Tips to make your Job Interview Successful

Essay by dlkmtj2000College, Undergraduate August 2006

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Congratulations! Spending days, weeks, or possibly months of looking for the right job has finally paid off and you've been asked to come in for an interview. Then comes the biggest question of all, "now what?" You will only have 15 to 20 minutes to "sell" your experiences, attitude, and skills to the employer - most likely without knowing what the employer wants to hear from you. It can seem overwhelming, but remembering a few key points can help make your interview successful.

1. Research.

Find out a little bit about the company you want to work for. Visit the location in person if it is a store or building open to the general public. Visit the company's Website and talk to anyone you might know who works there. What kinds of products or services does the company make or sell? What types of people work there? What are the typical hours this position requires? What are some of the day-to-day tasks that the job involves?

Make notes of things you want more information about and ask the employer about them at the end of your interview (it's always a good idea to have a few questions to ask the employer, anyway!).

Researching a company and the position make you stand out in an interview. It shows that you are really interested in working there.

2. Practice

It sounds funny - and it looks even funnier - but practicing out loud for your interview will help you sound more polished and concise and less nervous in the actual interview. List a few key things you want the employer to know about you, and review common interview questions. Formulate answers to those questions and answer them out loud while looking at yourself in the mirror. This exercise prevents you from rambling...