Four Elements of A Winning Job Interview

In the "big city", having a source of income ranks high in the list of things to do. It's practical. Having a job gives you the power to buy stuff and do things that matter to you. It's part of your life and supports your lifestyle, but it isn't your life.

The job interview, lies at the heart of the job hiring process; a permanent fixture HR people use on a regular basis. It aims to determine which among the applicants is best suited for the job. It goes both ways. Put another way, work is like marriage, many suitors stand in line to win the dream girl's heart so they can build a lasting relationship and a happy life together.

Like love, finding the ideal work involves many factors. You'll need to spend time to get to know the other party involved; to understand the other's character, needs, desires and possible rewards you can get for a job well done.

With this in mind, I've listed down four critical elements an aspiring employee must follow to succeed in the quest to land that “dream job”. Read on...

1. Preparation. Take a close look at the job opening, the company, and its reputation vis-a-vis your experience, skills set, and interests. Does it match? The earlier you find out, the better. It will save both parties valuable time and resources. Once you've gathered enough information, decide to proceed.

You might need to practice a skill required by the job after a yes decision, or return to search mode. Practicing for a few days gives you man-hours on the skill. A medical transcriptionist, for example, needs to touch type at least 40WPM, English language savvy, and familiarity with medical terms. So, you might prepare by practicing on a typing application, read up on medical literature, and review English grammar.

On the day of the interview, you will need to prepare: a clean set of clothes, shiny shoes, copies of your resume, passport-size photos, a pencil, and ball pen. If you aren't familiar with the place, you might also need a map and a good estimate of travel time. Arriving 15 minutes early shows reliability and gives you time to compose yourself for the interview.

2. A Clear Personal Brand. Be clear about your self-brand - how you would like others to perceive you. What strengths and competencies would you like to stand out? Show add-on value the company can expect by hiring you and what factor distinguishes you from the rest of the applicants.

You can do this by inspecting your resume and searching for that personal attribute, competency, and achievements that clearly communicate this, such as, eight years of experience as a supervisor in a retail establishment where you helped increase sales from 1M to 8M per year.

An applicant looking to land his first first job can showcase a friendly attitude, ability to express ideas clearly, school projects you've done, and volunteer experience. Show the interviewer your leadership potential and communication skills.

The best personal branding connects signing up an outstanding applicant as a wise investment.

3. Authenticity. The ability to be genuine. This starts with your resume. Write driving as a skill on your resume ONLY if you know how to drive. Tell something in the interview ONLY if it's the truth.

Being authentic doesn't mean that you have to confess every wrong deed you've done since high school or that fistfight in your previous employment. However, if this comes out, be ready to tell the truth and what you've learned from the incident. Be positive about it and never put former employers in a bad light.

Allow the best part of yourself to take over during the interview. The interviewer expects only the best from you. Don't give any reason for him to think otherwise.

*Photo courtesy of dima1978

Bring out as many skills and experience related to the job being offered on your resume and talk about projects in your previous employment that showcases a talent, competency or integrity. This gives more reasons for the interviewer to choose you.

4. Smile. If ever there was one, this is the secret ingredient, the secret sauce, or the pixie dust you can use over and over again. Smiling a lot makes friends out of strangers and it's free. But, you must try your best to smile without overdoing it. A smile brings out the shine in your eyes, the shine that connects to other people's hearts because it shows the inner beauty of your own. Practicing this can never go wrong.

Ultimately, the hiring decision will be made by a human being with biases and unique experiences in life. Don't be intimidated by the HR person. You both want the same thing – to find the perfect match. A person prepared communicates confidence, competence, and clarity of thought to fulfill the demands of a challenging work environment. All things being equal, an applicant perceived as genuine and friendly will have an edge; luck will be on your side.

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