Putting your Best Forward in an Interview

A job interview is enough to make even the most confident person nervous, but nerves can be good if used to focus on one's best efforts.

1.  Understand the job description.  If you don't know some of the terminology, as a colleague or look it up.

2.  Answer the questions completely and ask for a repeat if you didn't catch the whole question.

3.  Reassure the interviewers if you don't have a skill.  How would you learn it?  What skills do you have that will transfer or apply to the desired skill?

4.  Do your homework.  Remember that you are interviewing them too.   Ask intelligent questions about the workplace.  Ask about the direction and stability of the leadership.  Find out about the ideal candidate to see if you are a good fit.

5.  Also, have a few questions to ask. Three is a good number of questions to ask and eight is too many.

6.  Watch the fillers.  Ums, ahs, right, okay.  Any word that fills space is annoying and distracting.

7.  Be confident in what you know and show your passion for your work.

8.  Let the committee evaluate your performance on a question.  In other words, don't evaluate your response to a question.  Give the answer and move on.

9.  Prepare for given questions:

What's your background and education?

Why do you want this job?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?  

10.  Submit your cover letter, application and resume along with any other items that are requested.  Really think about what other items should be included in your application packet.  Don't hand out items at the interview unless requested or common practice such as a portfolio.