It never fails to amaze me that people bemoan that they get a letter or phone call to say that

“You Have Not Been Successful In Your Job Application”!

How many of us have had that sinking feeling of not getting the job. But stop there who’s fault is it? The employer or you?

Stand back and ask yourself

Did I do every thing right?

You may find that it was not totally the fault of the employer, remember he was looking for the best person for the job both in skill level as well as personality, unfortunately you didn’t tick all the boxes, that’s life it gets harder to find a job in today’s job market, so you have to go the extra mile to get the job, it means getting of your butt and do the research, give the time and effort. So ask the question again.

I will let you into a little secret - Employers don’t owe you anything! Just turning up and sitting in the chair with no preparation and expect to get the job- Get real. Some times there are other people more qualified or have more experience than you, if you get an interview, pat yourself on the back, on average 100+ people will apply for each job, so you are in the front door to get an interview.

So what do I do next

Research

Key Questions and answers

Body Language

Attitude

Presentation

My Skills

Think about it, turn the situation around. You are on the other side of the desk and you are doing the interview, what do you see? Happy? Not so sure; so what do I need to change?

So next time you get a letter saying No!! don’t just assume that the employer was a jerk!

Take the responsibility and make the difference.

A good place to start is to read “How To Win Friends And Influence People” by Dale Carnegie, its quite an old book but you can learn a lot about people and to become liked and respected.

Going for an interview is usually a very stressful event. Most interviewees are very anxious and edgy both when they practice for the interview and at the actual one. Others step into the interview room only to find that their mouths have dried up and they’re at a complete loss of words. The only way to stop that from happening to you is to prepare yourself adequately.

The good news is, there are always a number of standard questions that you could be asked during an interview. Knowing what they are and preparing some clever responses to them can greatly enhance your performance in the interview. We now take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions and how you should respond to them.

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

When you answer this question, always focus on your positive traits, both personal and professional. Make it a point to emphasize your valuable skills, experiences, and achievements, without sounding like you are bragging. Before coming up with something witty, you need to study the job description thoroughly in order to customize your answer to the specific position you’re interviewing for.

What is your biggest weaknesses?

This is probably one of the more tricky questions. Most people think that the best way to approach it is to name a weakness that can be thought of as a strength. For example, you could say that you’re a perfectionist or that you work too hard sometimes. The problem with this is that most experienced interviewers are likely to have heard the same type of answer many times in the past. You would probably be better off just being honest. State a true weakness but make sure you can demonstrate that you are doing something to overcome it. For example, you could say that you have a hard time delegating work but that you have enrolled in a course that teaches delegation techniques.

What is your greatest strength?

This is the perfect opportunity to showcase what you excel in. Find a way to mention more than just one good trait and be sure to pick those that will contribute the most to the type of job you’re applying for. For example, if the job description says that you have to be a team player, you might want to mention that you are good at motivating other people.

Why did you apply for this job?

The reason most interviewers ask this question is because they want to see if you’ve actually put some serious thought into the job (as opposed to sending out resumes for any job opening). Doing some research about the company’s background and values will allow you to come up with a good answer. For example, you could say that the company’s values are in line with yours. Even more importantly, you need to explain how your skills and experiences will add to the company’s value.

Remember, your understanding of the interview process and the motivation behind these questions are crucial in determining how successful you are. Most employers will also throw some unexpected questions at you to test your ability to think on the spot. Don’t be afraid of them, the interviewer is not an enemy. There is always a good reason for every question, and if you are able to grasp what that reason is, you’re going to find it much easier to answer them.

Following Up After an Interview:

You are quite happy with yourself because that last interview went really well. You feel that your chances of getting the job are pretty good but you hate the part where you have to sit back and wait for the employer to call you back. Well, guess what? You’re not supposed to just sit back and wait. An interview is never finished when you shake hands and leave the room; you have to follow up on it.

Following up after an interview can give you a winning edge over the other candidates. The manner in which you follow up is also important because it can win you or cost you the job. The best way to illustrate this is with an example.

Elizabeth had been hoping to hire a market researcher to fill a position that had been vacant for several weeks. Henry, Melissa, and Barbara were equally qualified and she was having a hard time deciding which one to hire. When she listened to her voice mail on morning after the interview, Melissa had left her a message thanking her for the interview. She made a mental note of the fact that this candidate had shown a serious interest in the job by following up. That same afternoon, when she checked her mail, she found a letter from Barbara. She was impressed by the care and effort that had gone into writing the letter. Barbara had not only thanked Elizabeth for the interview, but she had addressed some of the organizational issues that had been discussed during the interview as well. Barbara was offered the job the very next day.

Now that you know how important following up after an interview is, here are some pointers to help you get it just right.

Get the time frame right

Towards the end of your interview, always remember to ask the potential employer how long it would be until a hiring decision is made. If you get a good idea of when the company will be hiring, you will know how quickly you need to follow up. If you know the company will make their decision in 5 days, then you need to send out the follow-up letter right away.

