The First 30 Seconds

A major university study has concluded that the first 30 seconds can make or break a connection between two people, depending on how they first perceive each other.

So it’s critical to make your first 30 seconds in the interview very impressive. The interviewer is already assessing your body language, your appearance, and your social confidence. To appear confident, stand up straight, hold your head high and look the interviewer in the eye as you say hello. It doesn't matter if the interviewer is a woman or a man, just make sure you give them a firm handshake while saying “it's a pleasure to meet you (name) “ or “ I really appreciate your time this morning.” All of these actions combined, exude confidence even if you are nervous inside.

What Recruiters Want

Most recruiters are looking for the same thing; they want a candidate who is enthusiastic and motivated about the job! Of course they want someone who is capable and has the ability to do the job, but if there are two candidates with roughly the same skill base, they will always choose the one who shows more enthusiasm about the position and the company. Enthusiasm shows a positive, “can-do” attitude. Couple this enthusiasm with your professional appearance and your ability to clearly communicate your answers to interview questions, and the job is almost sure to be yours.

Handling Curly Questions

This is the area you are probably most nervous about. But there is no need to be. You can handle almost any question that is asked of you, as long as you have done two things; plan and prepare. All interviews require some preparation beforehand. Part of that preparation is to research the company to which you are applying. Check out their website and learn about their company. Read their mission statement and understand their vision. Use similar words in answering interview questions. And don't forget to research yourself. Re-read your resume. Have examples ready to showcase your strengths. Think about the type of questions you might be asked and pre-prepare some answers so you are not caught off guard.

It's never easy to know all of the questions that you may be asked in an interview, so we've covered the top 40 interview questions and provided you with matching professional, job winning answers in our e-book “Win that Job!”

Click here to find out more about these questions plus plenty of other advice on what recruiters want, how to plan your interview, body language tips, and how to close the interview in a positive job winning way!