Making the right impression in your job interview is one of the most important steps in your future career. Many people don't know this, but job interviews require careful planning and research, otherwise you will significantly reduce the chance of getting the job. In the current economic climate it is very hard to land yourself a job, thus planning your interview before is the key to success The first (and often the most important) thing to prepare for is your attire. Don't wait until the last minute to find something to wear – you should prepare for it days in advance and get it properly cleaned and ironed. Remember that you should always dress to fit the context of a job. If you're applying for a casual gardening company, a suit might not be ideal, but if you're applying for a position as an accountant or a banker, then a full suit would be the required minimum. Despite what people say, first impressions are everything. Conducting research about the job and company you're applying for is imperative. Consider doing a web search and learn as many facts about the company as you can. You can subtlety include these facts during the interview (when appropriate) to show the interviewer that you have done your homework on the company. Don't overdo it though – you don't want to sound like you're repeating their whole website! Non-verbal messages are often more important than words, so make sure that you greet your interviewer with a firm handshake. Maintaining correct posture and eye contact are also two very important non-verbal messages as they make you appear more confident and presentable. These are two big qualities that hiring managers will be looking for. You should also be able to recite your resume off by heart. As a general rule, you should not need to consult your resume. The interviewer will already have a copy of your resume, and they will ask you questions about it, so don't try to make up an answer as there is a big chance that you will get it wrong. Highlight your achievements and the value added skills you can bring to the job and back up your statements with examples. As preparation is the key to a successful job interview, consider doing a short role-play with a friend or family member. Ask them to question you on your resume and the job to fully prepare you for the interview. The more you are prepared the greater your chances of success. Following the interview, thank the interviewer for his or her time and ask when they expect to make a final decision and don't feel discouraged to follow up with them if you haven't heard back within a few days. Good luck!

When it comes to your job interview, you want to leave it with nothing but positive energy. You want to leave the interviewer thinking that you will most certainly be a positive addition to his or her company. The last thing you want to do is to kill your chances with a simple mistake or two. While there are a number of ways to prepare for a successful interview, there are also a number of ways to quickly end your chances of getting hired. Below are some simple things to avoid during an interview: Showing up late This is not only rude, but it also reflects poorly on your work ethic. Do you routinely show up late? Are you someone who can't be counted on? Don't disqualify yourself before even meeting the interviewer. Forgetting to turn your cell phone off (or keeping it on silent) Having a cell phone ring during an interview is not only disruptive - it's also disrespectful. While it may not be an automatic interview-killer, it certainly won't improve your chances. Chewing gum This looks/sounds unprofessional and tacky. No employer appreciates someone talking to them with a mouthful of gum. It's even worse if you're someone who chews loudly without even realizing. Using "I don't know" as a response to questions The purpose of an interview is to provide the interviewer with more information about you. The more you give them, the better. Using slang or profanity This is never a positive in the workplace. Speak professionally. Bringing up personal problems An interview is about the job in question and about your specific qualifications, not about your personal life. While you will almost always be asked to talk a little bit about yourself, try to keep the personal talk to a minimum. Certainly don't bring up any "issues" that will raise red flags. These "killers" may seem a little obvious, but they happen all the time. Avoid these mistakes and you're already ahead of a large part of the competition.

As a job candidate what is the best question to ask in an interview? At some point in the interview (typically at the end) the hiring manager will turn to you and ask "Do you have any questions which you would like to ask me?" There are two main benefits in asking the right questions. Firstly don't forget the number one rule from chapter one. The interview is a two way process and you need to ensure that this organization is the right fit for you. If you are uncertain about certain aspects of the role or need greater clarification, than this is the time to ask those questions. Don't be shy or intimidated. Secondly by asking clever questions will not just help you in deciding if this job is right for you but will impress the interviewer and leave a positive image as someone who comprehensive and professional. What you need to do • Prioritize your questions based on the interview situation - Is this the first interview or the second interview? • The best questions you can ask are open ended questions • Have 3-5 questions prepared (The more the better) • Only ask questions that you are interested in knowing the answer! • Only ask questions that are relevant to the job, department, management and organization Sample 15 Job Interview Questions to ask • How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? • Do you provide any sort of professional development or training? • How do you measure performance and how often is it reviewed? • Who was in this job before and why did they leave? • Is this a new position? How long has this position existed? • Could you explain your organizational structure? • How many people work in this office/department? • How much travel is expected? • What's the makeup of the team as far as experience? • With whom will I be working most closely? • Why do you enjoy working for this company? • How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? • Can you describe the company's management style? • What would be the goals of the department in the coming year? • What are the traits and skills of people who are the most successful within the organization? Types of Job Interview Questions NOT to ask • Salary and benefits • Questions that are clearly stated on the website • Generic / Obvious questions • Questions that the interviewer is unable to answer. Do not try to "outsmart the interviewer" Asking questions that appear to be challenging the interviewer or a question that the interviewer is unlikely to know will only create a negative vibe between you and the interviewer. Remember you are trying to build rapport with the interviewer not challenge the interviewer. • Questions that are irrelevant to the job or organization Sample 15 Job Interview Questions NOT to ask • How many sick days and holiday days do I get? • Do I still get paid for a sick day? • If I start next week how long until I will get a pay rise? • How long is the lunch break? • What is it that your company does? • Are the working hours flexible? • Am I able to have my own office? • Who are the "coolest" people on my team? • How many warnings do you get before you are fired? • Are there many coffee shops close by? • How financially sound is this company? • What are your strengths and weaknesses? • Will I be given an employee handbook? • What is the company policy on internet use? • Can I use Facebook?

