Interviewing Tips and Techniques

A job interview is a stressful situation, partially by design. By putting you in a high-pressure situation, employers can see how you communicate and present yourself under tough circumstances. Advance preparation can help you find the interview technique that works best to help you manage nerves and make a professional, poised impression.

Rehearse Anecdotes and Stories

The first time you answer a question, it is not uncommon to stumble over words and struggle to find the best description. In a job interview, these actions can make you look unprofessional and unprepared. Before you head to an interview, it is crucial to practice speaking about your background and experience. Research lists of common interview questions, and practice them with a friend or family member. Identify anecdotes that tell your personal story and help show your suitability for the open position. Tell them to your mock interviewer, ask for feedback, and try again until you can tell the story quickly and in a compelling manner. When the interview rolls around, you'll automatically be more comfortable speaking about yourself without stammering.

Automate Company Research

Company research is an important part of job interview preparation, but few people have the time to spend digging through the media each day. Stay up-to-date on the company's latest developments by automating your research. Set Google alerts for phrases that relate to the company: the company name, the industry name and the names of important executives, for example. Any time a news story containing your search terms is published online, Google will send you an alert.

Arrive Early

On the day of your job interview, get to the location at least 15 minutes early; running late will only add to your nerves. The extra buffer will allow you to sit down, breathe and collect yourself so that you can make a great first impression. If you have any concerns about public transportation or parking, do a dry run a few days in advance. Go through the entire process of getting to the location, from leaving the house to parking and finding the building. That way, you won't be caught off guard on the day of the interview.

Think Out Loud

During the job interview, it is likely that the employer will ask you questions for which you are unprepared. The questions may or may not relate to the job; some employers like to ask off-the-wall questions to see how you react. Instead of sitting in uncomfortable silence or answering with the first thing that comes to mind, a more effective interview technique is to work through your thought process out loud. Thinking out loud can help employers understand the way you approach a problem. It also fills the silence and allows you to arrive at a fully formed answer.

Preparation is the key to giving an excellent job interview. By rehearsing your stories in advance and identifying ways to handle tough situations during the interview, you can arrive with confidence and poise.

Photo courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net