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You’ve worked hard to get here. You’ve sent out 31 resumes, networked, attended job fairs, enrolled in school for more education – you’ve taken all the right steps.

Then, one afternoon the phone rings. “Yes, we’d like you to come in for an interview. Is next Tuesday at 10:00 alright with you?” Alright???!!! You can be there in 10 minutes! But you gather your composure, pretend to rifle through your “appointment book” and calmly reply, “Yes, Tuesday at 10:00 works for me. See you then.” Now what?

The sequence goes like this: the resume gets you an interview; the interview gets you the job. This is when you become more than a bunch of employment dates and workplace accomplishments. This is your opportunity to shine. It’s show time!

Go in cold and you’re working at a disadvantage. You prepped the perfect resume, now it’s time to prep for that all-important interview. Here are ten steps you should take before you show up at the interviewer’s door.

Review Your Resume

Sure, you know it by heart. But what was it that caught the eye of this recruiter or the HR pro? Specialized experience? Unique training? A steady history of career advancement? Revisit your resume from the point of view of the interviewer. It may provide insight into the company’s employee needs – something that would certainly be advantageous to know going in.

Get Back On-Line

Visit the company web site again and start taking notes. Corporate officers, the latest press releases, the company’s annual report. Gather as much information as you can on your soon-to-be-employer.

Study, Study, Then Cram

The more you learn about the company, the better you’re going to feel walking in that door. Knowledge is power. Knowledge will make you more confident in your attitude and your answers. You know this stuff. You’ve studied it! Knowledge of company products, services, protocols and procedures shows the interviewer that you’re proactive, with an eye for detail and an appreciation for the power of preparation. In other words, you’ll make a positive impression.

Rehearse Your Interview

How can you rehearse for something that doesn’t have a script? Write one. You know the typical questions you’ll be asked so write down some of your most insightful, witty thoughts. Be prepared to describe past positions, responsibilities and accomplishments. This is not a time for false modesty, so don’t be afraid to highlight your professional strengths and play down your terrible typing skills. Remember: it’s no brag if it’s the truth. Ask your spouse, your child or a friend to play the role of interviewer so you become more comfortable speaking about yourself in front of others. Again, this is a confidence builder. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll be.

Develop Your List Of Questions

Your interview shouldn’t be seen as some type of interrogation. It’s a “getting to know you” meeting, so feel free to ask questions. However, your first question shouldn’t be “How much do I get paid?” or “How’s the 401k plan, here?” Instead, ask questions that show you understand the job and the company’s needs. Be quick to pick up on the interviewer’s comments and ask relevant questions.

Interviewer: We’ve had some issues with field reports coming in late recently.
You: How are the reports transmitted?
(Oh, you’re good. Very good.)

Dress For Success

An interview is a performance with people playing different roles. Your role is successful job prospect. Play the part. Whether you’re female or male, the conservative business suit is the recommended attire for any interview. If your business suit needs a pressing, send it to the dry cleaners. If you don’t own a suit (you’d be surprised at the number of us who don’t) go out and get one. It doesn’t have to be an $800 designer suit, but it should be conservative black, blue or gray. And did you know, you can rent them at a Tux shop?

Get Cut Or Coiffed

You’ll have 15 minutes to make a good impression. Treat yourself to a visit to the local hair stylist. You bet looks matter. They’ll be plenty of time to show your talent once you land the job. For now, look like a success, feel like a success – be a success.

Practice Positive Visualization

Professional athletes do it. So do actors, yoga instructors and new age thinkers who sleep under makeshift pyramids to absorb that mystical energy. It’s called positive visualization – and it works. It really does. In the days leading up to the interview, picture yourself sitting opposite the head of HR. Picture yourself relaxed, comfortable, at the top of your game. Play that clip over and over in your mind until it becomes so familiar, it actually becomes a part of your self-image. It simply can’t be stated too often – your confidence during an interview should be obvious and genuine.

Gather Your Materials

The day before the interview, gather your materials and place them in a briefcase or attaché. Don’t have one? Buy one or borrow one. It’s another opportunity to project that professional image you wear so well. Bring extra copies of your resume in a manila envelop. Bring a pad and pencil to take notes. Bring a calculator (you never know). Bring your address book and copies of your business card. If you’ve been asked to provide additional information (school transcripts, e.g.) make sure you’ve got clean copies ready to hand over.

