Out of Practice
I have been sending out resumes and answering apllications but I finally got a call. Problem is it's been so long since I've done an interview, so long since I've been out of work that I feel like I'm out of practice and I'm nervous about making a bad impression. What tips do you have for "brushing up?"
First of all, congratulations on landing that first interview. Just try and relax. To be quite honest with you, I used to absolutely dread interviewing, but have learned to make peace with myself. Now, I have calmed down, and I just do my best, act myself, let my personality show through, and hope I' ve made a favorable impression. Guess I haven' t done that badly, because I have had six job offers since last January. One thing you should do is just go over your resume, and rehearse a little. Normally interviewers will ask you specific questions that are hard to pre-determine, but they usually also ask you to tell them about yourself, and what you did at your previous positions. So, jot down some notes about actual duties and accomplishments you had on each job, especially if you haven' t gone into detail on your resume, or there is a job/jobs you don' t have on your resume, but are pertinent to the position you are interviewing for. Also, research as much as you can about the company, it' s employees, and what they do. You may think of questions to ask them about the company, which is usually the last thing they ask you at the interview. Try to remember the person interviewing you was jobless at one time too, so they will normally have some sympathy for you if you do seem a little nervous. Answer the questions the best you can, sell yourself, but don' t come across as a "know-it-all". There is a difference in "tooting your own horn", so to speak, and downright fabricating, boasting or stretching the truth. Let your personality show through, too. You have to remember, companies don' t always hire the most "qualified" candidate. Sometimes it is something intangible, such as personality, or fit, that makes you stand out. You could land a job on your first time out, or it could take a while. But, if you don' t get this job, other interviews will follow, and you' ll find each time it is a little easier. Don' t worry you will do just fine! Maas has some great suggestions and covered the important points of interviewing. I think that if you read Maas' s message carefully that is all you really need to know. If you still feel nervous check out Wall Street Journal' s on line employment section. They have some pretty good articles, including ones on interviewing. I basically read through some of the articles and took notes.That helped. Even if you don' t do all of this you will do fine! Some say that the more prepared you are the less nervous you will be. This was true for me. BUT if you have exceptional listening skills you can go in just as you are and impress the interviewer anyway.
"One thing you should do is just go over your resume, and rehearse a little" It helps me personally if I rehearse a lot, but not in the sense that you have canned answers. Rehearse in the sense that you really know your self. I actually practice in the front of the mirror and vocalize my answers to get a feel of how it comes out. This is not done in a preset way, but in a fluid in manner. So when I'm asked, it comes out in a relaxed flow. A good analogy would be praticing martial arts combinations, no way would you do the exact combination in a competition, but you're prepared and it just comes out nicely. "Let your personality show through, too." This really depends. If you are in a good place right now and you can be picky, yes be your self. This is important because the position could have great benefits and so on, but you just migh have a different way of looking at life. However, if you just need a job, then adapt. Mirror your interview. Don't mimic, but adjust your self accordingly. Some people have great personalities, but not everybody thinks its great. You probably shouldn't do this if you don't know what I'm talking about. "But, if you don't get this job, other interviews will follow, and you'll find each time it is a little easier." This is by far the best advice, don't look at it as one interview. Look at it as an interim step to something better. Prepare for the interview and learn some things in the process. Evaluate your self after the interview and see how you can do better on the next.
Wonderful. Confidence is probably one of the most important attributes. I have gotten jobs that I was not technically qualified for purely based on confidence. | |
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Career Tips
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