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The interview is designed for one purpose which is to find the "best" person for the job. Getting an interview is only the start to landing the job. You must know how to win at interviewing. Follow these four interviewing strategies below:

1. The One-Minute Resume
2. Positive Attitude
3. Dress the Part
4. Write a Thank You Letter

One-Minute Resume Example:

"I grew up in rural Western Wisconsin and I was active in sports and student government in high school. In addition to having the skill, talent and experience you're looking for, my life as a military spouse also reflects my being the right person for this job. The experiences I have had as a military spouse have boosted my education, provided learning experiences I've enjoyed through traveling and expanded my experience in relating to people of varying backgrounds and cultures."

Develop and Practice Your One-Minute Resume

You should do this for three reasons:

1. It shows you are comfortable with yourself. This puts both you and the interviewer at ease.
2. If you have a polished one-minute resume, YOU begin to control the interview.
3. A well-delivered one-minute resume will draw the interviewer to you.

Be careful not to brag - simply tell a story about yourself.

"This job is mine!” - All successful job hunters"

The key to winning in an interview is a positive attitude. The good news is you have an advantage over the interviewer: the interview is about YOU and you know more about yourself than the interviewer does. The interview is your turn to show all that is great about you. Remember, resumes don't hire employees, people do.

Be prepared for difficult questions and unexpected events, such as delays. Don't let these affect your positive attitude.

The first impressions are important, wear appropriate business clothes and have neat hair

After you conduct your successful interview, it is important to follow it up with a thank you note. Writing thank you notes are not an exercise in tradition; rather, it will allow you to highlight additional skills and qualifications that you may have for the job, it will show that you follow through and it will show that you have class. Your thank you note should also ask the employer when they expect to make a decision. An email thank you note is also appropriate.


More Job Interview Information

For some interviews, what you wear makes no difference at all. Many employers conduct preliminary interviews over the telephone. This arrangement gives employers an opportunity to find the best prospects before investing time, effort, and, in some cases, expense in arranging a face-to-face interview.

Telephone interviews are especially common for jobs that are out of State, attract many applications, or require a good telephone demeanor. A phone interview is similar to a traditional interview, but it poses special challenges.

If your phone has a call-waiting feature, consider disabling it the day of the interview. You do not want to put the interviewer on hold, and persistent call-waiting beeps are distracting. Take advantage of being on your home turf by having your resume, pen, paper, appointment calendar, notes, and reminders within easy reach.

Remember to speak clearly and listen attentively, just as you would if you were meeting with the interviewer in person. Even though no one can see you, your voice betrays attitudes and confidence; sometimes, sitting up straight can help project enthusiasm over the phone.

At the end of the job interview, express your willingness to speak with the employer in person. This is extremely important, because most employers prefer to meet with a potential employee face to face before hiring.

Following up on your Job Interview

Even after the interview is over, your task is not complete. Secure a good impression by sending a thank you letter to the interviewer. It is best to send the letter within 2 days of the interview, but any time is better than none.

Thank you letters should be brief , usually less than one page and may be handwritten or typed. The purpose of a thank you letter is to express your appreciation for the interviewer's time and to reiterate your interest in the job.

Send a thank you letter within 2 days of the interview.

Most thank you letters have three main paragraphs.

Write or type the letter on solid white, off-white, or gray stationary. Use a standard business format. Put a colon after the interviewer's name and a space after each paragraph. And don't forget to sign your first and last name.

Many employers say an emailed thank you letter is acceptable if email correspondence was earlier exchanged between the interviewer and the candidate. Other-wise, an email message should not substitute for postal mail in most situations.

Address your job inquiry letter to the person who interviewed you, and make sure to spell his or her name correctly. If a group interviewed you, write either to each person you spoke with or to the person who led and coordinated the interview, mentioning the other people you met.

Finally, be sure to proof-read the letter, and ask someone else to also read it for you. Employment interviewers know cases of misspelled, misused words written in thank you letters which in-effect damaged the image of an otherwise impressive candidate. As you write your job interview thank you note, word in such a way to indicate to the employer you may be writing directly to your next job supervisor.


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