How To Get Through A Job Interview

With a little bit of preparation, you can learn how to get through a job interview and get the job. The interview might seem like the hardest part about getting a job, but you've already done the hardest part, getting your foot in the front door. Sending in your resume and getting an interview scheduled means they have confidence you may be able to do the job. Now all you have to do is prove what they already hope to find in you.

1. Smile and be friendly. Try to make friends, even if the HR guy seems to be having a bad day. Crack a smile, be polite, and try to sound confident. Let the interviewer get comfortable with you. This person is probably a little nervous about meeting someone new as much as you are.
   
2. Research the company before the interview. Have some idea of what department you will be working in, if possible. Find out the company president's name, what the company sells, etc. Knowing your facts before you hit the interview will help you feel more confident.
3. Practice makes perfect. You can get through the job interview easier if you practice a few times with a friend or relative. Set up a mock interview, with a list of questions you think the interviewer will ask. Go through it several times until you can talk about yourself and your accomplishments with grace.
4. Prepare questions and ask them. Questions gets you  more face time with the interviewer. That's golden time. You can show your interest in the company and your want to work with the company simply by asking the right questions. Who will you be working with? What's an average day like at the office? What systems do they have in place? Save salary and compensation questions for the last, and don't make those questions the only questions.
5. Know your weaknesses. It's the dreaded question, "So what are your weaknesses?" Don't say, "None." Think of things you would like to improve upon in yourself. Be honest about it. Maybe you are working on how to avoid email and phone distractions without losing contact with customers so you can get more work done. Perhaps you're not as well educated on a certain topic in your trade and you'd like to use some spare time to brush up on your education. Pick something that could be a weakness and after, a trick you're trying to help improve those weaknesses.
6. Boast without gloating. So you're supposed to share information about yourself and explain that you're the best at the job, without sounding like an egotistical jerk. Remember this rule: You can often get away with saying many things if you either make apologizes or make a joke about it. This could help with your boasting about your previous experience. "I know I'm talking a lot about my successes, but I am trying to impress you." Be honest, and crack a smile.
   
7. Make the elephant in the room the center of attention. You want the job, they're the gatekeeper for the job. So make no secret about your intentions. "I love the sound of this job. What are you looking for in an employee?" Sometimes the direct questions are the best questions. "What will get me on the inside of this company?" After all, the best way to get through a job interview is to make it seem like you're both doing the interviewing.