| Although
some lucky people can “ace” an interview without
any visible effort, the rest of us will perform much better
if we take some time to prepare. Here are some simple steps
you can follow to guarantee a successful interview –
Review the Company’s Job Listing –
The employment advertisement text can provide many clues on
the most important aspects of the position and the likely
focus of the interview. When reviewing the list of responsibilities,
think of examples from your own work experience that parallels
the activity. It does not need to be the exact task, but should
rely on the same skills as will be needed for the stated responsibility.
If you lack experience in any of the areas, research how you
might be able to gain the necessary knowledge. A prospective
employer will appreciate that you are demonstrating an understanding
of the duty and have a plan for succeeding in the new role.
Review Your CV –
Similar to the job listing review above, review your own CV
to refresh your memory of your past responsibilities, major
accomplishments, and the timeline of your employment history.
In reviewing your resume, prepare a brief summary of your
experience relative to the target position. Most interviews
will include a “Briefly summarize your background”
question, and that may be the easiest question of the interview
session! You will want to answer this one in a smooth and
confident manner, and advance preparation will guarantee your
success in describing the path of your career.
Research the Organisation –
Most companies post current news releases and organizational
information on their websites and you may gain advantage if
you take the time to review their business data and organizational
structure. Remember, you are actually interviewing “them”
as a prospective employer as well, and this review can help
you decide if the job and company will be the right choice
for you.
Identify Good Representations of Your Work – Depending
on the position, it might be a good idea to assemble some
of your work products, such as financial reports or computer
programs that you developed, newsletters you authored, or
other writing samples to demonstrate your skills and abilities.
Dress for Success –
Although there are many casual work environments these days,
first impressions are critical and you should always dress
a notch up for your interview. Your grooming should also be
impeccable – clean, pressed, polished and professional.
Many people are sensitive to fragrance, so you should refrain
from wearing any strongly scented products.
In addition, you should bring several copies of your resume
because many application systems do not retain document formatting,
which can make your submission difficult to read. In addition,
you should bring a list of your professional references, which
should only be offered upon request.
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