Think confidently.  If you aren’t sure of yourself, your interviewer won’t be able to be sure of you either.  So practice thinking of yourself as capable, and go into the interview with the attitude of “I am the best person for the job.”  This confidence will show and will make it possible for your interviewer to have confidence in you.

Avoid wearing bright colors such as red.  The same goes for jeans, wild nail polish and low neck lines.  These are just not appropriate for job interviews unless you’re applying for a job in a creative industry where these would be acceptable.  Even then, it’s better to opt for wearing clothing that’s more conservative.

Have your facts together.  When you head off for your interview, be prepared to fill out an application.  You’ll need to have specific information such as dates, addresses and contact information for former schools and employers ready.  It’s a good idea to have this all written out to use as a reference when you sit down to fill out the application.

Always focus on the positives.  Even if you hated your last job and your former boss was a bully, don’t trash them in your interview.   You never know what ties the interviewer and company may have with your previous employer, so stay positive when you speak of your former company and position.

Learn as much about the company beforehand as you possibly can.  During the interview you’ll impress your interviewer with your knowledge about the company and its practices.  This shows the interviewer that you’re proactive and eager.  Just the traits potential employers like to see!

Dress appropriately for your job interview.  Do a little research into the company’s normal dress code before it is time for your interview.   Once you know something about how people ordinarily dress at the company, the basic rule of thumb is to dress at least one or two levels above that. 

Be enthusiastic.  You want to show a potential employer that you’re excited about having the opportunity to work them.  Showing the interviewing you’re passionate about getting the job is a great way to set your self apart from all the other applicants—and may well ensure you get the job.

Be on time.   Being late for a job interview is like telling the interviewer you don’t really care if you get the job or not.  If necessary, drive the route ahead of time to ensure you know how long it will take you to get there.  Arriving late is more than just rude when it comes to interviewing for a job, it will likely ensure you won’t get the job.

The biggest fear for anyone in an interview is knowing what types of questions you will be asked. The way to manage this is to be prepare an answer to the toughest questions and to be confident with how you will answer these. The important point to remember is that any potential new employer is looking for two things, can you do the job, and will your fit in. In my book Claim That Job, I’ll take you through potential answers to these questions, but take a look at the questions, and work through your answers if you have an inteview coming up. Why Do You Want To Work Here?What Interests You About This Job?What are your major successes and weaknesses?Give an example of when you went beyond th expectatiosn of you in a job?What experience do you have for this job?Are you good at taking calculated risks?What can you do for us that anothe person can’t?How does your experience contribute to the goals of the company?Give me examples of your leadership roles?How did you cope with managing conflict within a team?Do you prefer to work alone or with a team?How do you manage disagreements with your manager?Why did you leave your last job?What are your weakneeses?What are your strengths?How do you manage your time?How do you cope under pressure?Give examples of when you have had to cope with large amounts of stress in a job?How do you solve difficult problems?Give an example of when you displayed initiative?How do you deal with senior managers?Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? (more…)