How to Feel Confident at Job Interviews

Do Your Homework

Do some research on the company and the job for which you are being interviewed. This enables you to ask sensible questions that demonstrate your knowledge of the company and answer questions asked by interviewers. Interviewers want to know that you are genuinely interested in their company and their job and aren't just looking for any job. They will be impressed if you show that you've made an effort to learn about their company.

Your research can come from annual reports, company websites, promotional brochures, news releases and talking with staff etc.

Dress for the Role

If you want to play baseball, you need to dress like a baseballer. Similarly, if you are going for a blue collar job (trades or physical labour) dress appropriately with trousers and perhaps an open neck polo shirt or short sleeve shirt for men and slacks and a short sleeve top for women. If you are going for a white collar job (professional/administrative), wear a collar and tie or a suit. A good idea is to visit the firm, if possible, and see what people are wearing; if not, it's better to over dress than under dress.

Make sure your grooming is impeccable; neat hair style, clean finger nails, trimmed moustache etc. Keep distracting jewellery to a minimum and don't wear anything too outlandish. For example, don't wear a pin or badge that identifies your membership with a specific religion, political party or cult.

First impressions are very important. Make sure you impress in every way.

Be Enthusiastic

Your prospective employer wants you to be a vibrant, enthusiastic person with a positive attitude. Make sure you put some special emphasis on showing that you are that type of person. Ask sensible questions; smile a little and be personable. Enthusiastic, personable people create a good working environment, something every employer wants ... enthusiasm is catching.

Be Totally Honest

When I read a discussion group question recently about whether the writer should use false certification, it brought home the fact that there are numbers of unscrupulous people who fake diplomas, certificates, and referee reports. If you lie, you will be caught out at some stage. Be honest and you won't have to worry about something you have lied about catching up with you later ... and perhaps getting dismissed.

Questions

Try to envisage the types of questions you will be asked about your prior job performance and how you expect to transfer skills learnt to your new job. Additionally, expect the unexpected questions that include such things as how you can add value to the company, what your greatest achievements are, how you would do such and such if you get the job, why you want to leave your present job, when you have had failures or things go wrong, and how you would handle specific situations.

Conclusion

Improving your confidence at interview is all about being prepared. While you can never be prepared for everything, some degree of preparation will be a great help. Remember that all of us have to face interviewers at some stage of our lives and that it gets easier as you gather more experience. Just be yourself and everything will go smoothly.

2009 Again, What are your Plans, How many of your plans di d you achieved last year?

You know the old saying; "People don't plan to fail; they just fail to plan." Think back to your 2008 resolutions. How many did you achieve? Any? If you are like most people, 80% of those who make resolutions, you did not accomplish your resolutions. Well, at least you attempted. That is better than 60% of the rest of the world. So what's up? Why don't you accomplish your goals? Better yet, why do so many not even try?

Let's start with those who don't set resolutions or goals. Why? Here's a surprise; because they have failed at it so often. They have given up. Making resolutions that they will never accomplish seems futile. In fact, by not making resolutions they avoid the feeling of failure. Why set yourself up for failure, right? Leave your positive self-esteem in tact! Surely, we all see the insanity in that. Instead of burying your head in the sand, let's look at how you can set yourself up for success in planning rather than failure. And, from this success build real positive self-esteem.

Tip #1: Take time to plan. A clear plan takes time. Resolutions tend to fail because we don't actually think about them. They are knee-jerk responses to that yearly question, "So, what resolutions have you made?" Set aside some time. Plan to plan. Don't wait until New Years Eve or while you are stuffing your face on New Years Day or the day after when you are feeling guilty about stuffing your face.

Tip #2: Plan based on your life goals. You can view this as your long-term plan. What do you really want out of life? What are your dreams? If it helps, think of the categories of health, career, relationships, wealth and fun. Here's another old saying, "If you don't know where you are going; any path will get you there." (Lewis Carroll) That's why you see people attempt the same thing over and over by different means, but fail. They really don't have an end game. They don't have a clear vision of where they want to be. Define your passions in life. That is your first step.

Tip #3: Tie your short-term goals to your long-term goals. You know where you want to end up, so what steps along the way do you need to make. What are the intermediate goals that have to be met in oder for your long terms goals to be accomplished. Plus, short term goals are realized sooner, so you get the satisfaction of achievement. You begin to build you self-esteem. Then you are on a roll.

Tip #4: Be S.M.A.R.T. about your goals. Specific-Measurable-Accepted-Realistic-TimeBound. Don't just say you want to be healthier. Is it weight (how much), is it cholesterol (how low) or is it more successful (money - how much)? Ask yourself if is it acceptable. Are you really committed to it? Is it realistic? Do you believe you can achieve it. Is 100 lbs weight loss in one month realistic? Finally, when will it be achieved? Someday is not an answer.

Tip #5: Write it down and communicate it. You will be more successful if you can refer to your plan on a daily basis. Start your day and end your day reviewing your plan. And, talk about it. Enlist the support of those who care about you.

Tip #6: Plan you rewards and your punishments. Follow through on them. Planning them and following through on them, especially the punishments, will keep you from feeling guilty and beating yourself up more than you should.

Try these tips and watch 2009 be one of your best years ever. Now, go plan! The clock is ticking!