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Successful Interview Skills

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Successful Interview Skills

How to Present Yourself with Confidence

Kogan Page,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Make your next job interview a learning opportunity instead of the trigger for a panic attack.

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Editorial Rating

6

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Interviewing is a basic way of obtaining information about a topic or a person. While most people think of interviews as part of the hiring process, they are also part of other social and business interactions. So, even though you may find them stressful, you should master the basics so you can present yourself and your qualifications in the best possible light. Most of author Rebecca Corfield’s advice is useful - although occasional suggestions are out of date, such as her idea that once you get your foot in the door for an interview, you are likely to receive a job offer. getAbstract.com recommends Corfield’s step-by-step manual to new entrants into the job market, such as recent college graduates and others who are nervous about being interviewed because they don’t know what to expect. Even experienced applicants will find the book a confidence booster.

Summary

The Purpose of the Interview

Interviewing is a basic social and business skill. While the dictionary defines an interview as "a face-to-face meeting for the purposes of consultation," businesspeople usually see interviews as a specialized form of discussion. Most people associate interviews with applying for a job. Since wages and salaries comprise at least 70% of most businesses’ total costs, employers feel that hiring the right people is crucial.

Employers may also use interviews for other purposes:

  • To choose members of teams.
  • To screen applicants for training programs.
  • To assess the job performance of current employees.
  • To select people for new opportunities within the company.

Job applicants generally do not know their interviewers, whom they may meet one on one or in a group session. In the case of senior-level positions, the interview may be only one step in an extensive screening process that includes tests, exercises and group interactions. Companies may conduct interviews at "assessment centers" within their main offices or at off-site locations.

While the location and personnel vary, all...

About the Author

Rebecca Corfield is a former president of the National Institute for Career Guidance in the U. K. She wrote three previous books under the name Rebecca Tee: Preparing Your Own CV, How You Can Get That Job and Managing Your Career.

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