Top Ten Tips to a Winning Job Interview

Top Ten Tips to a Winning Job Interview
There are 10 easy ways to help make your job interview go
smoothly. Review these steps, practice and relax. After
all, what is the worst thing that can happen? For many
people the worst thing that can happen is "rejection" - not
getting an offer. Try to look at the job interview as a
learning experience.

Make sure you have these items under control before each
interview and the interview process will go much smoother.

1. Look Sharp.

Before the interview, select your outfit. Depending on the
industry and position, get out your best duds and check
them over for spots and wrinkles. Even if the company has a
casual environment, you don't want to look like you slept
in your clothes. Above all, dress for confidence. If you
feel good, others will respond to you accordingly.

2. Be on Time.

Never arrive late to an interview. Allow extra time to
arrive early in the vicinity, allowing for factors like
getting lost. Enter the building 10 to 15 minutes before
the interview.

3. Do Your Research.

Researching the company before the interview and learning
as much as possible about its services, products, customers
and competition will give you an edge in understanding and
addressing the company's needs. The more you know about the
company and what it stands for, the better chance you have
of selling yourself. You also should find out about the
company's culture to gain insight into your potential
happiness on the job.

4. Be Prepared.

Bring along a folder containing extra copies of your
resume, a copy of your references and paper to take notes.
You should also have questions prepared to ask at the end
of the interview.

5. Show Enthusiasm.

A firm handshake and plenty of eye contact demonstrates
confidence. Speak distinctly in a confident voice, even
though you may feel shaky.

6. Listen.

One of the most neglected interviewing skills is listening.
Make sure you are not only listening, but also reading
between the lines. Sometimes what is not said is just as
important as what is said.

7. Answer the Question Asked.

Candidates often don't think about whether or not they
actually are answering the questions asked by their
interviewers. Make sure you understand what is being asked,
and get further clarification if you are unsure.

8. Give Specific Examples.

One specific example of your background is worth 50 vague
stories. Prepare your stories before the interview. Give
examples that highlight your successes and uniqueness. Your
past behavior can indicate your future performance.

9. Ask Questions.

Many interviewees don't ask questions and miss the
opportunity to find out valuable information. Your
questions indicate your interest in the company or job.

10. Follow up.

Whether it's through email or regular mail, the follow-up
is one more chance to remind the interviewer of all the
valuable traits you bring to the job and company. You don't
want to miss this last chance to market yourself.

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Carole Martin, America's #1 Interview Coach is a
contributing writer for Monster.com Try her FREE practice
interview at http://www.interviewcoach.com

Ten Ways Leaders Overcome Analysis Paralysis

Ten Ways Leaders Overcome Analysis Paralysis
One of the biggest challenges leaders have is to ensure
that preparation and analysis add real value and provide
the framework for action. The biggest enemy to action is
analysis paralysis.

One of the most difficult habits to break is the habit of
continuing to create and analyze choices long after
decisive action should have taken place. Analysis paralysis
is the graveyard of many organizations and careers. It's
procrastination - on both the organizational and individual
level - caused by fear of failure, fear of consequences,
fear of not being thorough, fear of making a mistake.

Analysis paralysis results in too many choices. Too many
choices drag down the energy, the time and the effort of
all those who are part of the issue.

Here are ten ways leaders have ensured they and their
organizations don't fall victim to analysis paralysis.

1 - Define success as the result of a cumulative process -
built on a cycle of action, evaluation, improvement - then
action, evaluation, improvement. Nothing creates fear - and
analysis paralysis - quicker than to be told that whatever
decision is made will result in failure or success - with
no other possible outcomes. Creating a either/or success
or failure situation will almost certainly result in
careful - read lengthy - analysis and preparation. Define
ideal outcomes and solutions and use them as guidelines in
setting goals - just don't let the ideal be the only
acceptable solution.

2 - The best course of action in the vast majority of
situations is the one that "meets requirements." Save the
"best possible" course of action for the relatively few
high value, high impact decisions.

3 -Impose constraints - money, time, resources - that keep
the focus on action, not on preparation and analysis

4 - Set up a ready, fire, aim behavior. Insist on enough
information to act with a reasonable degree of confidence
in the decision, and establish a measuring mechanism to
allow for changes as they become apparent.

5 - Realize that simplicity and limited choices can be very
liberating - they create a structure that allows for
action, rather than a constant evaluation of ever
increasing alternatives. Complexity is the partner of
analysis paralysis.

6 - Value attitudes that place a premium on information -
but information as a means to act, not as an end in itself.

7 - Insist on action at every step. Direction and
priorities are created through goal setting. Accomplishment
is the benchmark of success - not activity.

8 - Accept that mistakes are part of improvement. The
biggest enemy of innovation and development is often the
fear of making a mistake - or of being blamed for a
mistake. A problem solving climate accepts mistakes as part
of the process of improvement. It punishes non risk taking
behavior, as well as behavior to cover up mistakes."If
you're not making mistakes you're not accomplishing
anything" is a belief in problem solving organizations.

9 - Adopt a "Principle of Good Enough " (POGE) attitude
toward action. Software developers use POGE to act -
knowing that the only way to implement and improve is to
throw the switch - go live - measure the results and
improve - and then do it all over again. Adjustments based
on the results of action are an accepted part of the
process - not an indication of failure.

10 - Keep progress reviews simple and frequent and highly
structured. It's amazing how even the most worthy goal can
become hostage to analysis paralysis - if it's left
unattended by people in a position to see the bigger
picture. Make course corrections a routine part of the
process - an accepted and vital part of meeting goals. A
question that should be asked in every progress review
should be " "What course corrections do we have to make to
meet this goal?"

Take an inventory - of yourself and of your organization.
Ask yourself if the conditions for analysis paralysis exist
- or if analysis paralysis is already hard at work
confusing activity with accomplishment. Then use the
suggestions from the leaders who contributed to this
article to increase your personal and organizational
competitive advantage.

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Andy Cox helps clients align their resources and design and
implement change through the application of goals focused
on the important few elements that have maximum impact in
achieving success - as defined by the client. He can be
reached at http://www.coxconsultgroup.com and E Mail at
acox@coxconsultgroup.com