Tips for Scoring High on Your Next Job Interview

Your Interview Score Sheet

Now that your outstanding resume and tenacious job-seeking efforts have paid off, you’ve been invited to interview with your chosen prospective employer.  You’ve worked hard to find the right position with the right organization, your focus now is on sealing the deal.

This is where your best interviewing skills will come into play; your chance to show this company why you’re their top candidate.  If you are like me, the prospect of this interview is cause for a little bit of nervousness.

Use that Nervous Energy

The trick is to take advantage of that nervousness.  Somewhere between being so relaxed that you don’t appear to care about the outcome of the interview, and being so nervous that you’re paralyzed with fear, is a happy medium where your anticipation keeps you at the top of the game.

For the purposes of this interview, don’t view your heightened nerves as something to be feared or dreaded.  Instead, view them as a tool to keep you alert, sensitive and lively.  Approaching your nervousness this way will be a good start to a great interview.

By the time you walk into the interview you will have already done your homework, studied for possible questions, and rehearsed several scenarios in preparation.  Some of you final preparations will be to remind yourself of the general criteria by which you’ll be judged in your interview.

They will probably include evaluation of your:

• Enthusiasm
• Communication skills
• Success record
• Rational thought process
• Maturity
• Planning and organizational skills
• Ability to work under pressure

Turn Up the Tact

Do your best to highlight your strengths and answer about your weaknesses tactfully.  Whatever you do, though, don’t try to fake your performance on any of the above categories.  It will likely show that you’re trying too hard.

If you’re the kind of person who enjoys being scored or rated for your accomplishments, thinking about these possible criteria might be a useful way to keep yourself focused and on-track.  On the other hand, if being judged or scored is a nerve wracking thought, don’t think about these criteria during the interview.  Simply plan out your material ahead of time.

The important thing to consider here is that your interviewer will be watching your behavior, responses and questions to gain helpful insights about you.  Be prepared and be yourself.