Interview Assistance and Career Coaching will Improve your Job Prospects!

May 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Interview Assistance and Career Coaching will Improve your Job Prospects!
In today's ultra-competitive market, you need every edge you can get to nail the job interview and move your career forward. While some people are just born with the gift of gab - and truly enjoy the interview process (read: narcissists), most people do not. Rather, most people dread the idea of being interviewed.

To these people, a job interview means nothing more than being asked underhanded questions which are designed to elicit information that most people would rather forget. For example, "Tell me about a time you failed at something in your job?" Really?
This was normally the time during the interview when I wanted to flip the scripts and ask the interviewer "Why don't you tell me about why this job's pay is so low, but I am expected to work 7-days a week." - but I digress. Here are a few tips to help get you through the job interview process:

1. Dress Professional: Men - The suit does not need to be Armani or Zegna, but it needs to pressed. Women - a suit will always make for a professional appearance. Think of a first interview, like a first date. Countless studies have shown that you only have a few seconds to make a first impression, so make it count. Your shoes should be shined, your tie straight, and your shirt collar sharp.

2. Be Confident: For most people, this is the single most difficult part about interviewing. And, if you were confident about your interviewing skills you would have probably stopped reading this article earlier. Nevertheless, there are certain exercises/tips you can use to quickly and confidently boost your confidence. Before I transitioned into a successful second Career, I was an attorney. I remember the first few times I went to court, I thought my stomach was literally going to drop out of my feet and onto the floor. I calmed myself down by repeating the phrase, "You can do this. You can do this. You will do this." No, I didn't believe it for a second but it calmed me down in order to present myself well enough to not make a total fool of myself. (With practice, it becomes second nature and will you literally baffle yourself as to how this archaic process of interviewing ever made you nervous in the first place).

3. Stay Positive: You don't really think the interview manager wants to spend their day interviewing countless people for a job, do you? No - they want to hire people they like, so be likeable TO THE PERSON YOU ARE INTERVIEWING FOR. For example, if the person is stoic in their appearance, make sure your demeanor mirrors them. If they are slightly relaxed in their execution, then try to take some edge off of. Remember, people want to hire people they like, and most people like themselves (usually too much), so do what you can to make the person like you.

Good Luck!