by D. P. Noe

Created on: July 07, 2011   Last Updated: April 30, 2012

Walking into a job interview without preparation is like taking a difficult test and not studying for it. Good preparation is your key tool to having a successful interview when looking for a job. This is the time that you have to sell yourself and stand out from the rest of the applicants. Be prepared to to give examples of how you have used behaviors to handle situations and different challenges successfully. Past behaviors are a key tool used in predicting success in the future.

Find all the resources that you can to help you with your preparation for a job interview. There are  Internet sites that will give you some insights to a list of possible questions to help you prepare in advance for the interview. Talk with colleagues and peers to help you identify what strengths are key to becoming a successful and productive employee. 

Always walk into a interview with a warm smile and a strong handshake. Watch what you wear and make sure you appear professional, wearing the wrong clothes can lose the job for you on the spot. Your demeanor should be enthusiastic and energetic and display how excited you are to have the opportunity to interview for the position. Be prepared to answer questions articulately and make a good first impression. Do your research and find out the history of the organization you are interviewing for. If you have the opportunity to interact with other employees of the organization before the interview, use it to your advantage. Potential employers respect individuals that have taken the time to find out about their organization and not walk into a interview blind sighted.

Good interviewers will ask questions about how you have handle previous situations. Prepare yourself by reviewing what you have done well in the past so that you have prepared yourself to answer questions involving how you would handle a situations. Past experiences that went well will help you to answer even the difficult questions. Stay relaxed and present the answers to questions with confidence and if challenged by the interviewer about a decision you made, do not lose your positive demeanor.

There are different skill levels of interviewers and not all interviewers know how to ask appropriate questions. If you happen to have an interviewer that appears to try to be threatening and challenge or imply you handled a situation ineffectively, do not become defensive. Stick to your guns and remain positive, this shows character and that you are not afraid to make decisions about what you believe is right even if it was not what the majority wanted. If a unpopular decision you made was effective in causing a positive change, do not be afraid to brag about it.

The interview process is utilized to clarify statements you have made on your resume. Be prepared to answer any questions that are looking for verification if the interviewer feels they need some additional information. You want the interviewer to feel you are the best candidate for the position. Also have a list of questions to ask the interviewer. Strong questions would circle around what they are looking for for in the individual for the particular position. Also stress that you really want this job and will be able to meet all their expectations. Preparation is your key to becoming a serious contender for the position and increase your chances of landing the position. 

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