Real-Life Interview Blunders to Avoid

As any job seeker can tell you, acing an employment interview is no easy feat. According to a survey by Robert Half International, nearly one-third (32%) of executives polled said job candidates make more mistakes during the job interview than any other part of the job-hunting process.
Consider these real-life responses from hiring managers who were asked to name the strangest things they had ever heard of happening in a job interview:
1 "After answering the first few questions, the candidate picked up his cell phone and called his parents to let them know the interview was going well."
2 "The job seeker halted the conversation about work hours and the office environment, saying she didn't like being confined to a building, but would consider taking the job if she could move her desk to the courtyard outside."
3 "When asked by the hiring manager why she was leaving her current job, the applicant said, 'My manager is a jerk. All managers are jerks.'"
4 "After arriving for an early morning interview, the job seeker asked to use the hiring manager's phone. She proceeded to fake a coughing fit as she called in sick to her boss."

Preparation Is Good Insurance

While it's unlikely you'll make mistakes as egregious as the ones above, it always helps to prepare before interviewing with a prospective employer. Here are five tips to help you make a good first impression:
(a) Do your homework. Before the interview, review the job description again and make sure you can describe how your skills and experience match the requirements of the open position.
(b) Come prepared. Bring extra copies of your resume -- printed on high-quality paper -- and a list of references to the interview. Also dress appropriately. Even if you're interviewing with a company that has a casual dress code, it's better to be slightly over-dressed than under-dressed.
(c) Know what to expect. In all likelihood, the hiring manager will ask you a host of standard questions, such as "Why do you want to work for this firm?" and "What makes you right for this role?" Practice your responses to these queries with a friend at home so you can provide clear and concise answers.
(d) Have the right attitude. Be confident during the interview but not arrogant. Also consider your body language. Making eye contact with the interviewer and nodding your head in agreement shows you're engaged; slouching in your chair indicates you're bored.
(e) Follow up. Sending a thank-you note after the interview may seem old-fashioned, but hiring managers always appreciate receiving one. A brief message thanking the person for his or her time and reaffirming your interest in the role shows your professionalism and desire for the job.
Above all, be yourself when interviewing with a prospective employer. Companies seek workers who not only have the skills to perform the job but also the personality to thrive within the corporate culture.

Group Interviews: How to Impress Everyone

Even under the best circumstances, job interviews can be intimidating. But the group interview -- where you are grilled by a team of potential new colleagues -- ratchets up the tension.
Sometimes companies round up all the interviewers at once for the sake of efficiency. But the company may also want to assess how you perform in a group.
It's About Teamwork "It's sort of to see if you would play well with others on this team.
A group interview may be very formal, with a scripted set of questions. Or it could be simply a conversation between the candidate and the others in the room. Many interviews are in between these extremes, with both structured questions and casual conversation.
Before any interview, of course, you should research the company and the job description and consider how your experience could help the company. But a group interview calls for some extra skills in order to make the best impression.

Skills for Your Success

* Prepare if possible. If you're given a list beforehand of who will be there, do as much homework as you can. Find out the names and titles of your interviewers. "That may give you a clue about specific areas of expertise and how they fit in the hierarchy,"
* Make connections. Address your questioners by name and make eye contact with all of them. "Pay attention to what their interest is in the interview, what kind of things would they be likely to be most concerned about.
* Don't play favorites. It's dangerous to make assumptions about which person's opinion matters most in the hiring decision. "I've seen a junior player on a team derail a good candidate. Try to make sure you satisfy everyone's concerns.
* Be a facilitator. If you notice that one person seems hesitant to participate, try to draw him or her in. Ask if you can clarify your remarks or if the person has any additional questions. You "can take a little bit of control" of the interview this way.
* Be diplomatic. If your interviewers clearly have a disagreement and they're asking how you would resolve it, show that you understand of all their points of view. "Just the fact that you're aware of multiple perspectives will bode well for you.
* Don't relax too much. In informal interviews, don't let the causal atmosphere keep you from making a good impression. "They may seem informal, but people are voting afterward.

Finally, remember the good news. If you're being interviewed by lots of people at a company, it probably means you're a finalist for the job. And since interviews are a two-way street, a group interview also offers you insight into what it would be like working in this group. "You have a window looking in at how they'll work together with other"

Good luck and see you at that DREAM JOB!!!