Tips for a Successful Interview

Create a strategy.
Prepare mentally for the interview by deciding what your 5 most marketable skills are, specifically catered to the position for which you are interviewing. To do so, review your previous experience and determine major responsibilities and special accomplishments for each position you have held. Your 5 best are your most marketable points. Try to incorporate these points in as many answers and discussions as possible. If you think that this may be repetitious then you have the right idea. When you leave, you will stand out in the employer's mind because he will remember these accomplishments that are specific to only you.

Keep all speeches under 60 seconds.
Just as it is important for you to be a good listener, it is also important for the employer to be one too. Help him to do so by keeping all answers and statements brief and concise while still mentioning all pertinent information with vocal variety and enthusiasm. Since people today are conditioned to immediate and speedy responses, this technique will help you come across as interesting and boost the employer's confidence in you.

Also, create and memorize a 60 second speech based on your 5 most marketable points to deliver to the employer when the interview is complete and it is time for you to go. This will leave the employer with confident and positive thoughts of you. Another good time to utilize this 60-second speech is when asked, "Tell me about you." Using the speech here will help you immediately capture the employer's attention and we all know about how important first impressions are. Some other questions where you can use this speech are: "What are your strengths?" "Why are you qualified?" "Why do you think you will succeed in this position?" "What have you learned from previous positions you have held?" and "Why do you want this job?" Don't be afraid to use your 60-second speech more than once.

Wear appropriate attire.
It's natural, human behavior to make quick judgments of other people and, although the employer will attempt not to do this, he/she will size you up to determine if you are an appropriate person to represent the company. Generally speaking - dress well, appear neat, and lean toward a conservative look. Avoid excessive jewelry, perfume or cologne, unkempt hair, uncared for fingernails, short or sagging socks that reveal a bare leg, and wrinkled clothing. Men should wear a navy blue or dark gray business suit (unless other attire is specified) with a white or blue shirt and conservative tie. Women should go with a business suit, a business coatdress, or a jacket over a skirt (unless other attire is specified). Wear a color that complements you or navy blue is always a safe choice.

Arrive early.
Allow a generous amount of time so you arrive early. Get everything done the day before (i.e. fill fuel tank, have suit cleaned, map out directions) to make sure there are no last minute problems. If you arrive excessively early, stay in your car or walk someplace nearby to relax, go over your notes, or review corporate literature. Wait until about five or ten minutes before the interview is to start, collect your thoughts, and open the door to the office with a positive attitude and a smile (it sounds corny, but smiling, happy people always have good interviews).

Answer questions with common sense.
Always be honest, but don't be afraid to add positive spin to your answers. Emphasize your accomplishments and avoid any negative responses to questions. Throw in your 5 most marketable points as often as possible and always give specific past examples when necessary. Don't try to be someone you're not.

Under no circumstances should you mention salary or benefits. Wait until after you have been offered the position and even then, keep in mind that the first person to mention money loses in actual dollars. If asked during the interview what type of compensation you would expect if hired, state that you deserve to be compensated fairly and once it is determined you are the right person for the position then an agreement can be worked out. Stress that it is the job itself that it is most important to you.

Invariably the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions. An inappropriate answer is 'NO'. Either review your notes and ask a legitimate, insightful question that arose during the interview process or ask a pre-planned question that was not yet answered. Your questions signal to the employer that you are truly trying to determine if you would be a good match for the company and position.

A few generic questions are:

• "What is the biggest challenge?"
• "What is your management style?"
• "What kind of employee are you looking for?"

Always remember to ask for the job.
Here are some helpful hints for submitting your resume.

First and foremost, be meticulous. It's not a good idea to submit your resume with typos and other blatant mistakes. It implies that you don't pay attention to details or have poor communication skills. Your resume is your calling card, your very first impression. It requires your utmost attention. You don't get a second chance. If you can't write well or have doubts about writing your own resume, that's okay. Hire a resume writing service instead. Fees range from just a few bucks to critique your resume, up to $200 or more for consulting and writing packages. But, it's well worth it.
At minimum, use a spell checker or dictionary for all employment-related correspondence, even if you're just zipping off a quickie email.

Never type your resume in all UPPERCASE characters. The Net-savvy call it shouting and consider it rude. But it's okay to type all uppercase characters in a limited and useful way, like for resume headings and such.
Don't include personal details in your US resume.

It is not necessary to include personal details such as race, marital status, number of children and age. In fact, it is illegal for US employers to ask about such. It's none of their business anyway! There may be exceptions for Affirmative Action programs and jobs that require security clearances, but don't volunteer such until asked.
Volunteering unnecessary information may implant negative thoughts. For example, if you proudly write that you have three children, an employer may speculate that your attendance and dependability will be poor, and you won't be able to travel or work late hours when needed. Not good.

Never put your social security number in your resume! An employer will ask for it when required. If you put it in your resume, you're tempting criminals to use it to their advantage, and your disadvantage.