attitude, flexibility, integrity, and loyalty are important as well.
Never underestimate the value of soft skills during an interview.
An interviewer will be looking for indications that you will be a hardworking, reliable team player which goes beyond basic skills required for a job.
Getting a job interview is only part of the battle of securing a great job.
Proper interview planning and preparation by job seekers is essential and will be noticed and appreciated by interviewers.
Do not compromise all of the work that went into getting an interview by not taking the process seriously.