So you work hard getting your resume just right. You labor over the cover letter and send all your materials to a company, and you land an interview. You are on your way to getting a great new job. All you need to do is make it through the interview process, which usually requires more than one interview, and with more than one person within the organization. While most job seekers can pass the resume, cover letter, get your foot in the door test, many find the interview a huge hurdle. What should a person say or not say? What should he/she do in an interview or not do? Consider these ideas about what you should never say or do, in an interview, if you want to move forward in the process and get a job.
Hold your questions until the end of the interview
Many people interviewing for a position aggressively start asking questions long before the interviewer is finished with his questions. Always wait for the interviewer to ask if you have questions. And even then, do not make the mistake of asking the wrong questions. The major wrong question to ask is about pay, benefits, vacations, holidays, and incentive pay. Those should be reserved for the hiring interview, and asking them too early leaves the impression you are only interested in the money.
Another major misstep is to ask what the company does. Never go to a job interview without first finding out what the company does. The ease of getting information on the internet makes this an easy thing to do, and prevents you from making a major mistake. You show interest in a position when you are proactive enough to do your homework.
When the interviewer asks if you have questions, always have some. If you research the company in advance, prepare questions about their future plans, new products, what the work environment is like, or ask about whether the company works in a team environment. This shows that you are at least conversant with current trends in the corporate world.
Be sure to watch your language
Begin your interview with a proper greeting. Stand, make eye contact, and give a firm handshake when the interviewer enters the room. Give a formal greeting, and do not be overly personal. Getting the interviewer to be your buddy will not help you get a job. Maintain a professional demeanor at all times. Do not slouch, sit up straight and give clear, concise answers to questions. Do not talk too much. Answer the question and then shut up. Too many interviewees talk themselves out of a job by being verbose.
Always use acceptable language. Never use curse words or substandard English. Your level of conversation should match the level of the job. This is especially true if you are more educated than the job requires. Do not show off your extensive vocabulary. Talk in a way that is proper and easily understood.
Be very careful about language that may indicate sexism, prejudice, or other bias. The work place is much more sensitive to issues of race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, etc. than ever, and you will sink your chances for a new job very quickly by displaying these behaviors.
Never criticize your former employer
It is amazing how small our world has become. You never know who your interviewer knows, or how much access he has to information from your former employer. It is always best to be honest when answering questions, because sometime an interviewer may have the answer to the question already, and simply is checking to see if you are honest. Beating up on your former employer will only raise red flags in his mind. Besides, you should never burn bridges when you leave a company.
By the same token, always be honest about why you left a previous job. If you were let go, explain the circumstances, and give an honest appraisal of the situation without anger or hatred against your former employer. I would rather not be hired for telling the truth, than to get a job and lose it later because I lied in an interview. Then you will have two firings to explain the next time.
Be honest about strengths and weaknesses
Most interviewers will ask questions about your strengths and weaknesses. Most people have no problem with detailing at length with their accomplishments and strengths. They do not like revealing their weaknesses. The trick to answering that question is to find a weakness that is really a strength and use it. For instance, when asked about your biggest weakness, you might reply, “My biggest weakness is that I am a perfectionist, and cannot leave something that is not done, and done correctly.” While being a perfectionist is technically a weakness, it is also an asset in business when a company struggles with people who only half complete tasks.
Conclusion
When doing a job interview, I recommend the three laws of speaking: Sit up, speak up, and shut up. Have the proper poise and appearance. How you appear is half the battle to getting a job. Secondly, answer questions in a pleasant tone, without getting angry and frustrated. Look your interviewer in the eyes, and tell the truth. Be personable, charming, sincere, and make sure your level of speech matches the job for which you are applying, and even the education level of your interviewer. And finally, shut up. Do not tell your whole life story. Simply answer the questions asked and do not wander off the path into other issues.
The interview will either move you on to the next level, get you the job, or get you shown to the door. Prepare yourself and practice relaxing before you face the interviewer, and you will do well to remember these techniques.

By John Abbott. Read more articles like this at http://studyskills.articlesrhere.com