Here are Ten creative techniques for acing that interview and increasing your chances of landing that dream job.

Irrespective of the number of interviews that you may have gone through in the past, a job interview can be a stressful situation. The higher the value that we perceive in the job, the higher the interview stress. On the flip side, interview stress is minimal if you are well prepared. Preparation and performance is the key to succeeding in an interview.

10 Steps To Acing The Interview

1. Have a compelling story:

Asking candidates to tell something about themselves is a common interview question. Due to this reason most people tend to give a very boring answer which goes into where they were born, brought up and educated. It tends to be an average story which does not really bring out the strengths which make you more suitable for the job than the others in the fray.

We all have our strengths and weaknesses. We are not carbon copies and there is always something in us that makes us unique though it may not be obvious to most of us. Your life experiences, achievements, failures and ambitions make you a unique person. Make sure that your story highlights your strengths and downplays your weaknesses. If you mention your failings, don’t forget to explain what you learned from those experiences and how you used them to become a better and more capable person.

2. Study That Industry Well:

You are only one among the many shortlisted candidates that the employer is interviewing. The interviewer is looking for traits in you that make you the most suitable for that position. So understand the requirements of the position very carefully and be clear about how your knowledge, experience and skills make you most suited for that job. You have to do some research about the company and the role that you are seeking to play.

3. Have A Professional Online Presence:

The older generation probably doesn’t want to hear this but it will pay for you to set up a LinkedIn account,  this is the direction the world is headed in nowadays. A lot of recruitment companies search by name and past experience in LinkedIn to find out more about their potential candidates, and when they do, you will want a professional and well updated LinkedIn profile. You don’t need to include a picture, but at least have all the info there for you to show what you are fully capable of.

Another positive about having a LinkedIn profile is that a head hunter from another company could find you and offer you a position in a dream job you never would have thought of.

4. Be punctual, presentable and well-organized:

Arrive on time. Arriving on time does not mean coming an hour early. Walk in 15 minutes before the appointed time. That shows that you value everyone’s time.

While your interviewer is not looking to see if you passed your finishing school in flying colors, you must dress appropriately.

Keep your papers well-organized so that you can find whatever is required quickly without fumbling through your files. Switch off your mobile phone before you go into the room. Be polite, shake hands firmly and make normal eye contact. Speak in a calm positive and assertive tone.

5. Manage stress:

Everyone will be nervous during the initial stages of the interview. This small amount of anxiety will actually help you do your best. Remember that stress disappears as you get involved in the job on hand. Being well-prepared helps keep stress in control. Too much stress can affect your ability to think clearly. Once you are in the chair, just give it your best.

Stay focused and calm, listen carefully and show your confidence. Deep breathing and relaxation exercises while you wait can help reduce stress.

6. Develop your people skills:

Apart from the skills of a person for the job, the other important factor that the interviewer is looking for is emotional intelligence. It is your ability to identify and understand the emotions of the people involved including yourself and use it to handle the situation wisely. People with high emotional intelligence are able to understand emotions which influence human thinking and behavior. This gives them the ability to forge strong relationships and handle situations, overcome hurdles or solve problems.

7. Honesty is the best policy:

Always be honest in your responses. Don’t talk about skills that you don’t have or make claims that are not true. The interviewer will be quick to find that out during the interview because nobody has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.

You will contradict yourself sooner or later and that will simply ruin your chances of getting that job.

8. Sell yourself:

Don’t wait for the interviewer to ask the right questions to find out your strengths. Lead them in that direction with your answers. Make a list of USPs (Unique Selling Propositions), your personal strengths that make you the perfect match for the job and make sure you get those points across during the interview.

9. Ask the right questions:

Most interviewers will give you the opportunity to ask questions towards the end of the interview. When you get the opportunity, let your questions get across your curiosity about the company and its business. Don’t ask things that are on the company’s website or in the job advertisement. Go beyond those things and ask questions which will help you reassert your suitability for the company and the position.

10. Send a thank-you note:

When you finish the interview, don’t forget to thank the interviewers for their time irrespective of how well or badly it has gone. Once you are back from the interview, send a thank-you note to the interviewer. This simple gesture could improve your chances of getting the job if you are one among the best candidates shortlisted for it.

Good luck with pursuing your dream job and much Success to you!

Leave a comment and tell us what worked for you in landing your dream job.

Article By Joel Brown | Addicted2Success.com