Sell Yourself...Tips for a Successful Job Interview

It’s with good reason that job interviews are popular themes for nightmares. Considering your future may literally depend on the successful outcome of a job interview, approaching it with some trepidation is only natural, no matter how confident you usually are. 

A job interview is an opportunity to sell yourself and your skills and the purpose is to receive an offer. And truth be told, there is only one way to alleviate the stress and improve your chances of “clinching the deal”: Be prepared.

Getting ready…Find out as much as you can about the company you will be interviewing with, and if possible, the person who will interview you. Online research is a great source for researching a company, its products and competitors. Before the interview, also keep an eye out for newspaper articles or items. Knowledge is power and will equip you not only to ask relevant questions, but will show you are genuinely interested.

Remember the ground rules…
Even if you “just know” you are the perfect candidate for the position offered, it is highly unlikely that you will land the job if you don’t play by the rules:
- Be on time. That means at least 5 to 10 minutes early, so make sure you now where you have to be and how to get there. If you do run late for any reason, call ahead and let the interviewer know, but never, ever just stay away.
- Dress for the occasion. Rather dress too smart, because first impressions do count. Looking good also adds to your confidence, so make sure your attire is neat, tidy and appropriate for the position you are applying for. Save that Superman for the office fancy dress party after you have landed the job…
- Take deep breaths. Look calm, confident and collected, even if you are shaking in your boots. Standing straight, holding your head high and smiling will make you appear confident and ready.
- Pay attention. When you are introduced to your interviewer, make sure you catch his or her name and title and during the interview, stay focused on listening to the questions before diving in with an answer.
- Stay alert! Body language reveals a lot about you, so keep these tips in mind: Sit straight and keep eye contact with our interviewer. Try not to fidget and do not cross your arms. Be yourself, but try to mirror (but not ape!) your interviewer’s demeanor, tone of voice and speaking pattern.
Now that you are off to a smooth start, let’s tackle the next challenge… answering the interviewers questions.

The right answer…

An interviewer’s questions are not only designed to find out what you know and can do (skills and competencies), but also to learn more about who you are (attitude).

Once again, be prepared. You will be asked difficult or ‘tricky’ questions so make sure you know how to answer them – even practice our answers beforehand. The inevitable questions are:

“Why are you looking for a new job?”

Never bad mouth your previous employer (however difficult or tempting it may be). The best is to answer with a positive statement, for example: I am seeking greater job satisfaction, career advancement or applying my skills to a new challenge/industry.

What are your weaknesses?

I do not have any is not the correct answer. Never. The best way to answer this dreaded question is to try and specify an aspect you could remedy. For instance, if you say you tend to be a perfectionist when it comes to detail, mention that you are also aware of the importance of time management and mention you take care that this doesn’t slow you down or influence your productivity.

“What salary expectation do you have?”

Before going to the interview, do some research to have an idea of what the industry standards are. Market-related salary is a good basis to motivate your salary expectation’s with. 

“Do you have any questions?”

Again, this is where preparation comes to your rescue. Ask questions about the company (it is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have gone to the trouble to “do your homework”), the section you will be employed in, and background about the position. Recruitment specialists strongly advise against asking about salary, about overtime or for an office tour, especially in a first interview.
Phew! End of the interview? Not quite. 

Follow up your interview with a thank you letter or an e-mail. Thank the interviewer for his or her time and reiterate your interest in the position on offer.

There is no denying that an interview will always be a high pressure situation, but being prepared will help ensuring that your fears of the interview don’t ruin your chances for landing a great job.

And if all else fails… try to imagine your interviewer naked… NOT!

- By Lelanie Boullé