Preparation Checklist for Interviews, Part 3

REMAIN ATTENTIVE
Stay alert during the interview. Maintain good eye contact. Sit forward in your chair. Be animated. Show high levels of interest and stay enthused. These actions can maintain or generate momentum during the interview. This is especially important when you are doing multiple interviews on the same day. The energy level must be as high for the last as it is for the first.

DON’T BE ARROGANT
A presumptuous, overbearing attitude will offset the finest abilities. There’s a fine line between being too confident and cocky. Don’t cross that line. Focus on your soft skills!

ASK PROBING QUESTIONS
A few strategic questions can demonstrate your intelligence, analytical skills and assertiveness. Have these prepared from your research. Avoid superficial small talk.

BE POSITIVE ABOUT CO-WORKERS
Don’t bad mouth previous positions, companies or employers. No matter how well founded, this implies a negative attitude, typical of those who don’t take personal responsibility for their actions.

KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE TOUGH QUESTIONS

Being prepared to answer the difficult questions, like "Why were you fired from your last job?" are crucial to your success in the future. Also, you need to know how to handle "Illegal Interview Questions"

CLEARLY STATE YOUR INTEREST
By the conclusion of the interview, state that you are definitely interested in the position and would like to know when the next step will take place. It’s best to demonstrate this interest throughout the session. Be careful not to go overboard. But make sure you are ready to answer the question "Why should I hire you."

KNOW YOUR OBJECTIVE AND END WITH IT
Establish your objective before the interview, like a second interview or an offer. Ask for it if you have not achieved it. Ask a question such as, "do you think my skills match your needs?" This gets straight to the point and, at worse, reveals other obstacles to overcome.