Are you interviewing for a job or trying to get a raise in pay?  To get the results you want, try these proven suggestions and see if you don’t succeed in getting what you are after.

Preparation is the key word, especially if you think you have above average interview skills.  Acquire confidence in your abilities.  Most important, sell yourself in as little time as possible.  (You are not the only one being interviewed)

Almost every interviewer will ask the following questions.  Are you prepared with short but thorough responses?

• “Tell me about yourself.”  You don’t have to go into a lengthy biography beginning with the day and hour you were born.  The interviewer just wants to get to know you in 100 words or less.  (Perhaps a few more words)
• “Tell me why you left your current job.”  You will need to be truthful with your response.  No negative comments about your previous employer.  You are a team player and even if you left under less than desirable circumstances, you still must be a team player.
• “Tell me what you liked most about your previous job.”  Now this is where you are going to have to sell yourself.  Highlight your exceptional skills (Don’t brag) and the knowledge you acquired while working at your job.  List a couple of hurdles you also overcame and how these hurdles made you a better employee.
• “Tell me what your most outstanding strengths are.”  List at least three strengths and share specific examples how these strengths contributed to your previous employer’s success as well as the future success of the job you are applying for.  (Again, don’t become too wordy.)

Now…for your body language.  Don’t languish in your chair. (You are not on the beach.)  Sit a bit forward.  That gives the impression you are being attentive and do not want to miss anything being said by the interviewer.

When first called in for your interview and upon leaving the interview, always, always extend a hand.  A firm handshake conveys you have a handle on life as well as feeling that you were on “top of things.”  If your wash rag gives a stronger grip than your handshake does, practice firm handshakes.

Once the interview process is over send a thank-you note, in your handwriting, to the person you talked to.  Always remember the person’s name and use the appropriate title.  If you are unsure if the individual is married, than “Ms.” (or “Mr.”) would be a proper introduction.  Make sure the note is short and thank them for their time and their consideration of you as a potential employee.  Always make sure you convey how glad you were to meet them.

You stood tall during that interview process and all that is left to do now is to wait for that phone call letting you know, “You’re hired.”