Job interviews are naturally stressful situations. From the personalities of the members of the interview panel to the questions they ask of you, every aspect of the interview is unknown and intimidating. Use these four great techniques to feel more prepared and comfortable in your next job interview.
1. Be Prompt
Consider doing a dry run a day or so before your job interview. Time yourself getting ready, getting to the interview site and finding a parking spot so you know how much time is needed. This also lets you know exactly where the building is so you're not lost on interview day. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the potential employer's office on the day of your job interview. Allow an extra 15 minutes to account for traffic, public transportation delays or other unforeseen situations that may make you late. Arriving a few minutes early gives you time to check in with the receptionist, catch your breath and organize your documents.
2. Emulate the Interviewer
From the very first handshake, study the interviewer and adopt his attitude. If he seems relaxed and speaks slowly, emulate this behavior. Pay attention to the interviewer's posture, speech, pacing and body language, and mirror these aspects throughout your interview. This lets you create a connection with the interviewer. The hiring manager is likely to be more trusting of an individual who behaves like him.
3. Think Out Loud
When you're asked a difficult question during your job interview, don't just sit with a deer-in-the-headlights look. Rather than sitting through awkward silence or throwing out a quick, unprepared response, take a deep breath and talk through your answer. An interviewer might ask you a strange or unexpected question purposely to gauge your reaction. Walk the interview panel through your thought process, explain your analysis of the problem, and provide specifics on how to solve the problem. This technique lets you avoid uncomfortable silence and gives the interviewer valuable insight about your problem-solving abilities.
4. Give Specific Examples
Before your job interview, think about the specific skills you possess that the potential employer desires. Come up with specific achievements or accomplishments from your past work experience that demonstrate these skills. Rather than simply stating that you're a detail-oriented person, provide the hiring manager with a real-world example to show how you put this skill to work. Explain how you revamped procedure manuals in your former position to make training easier on new hires.
It's not possible to be too prepared for a job interview. Pay close attention to your interviewer to project an image that is likable and familiar, and think through problem-solving steps out loud. Putting these great techniques into place helps you appear more confident and capable in your next job interview.
Image courtesy of Daily Doodle at Flickr.com
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