Interview practice

When you are getting ready to do something, most often you practice at it to get the right results. This occurs if you practice building small additions before building homes, or practice a sport before a game. So why would you not practice for an interview before going to the interview? Being ready for the interview is more than dressing properly and showing up on time. Being ready for the interview requires knowing how to do the following:

  • Turn any personal or background disadvantage into advantages
  • Selling yourself as the best possible applicant for the position

Interview Tips

When practicing for an interview, there are ways to answer questions which will help you. Here are a few tips on answering interview questions about your background.

  • Be honest, but not stupid - the employer wants the truth, not a confession of your sins; state the truth in the best possible light for you
  • Know the answers, but don't memorize - know the way you will answer questions without memorizing exact 'canned' answers
  • Be confident, sell yourself - show you are confident in your abilities and yourself; the employer is shopping for an employee and it is your job to sell them one.
  • Provide only needed information - know when to stop talking; do not give more than is asked of you at the interview

Practice Tips

Practicing for an interview and being ready for an interview are very different. Knowing how to practice is the important part.

  • Get a friend to help who will be as unbiased as possible with your responses
  • Practice every question possible about your background and work history
  • Do as many practice sessions as you need to feel completely comfortable with your answers
  • When practicing, do a 'dress rehearsal' (practice like it is the real interview)
  • Write down every possible question and five possible answers
  • If you can, record the practice sessions and review the tape to check for possible nervousness or other correctable issues

Other Tips

Being ready for an interview requires that you are willing and able to address self-made issues from your background which do not help your employability.

  • Take responsibility for yourself
  • Have corrective actions in place to offset the issues
  • Understand it is the employer who must be assured that any past issues you have will not affect the position you are trying to get

Being ready for the interview requires awareness and foresight of potential issues and questions about those issues during the interview. The employer will be preparing for the interview by listing the questions he wants answered. Your job as the applicant is to prepare for the interview by practising the answers for those questions.

Visit cvtips.com for a lot more information on CVs, Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviews.