by Kimberly Davis

Created on: June 01, 2009

Getting the call to come in for an interview is a lot like getting ready for finals. It's the last test you have to pass before you can pass the class, or in this case, get the job. But as we study and cram, staying up all hours for this final, while it is a good portion of your grade, it is not the only thing taken into consideration when your score is tallied much like an interview.

The interview is one of the most important processes when getting a job. You have to know how to dress, the requirements of the job, your qualifications, and above all, your demeanor when sitting down with a potential employer.

However, there is a lot more to gaining employment than just the interview. There is a lot that comes before and after that can also make or break your ability to land the job. First and foremost is your resume and cover letter. Your cover letter is your first introduction to any potential employer. It shows off your writing skills, basic grammar, punctuation and spelling, it also tells the employer a little about you, as well as your capability to follow instructions.

Most cover letters include a brief bio of your work experience, what makes you qualified for the job, salary requirements, as well as any other information the job ad required. If your cover letter is poorly written, or your salary requirements are too high, more often than not, your potential as a hire for the position is now over.

The next most important thing to even getting an interview, is your resume. Once again, it should be well written, concise (no more than two pages long), with your educational history, job history and any skill sets you may possess related to the job you're seeking.

The better written these two items are, the higher your chance of being called in for an interview. If employers focused solely on the interview in their hiring decisions, how would they know which candidates to begin with? When there are many people applying for a position, your resume and cover letter are often what is studied and compared by the employer to narrow down who they feel are the top people to call in.

Next comes the interview. You must now prepare to face your potential employer. You should dress for the part accordingly don't go in for a janitorial position wearing a suit, but don't go in wearing ripped jeans and a t-shirt either. Appearance is one of the first things noticed when going into an interview. It says a lot about how you view yourself and

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