A short while ago we looked into what you can do to improve your CV and in turn help achieving New Careers. With any luck the article has helped and you’re now up to the horrible interview stage. Interviews are they key part of the job application procedure. It shows the employers believe you may have what they want to fill these Careers and they’re wishing to listen to what you have to say. The CV was only the start, they don’t really get everything they want from it and now you need to go in there and show you are appropriate for these Career Choices and can make a difference to their business.

So how should you make the most of an interview? You need to ensure you have the best possible chance, these Careers don’t show up everyday, so you have to make the most of it. The most important thing to begin with is to perform some research into the organisation and the kind of business it operates. There’s nothing worse than arriving at an interview and not knowing a thing about the business. You will most certainly be asked why you want to work there, and you will be asked about the product or kind of business involved. Ensure you know your stuff and can answer thoroughly without having to stop and think about it.

The next thing to you should get ready for is something we talked about in the CVs – be equipped to answer any questions about gaps in your job history. Employers can be concerned if there are large time gaps between your jobs, it might indicate laziness to find a job or maybe indicates you were dismissed from your last job and nobody will take you on now. Whatever the reason may be, be equipped to discuss and position it in the best way possible to avoid any poor feedback.

Employers will also be curious as to why you left your preceding Careers. If it is to seek out a better opportunity, just say so and give details why you suppose New Careers within this business will provide that. If you left for other reasons, or perhaps were forced to leave, make sure to clarify this as lightly as possible, but never lie about it. Lying will make things worse, as an employer will check your references and can discard your application if anything you’ve said doesn’t match up.

Finally, try reading up on some basic interview questions and make some answers for them. If you can, you could even ask a friend to help act out practice interviews. Be equipped to talk about yourself and your qualities that you can bring to these Career Choices. You may be asked to give examples of particular situations, such as handling pressure, handling angry customers etc. As long as you can stay confident and answer these questions without stopping to think, you should improve your chance of success greatly. Although the answers themselves are crucial, the employer is also searching for self-assurance and determination. If these New Careers are really for you, then prove it and put in as much effort as you can.