Preparing For An Interview

If there was ever a good time to brag about yourself, the interview is the time to do
it.Don't be bashful! While you don't want to come across as pompous, you do want
to project an image of self-confidence. Your attitude should be, "I have a lot to offer. Let me tell you about myself." Look the interviewer in the eyes as you speak. Smile
with your whole face. If you get nervous make sure that you are taking slow, deep
breaths.
Preparation will help you relax. Be prepared with the following:
- What unique qualities do you have that would bring value to the role?
-What are your past accomplishments?
-What skills and accomplishments make you uniquely qualified?
- Identify key contributions you have made for your current employer.
- What are your strongest attributes?
- In what areas can you improve? And what have you done to work on improving?
Many employers are now using Behavioral based interviewing. This interviewing
technique works under the assumption that the best predictor of future behavior is
past behavior. You will recognize an interviewer who is using this technique when he or she continuously asks for specific examples and presses for an action with an outcome. You will make a good impression if you are prepared and can give all the requested
information without a lot of prodding. To be successful in this kind of interview do the
following:
Prior to the interview think of specific work or educational experiences where you
demonstrated skills (technical and interpersonal) that would be important to the
position.
During the interview keep your cool and take your time. It's okay to tell the
interviewer that you need a minute to think. Take deep breaths and concentrate. Get your thoughts in order before you begin to speak. It is not unusual for a candidate to
take some time to think of specific examples. Many are not prepared for such specific questions.
Listen carefully to the question and give the whole answer.
Here are some examples of behavioral based questions:
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult co-worker. What was the
situation, what did you do and what was the outcome?
Tell me about a project that you are particularly proud of. What was it, what was your
role and what was the outcome?
Tell me about a strategy you have used to develop a stronger work team. What was
the situation, what did you do, and what was the outcome?
Give me an example of a time when you missed an important deadline. What were the circumstances, how did you handle it, what was the outcome?
You get the picture. The truly experienced behavioral based interviewer won't let you get away with only answering part of the question either. So be ready !
You also want to know that the job is what you want, so be prepared to ask some
questions about the position. You will be interviewing them. What kind of
environment do you want to work in? What opportunities for promotion do you want? What role do you want to play in the organization as a whole?