Tips for Job Interview Success - Convert More Interviews into Job Offers

You've been successful in scheduling interviews and have been on quite a few of them. But you still are not getting any job offers. Don't take the easy way out and blame your lack of success on the poor economy or tight job market. Another applicant  received the offer, so why not you? You must evaluate your interview performance objectively in order to make improvements to insure future success. Lack of preparation in the following four areas are reasons that many candidates don't measure up against the competition. A tip for job interview success is to improve in these areas and greatly enhance you job offer conversion ratio.

1. You do not convey company knowledge. Candidates who are able to convey knowledge about the company and position during the interview will make a positive impression. Yet many candidates do no research into the organization they are interviewing with. If you have prepared for the interview then you can ask questions that indicate your enthusiasm for the job and the company. This interview preparation will make you a more attractive applicant and you will stand out from the other candidates.
2. You are not effective in relating your accomplishments. This is critical, the hiring manager wants to know how you will be able to contribute to the success of the organization. The best way to demonstrate this is for you to relate success stories that highlight specific results that you have achieved. These success stories should have been prepared in advance and then used at the appropriate time during the interview. See the How to Prepare for an Interview blog for more information.
3. There is a disconnect between what you say in the interview and what you convey on your resume. A red flag goes up when a candidate cannot adequately answer questions about their resume. You need to know your resume inside and out. You should have success stories planned to provide evidence to the accomplishments cited on your resume. By doing proper interview preparation you can anticipate questions and have a great response ready. Surprisingly, many candidates get tripped up by questions on their own resumes.
4. The image that you project does not match that of the ideal candidate. Image is projected in many ways. Make sure you are projecting one that fits with the position and company you are interviewing with. Dress is important, your attire should match that of the hiring manager at a minimum. You can't go wrong by dressing up, but you can leave the wrong impression by not paying attention to your attire. Neatness matters, your shoes should be polished and your hair properly groomed. Your manners and way of speaking affect your image.

If you learn how to prepare for an interview you will excel in the above areas. Proper preparation will position you ahead of the competition and provide you with more job offers to choose from. So conduct an honest evaluation of your interview performance and make the necessary adjustments to stand out from the crowd.