How to Make a Good Impression at a Job Interview

A job interview is a nerve-wracking experience for many job seekers. Making a good impression can mean the difference between getting hired or getting a farewell handshake. Get that job you want with this interviewing advice.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a positive attitude

1. BE YOURSELF
   
   Hint: this doesn’t mean putting your feet up on the employer’s desk or guffawing about how drunk you got at the bar last weekend. But DO stay relaxed, in a positive way. Answer the employer’s questions during the interview in a genuine manner. Letting the employer know exactly who you are and what you want prevents a long, drown-out “hiring romance” that leads to nowhere.

2. SMILE!
   
   Cheerfulness is a quality that employers often look for during the hiring process. Once you walk into that job interview meeting, your smile should lead the way. One word of caution, though; keep your smile natural and appropriate. Smiling a wide, toothy grin during the entire job interview will make you appear phony to the employer. And who wants to hire an employee that seems untrustworthy?

3. PLAY UP IMPORTANT SKILLS
   
   During the job interview, keep in mind what was in the job ad for this position. What skills did the job ad mention that was important? The job interview is the time to highlight the skills you have that the employer is looking for. The employer wants to hear the reasons why you are qualified for this job. Always connect your skills with the tasks that are involved with the position you’re interviewing for.

4. THE DREADED QUESTION
   
   At some point, the employer will hit you with a question that could end up making you appear incompetent for the job. It’ll usually be something like, “What are your weaknesses?” While no one likes to admit their failures, especially to a potential boss, it can be a good thing. The key is to briefly discuss what went wrong during a particular incident and then largely focus on how you rectified the situation. Employers want to hear how you can take responsibility for your mistakes and work to solve them quickly.