Let's face it. Interviewing for a job is one of the more stressful situations a person can go through. The greatest cause of that stress is the fear of the unknown. What will the interviewer ask? What should I say? Am I the person they are looking for? The best way to curb that fear is to prepare by removing some of the unknown variables. Here are a few techniques that you can put into play in advance of your interview.
Before the Interview:
- Research. The best way to be able to address how you will fit in and contribute to the company is to know where their strengths and weaknesses lie. Know what the company does, how well they do it, and who their competition is. The more you know, the more you can tailor your discussion of your experience to fit their needs.
- Practice. No one performs well without first practicing. Musicians rehearse, actors rehearse, athletes practice and scrimmage. If they must do this in order to perfect their performance, why not you, the interviewee? Find a trusted friend, advisor, or colleague to help you rehearse the questions you'll likely be asked.
During the Interview:
- Handshake. This is much more important than many people think. This is part of that first impression which is said to be the lasting impression. Your handshake should be firm, not a "knuckle-buster," and brief - two to three pumps. Hands should meet with the web between your forefinger and thumb meeting the web of the other person's hand. The palm of your hand should be perpendicular to the floor. There is a subconscious message that your handshake conveys. If your palm is facing down, putting your hand on top of the other person's hand, you are sending a "dominance" signal. If your palm is up, putting your hand beneath the other's hand, you send a "submissive" signal. When the palms of both hands are perpendicular to the floor, you send an equality or "neutral" signal. This is the effect you want to achieve.
...
Click here to read the rest of the article at HowToDoThings.com
Author: Donald Willard