Thank you such good advice.

Know three questions you want to ask about the job. Be honest, open, and direct. Eye contact. Bring a notebook and take a few notes. You want to know the details of the job. Also, if you can ask this, find out if this is a new position. If not, ask what position the former job holder has now and if you can talk to them about the job. This will tell you if they left the company. Truly, this is your time to ask whatever you want. Have your questions written in your notebook. They like questions. They like to talk about their company. Take a tour, and see just what it is like to work there. Is it cold, warm, friendly, etc? Do workers talk with each other or not? See if the environment is a fit. I took a nightmare job one time and found out later that four people had had the job before me that same year!! I did not stay either. Horrible boss! He was not there when I interviewed. I should have asked about him, but the HR employee and my direct supervisor were so nice!!! Surprise!! The boss with whom I had to have a lot of interaction was from HELL! It matters to find that stuff out however you can.

Same

To enhance interview skills, I found Michael Neece to be very helpful. His site is called Interview Mastery. Plenty of free materials.

No interrview is scary its a challenge to gain there attention and best qualified candiate you ought to be as a sales person for yourself.

Well thanks that makes sense

Just get shot of choked up nervous like.

I meant to say 3-11 - second shift. Or weekend hours. Hours no one wants.

Hi Bridgett: It is completely NORMAL to be nervous during an interview and also prior to the interview. It is also normal and understandable when you are desperate for a job. I have some ideas; hopefully one or more of these things will help you.

1. I don't know what you are qualified for but are there any jobs you COULD do even though it may not be what you are seeking? Having job, any kind of job (as long as it is not illegal, immoral or unsafe) will make you feel "okay, I have a job, so this company doesn't have me over a barrel." Having a job will let the company know, too, that there is a company out there that thought enough of you to hire you. So I guess number one would be - get something. There are jobs in fast food, dollar stores, there are jobs maybe at hours no one else wants, like 3-7 p.m. While it may not be your particular dream job, it is something to help boost moral and get you by in the meantime, something you can put on your resume and feel good about. Another thing about having a job is, you can network with coworkers and maybe they can let you know if they see something that you'd be interested in.

2. When you apply for a job, you will likely have at least 90% of the qualifications. Keep an EXCELLENT resume ready to go and a GREAT cover letter. With each job you apply for, tweak the cover to fit the particular job. I like to grab the attention of the reader in the first 2 sentences of the cover letter. Something like "I enthusiastically apply for the ABC role at XYZ company since it reflects my strong customer service background and XYZ has an amazing website." Right off the bat you're telling them you are qualified and you've reviewed their website.

2a. Today many companies use a software that pulls resumes out of all the resumes submitted. The software does this by recognizing words in your resume that the company put in their job description. For example, if your resume says "Excellent organizational skills" and the job description says "Strong organizational skills," change "excellent" to "strong." Go through your resume and match your verbiage to theirs.

Okay, so say you now get called for an interview. You can calm your nerves by learning all you can about the company ahead of time. Let's say you DID look at the website already but maybe not thoroughly. You looked at it enough to find the company has an impressive customer base and many acquisitions. This is the time to REALLY look at the website. As you do, jot down questions and talking points. During an interview, the opportunity will arise for you to say "I was really impressed by the Core Values of your organization." It is VERY important to view the website because you NEVER want to go into an interview and when the interviewer asks you "so, do you know what we do here?", you don't know.

Then get your questions in order. Ask questions about the role itself, the company, and even the interviewer. You may find a bio for the interviewer online. Here are a couple of good questions for you to ask about the role: "Why is this position open?" "Can you describe a typical day?" "What is the culture like?" Or for questions about the company, you can ask "What was the most challenging period for the company in the last 10 years." You can probably go online and find other examples of questions. One question you DON'T want to ask is one that lets them know you didn't research them. This is an extreme example but you'd never interview at a hospital and say "so what do you do here?"

Once you have researched the company and have written down questions and talking points, you will feel better. Typically, someone at the company will greet you and ask if you would like coffee or water. Then they'll sit down and they may say "tell me about yourself." Or they could lead off with telling YOU about the role. My point is, the greeting and interview period will start out on a friendly basis with a lot of smiles. This is a time when you can take a breath and realize it is a step by step process, a little bit happens at a time.

When they say "tell me about yourself," they will want to hear about your education and the jobs you've had so far. They don't want to know where you grew up or what your favorite food is. This is a perfect time to tell them what interests you in the job. If you have not had a lot of work experience, expound on your education and any related volunteer work. If you are very young, they will understand you probably don't have a lot of experience. Be excited and enthusiastic about the job. Express that. They'll know that someone who is really excite will want to learn! Plus, with little or no experience, you won't have to "unlearn" anything.

I would say "I attended Bowling Green State University and General Career Center. My first role after graduation was that of an Inventory Control Clerk. I posted in to an analyst role and after three years, I accepted a position with XYZ Company."

If you don't have a lot of actual work experience, you can say "while my interests lie it (fill in the blank - whatever the job is you are applying for), it has been a challenge without actual work experience. In the meantime, however, I am working as a (whatever job you have and mention the high level of customer service this job requires - most first jobs or part-time jobs for younger people ARE as a cashier or waitress or busser) and learning as much as I can about (whatever job you are interviewing for)."

Once I was interviewing for a cofacilitator role in a mental health clinic and I explained that I had volunteer experience and had taken all the social science classes at college and I got that job.

Now, pay attention to your dress, hair and make-up. Dress appropriately. Not too much make-up or jewelry. No heavy perfume. The word to remember for interviews is "conservative." Even if you are applying at a fast food place, it is fine to wear a skirt and nice blouse for the interview. No jeans or anything too tight, too low, too short and nothing raggy. This is YOUR chance to show you have class and that you would be a good employee.

If you educate yourself about the role and the company and prepare with YOUR OWN questions and talking points, you should feel MUCH better. PLEASE REMEMBER, and this is important: YOU ARE INTERVIEWING THEM every bit as much as they are interviewing you. Even if they offer you the job, you don't have to take it. You do not grovel. You are smart and worthwhile.

Another thing to keep in mind is, interviewing is good for you. You will learn something new from every interview you go on. So, while you think about taking a job that might not be your dream job, at least you will have interview experience and the more you interview the more relaxed you'll be.

Good luck! We, on this website, are rooting for you!

I draw a blank during interviews. I am 53 years old and just lost my job of 15 years due to downsizing/department closure.