Job Interview Tips and Techniques

Develop your interview skills with this preparation guide on job interview techniques, strategies, tips, questions and answers. Learn about how to prepare for an interview, what to wear to job interviews, common interview questions, and how to answer tough job interview questions.

Even if you've given a number of job interviews, and no matter how confident you are before you face those serious interviewers, you can't ignore the butterflies fluttering in your tummy just before you go in. To ease the anxiety of preparing for a job interview, I have some essential job interview preparation tips which might prove beneficial for you, so take a look.

Sending follow up letters after job interview is a great way to express appreciation and thanks to the employer for the conducted interview. The main purpose of this follow up thank you letter after interview is to reiterate your interest in the position and the organization. Besides this, by sending an interview follow up letter you can also remind the employer about your qualifications or achievements that fit best for the job position you have applied for. In case you forgot to mention or ask something during the interview, you can do that in your follow up or thank you letter. A follow up or thank you letter can either be handwritten, hard copy typed or e-mailed.

There are many areas in life today where you will be asked for words to describe yourself. Whether it is a facebook profile, any other social networking site or a job interview, you will be asked to describe yourself in a few words on many occasions.

Words to describe Yourself

Anyway, when you are describing yourself you need to focus on your strengths and your abilities, rather than your flaws and weaknesses, and you need to be strong willed and display confidence when someone questions you about them. When you are choosing words to describe yourself on a resume you must talk about your team skills, and how you can work in different environments even when you are under pressure and stress.

Now, this is a slightly cynical way of looking at things, but let's see some brief overviews about what you can say when someone asks you for words to describe yourself.

Answer # 1: I am a vivacious and vibrant person who brings joy to every room that I lay foot in. Wherever I travel, exuberance follows, and I want nothing more than to be the sole cause of unlimited joy in everyone's life.

Answer # 2: I am an idealistic philanderer and nothing pleases me more than being part of a mutually beneficial productive circle, where my undoubted skills are an asset for everyone on a whole.

Answer # 3: I am an adaptable and adventurous individual who takes great pride in my ability to work in a team and motivate all those around me to offer their best in order to meet common objectives.

Dressing for an Interview - Men

Before you go for an interview, make sure you have the correct attire that fits you properly. Given below are some tips on how to dress for an interview,

• The most important thing to be kept in mind is that your clothes fit you properly. Avoid loose fitting and faded clothes when dressing for an interview. Choose clothes from your wardrobe instead of borrowing from a friend or buying them at the last moment.
• Your shoes should be comfortable and should match your clothes. If any of these is misfitting then you will experience discomfort. Any sign of discomfort can be easily noticeable and may create a bad impression on the interviewer.
• Dress formally for an interview. It actually pays if you take pains to check out the dress code of the company where you are going for an interview.
• Wear a suit, preferably in dark gray, navy or black with a matching shirt (crisp white or light blue). Choose a sober colored matching tie with diagonal lines or small patterns on it. Avoid using brightly colored ties and wild prints that will look like a complete mismatch with your suit. Make sure that the suit fits you correctly and is crisply ironed.

Dressing for an Interview - Women

• Remember that there is only one chance to make a first impression, so you must take proper care for dressing for a job interview. Choose a well fitting slacks and blouse if you are going for an interview in an informal place of business.
• If the place expects you to be in formals, then a nice plain suit with a matching shirt will be appropriate. Stick to dark beige, navy blue or black color. Next choose a blouse or shirt that will compliment your suit. Make sure it contrasts with the suit. Avoid lace, ruffles or any sort of decoration as it will give a casual outlook. You can even wear a silk scarf to complete the formal look.
• The next thing you need to take care of is your hair. Tie your hair into a bun or simple comb it properly. Your hairstyle should go with your dress. A bun is always safe as it gives a conservative and formal approach.

• Lack of Proper Knowledge and adequate knowledge is one of the most common job interview weaknesses.
• Lack of Good Communication Skills Good communication skills are essential to crack any interview but is seen to be absent in many people.
• Lack of Confidence is also one of the biggest interview weaknesses seen in many candidates. Many candidates get confused while answering the question - what are your weaknesses.
• Lack of Knowledge of How to Present YourselfMany people do not know how to present themselves in front of the interviewers.

Personal Questions

These are very important questions, as employers must insist to know the candidate's family background, the positive and negative points in him, his lifetime idol, people's point of view about him etc. Following are some questions that can be asked in the personal interview round.

• How would you describe yourself?
• What is your family background?
• What is your educational background
• What did you learn from your education that will help you in your career?
• What are your hobbies and interests?
• Are you interested in extra-curricular activities?
• What extra talent do you have in you?
• Have you represented your college or university for any sports or art competitions?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Was it your own decision to make a career in this industry?
• Whom do you see as an idol in your life? And why?
• What has been the greatest achievement in life?
• Have you ever faced a rejection and how did you manage to come out of it?
• With what point of view do others see you?
• How often do you face challenges in life?
• What is your aim in life?
• What are the things that bother you the most?
• Which was the happiest moment in your life?
• Which was the most embarrassing moment in life?

• What do you expect from this job?
• What kind of work experience do you have from the previous company?
• Why did you leave your previous organization?
• Did your previous employer meet all your expectations?
• Were you rewarded for your work?
• How was the overall experience?
• What mistakes have you made in your previous job?
• Have you learnt from your mistakes and not repeated it?
• Did you ever feel frustrated on account of your previous job?
• How was the working environment in your previous organization?
• What was the best and the worst thing about your organization?
• How stringent were the work procedures, policies and the deadlines of your previous organization?
• How would you rate your previous job?
• Why did you choose this company for your career?
• Have you browsed through the website of this company?
• What do you know about this organization?
• Do you know anyone working with this organization?
• Till now, what are the best and worst things that you have noticed in this organization?
• At what extent can you handle work pressure?
• How do you deal with and perceive criticism?
• What working environment do you expect out of this organization?
• Do you believe in going out of the way and helping people?
• How often have you gone beyond the call to help the management and client?
• Do you think, you have leadership qualities in you?
• Have you ever led a team?
• Are you comfortable working for a lady boss?
• How do you come out of frustration and anger?
• Are you ready to work for long hours and rotational shifts?
• Are you ready to relocate and travel whenever and wherever necessary?
• If selected, how early can you join?