The codfishy's Guide to Job Interviews

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Just thought that I should do up this "CODFISHY's Guide to Job Interviews" to share with others how I prepare for my job interviews as well as remind myself the important things in preparing for a job interview.

Think about how you will respond to the following, don't be caught unaware:

• Introducing Yourself
• Strength & Weaknesses (How this will be helpful in the job? For weaknesses, indicate how you are working to address it?)
• Skills & Talents (How this will be helpful in the job?)
• Reasons for leaving your previous job
• Description of your previous job and achievements
  
• Reason for choosing this job

At the same time, make sure you do the following:

• Research on the organization and its mission
• Understand the job description of the job you are applying for
• Prepare copies of relevant documents, including passport photo
• Prepare 1 or 2 questions to ask your prospective employer to show interest in the job
  

On the day itself:

• Ensure you are dressed appropriately
• Enter the interview with the right attitude (Part 1)
  Treat the interview as not only your prospective employer interviewing you but also you interviewing your prospective employer to see if there is the fit. This would help to reduce unnecessary anxiety and help you perform better at the interview. My philosophy is that there is no point in joining an organization if there is no fit, only to regret it later
• Enter the interview with the right attitude (Part 2)
  Be genuine. Your employer can easily tell if you are genuine or only regurgitating model answers. Your genuineness flows through and again, there is no point in hiding some things from your prospective employer to only face the embarrassment of having it found out.
• Enter the interview with the right attitude (Part 3)
  Be positive - See the positives in past work experiences and highlight growth. Do not bad-mouth anyone or any organization even though it may be true that you have left an organizatin due to conflicts or personal differences. For weaknesses, indicate how you are working to correct the weaknesses.
• Smile, smile, smile!
• If asked a question which you do not know how to respond, do not panic. Respectfully mention that it is a question you would need some time to think about it and spend a bit of time "crafting" your answer.
  

OK, that's it folks!