1. Don't take your accomplishments for granted. No matter how small, or how few, your accomplishments are important. Package them and position them so that they demonstrate your
desirable Behavioral Competencies and show that you will be successful at your new job. Don’t forget to make your accomplishments measurable in terms of saving time and money, or making your colleagues, clients, and superiors feel more secure, respected and admired.
2. Don't be too modest. Job interviews are not the time to bemodest. By all means, don't be cocky or overbearing, but DOmake flat out statements like "Based on my skills, andexperience with "X," I really do think that I would be a greataddition to your team." If anywhere, the job interview is theright time and place to toot your own horn.
3. Don't be constrained by official job descriptions. Your roleand responsibilities are often more than your past or future"official titles" may indicate. Think of yourself as equally asimportant as the Vice President or CEO within your sphere ofinfluence. If you think of yourself as an important person whohas a job to do, then others will think of you in the same way.Indicate that you are willing to take on tasks outside the officialjob description as necessary and appropriate.
4. Never volunteer any negative information about yourself.Don't testify against yourself. If asked your greatest weakness,reply with a weakness you have conquered, or tell theinterviewer about a weakness that may actually indicate astrength, like "sometimes I get impatient with teammates whoare not as organized as I am." Don't ever describe any jobrequirement or task that you did not like.
5. Don't criticize your former boss or employer. Talking trashabout past jobs, bosses, colleagues or clients never pays off – ininterviews and life in general. It is better to be a person whodoes not gossip or talk trash about other people
6. Don't ever lie. Don't be dishonest in an interview. It will comeback around and get you. You can, however (within reason)exaggerate, omit, be ambiguous if necessary, and talk insuperlatives. You are trying to sell yourself, after all. Advertisershave no qualms about making strong claims about their productor service. Do the same for yourself. Put your best foot forwardand pump yourself up – but never lie..
7. Don't inquire about salary, vacations, or other benefitsuntil after you've received an offer, or when you are closeto the offer stage. It makes sense that you should build yourown perceived value as high as you can before you ask for themoney. You will be able to price yourself higher this way.
8. However, you must be prepared for a question about your salaryrequirements. Some interviewers may even ask this up front. Gointo every interview with an idea of the probable salary range forthe position. Be prepared with an understanding of the marketrate for the type of position you are interviewing for. If thesubject of salary is brought up and you must address it, then askfor the highest number. ALWAYS ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT, oryou won't get it. You will regret low-balling yourself, so ask forthe high number, but make sure it is within the right range soyou don't appear stupid or greedy – or price yourself out of thejob.
9. Don't feel pressured to answer every question. Sometimesthe best answer is "I don't know." If you don't know the answer,say so. You can't know everything. Use times like these as anopportunity to demonstrate your willingness to learn. By allmeans, do not try to BS something that you know nothing about.Change the subject or answer with a different S.T.A.R. Story if "Idon't know" is not in your vocabulary.
10. Besides these bullet points, just use common sense. Dress and groomappropriately, don’t be late, bring a copy of your resume, don't smelllike smoke or food, get a good night's sleep, eat the right meal at theright time, be polite, be relaxed, don't talk about politics or religion,don't stress out excessively, and most importantly – work with thisGuide and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! You are going to ace it!
