SKILLS

7 Interview Tips That Will Help You Get the Job

Here are job interview tips to help prepare you to interview effectively. Proper preparation will help alleviate some of the stress involved in job interviews, and the more you prepare, the more comfortable and successful you will be at interviewing.

1. Practice and Prepare
Practice your responses to the typical job interview questions and answers most employers ask. Think of concrete examples you can use to highlight your skills. The easiest way to do this is to make a list of the job requirements, and match them to your experience. Providing evidence of your successes is a great way to promote your candidacy.

Also, have a list of your own questions to ask the employer ready.

2. Research the Company 
Do your homework about the employer and the industry so you are ready for the interview question "What do you know about this company?" Try to relate what you have learned about the company when answering questions. Know the interviewer's name, and use it during the job interview. If you're not sure of the name, call and ask prior to the interview. Building rapport and making a personal connection with your interviewer can up your chances of getting hired. People tend to hire candidates they like, and who seem to be a good fit for the company culture.

3. Get Ready Ahead of Time
Don't wait for the last minute to pick out an interview outfit, print extra copies of your resume, or find a notepad and pen. Have one good interview outfit ready, so you can interview on short notice without having to worry about what to wear. When you have an interview lined up, get everything ready the night before. Make sure your interview attire is neat, tidy and appropriate for the type of firm you are interviewing with. Bring a nice portfolio with extra copies of your resume. Include a pen and paper for note taking.

4. Be On Time (That Means Early)
Be on time for the interview. On time means five to ten minutes early. If need be, take some time to drive to the interview location ahead of time so you know exactly where you are going and how long it will take to get there. Give yourself a few extra minutes to visit the rest room, check your outfit, and calm your nerves. Here's more on preparing for an interview.

5. Try to Stay Calm
During the job interview, try to relax and stay as calm as possible. Remember that your body language says as much about you as your answers to the questions. Proper preparation will allow you to exude confidence. Take a moment to regroup if you need it. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Listen to the entire question (active listening) before you answer, and pay attention - you will be embarrassed if you forget the question.

Check out these tips for avoiding job interview stress to help keep your nerves calm. Also review our interview tips for introverts if the thought of a job interview puts you in panic mode.

6. Show What You Know
Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions.  When discussing your career accomplishments, match them to what the company is looking for. Use examples from your research when answering questions, “I noticed that when you implemented a new software system last year, your customer satisfaction ratings improved dramatically. I am well versed in the latest technologies from my experience with developing software at ABC, and appreciate a company who strives to be a leader in its industry.” Here's how to make a matchbetween your expertise and the company's requirements.

7. Follow Up

Always follow-up with a thank you note reiterating your interest in the position. You can also include any details you may have forgotten to mention during your interview. If you interview with multiple people send each one a personal note. Send your thank you note (email is fine) within 24 hours of your interview.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

How to Study English

If you grew up in an Anglo-Saxon country (e.g. United States, United Kingdom, Canada, etc.), speaking English probably comes as naturally as breathing. However, for many native speakers, reading and writing in English isn't so natural. Learning how to communicate effectively in written English requires a lot of education and study. Below we'll introduce you to several strategies and skills that will help you improve (and enjoy) your study of the English language – both inside and outside of the classroom.

Read daily.

If you want to improve your ability to read, then read. Spend at least 20 minutes a day reading books, newspapers, online blogs, poems, etc. The greater the variety of reading you do, the better. Regular reading will not only improve your ability to read, it will also improve your ability to write in English. In fact, there is no other activity that will improve your ability to read and write in English faster than reading a little each day. You'll be surprised how quickly your vocabulary grows, your reading fluency and comprehension improve, and how much better you're able to write just by reading a little each day.

Avoid burnout.

Unless you're a reading buff, studying English can be boring and tedious. Especially for those of us who already know how to speak English. How many kids do you hear talking about how much they enjoy their English class? Not many. Among middle and high school age students, English is one of the least favorite academic subjects. When studying English, set clear study time limits. The key is to be consistent. A little study each day is far better than a lot at once. Don't attempt to read an entire novel overnight. Don't try to learn all the English grammar rules in a week. Take it slow and easy. Read a little each day. Learn a little more each day. Doing too much at once just leads to burnout.

