The Interview tips

Published in The Wall Street Journal article "The Interview That'll Bag a Job" on 14th April 2009, by Sarah E. Needleman:-

In today's ultracompetitive job market, even getting an interview is a feat. Yet recruiters and hiring managers say many unemployed candidates blow the opportunity by appearing desperate or bitter about their situations -- often without realizing it.People are becoming a lot more aggressive.

• At an interview, you want to stand out for the right reasons. To do so, you'll need to leave your baggage and anxiety at the door. For starters, wait until 10 minutes before your scheduled interview time to announce yourself.
• Arriving any sooner shows that you're not respectful of the time the hiring manager put aside for you, adding that a candidate who arrived an hour early made workers uncomfortable. "Companies really don't want someone camped out in their lobby."
• Signal confidence by offering a firm handshake.
• Avoid looking around the room, tapping your fingers, or other nervous movements.
• No matter how you're feeling, keep your personal woes out of the interview process. Instead, always exude an upbeat attitude. For example, if you were laid off, instead of lamenting the situation, you might say the experience prompted you to reassess your skills, and that's what led you here. "You want to demonstrate resilience in the face of unpredictable obstacles,".
• Meanwhile, show you've done your homework on the company by explaining how your background and track record relates to its current needs.
• This is particularly important if the firm is in a different industry than the one you worked in before. To stand out, you'll need to look up more than just basics on company leadership and core businesses. You'll also need to find out -- and understand -- how recent changes in the marketplace have affected the firm, its competitors and industry overall.
  
• Read recent company press releases, annual reports, media coverage and industry blogs, and consult with trusted members of your network.
  
• "Companies that may have been performing well just a few months ago might be in survival mode now," says Ms. Markus. "You want to understand how [they're] positioned today."
• Also, be sure to show you're a strong fit for the particular position you're seeking.
• Offer examples of past accomplishments -- not just responsibilities you've held -- and describe how they're relevant to the opportunity. "You must differentiate yourself like never before,".You need to customize yourself and make yourself memorable.
• Be careful not to go too far, though, in your quest to stand out. For example, it may be tempting to offer to work temporarily for free or to take a lesser salary than what a job pays. But experts say such bold moves often backfire on candidates. "Employers want value," says Lee Miller, author of "Get More Money on Your Next Job ... In Any Economy." "They don't want cheap."
• "In a recession, employers are going to be very price sensitive,".The salary you ask for may impact their decision to move forward.Come prepared having researched the average pay range for a position in case you're pressured to name your price. You might say, for example, that money isn't a primary concern for you and that you're just looking for something fair. You can try turning the tables by asking interviewers what the company has budgeted for the position.
• In some cases, you may be looking just for a job to get you through so you might consider a less-than-perfect fit. But if you aren't really excited about an opportunity, keep it to yourself, warns David Gaspin, director of human resources at 5W Public Relations in New York. "I've had times where people come in and it's clear that if they really had their preference, they'd be doing something different," he says. "You don't want to put that out on the table. Nobody wants to hire someone who's going to run for the door when times get better."
• Take caution with your follow-up. If you're in the running for multiple jobs at once, make sure to address thank-yous to the right people, career experts advise. Also look closely for spelling and grammatical errors. In a competitive job market, employers have the luxury of choice, and even a minor faux pas can hurt your chances.
• Wait at least a week before checking on your candidacy.
• Call recruiters only at their office, even if their business card lists a home or cell number. Leave a message if you get voicemail.There's a fine line between enthusiasm and overenthusiasm.