10 Tips for Nailing a Job Interview
4. Ask contacts for the inside scoop on the company and, if possible, about the personality of your interviewer.
5. Smile at your prospect and shake his or her hand. The gracious interviewee lands the job.
6. Avoid canned answers to questions. Take answers you’ve already prepared, change them around, play with them and really make them your own.
7. Nix slang words such as “like,” “gee,” “um” and “wow” from your interview spiel. Valley Girl-speak automatically subtracts, like, major IQ points.
8. Follow the news. There could be a story about the very company where you’re interviewing. Bringing it up will give you extra points for sure.
9. Don’t leave the interview without asking your prospect at least three questions.
10. Follow up with a thank-you email or letter within three business days after you interview.
Written by Vicky Oliver, author of 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions. Reprinted with permission of Sourcebooks. Copyright 2005.
More Career Tips and Career Advice
Top 4 Resume Mistakes that Can Kill Your Career
6 Steps to Score a New Job
How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Career
Six Steps to Finding Your Dream Job
Page |
| |
2 |
 COMMENT ON ARTICLE |
 FORWARD |
 |
POST THIS ARTICLE ON:
 Del.icio.us
 Digg
 Reddit
|
||
Your comments
| Honesty | |
| I think it's always best to be on time, and be yourself. You need to let them see you have a great personality, and that you can get the job done. I have gotten caught being dishonest. So I also think it's best to tell the truth. You can exagerate a little bit, but a honest woman has nothing to fear. | |
| summer-girl | |
| I work in Human Relations, and we always get people who when we contact, say "sorry, I can't come in that day. I have ______." They should make sure and be there. It shows they want the job. | |
| Sunny | |
| When do I start is also a great question. hehe. | |
| crashing_nightingale | |
| I also think the question "Is there room to grow in this company" is a good one too. It shows that you are motivated in excelling in your position, and will also determine if it's a dead-end job or not. | |
| bruinla | |
| I always hate the question, "What are your weaknesses?" Definitely plan ahead for that one. | |
| lily -- Los Angeles | |
| I agree that coming up with questions before you go into the interview is very important. Employers always will ask if you have any questions. On one interview I had to meet with three different people and they each asked me if I had any questions. I asked them all the only question I could think up on the spot and it was very lame. My advice- think of great questions ahead of time because employers get excited about your curiosity. | |
| GoldenAfternoon -- San Francisco | |
| A good question to ask: What's a typical day like in this position? And don't forget a firm handshake...a limp one is an immediate turn-off. | |
Check out all
our favorite
finds in
Shopping >>
- Savvy Miss Feeds