Job Interview Techniques

Research The Company

This is one of the best job interview techniques you can use, which immediately puts you at a distinct advantage over the competition. Almost no one uses this technique.

Basically, you need to find out as much as you can about the company before the interview. Knowledge is power, and knowing what the company does, how well they perform, etc. will show the interviewer that you are interested in what they do and what they have to offer.

Find the company's website, and review the following:

About Us page - this should give you a brief history of the company, how they were founded, who the principal officers are, etc.

Services and/or Products page - this tells you what kind of services and products they offer, and should give you an idea about what kind of clientele they market to.

Careers or Employment page - if you found a job posting through a search engine or classified, this page may provide more in-depth information about what they value in their employees, the kinds of benefits they offer, and the work culture.

Vision or Mission statement - see if you can find the company's vision or mission statement on the website. If not, this may be a great question to ask at the interview.

Investor Relations or Newsroom pages - these pages may provide quarterly or annual financial reports, as well as recent press releases.

Search the company's name in your favorite search engine - you may find pages containing the company in the news, who some of their retail/wholesale clients are, etc.

Search the company in a local business journal online, such as bizjournals, to see any local news stories on the company that may be of interest.

If you know anyone who currently works for the company (even if it's a friend of a friend), talk to them and ask them questions about the company and the work culture.

Using the above job interview techniques for researching the company will help set you apart from the competition, as well as give you an idea about whether this is the kind of company you'd like to work for. Do you believe in what the company does?

Do you feel that you could make a difference by working for this company, and be a valuable part of the organization? Are your skills and strengths a good match for what the company is seeking?

Practice Interviewing

Before going to the interview itself, practice interviewing with a friend or spouse. Practicing is one of the best job interview techniques you can use to boost your confidence, and increase your knowledge of any questions you may be asked. Prepare questions ahead of time (use the guidelines on the interview question and answer page to assist you with compiling your list).

If you don't have a friend or spouse who can help you, or you need some additional guidance and direction, seek the services of a professional interview coach. They will help you plan and prepare for the interview, and offer additional job interview techniques to help you improve.

During The Job Interview Techniques

The big day has arrived, and you're ready for the interview.

Remind yourself on the way to the interview that you are qualified and confident.

Visualize yourself in the position.

Arrive early, giving yourself plenty of time to relax and not feel rushed.

Make eye contact with the interviewer, and SMILE!!!

Sit up straight, and keep reminding yourself that you're confident.

Take time to answer questions, and answer honestly. Be yourself!

When answering questions, make sure you're selling yourself and your abilities. Highlight your achievements, and show how you've helped other companies succeed. This is particularly important if you're interviewing for a position within a different industry or field than your primary experience.

Remain positive, and don't unload any personal problems or issues onto the interviewer.

Ask pertinent questions when appropriate, or add insight. For example, if the interviewer states that the company has just expanded operations, you could mention that you read an article about the recent expansion and how exciting it must be, and how you'd like to be part of the growth.

Remember to ask questions in order to gain an understanding about the company, and even let the interviewer know that you want to ensure that your skills and qualifications will be a good match for them.

The first interview usually isn't appropriate for discussing salary information. Don't bring it up unless they do, and provide a general range for your salary expectations if the question is asked.

Before you leave the interview, thank them for taking time to discuss the position with you in more detail. State that you understand what they're looking for, and that you believe your unique qualifications and skills will make you a great addition to their workforce.

Ask when you might expect a call about the status of the position. Make sure to get the business card of the person(s) who interviewed you.

If you know that you don't want the position during the course of the interview, let the interviewer know that this position really isn't a good fit for you, and thank them for taking the time to discuss the position. Wish them success in finding the ideal candidate. There's no reason to waste your time or theirs if you know the position isn't what you had hoped for.

When you master the job interview techniques outlined on this page, you're well on your way to interview success!