Sleep Tight

You’ve done it all. You’ve prepared yourself; you’ve built your confidence so you can look the interviewer straight in the eye. You are ready to rock ‘n’ roll! Okay, too psyched. You’ll never get to sleep. The night before the interview, go to bed early. Have some warm milk, coco or herbal tea (stay away from the 3^rd scotch). Relax. Set the alarm and sleep comfortably in the knowledge that you’re as prepared as you’ll ever be. No, not every interview will be a success.

You can increase the chances of success by presenting a professional, prepared, and confident you to the interviewer. That’s how you turn an interview into a job offer.

You’re Hired!

By Teena Rose is a columnist, public speaker, and a professional resume writer with Resume to Referral.

I noticed in preparing this article that a lot of sites post the top 50 questions for an interview, one went further and had 51. Well not to be undone we are going to cut it down to what we believe will be the top 13. Brevity is the soul of something or other, I forget.

Tell Me About Yourself

This is the most asked question in an interview even though it is not stated as a question. Be prepared and have a short statement prepared. Don’t ramble, instead talk about the things you have done in your previous job(s) particularly the things that relate to the position you are applying for. Emphasize your accomplishments starting back as far as necessary and moving to the present.

Why Did You Leave Your Last Job (Alternate: Why Are You Looking For A New Position)

Oh Boy! What if you were fired? I have a Grandson who still lives at home while attending college. He was a manager of the DQ in the small town they live in. His record was spotless yet one day he was accused falsely of not charging a full amount for a product to a friend. The friend ordered a sundae and he and my Grandson (who was off work at the time) were eating. In fact, the owner came in and saw them eating, he knew that my Grandson had handled the transaction and drew the wrong conclusion. Why? I don’t know!

When he went for his next interview he asked his dad how to handle it and my son wisely told him not to lie but tell the employer that a misunderstanding had occurred and explain it. He was hired on the spot.

Do not talk negatively about your previous employer. Keep smiling and talk positively. If you don’t you will be the one looking bad.

Do  You Consider Yourself Successful:

This is a question that should always carry a yes answer. Simply explain why. Stress the fact that you know how to set goals and if they apply to this job application explain what they are & why. Be positive.

What Do You Know About This Company/Organization

This is the major reason why you find out everything you can about the company before the interview. How large is it? How many offices do they have? What attracted you to it? What do you know about the CEO (or CFO if you’re applying for a financial position)? Are they doing something innovative or interesting that makes you want to work there?

What Have You Done To Improve Your Knowledge/Experience In The Last Year

To answer this focus on any special classes you have taken to improve yourself. This is particularly important if this is a sales position. Also, if you didn’t go to school, did you take any special training within the company? Did they promote you or did you take on an extra assignment that required you to learn a skill or perform some research? Any time you show that you were “learning and growing” to benefit the company is a plus.

Are You Applying For Other Jobs

This is a touchy one but just smile and turn the question around and ask if they are interviewing other applicants for this position. Leave it at that. Be polite and smile when you answer, do not be offensive.

Why Do You Want To Work For This Organization

Thoughtfully answer and explain from your research on the company why you think you will enjoy joining their organization. Put it in terms of your long-term goals. Another approach to this is to smile and say, “I’m not sure that I want to work here yet. The interview isn’t just about whether you want me but whether I feel this would be a good fit for me”. Always smile when you say this. A wise woman I knew said “You can get away with saying anything as long as you smile when you say it.”

What Kind Of Salary Do You Expect

There are two ways of looking at this. 1) it is a loaded question or 2) it isn’t a loaded question and they want to know if your salary expectations are somewhere within their budget. Let’s look at it from both sides starting with the second one first. If you are expecting $80,000 per year and they are offering $40,000 then it’s better to know that up front and move on. If the salary offered is close then you might consider it.

Now from the other side let’s look at it as a loaded question. Smile and turn the question around and say; “That’s a tough question. Can you give me the range of compensation”? Many times the interviewer will be taken off guard and give you the answer. It’s a question of “the first person who speaks loses”.

Explain How You Would Be An Asset To Our Company

This give you the opportunity to shine. Explain your good points and how you can use them to be an asset. This question is one that you need to give some advance thought to. That’s where research comes in. And be ready.

Tell Me About A Suggestion Or Change You Have Made In A Previous Position

Have a good one ready. Preferably one that was accepted and considered successful. If your company didn’t ask for or accept suggestions say so. Most mid-level to upper-level positions though are looking for ways to improve.

What Is Your Greatest Strength

Most any answer will be good, just stay positive. Some possible answers: problem solving, ability to prioritize, work under pressure, work well with others (possible younger/older people), ability to focus well, leadership. See, it’s not too hard to come up with a list. If you can give an example of how you applied that in past positions. For instance, “I have a strong attention to detail and because of this I was responsible for tracking all the sales revenue and department expenses. I even found a few ways to save the company money through a few simple cost-cutting measures.”

