Job interviews are hardly anyone's favourite hobby. They
can be boring, nerve wrecking and challenging to say the
least. However, with the right attitude job interviews can
be a creative and highly rewarding process. The following
ideas and strategies are guaranteed to help you succeed at
job interviews and make the career changes you desire.
1. Find the problem - You are being interviewed because the
prospective employer has ongoing or potential problems that
need to be solved on a regular basis. As a result, your
success at the job interview depends on how well you are
able to demonstrate your problem-solving abilities. Find
out more about your prospective employer's wants and needs
by conducting vigorous research. For instance you can carry
out internet searches, speak to relevant staff, read
company literature and browse through press archives.
2. Find the solution - Anyone can identify problems but it
takes a winning candidate to create helpful solutions.
Whilst preparing for your job interview, seek a thorough
understanding of your prospective employer's wants and
needs then brainstorm for ideas and strategies that can
satisfy those wants and needs. The more solutions you can
proffer, the more capable you will appear. However, be
careful not to give too much information away at the
interview. Just say enough to demonstrate your expertise
and generate some positive interest.
3. Fire your desire - During the job interview, your
interviewers will want to know if you genuinely want the
job so don't hamper your chances by exhibiting nonchalant
behaviour. Whilst preparing for the interview, fire your
desire by repeatedly visualising yourself in the new role.
Remember that we attract the things we focus intently on.
Be sure to maintain high levels of confidence whilst
keeping your feet firmly on the ground. If you carry out
your due diligence and remain persistent, you will succeed
at job interviews and make the career changes you desire.
4. Get inside knowledge - It's important to find out,
beforehand, what format the job interview is going to take.
Will you be asked behavioural and situational questions for
instance? Will you have to prepare a presentation or take
any assessment tests on the day? The more you know, the
better prepared you'll be. It also helps to find out basic
information about your prospective interviewers. How many
people will be interviewing you on the day? What are their
names? What age group do they belong to? What are their
roles within the company? Again, if you know what to
expect, you'll feel more confident at the interview. Ask
the prospective employer, recruitment agents and other
reliable persons for detailed information then tailor your
responses to suit your interviewers' style.
5. Get some help - Often people find job interviews a chore
because they do all the preparation alone. But why bear the
burden yourself when you can easily get others to help you?
For instance, you can get close relatives to practice
likely questions and answers with you or pay the
neighbourhood whiz kid to do some research on your behalf.
If you are one of those people who can't figure out what
'smart casual' really means, get a fashionable friend to
help you choose what to wear on the big day. If your morale
is low, ask your nearest and dearest for encouragement and
support. Remember that even the most unlikely people can
offer unique perspectives and nuggets of wisdom too.
6. Do your best - It is true that you can only do your
best, but aim to make your best good enough. Speak clearly
and confidently at the job interview whilst maintaining
your natural style. For instance, if you are a slow talker
don't try to speak quickly just because you want to sound
keen on the job and if you are the serious sort don't try
to be overtly humorous either. Maintain eye contact with
your interviewers throughout the interview as this will
make you come across as honest, confident and intelligent.
Just be your best self and you'll make a positive impact at
the job interview.
7. Follow up - Never leave the interview room without a
contact name and direct telephone number you can use for
follow up purposes. However, make sure you find out how
long you should wait before soliciting job interview
feedback. It is wise to send a thank you note a few days
after the final interview and to ring for information
within agreed time scales. If more follow up is required do
so no more than twice per week, contacting the key decision
makers (usually the interviewers) directly where possible.
Do exhibit polite and professional behaviour at all times.
Well prepared candidates usually do well at job interviews.
Keep the above pointers in mind and you too can outshine
your competitors, secure your dream job and enjoy lasting
career happiness.
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Ogo Ogbata is the founder of leading lifestyle and career
design website CreativityandSense.Com. She helps
individuals find (or create if necessary) financially
rewarding work that allows time and energy for what matters
most in life. Visit http://www.creativityandsense.com for
tips and strategies guaranteed to help you create the
working life of your dreams.
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