how to be confident in interview?
471108
(m)\n\nDefine in detail how you want to perform in the interview: Describe to yourself in words the way you want to be.  How would you look and sound to a neutral observer? e.g. I see myself in an interview room sitting by a desk.  I look relaxed, and I am smiling, alert and energetic.  I am paying close attention to the other people in the room.  My posture is upright and I am making conversation easily and effortlessly. I exude confidence. \n\nMentally rehearse the interview from the perspective of an observer: In your imagination visualize yourself at the interview comfortable and at ease meeting people, feeling relaxed and confident. Pretend that you are observing yourself from the other side of the room.  The trick here is to imagine events unfolding in vivid 3D with rich colors.  For many people, making the image large and close also helps to make it feel more realistic.  Have fun playing with the image until it seems as real as watching T.V. or a movie screen.  \nTake care also to introduce sounds - maybe the scratching of a pen on paper, the squeak of a moving chair or the sound of your own voice exuding authority and confidence.   You can make sounds come to life by turning up the volume as you imagine that you are listening to full, resonant sounds in the room so that it is as if you are really there. Introduce feeling as well - sense the atmosphere in the room, the  temperature and mood, and soak up the aura of success that you exude in the imagined picture. \n\nThen introduce different scenarios for different types of people you may encounter. Imagine talking to someone who is putting you under pressure!  See yourself politely dealing with everything thrown at you.  What will you do if you are left sitting there facing a wall of silence?  See yourself acting decisively and without fear to move onto the next opportunity to create rapport.  Picture yourself at ease whoever you talk to, it is especially important to consider worst-case scenarios and to visualize yourself handling each challenge with unstoppable confidence. \n\nMentally rehearse the interview from your own perspective:  When you are pleased with the imagined performance you are producing, step inside the image of yourself and run through the scenarios again as if YOU are now doing it.  See, feel and hear it as if it is really happening. This time, you are looking out into the world from your own eyes, so your arms are directly in front of you with people facing you, as you feel your clothes on your body.  Allow it all to unfold in great detail - make it as real as possible by letting your imagination free to create a rich and colorful panoramic view of a successful day.  Finally, pay special attention again to feelings, really spend time imagining yourself feeling exactly the way you want to feel, and then crank it up and double the intensity until it could not possibly get any better. Then, imagine it even better again!  \n\nSet up a peak performance signal:  Ask yourself - what signal will you use as a reminder to use your ability to perform in this way?  I use the feeling of sitting on my own and getting tense as my mind goes blank.  The signal can be something you see, feel or hear inside or outside yourself and it must happen at or close to the point of wanting to speak to someone.  Other examples include seeing yourself surrounded by a group of strangers, hearing someone ask you your opinion, or the feeling that you want to be more outgoing even as you feel yourself getting more self-conscious right now - why not use self-consciousness to trigger better communication skills! \nImagine the signal happening and visualize yourself performing at your best in the interview. \n\nSome final points. Like anything in life it takes time to get really good at mental rehearsal. Using this visualization technique for twenty minutes a day will train your brain to perform new behaviors. The results will astound you.  \n\nJudge mental rehearsal by trying it out
37222
As a manager who does countless interviews, these are the things I look for:\n1)Enthusiasm for the job - dont be apathetic- act interested for pete's sake\n2)Ask questions...about the position or the company, or whatever..it just shows you are interested.\n3)Be prepared...do your homework - know at least a bit about the company\n4) Sounds petty but BRING YOUR OWN PEN...otherwise you appear unprepared and this tells a lot about your work habits.\n5)Be able to explain in gaps in employment, short term jobs etc in a clear manner.\n6)Practice your interview before you go...get a friend to help if possible.\n7) Easier said than done I know but RELAX and be yourself.\nThe bottom line is this...an interviewer wants to know that you are going to be the best fit for the job - they want to know that you can not only DO the job, but that you are going to have a great attitude, and be a dependable, reliable employee. It costs companies money to train people even for the smallest job. They want to know that you are going to be worth their investment.
