Interview

Apply your marketing, communication and sales skills to managing the interview process successfully:

Know what your customers' needs are
Do some research about the company (strategy, products, sales revenue, main lines of business and locations, company culture) through their website, publications (annual report), or the internet (Google...). Reread the job description or the ad and identify the key issues the company is currently dealing with.

Be prepared to expand on your résumé
If your CV has worked well enough for you to get your foot in the door, be prepared to expand on it. Your CV is a summary of what you have achieved. The interviewer will want to know more and especially how you achieved it. Be prepared to substantiate your claims.

Focus on benefits rather than on experience
While discussing your experience is undoubtedly interesting, interviewers will want to hear how your background and skills apply to their particular situation and which value you could add to their business.

Be aware of your own needs
Rather than approaching an interview with the goal of just getting the job, look upon this discussion as a way of finding out if the organisation, management and position are exactly what you are looking for. Do your own due diligence before engaging in a new venture. Insightful questions help you and the interviewer determine whether your relationship will be mutually rewarding.

Make sure you are at your best
Know the exact place and time of the interview, the interviewer's full name, the correct pronunciation plus title. Arrive a few minutes in advance and get a feel for the environment. The benefits of a smile cannot be over emphasised, also a firm handshake. These show a straightforward and open mind.

Respond rather than answer
Stay away from stock answers, the interviewer has probably heard them many times before. Take ownership of your experience and refer to relevant examples to make sure that the interviewer gets a proper feeling of what you have to offer.

Make them want to hire you
The best track record shouldn't prevent you from coming across as someone people could work with on a daily basis. Arrogance when reporting about your achievements won't do any good in getting you an offer. Interviewers are looking not only for the right skill-set but also for the right attitude.