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How to Sell Yourself During a Job Interview

College doesn't last forever; and when it's finally over, you'll have to enter the realworld (aka the work force). But before you are hired any where, you'll have to ace theinterviewing process. The following job interview tips should help you get that second

interview so you can land your dream job.

Interview Preparation. The key to a successful job interview ispreparation. Remember that success occurs when preparation meets opportunity. If youget the opportunity to interview for a job, don't blow it by not being prepared. Instead,follow these guidelines to interview preparation:y Research the company. Employers want someone who is excited about the

position and is informed about the company and its industry. Find out a little bitabout the company's history. What is its mission statement? Who is thecompany's competition? The interviewer may ask you questions about the

company. By knowing this information, you will show the interviewer that youhave taken the initiative to research the company and that you are a real go-getter.

y Prepare questions to ask the interviewer. These questions should berelevant to the job, employer, and organization. Asking questions will help youmake an informed decision about taking the job as well as display your interest inthe position.

y Practice interviewing. Ask a friend to be the interviewer or see if the careercenter at your college has a mock interview service. Browse the Internet forfrequently asked questions during an interview. Be prepared for open-endedquestions such as, "What are your career goals?" and "What motivatesyou?" Prepare information from your past experiences that would relate to andbenefit the position.

y The Job Interview.Calm down. As long as you are prepared, the actual jobinterview will not be as bad as you might think. Use these job interview tips onthe day of your interview:o Dress appropriately. All employers look for neat, clean, and well-groomed

people. Men should wear a suit, tie, and dress shoes. Women should wear asuit, stockings, and dress shoes with minimum make-up, jewelry, andperfume. Remember it is better to overdress than to be too casual.

o Be on time. Better yet, arrive early. Just don't be late. This is theinterviewer's first impression of you. If you arrive just a few minutes late,the interviewer will automatically see you in a negative way. It is quitedifficult to overcome a negative first impression. Be sure to leave extra timefor traffic and for unexpected emergencies.

o Bring extra copies of your resume. You may need extra copies if youare asked to interview with more than one person. Carry them in aprofessional binder so they will stay clean and neat.

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o Be aware of body language. Try to look energetic. Give a firm handshakeupon meeting the interviewer. Maintain eye contact, but don't stare. Displaygood posture, and don't forget to smile. These nonverbal actions show thatyou are interested in being there.

o Give qualitative answers. Avoid answering questions using "yes" or

"no". Employers want to know what you can offer the company. Giveexamples of your past performance because it is the best indicator of yourfuture performance. Make sure to speak positively of all past employers andexperiences.

o Emphasize your strengths. Let the employer know that you are reliableand/or that you have great communication skills. The interview process isabout selling yourself and what better way than to market what you dobest.

o Be honest. Never exaggerate or lie about your past experiences. If yourgrade point average is not as high as you would like or you don't have anyextra-curricular activities, admit that these are weaknesses that you aretrying to improve. Lying about your past would only cause distress in thefuture. Most of the time, employers will verify your background.

o Ask questions. Remember that you already know what questions to askbecause you are prepared. Ask the questions that you have practiced andany questions that you have thought of while being interviewed.

o Remain calm.Avoid nervous habits such as tapping your foot, playing withyour hair, or biting your nails. Remaining confident will prove to theinterviewer that you are secure in your abilities to do the job.

o Close the job interview positively. Make sure to thank the interviewerfor his or her time and shake the interviewer's hand. Don't forget to let him

or her know that you look forward to hearing from the companysoon. Express your interest in the position.

Interview Follow Up.You may think that after you interview the rest is left up to theemployer. Well, the decision on who to hire is up to the employer, but you still haveone last chance to prove to the interviewer that you are the person for the job. Youhave to follow up in order to show the company that you are still interested in theposition even after being interviewed. Here is what you should do for the interviewfollow up:y Send a handwritten thank-you note. Doing this shows that you have good

business etiquette. This note should again thank the interviewer for his or her

time and indicate your interest in the job. You should refer to specific pointsdiscussed during the job interview that focus on how you can contribute to thecompany.

y Observe the company culture if you get a second interview.Ask if you canspend time watching the activities of different employees. This will allow you tosee if you fit with the company and if the environment is comfortable for you.

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Now you are ready for any job interview opportunities that come your way. Rememberthat interview preparation is the most important step of the interview process. Onceyou are prepared, the rest should be a lot easier. Good luck!

Sources: from grownexcel.com.