tensive work history, you can focus on references from your last two companies. Potential references are supervisors or managers or peers within the work place. If you volunteered on a project, this is also a good source for a strong reference.

Your references should be able to discuss their relationship with you, your abilities, knowledge, work ethic, and how you interacted with others in the company. Don’

You’re just about ready to start your job search and send out your first resume. Stop! Before your send out that resume, are you prepared for the job interview? Your resume just gets your foot into the door. If you want to have a successful interview, you will need to plan. Here are some tips to guide you in preparing for a terrific interview.

Know your skills and accomplishments

Probably the most common question you will be asked is “Tell me about yourself.” Be ready to clearly present your knowledge, skills and abilities and how you can add value to the company.

Employers will also evaluate your fit for the job by asking “behavior-based” questions. Questions like: In your previous job what was your most challenging situation and how did you handle it? They want the details and will continue to probe until they have an understanding of how you dealt with the situation. The belief here is that past performance is a strong indicator of how you will continue to behave.

Take the time beforehand to review your job experiences. Collect some stories about challenging situations or people that you handled well, successful projects, or solutions you have initiated that made the work more efficient.

Organize your references

Make sure you have three references before you start your job search. Most companies include reference checking before making a final decision on a candidate. Bring to the interview the contact information for your references, and only give it to them if they ask.

Ideally, provide a reference from each company you have listed on your resume. If you have an extensive work history, you can focus on references from your last two companies. Potential references are supervisors or managers or peers within the work place. If you volunteered on a project, this is also a good source for a strong reference.

Your references should be able to discuss their relationship with you, your abilities, knowledge, work ethic, and how you interacted with others in the company. Don’t

the most common question you will be asked is “Tell me about yourself.” Be ready to clearly present your knowledge, skills and abilities and how you can add value to the company.

Employers will also evaluate your fit for the job by asking “behavior-based” questions. Questions like: In your previous job what was your most challenging situation and how did you handle it? They want the details and will continue to probe until they have an understanding of how you dealt with the situation. The belief here is that past performance is a strong indicator of how you will continue to behave.

Take the time beforehand to review your job experiences. Collect some stories about challenging situations or people that you handled well, successful projects, or solutions you have initiated that made the work more efficient.

Organize your references

Make sure you have three references before you start your job search. Most companies include reference checking before making a final decision on a candidate. Bring to the interview the contact information for your references, and only give it to them if they ask.

Ideally, provide a reference from each company you have listed on your resume. If you have an extensive work history, you can focus on references from your last two companies. Potential references are supervisors or managers or peers within the work place. If you volunteered on a project, this is also a good source for a strong reference.

Your references should be able to discuss their relationship with you, your abilities, knowledge, work ethic, and how you interacted with others in the company. Don’

tinue to probe until they have an understanding of how you dealt with the situation. The belief here is that past performance is a strong indicator of how you will continue to behave.

Take the time beforehand to review your job experiences. Collect some stories about challenging situations or people that you handled well, successful projects, or solutions you have initiated that made the work more efficient.

Organize your references

Make sure you have three references before you start your job search. Most companies include reference checking before making a final decision on a candidate. Bring to the interview the contact information for your references, and only give it to them if they ask.

Ideally, provide a reference from each company you have listed on your resume. If you have an extensive work history, you can focus on references from your last two companies. Potential references are supervisors or managers or peers within the work place. If you volunteered on a project, this is also a good source for a strong reference.

Your references should be able to discuss their relationship with you, your abilities, knowledge, work ethic, and how you interacted with others in the company. Don’

t.

Organize your references

Make sure you have three references before you start your job search. Most companies include reference checking before making a final decision on a candidate. Bring to the interview the contact information for your references, and only give it to them if they ask.

Ideally, provide a reference from each company you have listed on your resume. If you have an extensive work history, you can focus on references from your last two companies. Potential references are supervisors or managers or peers within the work place. If you volunteered on a project, this is also a good source for a strong reference.

Your references should be able to discuss their relationship with you, your abilities, knowledge, work ethic, and how you interacted with others in the company. Don’

tensive work history, you can focus on references from your last two companies. Potential references are supervisors or managers or peers within the work place. If you volunteered on a project, this is also a good source for a strong reference.

Your references should be able to discuss their relationship with you, your abilities, knowledge, work ethic, and how you interacted with others in the company. Don’t forget, the employer may want to know your weakness as well, so ask your references to be ready to answer that question.

As soon as a company requests your references, contact them to notify them of a potential call. They are your partners in your job search, so give them all the details you have about the company and the position -- don’t leave them in the dark. If you can’t speak with them directly, email or leave a voice mail notifying them of the details.

Practice, practice, practice

The more comfortable you feel about what skills and knowledge you have to offer, the more confidence you will have in the interview. It’s a good idea to practice your answers either in front of a mirror, or work with a friend or a coach.

Prepare for a telephone interview

Companies have different screening processes to find suitable candidates for their open positions. It is not uncommon for a recruiter to screen you briefly on the telephone, so be ready to present yourself as soon as you send out your resume. Don’t be casual about any contact with a company -- be prepared.

Do your research

Research as much as possible about the company you are interviewing at. One source of information is their website. You can also do a search on the internet to see what information surfaces about the company. The more you know about the company, the more effective you can be in presenting your skills and knowledge.

Prepare questions

Most of the time a candidate spends time preparing answers for the employer’s questions. Don’t forget your questions! I recommend creating around 10 quest