Avoiding interview mistakes

When you want to make the best impression review these tips from Aliza Bogner, VP of human resources at Alison Brod Public Relations. Her suggestions will help you avoid the mistakes that candidates frequently make:

• Try to find out as much as you can about office culture before going into your interview. Dressing appropriately is imperative. Jeans, gum chewing and sunglasses on top of your head are never appropriate - no matter how casual the office might be.

• Show up 10 minutes before the interview time. Don't show up a half hour early.

• Bring multiple copies of your resume and make sure they are not folded up.

• Bring a bag large enough for a folder, if necessary.

• Be interesting. You are there to stand out, don't be afraid to say something interesting.

• Research what the job entails. You need to be aware of what is expected for the position in which you are applying.

• Know your interviewer's name. It will make a good first impression.

• Don't lie - it won't take long for an employer to figure it out.

• Never be cliché - don't tell the interviewer you are a people person, for example.

• Come prepared with concrete examples of your professional or social successes

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A perfect interview

My name is Simon Chitty. I have been working as an interviewer for 17 years. Before becoming an interviewer, I worked as a technology consultant and was looking for new jobs all the time! I was refused many times, but frequent interviewing quickly taught me everything I needed to know about acing interviews.

I became so good at interviewing that the companies I worked for began asking me to interview job candidates to help them hire the very best people into the company.

While doing this job I understood that many people didn’t get the job offer only because they were not properly prepared for the interview. So I decided to share my professional interviewing experience with job seekers. I've already taught thousands of people how to give great answers to job interview questions and I continue to train hundreds more each month.

I know exactly what interviewers are looking for and how to tell them exactly what they want to hear. I teach people how to impress their interviewer and give well-spoken answers to tough interview questions.

Every day, I get calls for help from people who have an interview coming up real soon and are worried they will blow it because they are afraid of what they'll be asked in the interview. Most job seekers have been working for several years at their current job and are unprepared and out of practice for job interviews.

These people are hardworking, well qualified, and have years of experience, but are afraid of losing the job to a less-qualified person with polished interview skills. It's not their fault -- they were never taught how to properly answer an interviewer’s questions.

This is understandable and a common problem I hear over and over again.

Perhaps there are times when even you feel...

• Frustrated and tongue-tied to come up with good answers to interview questions

• Nervous and afraid about what you'll be asked by your interviewer

• Tired of going on interview after interview with little or no results

• Discouraged because you're not getting called back for second interviews

• Annoyed because you're not getting hired for the job you want

But once you know the key to interview preparation and understand how to answer interview questions, you could greatly improve your chances of getting the job.

Walking into an interview without knowing exactly what you are going to say is like trying to give a presentation without practice.

Have you ever been on a job interview where you knew you were right for the job, but you didn't get it? They may have told you they chose a more qualified candidate. In reality, you were probably the most qualified, but you failed to impress your interviewer. If you don't impress your interviewer the first time, your chances for a second interview are ZERO!

You may have the most experience and education, are well-qualified and may be the best person for the job -- but even the best person still has to prove WHY they are the best.

Before you can prove you are perfect for the job, you need to understand the employer’s needs.

• What do they want?

• Why are they asking me this?

• What do they mean?

• How can I prove I'm the best?

Imagine walking into your next interview -- confident, well-prepared and ready to answer any question your interviewer asks. Getting hired would be much easier, wouldn't it?