Don't cram.

A study produced by the University of California Los Angeles suggested that for 9 out of 10 students spacing out learning is far more effective than cramming. Cramming rarely works. And when it does, it's short lived. At best cramming leads to short-term rote memorization gains but rarely leads to meaningful learning and understanding. In most cases, the disadvantages of cramming outweigh the advantages. Cramming is especially problematic when it causes a student to sacrifice sleep. Students who sacrifice sleep in order to study more than usual are likely to perform worse academically, not better, the following day.

Get extra help.

If you want to improve your writing and mastery of English, then ask for help from your teacher or get an English tutor. English, especially written English, is one of those subjects that is difficult to "figure out" on your own. Learning how to write correctly is far easier, and more productive, when you're able to learn from those who've mastered this skill.

Take good notes.

Note taking is an important strategy for success in any academic subject, but it is particularly important when learning to read and write English. Note taking is essential to the study of English for several reasons. First, note taking forces you to write things down. As you write down important concepts, rules and ideas they move from your short-term to your long-term memory. Second, good note taking requires active listening which forces you to pay close attention to what is being taught and what's meaningful. Finally, you can use your notes to review and prepare for English exams.

The following are tips for taking good notes.

• Make sure your notes are clear and accurate.
• Focus your notes on what the teacher indicates is important.
• Come to class prepared and having completed all assignments.
• Compare your notes with those of other students.
• Try to avoid distractions (talking with friends, sitting where there is noise, etc.)
• Make sure your notes are organized (see the The Cornell System for Taking Notes)
• Use abbreviations and symbols for long words to save time.
• Write legibly so your notes are useful to you later.
• Review your notes immediately after class and then again before your next class.
• Write down any questions you have.

For more information on taking notes read Improving Your Note Taking.

Pay attention in class.

Regardless of whether you're in high school or attending college, go to class and pay attention. Paying attention in class seems like a no brainer, but it's a big reason students struggle in English. Not only do you need to learn English, you need to learn what it is that your teacher or instructor finds important. There is a science to English reading and writing, but the subject is also a bit objective at times. If you want to perform well in your class, you need to learn what it is that your instructor is looking for. The best way to do this is by attending class and paying attention.

Take advantage of online study guides.

There are a variety online study guides designed to help students with English reading, writing and literature. Some of these include Cliffnotes, Sparknotes, and Jiffynotes, to name just a few. These guides are chock-full of notes and information on English literature. They provide summaries, interpretations, essay tips, helpful hints, video tutorials and Old-to-Modern-English translations. Online study guides provide information that can help you better understand your textbooks, essay assignments and classroom lectures.

Form a study group.

Forming a study group is an effective strategy for improving your performance in your English class and earning a good grade. Forming a good study group will help you (1) improve your note taking, (2) learn from the knowledge and unique insights of other students, (3) develop a support system, (4) cover more material and (5) make learning English more fun.

The following are a few tips for forming an effective study group.

• Keep your study group to between 4 and 6 people.
• Select group members who are responsible and dedicated.
• Find a study area for your group that is free from distractions.
• Keep study sessions under 2 to 3 hours.
• Plan to meet with your study group at the same time and place each week.

You can learn more about developing an effective study group by reading Using Study Groups.

Ask questions.

If there is one thing I learned from watching Big Bird on Sesame Street it is that, "Asking questions is a good way of finding things out!" This couldn't be more true with respect to learning and studying English. If you have a question, ask your teacher or a fellow student. Make sure you've come to class prepared and that you're not asking questions you should already know the answer to from completing your textbook assignment, but when you don't understand something, ask. Even if your question seems stupid to you, never hesitate to ask. The only stupid question is that one not asked. If you feel uncomfortable asking your question during class, stay after and ask the teacher in private – but ask.

Prepare for exams in advance.

If you've kept up with your textbook readings, have attended class, taken good notes, and completed all assignments as they've been assigned, you should be ready to ace your English exam. Notwithstanding, we recommend that you start reviewing for your exam at least four weeks in advance. Meet with your study group each week, review your notes and essays, and make sure to get a good night's sleep the day before the exam. Again, avoid cramming at all costs. It will only stress you out and cause you to loose precious sleep time.