What Is More Important – The Work Or The Money

Money is necessary to live but the correct answer on this one is WORK!

Tell Me About Some Previous Problem You Had With A Supervisor

Don’t fall into that! They want to see if you will speak badly of a previous employer/supervisor and tell of some problem. This is a test of your character. If you fall for it the interview is over. Stay positive and fail to remember. Speak highly of your boss (even if it’s hard, try to find something positive you liked about him).

Secrets of a Successful Job Search is a one-of-a-kind, no-holds-barred program that will guide you step-by-step through every phase of the job search start-to-finish. You will benefit from expert guidance and straight-to-the-point tips throughout your job search and your entire career with this proven system and simple-to-follow strategies that you can use over and over again to advance and promote your career faster than you ever thought possible.

Completing a 26-mile marathon race shares some characteristics with a successful job search.

There is one “winner” who crosses the finish line first. There are the many who quit before they’ve completed the race. Finally, there are the rest of us who don’t finish first, but are determined to complete the race nevertheless.

For most of us, half the battle is finishing the race, regardless of where we place among the finishers. The same goes for a job search.

I’m a veteran of three career changes and numerous job searches. For me, job hunting made flying during turbulence, nails dug into the arms of my seat, seem relaxing by comparison. Yet it was a learning experience; what some call a “character builder.” The good news is that after each episode of job hunting, I became better at the game. I also noticed that job hunting always strengthened and prepared me for my next job. Looking both at my own growth plus that of other successful job seekers, it boils down to 5 characteristics.

Here are Five Secrets of Winning Job Hunters:

1)   Visualize: Marathon runners and other goal-directed athletes are great at visualization. They set a goal and see themselves achieving it. The same applies for your job search. Set a goal and see yourself achieving it. No matter how many setbacks you have, hold that vision of the job you want. Continue to hold it. Focus on the outcome you want, and not on how you’re going to achieve it. Picture it in your mind. Be specific. What is your supervisor like? How about your co-workers? What is your workspace like? What is your workday like? How do you dress? What hours do you work? Include your right brain in the imagination and visualization process enhances the achievement of your goal.

2)   Be Persistent: Just as in running a marathon, nothing worth having is ever easy to achieve. There is a lot of rejection in job search. Sometimes it seems as if you’ll never get a “yes”. Remember what good sales people already know. That winning a sale, a job, or any other goal is a numbers game. Commission sales people will tell you that every “no” is one step closer to a “yes”. When you can see your process from a more objective viewpoint, knowing that you’re one more rejection closer to a “yes”, you’ll be less inclined to take the “no’s” personally, and less likely to get discouraged.

3)   Replenish Yourself: The job search process, like a marathon race, can be an endurance test with a lot of disappointments and setbacks. It can also go on for weeks, months, and for some people, even a year or more. Top marathoners know that they have to nourish their bodies in order to prevail. You need to nourish your mind and spirit as well. If you’re going to outlast this process and prevail, you have to take care of yourself. This means taking time to relax to take your mind off the challenges, frustrations and rejections. Work hard on your job search, then take time out to exercise and pursue activities that bring you joy and replenish you.

4)   Inoculate Yourself Against Negative Messages: Succeeding at a job search is a mental process, and negative input from anywhere can poison your mental outlook and encourage fear, discouragement, anxiety, anger and other negative emotions. Associate with positive people and protect yourself from all types of negativity. A job search journey can be a big undertaking. You need all of the assets and advantages that you can possibly bring to the party. You can’t afford to be exposed to the negativity of others. This includes friends, relatives and negative articles in newspapers and magazines as well as negative TV shows. Make a point of reading books and articles that motivate, encourage and inspire you. Avoid anything and anyone that doesn’t fall into this category.

5)   Meditate: This can be the most important secret, yet it can be very simple. Take some time every day to be still and to get away from the “white noise” of life. Whether you are a spiritual person or not, commit to some quiet time away from the noise of TV, radio and other distractions. Give yourself the gift of quietness to contemplate, calm down and center yourself. Even five minutes of quiet time can make a positive difference in your life. This is an opportunity to relax, focus, and renew yourself. It will ground you and make it easier to face and overcome the stresses of your job search journey ahead.

As with successful marathoners, job hunters have some secret tactics that make their success look easy to others. Winning the job search game has a mental component. Developing the above five winning secret tactics will enhance your chances of success, and make the process more pleasant and less stressful.

Ref: By Joe Turner www.jobdig.com