5 Interview Tips to Land That Job

Many people will argue that your resume is the key to landing a great job, but others will say it’s the interview. Both are the first impressions a company will receive on you, so both really need to be great. Interviews make many people nervous, but with these tips and some practice, you’ll do great.

Research the Company
Get online and research the company you are interviewing with. It’s even better if you can speak with current and past employees of the company. This way, you can pull in specific information about the company during your interview, which shows the interviewer that you are extremely interested in the job. Some interviewers will even ask you what you know about the company.

Make Eye Contact
During the interview, remember to maintain eye contact with the interviewer. This is an indication of confidence, respect, and that you are determined to land the job.

Relate
When answering interview questions, try to relate your answers to the company, position, or interviewer. Focus on your achievements and skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for to show how you are perfect for the job.

You Should Ask Questions Too
To show how much you are interested in the job, you should always ask questions about the company and the position. Good questions to ask an interviewer include:

•    Why is the position open?
•    What are some of the more difficult problems that come up in this job?
•    What are the advancement possibilities for a person that is successful in this position?
•    What would you like to see handled differently by the next person who fills this job?

Practice
There are hundreds of websites that provide interview questions. Sit with a friend or family member and have them as you questions so you can prepare some great answers. Now go get ‘em!

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Telecommuting

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Telecommuting sounds like a great way to work. Many companies are allowing employees to work part time and full time from home. It has its perks, and it has its drawbacks. Just imagine getting up when you want and working in your pajamas. But there are myriad distractions, too. So here are some things to consider.

1. Treat your telecommuting job just like a regular commuting job. You are being paid to do a job, so do it.

2. If your company works 9 to 5, those are your hours. You may work from home; but you still have a personal life. Separate the two. If your company has flex hours, keep your hours in sync with the company. Companies with flex hours usually have people working 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check with the company, but stay within their range of hours.

3. Get up every day at the same time, shower, and dress as you would for a regular commute to the office. This is not to say you must wear business attire, but staying in your pajamas is taboo.

4. Have a designated work area and stay there, taking two breaks and a lunch. It is so easy to get distracted working from home. Leave the television off – you wouldn’t have one on in your company’s office, would you?

5. Do not assume that since you are home, the kids do not need to be at daycare. Keeping the kids home will be a major distraction, especially infants and toddlers. The same goes for pets. If you cannot train your pet to leave you alone while you work, pet daycare is an option.

6. Telecommuting is isolating. You do not have the regular interaction with coworkers like a commuting job. So if that interaction is important to you, telecommuting may not be for you.

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What to Do (and not do) in a Job Interview

Apart from reading your application, an interview is an employer’s first opportunity to get to know their would-be employee and gauge their potential for a position in the company. This interview can make or break your chances to get the job, so there are things to keep in mind when preparing for an interview.

The Dos
- Be punctual. Arriving on time or even early will show that you are serious about wanting the job. It shows that you respect them enough to show up when expected.
- Dress appropriately. A job interview is a formal environment and you should dress accordingly.
- Present yourself professionally. In addition to dressing appropriately, act appropriately. Speak properly, clearly, and calmly. Avoid slang and peppering your sentences with a lot of “uh”s and “um”s.
- Follow up. Show your potential employer that you are interested and serious about the position by calling and following up on the results of the interview.
The Don’ts
- Disparage previous bosses. “My last boss was in idiot” is not the answer to “Why did you leave your last job?” Show them that you respect the position of the boss by not insulting your old one.
- Act like you’d rather be somewhere else. Don’t keep checking your watch or the clock. This makes it look like you’d rather not be there.
- Lie to build yourself up. Be honest. Don’t claim to have an education or employment history that you don’t. A background check can reveal the lie and ruin your chances of being hired.
- Go in unprepared. Know something about the company to which you are applying. If the interviewer asks a question about the company or why you want to work there, you should have answers.

A job interview can be tough. Remembering points like these can help make the experience a little less unpleasant and possibly make you more attractive to a company.

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