857278
well the best way to pretend in an interveiw is probably to tell all your answers to their questons boldy..(even if you dont know them) ..they might just think your acually telling them what you feel and might accept you for your confidence..you could also go prepared for an interview ...know more about the company and what they are dealing with and all that...check their website out or something...you could also ask an insider in the company o give you a few tips on the interview....best of luck...peace
978466
Feet flat on the floor, palms showing (an indication of honesty), lean slightly forward (indicates interest), smile, keep eye contact (not constantly obviously as that could be perceived as threatening) and nod when the interviewer talks (again - don't over do it!).  Good luck!
448801
Speaking from personal experience, I like to see someone who is confident and has consistent answers.  Speak so you can be heard and don't fidget.  Unless the interviewer asks for more details, don't ramble on.  Answer questions honestly, not what you think the interviewer wants to hear.  Give your opinion only when the interviewer asks for it.  \n\nFirst impressions are lasting impressions.  Dress appropriately and be polite.  Come prepared with a resume and any other pertinent documentation.
1065536
Take a deep breath....\nNow, Go into the interview with the idea that you'll get the job or not. Whatever. It's just a job. Be polite but not needy and desperate.\nIf you keep in mind that it's just a job and not that life changing an event you wont come off as so nervous and you'll seem more relaxed.\nAlso, tell the person interviewing you that you're a little nervous. that way there is an explanation for any mistakes you make.\nGood luck.
997301
First of all, I would get one of the dress for success books. I found out the hard way that clothing can ruin your chances of being hired. Make sure that you have an 'honest' resume with you.\nWhile you are speaking to the interviewer, resist any temptation to interrupt or get too loud. Know it all types usually end up being crossed off of the hire list. If you don't know the answer, be honest. Show a willingness to listen and learn. Good attitudes and politeness are more likely to get the job for you.\nI obtained my information from several people that I work with that are in a hiring capacity.
72534
There are several factors that will help you to be sucessfull on an interview.\n1. Be polite and courteous.\n2. Be well groomed and dressed for the interview (first impressions do count)\n3. Listen carefully intently when the person interviewing you is speaking.\n4. Try to develop a rapportwith the interviewer\n5. Have a good understanding of the job you are applying for.\n6. Find out whatever you can about the company that wants to hire you. This information will give you the advantage of understand the questions they may ask you.\n8. Ask thoughtful questions when you are given the opportunity (this will show the interviewer your interest understanding of the opportunity)\n8. When you think the interview is almost over, try to establish a way to follow-up. Ask what the next step in the process might be.\n9. At the end of the interview thanks the interviewer for his time.\n\nThere are some very good books on the subject. You can get much more detail in them.
390881
Good question!  I was pondering good answers for these questions just last week.  As far as strengths, you want the interviewer to understand your confidence levels without giving the impression you are being cocky.  Good statements are: being a team player, a quick and eager learner, loyal etc...\n\nWeaknesses, which I think alot of people struggle with answering can be: waiting to the last moment to complete tasks, or not having the verbal advantage you desire.  Remember the interviewer wants you to humanize yourself.
849608
Assessing Your Strengths\n\nAssess your skills, and you will identify your strengths. This is an exercise worth doing before any interview. Make a list of your skills, dividing them into three categories:\n\n    1. Knowledge-based skills: Acquired from education and experience (e.g., computer skills, languages, degrees, training and technical ability).\n\n    2. Transferable skills: Your portable skills that you take from job to job (e.g., communication and people skills, analytical problem solving and planning skills).\n\n    3. Personal traits: Your unique qualities (e.g., dependable, flexible, friendly, hard working, expressive, formal, punctual and being a team player).\n\nWhen you complete this list, choose three to five of those strengths that match what the employer is seeking in the job posting. Make sure you can give specific examples to demonstrate why you say that is your strength if probed further. \n\nWhat Are Your Strong Points?\n\nIdentifying your five strengths and matching them to the job is an important step in preparing for your interview. Read through the description and identify the key factors needed to do the job. Be sure to read between the lines. For example:\n\n    Will interact with accounting, engineering and manufacturing departments.\n\nWhat will it take to perform this task? What kind of person is this company looking for?\n\nIt will require good communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to interface with a diverse group of people and levels. If these are your areas of strength, focus on letting the interviewer know that you have the ability and experience to interface well with many different groups.\n\nLike the speechwriter, you want your audience to remember the important points you have made. By concentrating on a handful of strengths, you will find that you are more focused and succinct about telling what you have to offer. More importantly, the folks you meet are more likely to remember you for your strengths.
