Many candidates express confidence that they can interview well. Many employers express sentiments otherwise! Surveys show that candidates frequently overestimate their effectiveness in interview situations-probably because they don't get the opportunity to listen to themselves or listen to their competition.

Job interviewing is a high-stakes activity. Do it well, and an offer of employment is a likely outcome. Do it poorly, and you are rejected for employment. The importance of an excellent resume and cover letter, notwithstanding, it is the job interview that ultimately determines every hiring decision. Therefore, I encourage each and every job seeker to put maximum effort into interview preparation. Shrewd candidates practice for interviews. Practicing adds polish and prepares you for the difficult questions.

Your "job" as the applicant is to anticipate the questions you may be asked, formulate impressive and cohesive responses, commit those responses to memory, and then deliver those rehearsed answers in a way that sounds completely natural and off-the-cuff.

Preparing yourself for the typical interview questions is essential. However, know that a skilled interviewer will not simply ask you the standard questions. He or she may also challenge you with technical questions unique to your occupation. You may even be given a test to assess your personality attributes or your skill level with computer software. This is often done on-the-spot, as part of the interview process.

Interview Practice Sessions
A practice or mock interview can do wonders to get you ready for the real thing. You will be coached on what to say in response to all types of questions and what questions you should and should not ask of your interviewer. Based on your unique background and the kind of work you seek, I will create and give you an interview agenda. Your interview agenda will be a series of facts, thoughts, and/or ideas that I believe you should convey during your interview. These tidbits of essential information will help you remember to share your best qualifications in the potentially short time of the interview. In addition, during our practice session, we will address any issues related to your speech rate, facial expressions, body language, and choice of clothing. Prior to your practice session, I will provide you with preparation materials. The materials will help you get ready to talk about your skills, knowledge, and experience when we meet.

We will spend approximately two hours together with 30-40 minutes devoted to the simulated interview and the rest of the time devoted to detailed feedback. The feedback will include very specific coaching as I will tell you exactly what to say in response to any questions you have difficulty with. I will also prepare you to discuss salary issues effectively, which is often a very tricky topic to finesse.

A mock interview costs $225. This includes preparation materials and the 2-hour session. For the camera shy, I do provide interview coaching without videotaping.