Job hunting is no fun, hours and hours spent searching and even more time filling out application forms can be a tough time and as much as it sucks, it is vital that you see it through. Once you are fortunate enough to get an interview, now is the time to give everything that you have in order to go get that job.
There is a great deal of competition right across the board when it comes to getting a job, this is largely as a result of more highly skilled people coming out of universities and colleges. For this reason you need to be on top of your game, and here is how.
Preparation
Preparation will include learning all that you can about the company which you have applied to, learn their history, learn what they do, how they do it and what their plans are, as well as any new and exciting developments. In terms of personal prep, you also need to ensure that you avoid any chances of not getting the job. For example, what will a prospective employer find when they search for you online? Will they find an upstanding member of society? Or will they find that photo on your Facebook page where you passed out after a party? If you are worried then speak to someone like Reputation Management Consultants Eric Schiffer and his team who can help to fix your online reputation.
Interview Time
The interview is all about you selling yourself, try not to waste time feeling nervous, this really will not help you. If you do start to feel nervous then try some breathing exercises which can help you to stay relaxed. When you are in the interview, you need to approach it with absolute confidence, avoid coming over as arrogant but you need to be assured in your approach, be direct and answer the questions in full. The key is to speak as much as possible, without rambling, if the interviewer has heard enough then they will stop you. If you are short with your answers then it will appear as though you have nothing to say and this will not bode well for you.
Listen carefully to what you are being asked, by all means take some time to think about your response, try to understand what the interviewer wants from you before answering. Be clear with your responses and try to pack in as much detail as you can about your strengths. By all means you can mention your weaknesses but do so in a positive light, for example: “Organization is a lesser strength of mine, but I am regularly seeking to improve it”. Nobody is perfect and you shouldn’t paint yourself as though you are.
Feedback
If you should fail in your interview then do not worry, take it as a learning curve, ask for feedback, understand it and go again. There are no guarantees that an interview will lead to a job and it is important that you hold your head high and try again.
