CertTips^sm 

Tips for taking an interview

Interviewing is a lot like mountain climbing--one wrong step can result in a disaster. Here are a few interview preparation tips, to avoid the wrong step :

1. Do Your Homework - Get information before an interview.  Research--or, rather, the information that research unearths--gives you leverage in an interview. It can affirm your interest in a company or position and it can help you sell yourself as a qualified applicant.
2. Show and Tell - Bring an item to the interview--reports, software, analytical forecasts, award certificates, etc. Showing examples of your skills is more effective than simply talking about them. If you're not in a position to showcase a portfolio of any kind, bring tangible experience to the table.
3. Be ready with your responses - This reduces anxiety and slows rapid, nervous speech. Words and phrases such as "like," "you know," "kind of," "may be," and "stuff," disappear. Filler words ("um" and "ah") likely will too. Practice inserting pauses; they can also help solve these problems.
4. Make Your Case - Why should you get the job? You're the best person for the job, that's why! You have to believe you are the best person for the job, or you won't convince anyone else.

6.  competence, confidence and commitment - Impress at Interviews using the three big Cs - A set of 3 Cs could help you get a job. In many ways recruitment is all about prediction-the prediction of your likely level of success in a new job. So, at the heart of what employers seek is an assessment of your all round capability. Measuring a person's capability is a lot more than just trying to match a CV to a Job description. Measuring capability means discovering your competence, confidence and commitment: 
competence - A recruiter first looks for evidence of your past performance, education and training,  and assesses evidence for the softer skills such as leadership, communication and team-work.
Confidence is difficult to define - it is your faith in yourself, your ability to tide over a tough situation, and the way you present yourself to the interviewer.
Commitment on the other hand is more difficult to assess. A recruiter will look out for the number of years you put in your previous organization, the way you speak of your previous employer, your zeal and interest in your field of expertise & your yearning for knowledge. 
If you get these three Cs right you stand a wonderful chance of landing yourself a job.

7. "Tell us about yourself" - In an interview how does one handle the question "Tell us about yourself?", an often asked opening question. Perhaps the most frequently asked question across interviews. Your opening statement needs to be a summary of your goals, overall professional capabilities, achievements, background (educational and family), strengths, professional objectives and anything about your personality that is relevant and interesting. This question represents an opportunity to lead the interviewer in the direction you want him to go e.g., your specialty or whatever else you may wish to highlight. Your intention should be to try to subtly convince the interviewers that you are a good candidate, you have proved that in the past, and have a personality that fits the requirement. Remember that the first impression you create will go a long way in the ultimate selection. Keep in mind, most candidates who are asked this question just blurt out their schooling, college, marks and qualifications. All this is already there in the CV. Why tell the interviewer something he already knows?

General Questions

Many interviewers ask general Questions. Learn to handle three crucial questions:

• What do you really want to do?
• Tell me about yourself.
• Why did you leave your last job?

Interviewers ask these questions to assess how well you handle yourself under pressure and how focused your responses are. Speak positively and concretely; give specific accomplishments to back-up general statements. Avoid generalities, defensiveness, and negative comments about others.

In some cases candidates must be prepared with a well-rehearsed response to the question 'Why were you fired?' - Be straightforward and honest, providing examples of the weaknesses and strengths which contributed to the termination. You must clearly demonstrate the lessons learned and convert your weaknesses into assets, marketing yourself as a competitive candidate, even in the face of disastrous results. This shows an ability to learn and grow from mistakes.

A final word on approaching this question.

• Once you have said what you have to say - shut up.
• Don't drone on for the sake of speaking for you just might say something foolish.
• Sometimes interviewers don't interrupt in order to give the candidate the impression that he has not spoken enough. This is just a stress-inducing tactic. Don't fall for it, if you feel you have spoken enough. In case the pause gets too awkward for you just add something like, "Is there something specific that you wish to know about me?"

 Dos and Don'ts at an interview:

• Arrive at least 15 minutes ahead.
• Ask questions-without the fear of appearing dumb.
• Be honest with yourself.
• Bring business-related magazines with you to read while waiting-create an impression.
• Consider your wardrobe-clothes affect how people are perceived and treated.
• Compromise when necessary.
• Concentrate while listening.
• Display a mature sense of humor.
• Develop a career path.
• Don't accuse.
• Do your SWOT- (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity and Threats)
• Keep your language simple and to the point.
• Prepare, research the organization and impress the interviewer.

Lastly, good luck.