Have you ever sat in a job interview and been sweating uncontrollably as you stumble through the interview questions? Have you found yourself shaking hands with the hiring manager on the way out of the job interview and thinking to yourself how you just completely messed up the entire interview? Of course you have. Who hasn't! Why does this happen? Do you remember back in school or university before an exam you would study hard to make sure you were well prepared and ready to answer any question that could come your way. When you buy an expensive item such as a car or house you don't just wake up one day and go to the dealership and purchase a car. You do your research. You study and become knowledgeable on the subject. Only once you have done your research and preparation do you get ready to make your purchase. The same is true for your job interview. How many times have you walked into a job interview having done 5-10 minutes of preparation? Let me guess you scrolled through the company's website and re-read the job description a couple of times. Finding your dream job is no game. We spend on average 40 hours a week in the office. Over the course of a single year that is 2080 hours per year. (Minus vacation, holiday time and few more "personal days") When an opportunity arises to seek new employment and you are invited to the job interview you have one opportunity to shine and stand out above the other job competitors who are all vying for that one vacant position. You need to ensure that you are 100% prepared for the interview and have answers ready for every question that may come your way. To quote William Wallace in Braveheart - you have "just one chance" So how do we know what questions are going to be asked in the interview? The answer is we don't. There are thousands of different interview questions that may be asked. However, by planning for the interview we can be in a situation where we already have our answers ready for any type of question that a hiring manger may ask. Here is my tip: The key to interviewing success is simply preparing a mental outline to follow when responding to each question. When you are sitting at home preparing for the interview, write a list of achievements, stories and examples that illustrate how you solved a particular problem or how you performed in an outstanding way. That way rather than going to the interview and thinking of your answers on the spot you will already have your mental list of answers ready to go. Here is a very basic example to prove my point. "In my previous job I was promoted to manager after 6 months because of my hard work and dedication on a particular project …." With this example in mind I am ready to answer any interview question that is related to my success and I have a story to emphasise my point. Every person brings unique characteristics and value added skills to a job and as the interviewee; you need to be ready to demonstrate all the great qualities and achievements in order to succeed in your job interview.

The final stage of nailing the interview is the follow up. After doing all the hard work of preparing for the interview, dressing correctly and being able to answer all the questions which the interviewer asks, the final stage is to follow up from the interview. Find below a list of the best follow up tactics to use to continue to show your enthusiasm for the role. Follow up with a letter or email thanking the interviewer for their time and re-expressing your desire for the role and because of your skills and experience you are the right person for the role. A thank you letter not only reiterates your desire, but continues the rapport you already built during the interview. Rules to follow When writing a thank you letter always remember to correctly use their right title and spell their name correctly. Nothing is worse than receiving an email with the persons name spelt incorrectly. Send your thank you email that evening. You want the interviewer to receive the email in the morning so that they continue to remember who you are and you stay in the forefront of their mind. Don't be afraid to follow up with a phone call 3-5 days after the interview. Ideally it is best to ask the interviewer in the interview when they expect to make a decision, but a follow up call is great way to further reiterate your desire for the job. Do not burn any bridges. You may have felt the interview did not go well or that the role was not for you. That's ok. Continue your professionalism until the very end. You just never know what else can potentially come from that interview. I have seen cases where the interviewer was impressed with a candidate and although they did not have the right skills for that particular job they created a new position for that candidate. The big misconception from candidates is that the interviewer does not want to be disturbed with follow up. THIS IS WRONG. Many hiring managers will observe the candidates who do follow up. Stand out from other potential candidates by making sure you follow through to the end. Example thank you email Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to interview for the position of XYZ . It was a pleasure to meet you, and I appreciate your time and consideration in interviewing me for this position. Following our discussion I consider that I have all the skills and requirements to fulfil your job. Having been a manager for 3 years and a project manager for 2 years, I have the desire to lead the team in a positive and productive way. In addition to my technical skills I bring enthusiasm and energy into everything I do in order to get the job done in an efficient and timely manner. I am very keen on this role and working for company ABC. If you require any further information from me please contact me anytime on XXX XXX XXXX. Thank you again for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Your Full Name