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You have thirty
seconds to make a great first impression. However,
your mouth is dry, your hands are sweaty, and you
have butterflies in your stomach. You are sure that
you are about to flub up your interview. What can
you do to turn this situation into the job of your
dreams? Use the following "power" tips and ace the
interview:
Sell Yourself
From the First Moment
Walk in,
offer your hand first and allow the other person
to release first. This effort balances the handshake.
Make sure you give a firm handshake because you
will be judged by it. As you offer your hand, make
eye contact with the other person. Now for the
real power tip: you should break eye contact first
to have the power. Make sure you break eye contact
for only a second and then go back to eye contact.
Bring several copies of your resume with you to
your interview. Typically, employers use teams
for interviewing and you can give them each an
original of your resume. It is also helpful to
bring copies of your personal and work references,
letters of reference and your last three performance
appraisals. If you are offered coffee or anything
else to drink, turn it down graciously. The interviewer
is just being nice and trying to make you feel
at ease, but he will hold it against you if you
spill a drink. Interviewing is nerve wracking;
so don't add any stress to the moment. Do your
homework before the interview. The library is filled
with information on many companies. Find out their
products, services, annual sales, company philosophy,
management style, and benefits package. The more
you know about the employer, the better prepared
you will be when it comes time to negotiate.
Mirror
and Match the Interviewer
After you
are offered a seat and you get comfortable in your
chair, begin the mirroring and matching. If it
is a team interview, match the person who seems
to be the leader. Sit the way she sits and use
the same tone in your voice. Listen for the verbs
that the other person uses in her questions. Use
the same type of verbs back to her. For instance,
she asks, "In your last position, could you see
how you fit into the big picture?" You should respond
with, "I could see that my job was very important
to the company." Don't be exactly like the other
person, just subtly like her. Matching will help
you gain rapport. Once you have rapport, it is
much easier for you to be trusted and accepted.
Should
You Ask Questions?
In your
first round of interviewing for a position, it
is best to avoid asking questions that might sound
inappropriate or immature. After they have completed
their questions for you, they will ask if you have
any questions. It is a good idea to ask a couple
of questions, but avoid asking about any of the
following: · Salary · Vacation Time · Health Benefits · Expense
Reimbursement It is better to ask questions to
follow up on something mentioned during the interview;
this shows you were paying attention. You can ask
for a timeframe when they will be making a decision.
You can also use this time to strengthen one of
your earlier answers.
After the
Interview
When you
are finished, shake hands with everyone again and
thank them for their time. When you get back to
your car, handwrite a thank you note to the decision
maker. Mail it on your way home so they will receive
it within thirty-six hours. Most job seekers don't
bother with thank you notes so yours will get noticed
immediately.
Practice
Makes Perfect
To be calm
in an interview takes practice. When you are really
serious about getting a job or changing careers,
get yourself as many interviews as you possibly
can. The more you do, the calmer you will be when
the right one comes along. If you are really nervous
before the interview, take a few deep breathes
before the interview and focus on your answers.
Answer all the questions honestly and you will
worry less. When you take the time to follow these
steps, you will be dealt a winning hand.
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