The Letter

A follow-up thank you letter is an excellent way to get your interviewer to remember you. The letter should re-emphasize why you are a suitable candidate and discuss any additional information about your qualifications that you didn’t have a chance to mention during the interview. Whether you use email, snail mail, or fax depends on the type of company you’re interviewing with. If it’s a high-tech, trendy one, you might want to go with email. A posted letter may be more appropriate if it’s a conservative company. In any case, check that you have the correct information with regards to the interviewer’s name, position, and address. Asking for a business card after the interview is a good way of making sure that you do.

The Phone Call

If the hiring time frame has passed and the company still hasn’t called you, you can call them. During the phone call, let the company know that you are still interested in the position. Be gracious at all times and don’t be too pushy. You don’t want to give them the impression that you are desperate.

If you keep these pointers in mind when you follow up on an interview, you will be well on your way to making sure that the person who interviewed you keeps you in mind for the job. At the same time, you will also be strengthening your candidature.

After having sent out an endless number of resumes, you’ve finally been invited for an interview. You’re probably feeling a little strange in your stomach and wishing that the interview would be today instead of next week. Feeling nervous about an interview is absolutely normal. After all, it is a very important step in the job hunting process.

Surely, you’ve heard tales about people who looked perfect on paper but were complete disappointments in the interview. Many of these people didn’t get the job because they did not take the time to familiarize themselves with the common mistakes people make in interviews. A great way for you to reduce your pre-interview anxiety is to take a look at some of these and devote a little time into learning how you can make sure that you don’t repeat them.

Inadequate Preparation

Nothing demonstrates a lack of interest more than not being able to say anything about the company you’re interviewing with. You’re expected to do a small amount of research on the company’s background, product lines, divisions, and business purpose. This type of information can easily be found on the company’s website. A really good way to show the interviewer that you have read up on the company is to ask him or her a few questions about the company’s operations.

Making Negative Comments about Current or Former Employers

Even if your current or former boss treated you unfairly, the interview is not the appropriate time for you to seek revenge. Saying negative things about him or her will only make it seem like you are a disrespectful and disloyal person. In fact, the interviewer would be likely to think that you would do the same to him in the future. Nobody likes working with a gossiper or a person who bad mouths others. If you are asked why you want to change jobs, make sure you have a positive answer prepared.

Dishonesty

Whatever you do, never lie in an interview. It can be very tempting at times, but most experienced interviewers will see through you. Either that, or they will find out the truth at later point in time. Overstating your qualifications and bragging about your experiences is considered lying. If you are the right candidate for the job, there will be no need for this in the first place. And a company should want to hire you for who you are not for who you pretend to be.

Focusing on the Perks

How would you feel if you were asked for your insurance history before being allowed to test drive a car? It is completely inappropriate for you to start asking about the salary, vacation days, and yearly bonuses during an interview. The interviewer could easily think that you were more interested in the perks than the job itself. All these questions should be asked only after you have been offered the job.

To sum it up, a strong resume will get you an interview and a good interview will get you the job. Performing well in an interview requires a certain amount of preparation. Learning from the mistakes that others before you have made and being conscious of them can bring you that much closer to your dream job.

Before the interview, rehearse what you are going to say and the best answer to every potential question. Human resource professionals, as well as various career experts all agree on one principle - that one of the best ways to tackle an interview is to anticipate the questions and then develop appropriate answers.

There are simple steps that can guide you through your interview.

Research.

Try finding out everything about the company, its customers, its mission statement and about its working environment. By finding out about these points, you can get insight about the company and also about the questions likely to be asked by the interviewer. Being well-prepared will project you as a person who has done their homework.

Be Familiar with the job description.

Look at your strengths and weaknesses and then see how you are the best match for the job. If you have previous experience, tell them, as employers give more serious consideration to those applicants who have a background of a good track record in the same job.

Creat A Good First Impression.

“The first impression is the last impression”. It is true - so arrive 10 minutes prior to the interview and always maintain eye contact throughout your interview. Always be enthusiastic and project sincerity towards the people you meet.

Project Yourself As A Problem Solver.

Every job requires skills, sell yourself!  Be calm and confident. Don’t project nervousness by fidgeting or nail-biting - this will immediately project how well you can handle stress?

Ask Questions.

Always ask questions if you have any and do not go blank when asked questions. Show real interest in the company. Always remember that while you are selling yourself to the company, you are also finding out about them, and determining whether or not you want to work there.

Follow Up.

Once your successful interview is over, follow up with a thank-you note. Always highlight your strengths and qualifications in the resume. When following up add specific discussions or conversations you had with the interviewer to help him or her recollect that you are a polished and enthusiastic candidate.

No matter what happens, an interview is an opportunity to learn. At the end, ask yourself what you did right and how you could improve. Next time around, you just might get asked “When can you start?” Good luck!

If you want a really good resource that offers practical advice on how to pass a job interview  then go to:-

Job Interview Success System Which Will Transform The Complicated Job Interview Process Into A Simple, Step-by-step System.