The To Do's For A Job Interview

So you went online and applied for the job of your choice. You get a phone call to set up an interview. All of the arrangements have been made. Now what?

Here are a few examples that will hopefully help you to pass your interview with flying colors.

The first thing you should do is your homework on the company. It is important to know what you are attempting to get yourself into. Taking on a job is a commitment and it is important to get better acquainted with the company. The internet is a good resource. However, there are other avenues. Please review a few suggestions that I have listed below to help you with your research.

• If it is a large company, more than likely, they will have a biography on their website.
• Check the Better Business Bureau website at www.bbb.org. It is important to know how they treat their customers.
• Call the company and ask questions.
• If a friend currently works or have worked for the company, they can provide you with information.

Be careful not to overload with information and definitely don't spill it all out in your interview.

The next step is to think about your wardrobe choice. Unfortunately, your outer appearance does matter. Therefore, you must dress for success. Even if the dress code calls for jeans, you must dress above and beyond the code.

I have been a part of management and assisted with the hiring process. Therefore, I speak from personal experience. A lot of the individuals that conducted the interviews scanned the applicant over and immediately said, "No!". I know it sucks, but the world is a visual place. You can have all of the education and experience in the world but if you're not dressed the part, you will not go beyond that interview.

• Have a neutral colored business suit with a collard shirt. No loud colors. This applies to both men and women.
• Men..dress shoes are required. Please don't wear tennis shoes. It will not produce a polished look.
• Women...I love my heels and I love to wear them extremely high but on a job interview it is not going to fly.

Please use your common sense. If you really are at a loss, there are several websites that will show you what to wear.

A mock interview is a practice interview. If it's been a while since you been on an interview, this would be a really good option. Every employer is different and the interview questions will vary. However, it will help you with your pre interview jitters. A good place to start on how to get help with a mock interview is with a non profit employment agency. They will be able to help groom you for your interview.

I remember when I was employed with a temporary agency and was paid to participate in a mock interview. I was fortunate, the company that hired us for the interviews were training their managers on how to conduct them.

When you are on the interview, you are there to sell yourself. You are your product. It is important to know your work history and know your skills. I have been on plenty of interviews and did not remember the duties I performed on my previous jobs. It don't look good if you are reading your resume word for word to your interviewer.

You want to look confident and give them plenty of eye contact. Don't slouch. Make sure that you speak with complete sentences. If you don't understand a question, ask them to rephrase it. It is your time to shine.

Make sure that you have several copies of your resume and your "Professional References" available. I cannot stress enough that it is not feasible to have someone pretend that they were your supervisor. You can really embarrass yourself and damage your credibility.

If the job you are applying for requires you to provide samples of your work, make sure that you have that in order. It would be a good idea to have letters of recommendations from other employers. Also, proof of awards for outstanding service, etc.

I am not telling you to over do it. I feel that it's wise to be prepared. Just try to have the mind not to throw everything that you compiled on the table during your interview.

A lot of employers like for you to ask questions at the end of the interview. But don't go overboard by bombarding them with tons of questions. At least ask five questions. Listed below are a few examples of some of the questions that I have asked.

• Why do you like working here?
• How would the quality and productivity of my work be measured?
• What type of training program is provided for the position?
• How does the company contribute to the community?
• Where do you see the future of the company in three years?

Try not to get discouraged if don't get the position. Think positive before you go into the interview. Don't tell yourself that your not going to get the job. If you put negative energy out that is what's going to be brought back to you. Remember that when one door closes another one opens. Everything happens for a reason.

I hope the information I provided is helpful and I wish you luck on your job search. Thank you for reading my hub.