627537
Practice, practice, practice.  Before I begin a long period of interviewing, I come up with a list of potential questions (from books & internet) and a rough idea of the answers I want to give.  I also come up with a general fact sheet of the qualities I want to emphasize in my answers and specific points to emphasize about each bullet point in my resume.  Then, I ask my sister or close friend to practice with me by asking me questions just like a real interview.  During the practice session, I act as I would in an interview.  Being prepared helps me feel more relaxed before/during the interview.  Also, the preparation keeps me from rambling/babbling during the interview... it is important to keep answers concise and to the point.\n\nI am a very nervous person, and the preparation definately helped me thoughout interviewing.  Other things I watched out for so that the interviewer didn't know I was nervous were making sure not to move my hands too much when talking, not to fidget or sway my legs, and not to insert a nervous laugh in my sentences.  Also, I tried to always smile and handle myself to give an impression of confidence by standing or sitting up straight, always giving a firm handshake, and making eye contact.\n\nIt is very useful to go to your local library and check out books and/or videos on interview strategies.  The videos are pretty corny, but make great points and are easier to get through than books (although the books are a great resource for commonly asked questions in your field).\n\nGOOD LUCK!  You can do it!!!
907502
I've conducted about 500 interviews on candidates and what we are looking for is\n1) Integrity\n2) Honesty\n3) Can do attitude\n4) A person that is effective\n5) the person who is likely to be the most successful in a position.\n\nThat being said, in the case of asking what is your weakness, tell the interviewer something that is a weakness of yours, but follow up by stating what you are doing to overcome that weakness.\n\nFor instance, one of the people mentioned procrastination. If you are a procrastinator, share what you are doing to ensure you will get things done on time.\n\nPeople who answer this question without admitting to any type of weakness are quickly bypassed by me because they have just shot their credibility with me. If they cannot admit they have any type of a weakness, this is a signal to me that this person will never admit when they make a mistake and will avoid the truth. They also may have difficulty working in a team setting because they sound like they have an ego problem.\n\nSo your best bet is to answer this honestly.\n\nLying may get you the job, but if you lie on the interview and the find out, they can terminate you, or at the least, you have damaged your credibility.
817870
Actually it would look like you were prepared and set you apart from 90% of the other people they will interview that day. I interview a lot of people. The things many of them do wrong:\nThey don't bring a copy of their resume with them.\nThey don't dress up. (Jeans are NEVER acceptable for an interview)\nThey don't remove their hat (for guys)\nThey don't turn off their cell phones or worse they answer them during the interview!\nThey cannot answer simple questions about previous jobs or job experience.\nThey smell bad.\nThey say "um" or "you know" every other word.\nThey chew gum.\nThey trash their former employers.\nThey can't answer the question "Why should we hire you?"\nThey don't ask any questions about the job. (The best question to ask an interviewer is what THEY are looking for in the person that takes that position. Then point to specific experience you have either in work or life that makes YOU the best canidate.)\nThey don't look at you during the interview. Not making eye contact makes people think you are shady.\n\nHope this helps! Good luck!
