Put yourself in the interviewer's shoes.
Interviewers are not trying to make your life miserable. Really. In fact, they are hoping you are "the one." They need to fill the job with the best person, and if they don't succeed their jobs could be on the line. Just keeping that in perspective can help calm your jitters.

Prepare, prepare, prepare.
"Preparation is 90 percent of success in job interviews," says Dr. Linda Smith-Gaston, career advisor at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Smith-Gaston encourages role-playing with a friend before the interview and anticipating the questions you'll likely hear. Typical interview questions include:

• Why are you the best person for the job?


• Tell me about yourself.


• What are your best/worst traits?


• Why do you want to work here?


• What did you learn in school (or at an internship) that prepares you for this job?

"You should always know what the company actually does before the interview," Smith-Gaston adds. Finding out could be as simple as a two-minute Internet search.

Plan your day around the interview.
Running late will stress you out. Avoid rushing by mapping out the directions to the interview site and allowing more time than you think you'll need. Budget for traffic jams, parking snafus, bad weather, road closures and just getting lost. Make sure you budget enough time off from your current job or school, so you don't feel like you have to run out of the interview if it runs longer than you anticipated. Hiring managers, like doctors, can sometimes keep you waiting.

De-stress before the interview.
After you check in with the receptionist -- being pleasant and professional when you do this -- try some relaxation techniques, recommends Smith-Gaston. This could be as simple as closing your eyes or doing a few deep breathing exercises. But beware: If your idea of relaxation is kick-boxing or a yoga routine, do those at home. "You want to be memorable to the employer, but not for making a scene in the waiting room," Smith-Gaston says. And don't even think about taking a drink or using substances to calm down; that should be obvious, but for some it isn't.

Listen, think, speak.
Whether your interview is in person or over the phone, it is important to listen to what the interviewer has to say, and then think before responding, according to Paul Bailo, author of "The Official Phone Interview Handbook." "Take a few seconds to understand the question, and then prepare a quality answer before simply blurting out something less intelligent," he says. "Focusing on the interviewer will take your mind off your own jitters and actually help calm you down."

Prepare your own questions.
You'll know the interview is almost over when the interviewer asks whether you have any questions about the job or the company. When you hear this, don't say "no," and bolt for the door. Use this opportunity to solidify the good impression you've made. "Well-thought-out questions show you're really interested in the company and the job," Bailo says. Also, if you have sent in your résumé, have a copy in front of you (and make sure it's the same version). Always wait until the interviewer has finished asking about you and your background before launching into your own questions.

The day after the interview, send a thank you note to the interviewer. "Use the thank-you note to add something new, like an award or a small honor you received," Smith-Gaston says.

http://www.bullhornreach.com/article/view/42520?referer=www.linkedin.com&shortlink=1426814

Once you've received the call from an employer inviting you in for an interview, the real preparation begins. Prior to an interview, candidates should research the company so they can not only answer questions, but have questions ready to ask the hiring manager as well.

The interview is where the job candidate and employer get to know each other. Think of it like dating. While a job interview is in a professional setting and the outcomes are different, the intentions are the same. You've exchanged information because you think there might be a connection, and now you're ready for your "first date." As much as you want to make a good first impression, the employer needs to make a good impression, too.

Just like a first date, you don't want one person to dominate the conversation and ask all the questions. It should be a balanced dialogue, and you should ask questions that get to the heart of the matter: Who is this employer, and why should I work for this company?

The right questions to ask
Alan Guinn, managing director and CEO of The Guinn Consultancy Group, works with employers every day. He recommends that recruiters listen for these 10 questions from job applicants to see if they've done their homework and truly want the position:

1. I've been told that I work very well as a team member. What are some of the ways your company encourages teamwork?

2. We all know how important job satisfaction is to everyone. I want to be happy in any role. Is the company committed to promotion from within, whenever possible?

3. I love your published mission and values. How are these reflected in day-to-day life at the company? Can you share some examples with me?

4. If your son, daughter or a friend was looking for a job, would you recommend working for this company? Why?

5. What do you think distinguishes this company from its competitors, both from a public and employee perspective?

6. How often do you speak with your C-level officers? When you do, what do they normally ask you? Do they ask for your opinion?

7. How does the company demonstrate a sense of pride in its employees? Can you help me understand what it looks for in return?

8. Are there paid, ongoing learning opportunities offered at my level of job responsibility? What obligations do I have if I elect to take advantage of them?

9. What does the company expect in the way of personal and professional growth for a person hired into this position?

10. Does the company value a difference in work and personal time, or does it blur the responsibilities between the two?

Think about your goals first
Don't feel obligated to walk into the interview with a set number of questions, but these give you an idea of the right questions to ask. Also think of the questions in terms of your career and personal goals. If you're moving into a role with more responsibility, how will that affect what questions you ask? If you're starting a family soon, what do you want to know about the company's commitment to work/life balance?

Thoughtful planning and preparation for an interview will not only help you feel more confident but will also leave a great impression on the person interviewing you.

Everyone has their own criteria for what a résumé should consist of. The format and the number of pages vary from person to person. Then what are the basic essentials that none of us should miss while constructing a résumé? What factors are globally recognized? Below are the components and tips necessary for creating a resume in the present year:

• Get rid of the ‘objective statement’ The trend of the same old objective statement is now at the closing stage. There’s nothing striking about the objective statement rather simply stating the designation you’re applying for is a better approach. You can write this underneath your address and there’s no need to waste space with useless objective statements.
  

