Perfecting Your Interview Skills

Written by Danny Iny Jun 07, 2009 www.jobsarticle.com

So you've created a great CV that showcases real value, you've networked efficiently, and you've landed an interview. Congratulations now what? Interviews can be scary and nerve-wracking, but if you know what you want and go for it, you'll be fine. There's no such thing as a wrong answer, but there is such a thing as misrepresenting yourself. A few key tips and strategies should be enough to bring you through with articulate poise.

One of the most common interview blunders is to fall in to the trap of scripting answers or answering questions with common clichés. Since so much of the weight of an interview is on your non-verbal communication, over-preparation will show the interviewer that you're nervous and perhaps not confident enough in what you have to offer.

Answering questions with clichés like the infamous “I'm a perfectionist who works too hard” answer doesn’t just show a lack of originality, but also that you’re willing to shadow who you really are. The best thing to do is to be honest and be yourself. If you trick the company into hiring you by scripting answers, it won't be you that they're hiring. If your honest answers in an interview aren't appreciated by the employer, you're probably not a good fit for the company anyways. Your dream job has to correspond with your dream company, and that has to be a place where you can be yourself!

Even more important than what you say, is how you appear. I don’t mean how well ironed your shirt is here (although that is important!) we're talking about being relaxed and confident. So much of the interview is non-verbal communication you can go in and nail all the right answers, but if you're sweating bullets and look like you'd rather be on the next train to anywhere, you're communicating that you're not confident or comfortable. The only way to overcome nerves is by practicing and by becoming comfortable with the interview process.

With every interview, you’ll get better at presenting yourself but it's a lot of work and a lot of stress just to go to interviews for practice. Most career and placement centers whether attached to a university or private ones offer mock interview services. Here, a career or placement professional will ask you questions as though in a real interview, and then give you feedback at the end. Mock interviews aren’t as high stakes as real interviews, but you'd be surprised at how much more comfortable you’ll feel just for having gone through the process a few times. In the end, the questions that you're asked aren't really that difficult it's just the pressure that gets to you.

Remember, always remember, that if you don't get this job, you'll get another one. When you're really confident about the value you bring to the table, you know that the right job is out there for you it’s just a matter of time until you find it. Life takes a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and sometimes not being hired for one job leads you to get another that’s even better.

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