Job Interview Guidelines

Guidelines to job interviews help you prepare better for that crucial make or break moment with the employer. Prepare well for your interview.

After searching every job ads pages of every newspaper and every job sites, you are finally called in for an interview. Although securing an employment and not the interview itself is your main goal, passing the interview is a very important phase.

An interview is your opportunity to present yourself, your talents and what you can offer potential employers. You very well know that competition for employment is tough these days. So you have to be well prepared and make the best impression in your job interview. Here are eight guidelines about interview to help you get the job.

Know where the company is. You think this is just a minute detail but it can make a big difference. You do not want to arrive late (and stressed) at your appointment. Prior to the interview, conduct your research and know where the company is exactly located. This important information gives you a rough estimate of your travel time.

Make sure to arrive at the place at least 15 to 20 minutes to allow yourself to freshen up and go to the powder room if you must. Many companies also ask their applicants to fill out application forms prior to the interview proper so the extra time will enable you to accomplish this without pressure.

Your appearance is as significant as your substance. The way you walk, the way you carry yourself and your fashion style speak a lot about you. Researches say that 65% of communication is nonverbal. Image and gestures are powerful factors in a job interview. So you must look decent, confident, poised and smart. Always create an impressive first impression.

Know your talents and potentials. Be confident of yourself and of what you can contribute to the company. Keep in mind your skills, education, working experience and training. Be ready to answer the common job interview questions like, "what makes you the best candidate for the job?" and "what do you have to offer the organization?"

Show a positive manner. This means providing positive responses to seemingly negative-based questions at all times. Never ever give negative criticisms of previous employer/s. You have to keep going even though you made a mistake in some instances. Employers are generally impressed with an optimistic attitude.

Be tactful and honest. Tact and honesty are signs of professionalism and good breeding. Answer all the recruiter's questions tactfully and honestly. Most interviewers are trained and experienced when it comes to assessing people's personality. they will always know if you are being truthful or not. This will greatly affect your chances of getting into the second interview and clinching the position as well.

Keep eye contact. Remember that eyes are powerful. Most recruiters and executives take notice of the body language of a potential worker and this covers posture, mannerisms and eye contact. Avoid looking away when hard questions are thrown into you. Maintain eye contact and smile during hand shakes and introductions, as this shows openness and friendliness.

Keep responses clear, concise and specific. You need not give long, irrelevant details to questions except if you are asked to provide more details. Limit your answers to not more than 3 minutes per question. Be specific and give quantifiable as well as concrete information. Avoid the tendency to over generalize.

Be prepared with your success stories. Do this by creating a list containing your skills and accomplishments. Think back of your previous work experience and choose two or three cases wherein you were able to successfully utilize your skills.