7 Essential Job Interview Skills

By Lisa Xing
[Getting it Done]
A good interview is pivotal to landing the job you want.  Lisa Xing tells you how to make a good impression on your potential employer.
Job interviews can be very intimidating, especially for a job you really want.  You want to make a good impression, yet you don’t want to seem desperate.  You want to appear confident, without seeming too confident.  Preparing for an interview can be very taxing because you have to worry about making a good impression on all levels -- dressing the part, knowing your facts and projecting the right image, so that your employer will see how you can fit into the work environment.  It’s tough and very nerve-wracking.  If you break it down though, job interviews aren’t actually as intimidating as people think.
 
First Impressions

The second you walk through the door for the interview, the interviewer will be paying attention to you.  Namely, the way you carry yourself, the way you hold yourself, everything.  Of course, they won’t have a magnifying glass to scrutinize your every muscle movement, but it’s important to pay attention to the way you walk in and sit from the get-go.  Sometimes, employers may note body language subconsciously, without realizing it.
 
The Handshake
 
You have all probably heard this many times before, but the handshake is an essential part of the interview process.  Although something like this may seem trivial, employers pay close attention to the way you present yourself and the handshake is an integral part of your presentation.  A firm grip is assertive and shows you are confident.  A loose and limp handshake is a turn-off; it conveys you aren’t sure what you want and makes you seem wishy-washy.  Ever shake someone’s hand that was limp?  Not the most pleasant experience.  A firm handshake will start the interview off on the right foot and will let the potential employer know you are serious about the job.

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