Whew! You've written an outstanding covering letter and resume. A search committee has read hundreds of resumes, and has now narrowed the pool to their top ten picks. Congratulations! You're one of them. What happens now, when you have survived the first severe cut and are one of the few candidates invited for a personal interview?

    Now you are no longer just a piece of paper; you must impress your interviewers, and potential co-workers, with your competence and personality. Yes, interviews are among the most challenging and rewarding forms of measurement. They require a personal sensitivity and adaptability as well as the ability to stay within the bounds of the designed protocol. Each interview is unique, like a small work of art (and sometimes the art may be very good ). Each interview has its own ebb and flow- its own pace.

    There are many types of interviews: screening interviews designed to fashion the applicant pool; longer second and third interviews intended to help employers make final selections; and telephone and video conferencing interviews arranged to capitalize on available technology. Although these interviews often have different purposes, they all require basic interviewing skills. Here are a few suggestions for surviving and perhaps even enjoying your next job interview

Introduction

    You are at the interview board because the employer wants you there. It is not goodwill or charity- you earned the right to be there. So be confident in your abilities- you have just overcome the first step! Go for the interview, smile and shake the hands of the people who will be employing you. Try to remember their names!

    Be relaxed - especially important if the job you are going for requires client or customer contact- if you cannot be relaxed while being interviewed, you will not get a customer/client related job.
    Attend as many interviews as you can. The more you practice, the better you will become and the less nervous you will be. The more interviews you attend, the less strange and foreign they will seem to you. Also it is likely that you will have some idea of which areas you need to improve, which should make you better prepared for the next interview.

    The more prepared you are for the interview the more likely it is that you will be able to answer the questions with a higher level of authority. The better you can answer questions the more likely it is that your confidence will grow during the course of the interview. Of course, the opposite happens when you cannot answer a question properly.

    Avoid thinking that the job you are going for is "The perfect job for me and if I do not get it I will never be able to find a job like this one ever again!" These "all or nothing" attitudes are extreme and only serve to unnecessary heighten anxiety levels. How do you know it is the perfect job for you? Do not forget that no one really knows what a job is really like until they start it. It may seem great on paper but that does not mean it is. And how do you know that there won't be a better job for you tomorrow or next week or next month?

Demeaning Yourself

    Too many people add to their nervousness levels by not believing that they are good enough for the job. Rather than focusing on their strengths such people focus on their weaknesses. The net result is that the less you believe in yourself the less confidant you will be. Do not think about the competition, after all there's nothing you can do about it. Just focus on giving the best interview you can.

Interview your Interviewer

    Most interviewers encourage you to ask questions. Ask them. Have questions prepared in advance. This shows an active interest in how you will fit into the organisation, instead of a desperate plea for a job.

    Do not put on a facade. Be as much yourself as you can be. It is important that your interviewers know what they are getting and that you know that you will work well together.

    Phrase your answers in a positive light. If you are asked about an unpleasant previous job, or your weakest characteristic, be honest; leave your interviewers with a positive impression of your attitude.

    For example, you might say that speaking to groups is the area in which you need the most improvement, but that you have improved greatly since high school. In a telephone interview, make your voice sound energetic, warm, cheerful and as clear as possible. Your interviewers are listening for clear signs of your enthusiasm and interest in the job. If possible, thank your interviewers individually before leaving the interview.

    If you screw it up or for whatever reason and you do not get the job - chalk it up to experience and move on to the next interview. Do not let it set you back (you are never going to see these people again anyway!). Interview skills are learned and developed through experience; do not dwell on your failures - but do learn from them. Good Luck!