Follow These Tips to Nail That Interview

For many job seekers, interviews are a nerve-wracking event. It's difficult to know exactly what your potential employer is looking for, but there are several things you can do to ensure you're prepared for the interview.

Develop Your Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is a short speech that summarizes who you are, what you can do for the organization and what you're looking for professionally. A well-developed pitch can be a lifesaver, because it gives you a starting point during the interview. It also doubles as a well-rounded, concise answer to the inevitable and tricky statement, "Tell me about yourself." To create a compelling pitch that packs a punch, start by listing all the skills, experiences and qualifications you want the hiring manager to know, then eliminate information that is not critical. Use the remaining information to put together a quick 30 to 60 second summary.

Practice Your Answers

To avoid stumbling through the interview, practice your answers to common interview questions. Certain questions almost always pop up during the interview, such as "What are your strengths?" and "Why did you leave your last job?" Prepare great answers to these questions, and rehearse the answers over and over until you are comfortable answering them confidently.

Mind Your Body Language

Your body language is just as important as what you say during the interview. Don't allow your nerves to affect the way you portray yourself. Nervous fiddling, looking at the floor or rubbing your hands together are telltale signs that you are not at ease. Moreover, these behaviors can distract the interviewer. Be mindful of how you come across during the interview. A firm handshake, great posture and good eye contact help convey a confident image, even if you're nervous on the inside.

Ask Your Own Questions

A job interview is not an interrogation; it is a conversation between you and the job recruiter. Just as the recruiter wants to know more about you and your history, you should want to know more about the company. Interviewers normally ask job candidates if they have any questions at some point during the conversation, so be sure to have a few prepared. Make sure the interviewer didn't already address your questions during the interview. It's perfectly fine to write down a few questions in a notebook for reference. Doing so actually demonstrates to the interviewer that you cared enough to prepare ahead of time.

Your preparedness for the interview is key to making a strong impression with the hiring manager. Research the company ahead of time, practice your answers, mind your body language and ask compelling questions at the end of each interview to impress the interviewer and increase your chance of landing the job.

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