A job interview is one of the most important aspects of any person’s life. It should be taken seriously, as it has the power to change your life. A successful interview for a particular job can help to make your dreams come true. If it is not taken seriously, you may miss out on a good job and once again have to go in search of employment. Research has shown that today’s youth is not sure about what to take to a job interview. The following are some guidelines about what to take to a job interview:

A good novel or even a magazine is an excellent choice to keep you occupied. Even a joke book to help you lighten the mood a little with some humour is acceptable. Any reading material can be a tension reliever and can reduce the amount of anxiety you may have about the interview. If you become stressed you may make yourself unwell.

Stress or tension may lead to problems such as a queasy stomach, headaches, backache etc. Bring some preventative medication or alternative treatments with you to counter these problems: antacids for the stomach and analgesics for the head or back. Have in your possession some chocolate or some other snack that is high in sugar content, in small bite sized portions and easily digestible, in case you have failed to have anything to eat. Don’t chew gum or bring coffee or soft drinks and avoid cigarettes. If a mobile phone is a necessity, switch it off before the interview begins, but leave other electronic gadgetry at home!

Bring your own supply of tissues to the interview. If you need to stay in a hotel for a job interview it is vital that you bring the necessary clothes in which you feel comfortable. Women should carry an additional pair of pantyhose in case of laddering. You should also bring a pair of shoes that are extremely comfortable to wear, are clean and well polished. Shoes should preferably be black.

Bring some extra copies of your resume in case the company asks for additional copies. It is crucial that do not forget to bring the necessary documents that you need to provide during an interview. These should include degrees, qualifications and certificates of achievement and a birth certificate or other proof of age certificate. Include proof of experience with another organization if this is applicable.

Do not neglect to bring the list of references of those people with whom you worked previously. You must also bring a briefcase to your job interview as this will bestow upon you a professional and elegant look. It is also practical as you can keep your documents safe and neatly presented within it. You should also bring some pens and a notebook to a job interview and if you have a portfolio, include that. You can also bring work samples if you feel that they will be relevant. Bring some breath freshener or mints with you to ensure that your breath is sweet as this will help to boost your confidence to speak without hesitation.

Are you going to lose your job or have you lost your job? The last thing that you want to talk about is “why” you lost your job. In fact, the question

“Why did you leave your last job?”

is one of the toughest questions to deal with – especially if you’ve been let go in one form or another.

If you are among the thousands of people who have been laid off in the last year and a half, you can simply state: “I was laid off.”

This answers the question but still leaves a lingering doubt in the mind of the interviewer, – “Why were you laid off?” The more specific your answer, the more effective it will be.

“My position was eliminated along with half of my group because the project we were working on was cancelled. There were six rounds of layoffs at my last company and I survived five rounds, but when it came to round six they had to cut deep. ”

Not everyone will have such a definite statement to make. Whatever your situation is it will be helped by including facts and figures to explain the circumstances surrounding your layoff.

“10% of the workforce was let go,” or “One out of every ten jobs was affected, company-wide.”

When you quantify a statement it has more depth. When you tell the interviewer whether it was 10 or 1000 people were laid off helps put the situation in perspective.

Were you fired?

How you deal with questions about being fired will depend on how you have resolved the issue with yourself. If you were fired, you probably dread being asked this question. Not only have you been fired, you have to talk about it – over and over.

These are examples of how two candidates answer the question:

Candidate #1 “From the very beginning it was clear that my new boss and I were going to be at odds. We just had different types of personalities. She kept changing the rules. One day she would want it this way, and the next day another way,” rambled Karen. “I don’t usually have problems with bosses but this woman was really overbearing in her management approach. I had a great boss, but he left.”

This is not the best way to present the situation. This candidate could be classified as a “whiner.” Badmouthing former employers during the interview is a bad idea. No one wants to hear about someone else’s shortcomings, particularly someone they don’t even know.

A better way of handling the situation:

Candidate #2 “I was let go after a major reorganization. The merging of different cultures had caused a major change in the way things were done. There were some differences of opinion between my boss and myself and, in the end, I was fired.. I take responsibility for my part in the way things turned out. I learned a lot from the experience, and in retrospect, I would have handled it differently. But, that is behind me now, and I am ready to move on with a new perspective.”

This is a much better answer because it demonstrates strength and self-confidence. Candidate #2 takes responsibility and deals with the question honestly.

Scripting your answer ahead of the interview will help you whether you were let go under unfair circumstances or for something you did and regret. You don’t want to bad-mouth your former employer or sound like a victim (even if you were). Practice your answer with someone in a mock interview and obtain feedback on your comfort-level while discussing your situation.

Lying

You always take a chance whenever you put a lie on an application. One lie usually leads to another, and before you know it you are in over your head. The application usually has a signature line on the back where you sign, stating that the above is true, and that any false statements could be grounds for termination. Probably the worst way to handle this question is by lying.

Perspective

Deal with your feelings about the lay off or firing, and prepare your answer to the question before it is asked. It is a fact that “people lose their jobs every day.” They move on and get new jobs. And, you will too. No matter what the circumstances, put it behind you and move on. Being prepared will make you feel more confident and less emotional about the situation.

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