Potpourri Blog

Some candidates make the mistake of going in for job interviews with a written, well-rehearsed script of what they are going to say for each individual question they anticipate. This can be a serious mistake. If you take this approach, you may come across sounding like a robot instead of a real, live human being.

When job hunting, what you do need to do is to anticipate common interview questions and plan on how to answer them without sacrificing spontaneity. The approaches you take should allow you to be flexible while at the same time allowing you to respond to unexpected queries.

Here is a key rule for success at job interviews - do answer the questions! Sounds silly? Well, the truth is, many job hunters violate this rule and do not respond to some questions asked of them. This can considerably lower their chances of getting whatever job they were aiming for.

As a corollary, make sure you understand the question that is really being asked! In other words, do not impulsively answer a question even before the interviewer has finished asked it. Listen very carefully and understand the real question before answering it. It is perfectly fine to pause for a few seconds if need be while composing your response. Although a five second pause may seem like an eternity to you, to the interviewer, it will seem quite normal.

Here is another rule - do not give yes / no type answers to questions (well, in the majority of cases, anyway.) That won’t help you find a job. At the same time, do not be long-winded either. Remember, if the interviewer’s mind wanders because you keep going on and on and on, you lose.

Be like a copywriter, who has a limited space within which he must convey a persuasive message. Therefore, he must make every word count. So must you.

Managing time well is a key element for success, particularly when you are preparing to attend various job interviews. You might want to check out a few ideas and techniques on how to maximize your personal effectiveness - that could pay you excellent dividends. Whether you are a time-starved working professional looking for another job or a student about to embark on her first full-time job, time management is a skill you should develop.

It is worth repeating - do not memorize the actual words you will use while answering interview questions. Confidence and spontaneity will carry you a long way when it comes to landing that dream job.

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