How to master a job interview?
I am currently looking for a new job but when i think about interviews i get nervous. i have a BS in Management Information System and I want a good job. How do i prepare for a job and win the interview. I just freeze up when they ask me question even when i know the answers to the question. And what is the best answer when they ask you why should we hire you over other applicants? Also what do i say when what are your weakness? What are some confidence strategies I can master? Please help I have a interview coming up…
The best way to get over the jitters is to know your stuff. Make out a list of common questions that they’ll most likely ask and think about answers ahead of time. Remember, when they ask something like "what are your strengths" they don’t just want you to list them, they want examples. Think of those examples ahead of time so that you have them ready. Memorize your answers but present them in a way that seems like you’re coming up with it on the spot. Employers also don’t want a robot.
Why should we hire you over other applicants?
This one is tough because you don’t want to put down their other applicants but you want to somehow raise yourself above the rest of them. This question is basically a "what are you strengths" question with a little twist because you have to have some strength that the other applicants are unlikely to match. Go with a strength you’ve predetermined in your brainstorming session but make sure your example puts you over the top. You work well under pressure? Tell them about the time you wrote 3 essays in one night. You have good communication skills? Tell them about the time you ameliorated a problem between a Red Sox fan and a Yankees fan.
What are your weaknesses?
Make sure your weakness is believable. "I’m a perfectionist" is just too commonly used and it’s not really an answer. Point out a real weakness of yours but be prepared to explain how you overcome it on a daily basis. Let them know it’s a weakness, but it’s under control.
Good luck with everything. Interviews are tough but keep in mind that if they’re asking you for an interview they’re already impressed by your resume. Just keep them interested.
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Find the balance b/w confidence and cockiness.
References :
The best way to get over the jitters is to know your stuff. Make out a list of common questions that they’ll most likely ask and think about answers ahead of time. Remember, when they ask something like "what are your strengths" they don’t just want you to list them, they want examples. Think of those examples ahead of time so that you have them ready. Memorize your answers but present them in a way that seems like you’re coming up with it on the spot. Employers also don’t want a robot.
Why should we hire you over other applicants?
This one is tough because you don’t want to put down their other applicants but you want to somehow raise yourself above the rest of them. This question is basically a "what are you strengths" question with a little twist because you have to have some strength that the other applicants are unlikely to match. Go with a strength you’ve predetermined in your brainstorming session but make sure your example puts you over the top. You work well under pressure? Tell them about the time you wrote 3 essays in one night. You have good communication skills? Tell them about the time you ameliorated a problem between a Red Sox fan and a Yankees fan.
What are your weaknesses?
Make sure your weakness is believable. "I’m a perfectionist" is just too commonly used and it’s not really an answer. Point out a real weakness of yours but be prepared to explain how you overcome it on a daily basis. Let them know it’s a weakness, but it’s under control.
Good luck with everything. Interviews are tough but keep in mind that if they’re asking you for an interview they’re already impressed by your resume. Just keep them interested.
References :
When they ask about your weakness say…. that you are a perfectionist. I’ve used this at every interview I’ve ever had and they love that answer.
Here’s something you’d like to read….I saw it on the Rachael Ray show the other day and they talked about how important body language is. Don’t play with your hair, don’t touch your face, don’t figit, don’t say "um", make eye contact…..
http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/segments/view/your-body-language-keeping-you-unemployed/
References :
I have gotten offers for about every job I’ve applied, including my most recent job – which I am way under qualified for. How? I sold my future abilities, enthusiasm, and constant striving for more and more knowledge. I am a very good BS’er. I learned how to be this way – and I learned as I went along. They key is, to have a few different scenarios of your past experience and how they apply to the job you are interviewing. Everyone gets nervous, even the person interviewing you. So, don’t worry. Just focus on how YOU know you are the right person, and why. How you bring more to the table than someone who has 10 years more experience, because you have the drive – you will be more productive, you will bring enthusiasm and youth, etc. etc.. add your BS. Good luck.
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See thats unfortunate because the key to an interview is confidence. First i will adress a couple tips you should consider going into an interview, secondly i will answer your questions. This is all based on personal experience, i have been in ALOT of interviews in my day and GPA graduating from college (which was poor) does NOT reflect the job I have now simply because I have alot of experience and enjoy talking to people.
1. If you haven’t already, give your resume a STRONG makeover. The more information you have on your resume the more you give an employer to talk about. It should be easy to talk about the things you’ve done in the past.
2. Make strong eye contact, smile, relax, and give a firm handshake. Have good posture and dont fiddle with your pen or shake your leg. If you portray yourself as relaxed you might convince yourself that you are.
3. Ease tension by making a joke, or talking about the drive to the interview, or the weather. If you see something sports related in the office, maybe make a small (positive) comment prior to interviewing. Humor is a great way to ease public speaking.
4. Speak with confidence. Enunciate your words and don’t apologize for anything you say.
5. DO YOUR RESEARCH. At the end of an interview make SURE that you have questions to ask the employer. This is your chance to show your employer that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in the company. Perhaps ask something about current news. (i.e "I heard that you’re issuing a 1.5 dividend in the fourth quarter, how will this affect your shareholders as well as internally?").
6. Prior to the interview ask the employer what TYPE of interview it will be. There are various types. The trend for MIS corp’s are Behavioral interviews. These interviews ask about past experiences that will determine the future, such as (tell me about a time when you worked ina team, tell me about a time when you ran into conflict". Prepare these answers for yourself on paper and remember what you will say. This way you’ll know exactly what to say if they ask you tehse type of questions.
Now to answer your questions….
RELAX, recruiter’s aren’t going to bite. If they ask why they should hire you over other applicant’s they aren’t a good interviewer. But regardless you have to prepare yourself for stupid questions like that. Explain to them why, a question like this is ideal to absolutely ramble about yourself. (i.e I work great in team settings, i’m ambitious, blah blah).
ALWAYS GIVE SUPPORT TO YOUR ANSWERS.
Why do you work great in a team environment, why are you ambitious? think about these things while telling them about yourself.
When they ask what a weakness is, based on the fact that you asked this question perhaps you should say (I need to improve public speaking). Make sure if you give a weakness it’s not something that can inhibit yourself from being hired.
Gain confidence by preparing yourself for the interview based on what i said above and TELL yourself you can do it.
I’m glad i could share some of my personal wisdom and i really hope this helps. It has for me. Good Luck and keep your head high!
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