The Job Front: Interview to win

There’s no doubt that interviewing can be stressful. Follow these strategies to take control of your interviews and be more confident.
Strategy 1: Use the “bullet-point” mindset. To keep your answers organized and help your interviewer understand everything, answer each question with a general introduction (“Yes, I have 10+ years’ experience in resource management”) and then highlight two to three key points that showcase your achievements.
Strategy 2: You’ve already passed the first test. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you’ve already passed the first test – generally a phone screening to determine if you have the right qualifications – or you wouldn’t be there. Be confident, poised and ready to “close the deal.”
Strategy 3: Sell it, don’t tell it. Interviews are the time to “sell” what you have accomplished. For example, “As company commander, I controlled an $18 million budget, managed 100-plus soldiers, and achieved 100 percent operational readiness.”
Strategy 4: Transition every negative to a positive. What do you do if your interviewer asks about your experience in supervision, but you don’t have any? Never answer “no.” Go with a positive: “My background includes experience coordinating workload distribution for 45 people and handling questions about job assignments and resources.” Work to find some connection between your experience and the company’s needs.
Strategy 5: Take the initiative. Near the end of an interview, take control and ask for the job or, at the very least, what the next step in the hiring process is. Be proactive.

Wendy Enelow is co-author of “Modernize Your Résumé: Get Noticed ... Get Hired” and “Expert Résumés for Military-to-Civilian Transitions.”