Help With Job Interviews

Congratulations! You’ve landed a job interview! Now comes the tough part. You’ve got to outshine the competition, overcome your fear of interviewing, and give a show-stopping performance! Conducting an effective interview is easier said than done, but knowing just a few basic strategies can make all the difference. Here are a few tips for mastering today’s tough job interview:

• Allow the interviewer to take charge of the interview
• Delay salary considerations as long as possible
• Dress to fit the job and the job’s culture
• Treat everyone you meet as potentially important to the interview
• Engage in positive nonverbal cues
• Wait to be invited to sit in a particular seat
• Be prepared to respond to initial small talk in an interesting and positive manner
• Close by asking when to follow up


The Mercer County Library System owns several books on interviewing skills, including: Job Interviews for Dummies by Joyce Lain Kennedy; Competency-Based Interviews by Robin Kessler; and Nail the Job Interview! by Caryl and Ron Krannich. Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center database, accessible through the MCL website, features several informative articles on job interviews, including “ The Purpose of the Interview.”

- Lisa S.