It is especially important that you practice being interviewed beforehand. This will help you frame your answers and rehearse your responses to difficult questions as well as ensuring you incorporate all the significant points you wish to make. Ask a friend or your spouse to help you. Videotape your practice interview if possible and afterwards critique it with your partner to improve your interviewing skills.

Take note-taking materials to the interview and don't be afraid to jot things down during the session, though don't become so immersed in your note-taking that you ignore the interviewer!

Arrive for the interview at least 10 minutes early and be appropriately dressed, neat and clean. If possible, try to schedule the interview on a non "casual" day so you can see how employees regularly dress, as well as being less self-conscious.

Interview Presentation:
Follow these basic guidelines during any interview:

• Don't be late! And if you are unavoidably detained, CALL to let the interviewer know and re-schedule as necessary.
• Check your appearance before greeting the interviewer.
• Greet with and formally use the interviewer's last name until they allow first names.
• Introduce yourself in a confident manner and express your interest in being there.
• Shake hands firmly, but no "deathgrips"!
• Remain standing until offered a seat.
• Sit erect, not rigid, with your arms in your lap.
• Avoid excessive note writing during the interview.
• Use your voice and gestures to communicate enthusiasm.
• Avoid being sidetracked from the topic at hand.
• Avoid answering questions in a negative manner and maintain a pleasant demeanor.
• Avoid talking ill of anyone, especially a past employer - always be positive!
• When finished, shake hands again and thank them for their time and consideration. This is a good moment to ask when you might expect to be hearing from them again, or if they would prefer you to get back to them.

Questions Often Asked By Interviewers:
Prepare answers to the following questions (and any others you can think of) and practice answering them in a natural fashion, always pointing out the positive:

• How would you describe yourself?
• How would a friend describe you?
• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
• What have you learned from your mistakes?
• What major problems have you encountered?
• How did you deal with them?
• What motivates you?
• What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
• What are your goals for the next ten years?
• What are your long range career objectives?
• How do you plan to achieve your career objectives?
• What rewards do you expect to achieve in your career?
• What are your life goals?
• Which is most important to you? Money, type of work, or time off?
• What qualifications do you have to fill this position?
• How do you determine success?
• What do you think it takes to be successful in our company?
• Why did you seek a position with this company?
• What do you know about my company?
• How can you immediately contribute to my company?
• Why should I hire you?
• What qualities should a manager possess?
• What accomplishments have given you the greatest satisfaction?
• What led you to select your career field?
  (For a detailed look at questions, please use or Question Database)

Questions Asked Of Interviewers:
Fill lulls in the conversation and impress interviewers with well thought-out questions. After your research, decide on specific questions, and show that you are interested in the industry and company and that you have done some homework on them. Here are a few examples:

• What is the employer's management philosophy?
• What is the company's culture?
• What is the nature/extent of their training program?
• What is the level of supervision you will initially be given?
• What will be expected of me as a new employee?
• Are there any aspects of the job that are especially significant?
• How does the company's performance review and evaluation program work?
• Will I be required to relocate? How often?

Follow-Up Interviews:
If the interviewer is interested in you, you will receive an invitation to visit the employer for a follow-up interview. Promptly acknowledge the offer of the follow-up interview in writing, noting any scheduling difficulties. You will meet more employees during the follow-up, but the interviews should be similar to the initial screening interview. But be prepared! Do even more in-depth research on the company. Plan to spend an entire day at the employer's location. It's a stressful situation in respect to being "under the microscope", so eat and sleep well the night before.

80% of those asked to a follow-up interview receive job offers. You may even receive an offer before leaving, so be prepared to decide on the spot or ask for some additional time. Or, it's possible the offer may come a few days later. After the interview, review your notes in case you have any follow-up questions for the employer. Immediately write post-interview "thank you" letters to all the people that you interviewed with.