• Be real Try to present your achievements and efforts in the form of numbers and percentages as this gives weight age to what you say. Stating your role through an ordinary statement is not attractive, for example, ‘my marketing strategy was very effective in the year 2011’. This is vague and gives the recruiter no clue of your actual abilities. Something like ‘my marketing idea worked successfully last year as it boosted the annual sales by 6%’ makes more sense.

• Cover letter is back in the game Some recruiters believe that reading the cover letter is a waste of time, while the ones finding a job think it is useless to adjust the cover letter for each company. The fact is that your cover letter can make a difference. You’re not supposed to attach the same cover letter for all the companies, instead, tailor them accordingly. It’s the best method to introduce yourself and your skills to the organization and the kind of work you’re interested in. The organization will know your strongest areas and the chances of the right job increases.
  

• Keywords are valuable Many people use a lot of jargon, trying to make an impression. While you’re crafting your résumé, try to use standardized keywords because this helps the recruiters match your résumé with the job requirements and save their time and efforts. Using a lot of terminologies is not effective in today’s world. However, by using the right keywords, your résumé can outnumber the rest. Companies now use applicant tracking systems that work through these keywords, just like you do while searching for jobs.
  

• QR codes are must Nowadays, freshly qualified people use ‘quick response’ codes on their resume and at the back of the business cards. QR codes are kind of bar codes that can be easily scanned to link to the online career portfolio or the LinkedIn profile of the job seeker. You can also use QR codes on your business card and distribute them, whenever you attend career programs, workshops or any other seminar, so that recruiters are able to connect with you via your online portfolio.
  

• Recruiters find visual resumes exciting Visual resumes are in because they’re an effective and unique method to display your achievements and past records. Visual tools are available on various sites such as ‘Visualize.me’; it helps you create your own distinctive résumé. Recruiters appreciate visual effects and find this way interesting indeed, however, a visual résumé occupies a lot of the company’s database and it’s preferable to go for the hard copy résumé that is easy to save.
  

• Video résumé is an option as well There is a strong competition out there and job seekers are finding new ways to make their résumés more appealing to recruiters. Video résumé is one of the options used to grab attention. Make sure you don’t aim this video just for consideration, your focus should be on the job and the skills you have. A video that has nothing to do with your skills and achievements is a waste of time.
  

• Use social media intelligently Social networking is not only to make friends, but has other uses as well. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are the cheapest online platforms you can always try to find jobs. Employers use social media profoundly and you should not miss this opportunity. Your online profiles should be specifically career-oriented, so that the companies are able to identify you, while hunting for employees.

http://jobstips.us/8-globally-recognized-resume-tips.html

Never be too critical The question “What do you hate about your last job?” does not give you license to go on a rant about your past bosses, workmates or clients!

One interviewer stated that, in response to this question, “the candidate broke out about how they hated dealing with the public and people in general and then lobbed some racial slur about a group of customers they deal with.”

Clearly, avoiding being racist in an interview is a basic, but this answer highlights that being negative about past experience is never a good idea. The question is designed to see why you want this job instead of your last job and, as such, you want to pick out the positives from your potential new role and how they were missing from your last role. Or, alternatively, highlight a part of your personal skill set that you were unable to utilize in your last role that will be useful in your new job.

Appearance does matter Although many dress codes are becoming more relaxed, the general consensus from interviewers is that if you want the job, you are expected to make an effort with your appearance. Some examples of poorly chosen outfits that have been worn in the past include:

• Full sports tracksuit to an interview to become a major financial company’s vice-president
• Shorts, sandals, a vest and a baseball cap
• A short dress and stiletto heals to an interview for a job at an old people’s home

The phrase “It’s better to be overdressed than overlooked” is generally a valid one, but the line should be drawn at wearing a ball gown to interviews – yes, that has actually happened!

Don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched! One interviewer recalls: “There were maybe 10 of us waiting for the elevator on the ground floor, one of which was an attractive woman. A man joined us in line, and started to chat with her. She responded politely and then chose to ignore him.He then started to yell at her, saying he was interviewing for a great job with a great salary and he could buy and sell her...I started to recognize his voice and asked him if his name was, let's say, Bob. He said, 'Ya.' I asked him, 'Is your meeting with Bruce?' He went white and said 'Ya.' I said, 'It's canceled.' And, no, I never heard from Bob again."

Always be aware that people in an office are likely to know each other! If you give off a negative impression to the receptionist at the door or anyone else in the building, it will probably get to the ears of your interviewer – even if he isn’t in the lift with you!

Have questions planned that are relevant and insightful It is fairly common practice for an interviewer to ask you if you have any questions at the end of an interview. This is your chance to stand out as genuinely interested in finding out more about the job you’ve applied for and having a real thirst for knowledge, so questions like these don’t quite cut it:

• Where are you going on your next holiday?
• Do you do background checks?
• Is it standard procedure to do regular drug screenings?
• If I’m hired, when can I start applying for other positions in the company?

These are just a few examples of thousands of interviews that have gone wrong. So, if an interview doesn’t go quite how you planned, learn from it, move on, and don’t make the same mistake again!

http://www.totaljobs.com/careers-advice/interviews/interviews-gone-wrong