Wouldn't it be nice if you could send out your resume for a position you're qualified for and simply be offered a job? After all, everything about you is right there on your resume, isn't it? You should know—you put it there yourself.
But, no, everything about you is not on your resume. Think of your resume as a pencil sketch of who you really are. There is no dimension to it. It has no color and no expression. Basically, it's pretty flat. Not at all like you; you are multifaceted. You've made choices throughout your career. You've reached certain goals and celebrated many accomplishments. You should have a chance to talk about all of that, because those details are what will make an employer want to hire you.
The job interview is your chance to show your prospective employer who you really are and what you can bring to the position. By asking you questions, a prospective employer can learn all about you and why you made the choices you made. He can discover what motivates you and what makes you proud. The interviewer can find out how you will fit in with his company. Will you get along with other employees? Will you make important contributions to his organization?
There is a lot to accomplish during the job interview. It is perhaps the most important part of the entire job search process. It is also the most difficult part of the entire job search process. It's not like the resume you spent months poring over. You can edit your resume again and again until it lists the most important things about your career and uses the most effective wording to highlight your skills. However, a job interview usually takes place in less than an hour. When you say something, there's no delete key. If you forget to say something, the moment may have already passed by the time you realize it.
That is why it is so very important that you prepare well for the job interview. You won't have another chance to get it right, at least not with the same employer. The more comfortable you are with the entire process of interviewing, the more relaxed you will be when it comes time for the interview, and the better the interview will be.
This book will guide you through the entire job interview process. The first two chapters cover everything you need to do before the interview takes place. Discover what you need to do to prepare for a job interview. Learn how to research a prospective employer so you can intelligently ask and answer questions during your interview. Find out how to dress for an interview. Learn about interviewing in another country.
Next up are twelve chapters that are packed full of sample job interview questions. For each question there is a great answer, an explanation of why you should give that answer, and then an answer you should never give and the reason why. As you go through the questions, think of how you would answer each one, using your own unique traits, experiences, and educational background.
The final chapter deals with the aftermath of the job interview. Find out what you need to do to follow up on a job interview. Is a thank-you letter really necessary? Of course, the whole purpose of this entire process is to get a job offer. Find out how to negotiate, accept, or reject one. By the time you're finished with this book, you'll be able to take on even the toughest interview.