As regular readers know once a month I lighten the tone of my posts with a funny entry, such as our post in October on The Top 10 Funny Quotes About Work , rather than one centered on recruitment advice, so it seems fitting that the final post of 2009 falls into the lighthearted category so we can end, what has been a difficult year for many jobseekers, with a smile.

01. Teamwork is essential, that way you can always blame someone else.

02. Planning is the art of putting off until tomorrow what you have no intention of completing today.

03. Budgeting is a method of watching your money disappear methodically.

04. I never said it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

05. Computers will never replace human stupidity.

06. If it wasn’t for the last minute, nothing would ever get done around here.

07. To err is to human but to really mess things up requires a password.

08. Your true value depends entirely on what you are being compared with.

09. Of course there is no logic, it’s just company policy.

10. Due the cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off.

I’m sure many of you readers can relate to some of these phrases and hope they provide you with a few laughs over the festive season, I will end by wishing Happy Holidays to each and every one of you and will be back in January when we return to the more serious business of helping you to improve your interview skills.

When a potential employer offers you the chance to give a presentation during a job interview then make sure you don’t let the opportunity pass you by. From an employer’s perspective a confident presentation will be one step nearer a job offer for you, so preparation is important to allow you successfully achieve this.

This 3 step guide will help ensure that your presentation is confident, that it leaves nothing to chance and that you leave the interview having created the right impression.

Step 1 – The basics.

1. Make sure you are dressed to impress so wear business attire for your presentation.

2. If you are using powerpoint bring a cable for your laptop, the last thing you want is for your battery power to weaken as you are presenting.

3. Bring a copy of your presentation on a memory-stick should you encounter any problems with your laptop.

4. If you are giving handouts make sure that they are free from errors and that you have enough for each interviewer.

Step 2 – The presentation.

1. Speak cleary using descriptive language and be mindful of the pace of your speech, don’t talk too quickly.

2. Make use of examples when making a point.

3. Be sure to make points that are a match to the interviewing company’s core values (these could be related to ethics, teamwork etc).

4. Don’t allow your visual aids to overshadow your performance, you want the interviewers to focus on you, not your handouts.

Step 3 – After the presentation.

1. Thank each person and open the floor for questions regarding your presentation.

2. Answer these questions as honestly as possible.

3. Shake each person’s hand,again, expressing gratitude for the opportunity.

4. Send each interviewer a short thank-you note.

Building a rapport is important so give your presentation in a likeable manner and show an enthusiasm for the role as these are two important traits in any new hire. I have lost count of the amount of times candidates came in with great handouts and props only to give a disappointing presentation so remember to focus on your presentation first and everything else after.

If you are called for second interview then congratulations, the hiring company have obviously been impressed by you.  Don’t rest on your laurels however as a second interview can often be more intense than a first round one.  To begin with there may be more than one person involved in the interview, and questions may be a little more in-depth and probing than the first interview so good preparation is important if you are to impress at this stage.

The interview may focus on areas of your first interview where perhaps you didn’t perform as well as you liked.  If you stumbled through a few answers then expect questions in that area again, also given that there may be new people involved in the interview don’t be surprised if you are required to answer some questions that you were already asked in the first interview.

With your credentials as a potential candidate verified by the fact that you have been called for a second interview, you may also be asked questions to establish whether you fit the culture of the organization.  In this regard you may be brought on a tour of the company and introduced to current employees along the way. 

There is one other reason for calling you back for a second interview, that being they want to offer you the job but more often than not it takes at least two interviews before final decisions are made on who to hire.  If by chance you are made an offer during your second interview thank the interviewer, express your delight, ask the interviewer to talk you through the package and then tell him/her you need a couple of days to think it over.

To best prepare for a second interview you need to find out who you are meeting and if anything is required on your behalf, you don’t want to arrive at the interview unaware that you are meant to be delivering a presentation at it.  That would not be a particularly welcome surprise, so try to find out as much information about the meeting before you attend.

In summary, during a second interview you can expect some of the following scenarios:

• you may have a panel of interviewers involved in the interview.
• you can expect probing questions based on weak responses you gave in the first interview.
• you may be introduced to existing employees or brought on a tour of the organization.
• you may possibly be offered the job on the spot.

Be prepared for each scenario to give yourself the best possible chance of being successful in the interview and don’t forget to have intelligent questions to ask the interviewer so you can make an informative decision regarding whether the role is right for you.

Don’t arrive overconfident to the interview as this could be misconstrued as cockiness and harm your employment chances.  Arriving armed with further research on the company will impress the interviewer(s), as would positive comments about staff members you had met to date.  If lunch or dinner is part of the second interview be mindful of your alcohol intake, as you need to ensure you have your wits about you throughout the interview process.

After the interview thank the interviewer and if new people are involved in the interview politely ask for their business cards so you can send each of them a thank-you letter.

The difference between getting hired for a job or not can sometimes hinge on the tiniest factor, with this in mind today we focus on the do’s and don’ts of a job interview to help you achieve a successful job interview. The best prepared candidate ensures that he/she leaves nothing to chance when it comes to interviewing for a job, so once you read this post you may find The A to Z of Job Interviews a worthy read.

DO

Do arrive on time.

Do dress appropiately.

Do provide a firm handshake.

Do turn your phone off before going in to the interview room.

Do show a friendly positive attitude.

Do have questions ready to ask the employer.

Do display a high level of interest in the position.

Do focus on portraying your strengths and achievements throughout the interview.

Do suggest your goals for the role should you get the job.

Do send a thank-you letter following the interview.

DON’T

Don’t criticize former employers.

Don’t chew gum.

Don’t provide false answers to questions.

Don’t smoke before the interview.

Don’t answer your cell-phone during the interview.

Don’t lose your cool during the interview, if tough interview questions are asked, remain composed at all times.

Don’t forget to maintain eye-contact throughout the interview.

Don’t wander off topic when answering questions.

Don’t allow yourself to come across as cocky or over-confident during the interview.

Don’t forget to reiterate your interest in the role when shaking hands at the end of the interview.

The more research that you undertake on both the role and the company will allow you become more confident about the interview which is a good thing once you ensure that you channel that confidence into enthusiasm for the position.