Practice For Your Interviews
Posted: 11.30.2015
“Practice makes perfect.” “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
There can be no mistaking the value of practice when it comes to job interviewing. Once you have a basic understanding of the most common interview questions and of questions that may be specific to your job category, it’s time to step on to the interview rehearsal stage.
Practicing with another person who can give you objective and honest feedback is invaluable. Practicing on your own in front of a mirror - where you can check your facial expressions and other body language - is also extremely helpful. In the mirror, check your posture. Sitting up straight will not only make you look more confident, it will help you to control your breathing and to speak more audibly. Try using some limited hand gestures to emphasize key points and to help you appear more relaxed. Check the position of your head - is it leaning too much to one side or the other?
Try answering the same question in two or three different ways (e.g. use a thesaurus to find descriptive words that you are comfortable saying.) Don’t be afraid to pause for a moment to collect your thoughts and words, before answering questions.
It may take several practice sessions in front of the mirror and or with friends or family to confidently demonstrate the traits you’d like the interviewer to see. But it will be worth the effort (Rule #6, A Funny Thing…). Just be careful that your practicing doesn’t make your answers sound rehearsed. Rather they should be natural expressions of who you are and what you can do for the hiring company.
Biography
By Colin A. McClean, Employment Services Specialist & Author, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To...My Career!
Colin is a long-time cartoonist whose works have appeared in local, national and international publications. His most recent career move was into the field of employment services. Prior to and during this latest global economic downturn, Colin led classes on job search options and other career change opportunities. He’s heard and seen the many challenges that face job seekers today. Colin has now applied his knowledge of job search practices with his gift for sharing laughter in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To… My Career! “I want this book to help more people experience that sense of contentment you get when you’ve prepared your best and landed the ideal job. I always encourage people to stay positive, keep moving forward and looking upwards!” www.LLSCARTOONS.com/Career.htm
There can be no mistaking the value of practice when it comes to job interviewing. Once you have a basic understanding of the most common interview questions and of questions that may be specific to your job category, it’s time to step on to the interview rehearsal stage.
Practicing with another person who can give you objective and honest feedback is invaluable. Practicing on your own in front of a mirror - where you can check your facial expressions and other body language - is also extremely helpful. In the mirror, check your posture. Sitting up straight will not only make you look more confident, it will help you to control your breathing and to speak more audibly. Try using some limited hand gestures to emphasize key points and to help you appear more relaxed. Check the position of your head - is it leaning too much to one side or the other?
Try answering the same question in two or three different ways (e.g. use a thesaurus to find descriptive words that you are comfortable saying.) Don’t be afraid to pause for a moment to collect your thoughts and words, before answering questions.
It may take several practice sessions in front of the mirror and or with friends or family to confidently demonstrate the traits you’d like the interviewer to see. But it will be worth the effort (Rule #6, A Funny Thing…). Just be careful that your practicing doesn’t make your answers sound rehearsed. Rather they should be natural expressions of who you are and what you can do for the hiring company.
Biography
By Colin A. McClean, Employment Services Specialist & Author, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To...My Career!
Colin is a long-time cartoonist whose works have appeared in local, national and international publications. His most recent career move was into the field of employment services. Prior to and during this latest global economic downturn, Colin led classes on job search options and other career change opportunities. He’s heard and seen the many challenges that face job seekers today. Colin has now applied his knowledge of job search practices with his gift for sharing laughter in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To… My Career! “I want this book to help more people experience that sense of contentment you get when you’ve prepared your best and landed the ideal job. I always encourage people to stay positive, keep moving forward and looking upwards!” www.LLSCARTOONS.com/Career.htm
