Interview Questions

Visualizing a Successful Job interview – Pays Dividends

Believe it or not seeing the future and seeing yourself in a particular situation may go a long way to preparing your success in the job interview situation. One of the toughest and emotionally draining situations we all face at one stage or another is the dreaded job interview. Your success or failure within this taxing situation is largely dependent on your attitude to it, your preparation and visualizing your success.

Positive thought goes a long way towards success. The question is "How can I manifest this positive feeling?" The answer lies in preparation and a positive attitude.

Before you can visualize yourself achieving your goal of securing the job of your dreams, you should first prepare thoroughly for the job interview. To do this you need to research and prepare for the questions that will be asked of you. All interviews are different and every company is different, however saying that, there are a typical set of questions you may expect. Remember that the interviewer is only doing his or her job and they need to cover themselves thoroughly and ensure they have selected the best candidate for the job. You have to assure them that they are making the finest decision by employing you.

Typical questions you should prepare for are:

• Tell me a little about yourself?
• What do you know about our company?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your short and long term goals?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What were your reasons for leaving your last employment?
• Do you like working alone or as part of a team?
• Do you have any questions for me?

All are seemingly simple questions and truthfully they are, however all require business like and professional answers. The Interviewer is not looking for personal information, each question relates to your professional expertise, your skills, your innovation, your ambition and your creative problem solving.

The job interviewer is trying to gain an overall picture of you:

• Will you fit into their unique environment?
• Will you be an asset to the company?
• Are you able to adapt?
• Can you think on your feet?
• Are you the particular piece of the puzzle they are looking for?

The interviewer has a job to do and that is finding the right candidate in a timely fashion, so that business may progress and flourish. Imagine for a moment there is a door between the interviewer and the applicant, the responsibility lies with both parties for the door to be opened and the applicant invited in.

As the applicant, it is your job to make this easy for the job interviewer, the way to do this is research and prepare. Go on line and research the typical questions asked in a job interview have all your answers prepared; sometimes it helps to enlist a friend and practice the questions. Make sure your answers are comprehensive yet not tedious.

Once you have this information, you are beginning to see and understand the company from the inside, once you have achieved this you can then set about visualizing yourself working there and the contributions you may make. This is your end goal.

Before attending the interview:

• Know your Resume backwards look at the details and be prepared for questions.
• Know where the company is situated,
• How are you going to get there,
• How long the trip will take, where will you park, be prepared.
• Dress the part, research the dress code and look your professional best. The night before the interview get an early night, have all your paperwork ready, practice your interview questions and relax. The final part is to see yourself going through the following day’s schedule, arriving on time, greeting the receptionist pleasantly and finally graciously meeting with your interviewer.
• Remember your posture, walk with a straight back, shake hands firmly, meet the interviewer’s eyes, and answer questions concisely and with professional charm. See yourself doing this; picture the flow of questions and answers, the nodding of heads, agreements and interest, and picture an encouraging handshake at the interview’s conclusion.