890392
If it is during and interview, tell the truth: for example, I am goo in computers, but I am not as organized ad I would like to be. Always say the positive points first and then the negatives, everybody has weaknesses nobody is perfect, if you do not say them you are lying
508845
Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected. Study this list and plan your answers ahead of time so you'll be ready to deliver them with confidence. \n\n1.What Are Your Weaknesses? \n\nThis is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: "I am always working on improving my communication skills to be a more effective presenter.." \n\n2.Why Should We Hire You? \n\nSummarize your experiences: "With XXXXX  years' experience working in the XXXXX industry and my proven record, I could make a big difference in your company. I'm confident I would be a great addition to your team." \n\n3.Why Do You Want to Work Here? \n\nThe interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you've given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. For example, "I've selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices." \n\n4.What Are Your Goals? \n\nSometimes it's best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For example, "My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. I hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility." \n\n5.Why Did You Leave (Or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job? \n\nIf you're unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: "I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me." \n\nIf you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: "After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience." \n\n6.When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job? \n\nThe interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. "I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me." \n\n7.What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't? \n\nWhat makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: "I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly." \n\n8.What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You? \n\nIt's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: "My boss has told me that I am the best XXXXXX  he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humour." \n\n9.What Salary Are You Seeking? \n\nIt is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: "I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?" \n\n10.If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be? \n\nInterviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer "a bunny," you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer "a lion," you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job don
851048
Preparation. \nResearch the company you are applying to, and make a few notes to ask relevant questions.\nHave a well constructed resume in a presentation folder.to leave with the interviewer. Keep it brief, & USE A SPELL CHECK!\nDress well and conservatively.\nFirm handshake, immediate eye contact, smile.\nLean forward when the interviewer is speaking and indicate interest.\nAsk questions about the company. \nDon't drift off on a tangent when answering questions.\nNEVER bad-mouth a previous employer.\nThank the interviewer for their time.\n\nFollow up with a letter or email thanking them again for their time and say that you're hoping to hear from them soon.\n\nBest of luck to you!
939937
My interviews improved immeasurably after two things. The first was doing a mock interview and being filmed while doing so - watching it back was excruciating but gave me a huge amount of things to improve on. The second was practice, practice and more practice. You can guess what sort of questions they're going to ask you about (previous jobs, your background, why you want this job, what you do in your spare time etc). If the job has key competencies or skills listed you can guess what they will ask on those, too ("tell me about a time when you had to demonstrate leadership", etc). Come up with answers to those questions - not ones you have to learn word for word, just some key words or phrases you know you have to drop in. Have an opening sentence ready so you have more thinking time. And get friends to do practice interviews with you - it doesn't have to be formal, it could be 20 minutes over coffee or in a bar, but as long as they're asking new questions you will get used to thinking on your feet.\n\n\n\nOne trick I've used often, is simply to say "I'm sorry, I'm a bit nervous" if I stumble a bit or freeze. Always seems to break the chill a little bit, and sets everyone at ease. But then, I'm not applying for positions involving public speaking.\n\n\n\nDo all the homework that greycap suggests. Prepare as well as you can. Make sure you're rested, accentuate the fun part of having the interview (sic), etc.\n\nAnd then after having done all that say to yourself "I'll do my utmost to get the job, but not all is lost if I don't get it".\n\nThe reason is that there are factors outside of your control in doing an interview; there's a certain aspect of luck, of the match between the organisation, the interviewer and you.\nBut more importantly; this realisation will put you in a state of mind that enables doing well and being as self confident as you can.\n\n\n\nSmile. Lean back in the chair. stretch. You're at ease because you know our stuff.\n\nBefore the guy asks you a question, ask him one, about the business, but one me can't give a canned answer to. No, "How many offices do you have", more like "what problem are you trying to solve by hiring me" -- then smile "or whomever you do hire" -- now bigger smile, like you both know he's going to hire you.\n\nLet him give this answer, which will be in great detail. Nod appropriately. When he finishes, nod slowly, like you're absorbing what he had to say. Pick from what he wants your best qualities, incline you head to one side (it looks humble , and like you're thinking), smile, and explain your strengths that fit what he wants.\n\nThen apologize for going on at length, and say "but I know you have a lot of questions for me". Then the "normal" interview starts, but you've taken charge in a very diplomatic way.\n\n\n\nUse an overall interview checklist to organize yourself for each interview. If you don't forget anything, you won't be stressed walking in. That's half the battle.\n\nPractice your two minute drill, preferably in front of a mirror. You also need a prepared "two minute verbal summary" [PDF file linked] of yourself in mind for every interview. Use it to reply to questions about why you are looking for the job, what you've done in the past that is related experience, what your goals are, etc. If you have good statements that you've written and believe to be true about yourself, you can deliver them with confidence, and by rehearsing them, keep them at the ready in your mind. If you don't already have a practiced 2 minute summary, you should write and edit one immediately, and aim to practice it for at least 20 repetitions a day, until you can deliver it perfectly, word for word as you've written it, naturally. Most people decide that you are confident or nervous in the first two minutes afte