How to be confident in an Interview

First Job is one of the most important steps we take in the corporate ladder.  Interviewing for your first job is enough to add on to the nervousness and anxiety. Although, feeling nervous in an interview is only human, but if you don't make it this time you will not get a second chance. You need to project confidence in spite of having butterflies in your stomach.

You have worked hard to get that interview. Preparing and updating resume, writing cover letters, applying for jobs, getting references are not easy tasks. Even if you have great ideas, nobody will listen to them if you have a shaky or a cracking voice.

Speaking confidently is difficult at the times it is most required. This could get even worse when you are unemployed, and possibly torn between the urgent pressures of finding a survival job and the hope of finding a fulfilling longer term career position.

Interstingly, even a person of mediocre caliber sounds intelligent when speaking with confidence.

Fortunately, it's not difficult to do well in an interview if you follow these simple rules:

• Do your homework: Have a good look at the Job Description. It will give you an idea about the company's expectations. Visit the company's website, research their history, their products/services, leadership team and the recent news. You could also have a look at their LinkedIn/Facebook/Twitter page.
• Don't be late: And if possible try to reach a little early. It will give you some time to settle down, recheck your appearance, revise what you prepared and chat with other interviewees (if any)
• Stick to the facts: Being overconfident, giving untrue information or exaggerating facts in an interview may become fatal if the interviewer asks follow up questions. Sticking to the facts is always the best practice.  
• Practice: Before the interview, practice the most commonly asked questions by interviewers. Read the job description and revise the subject. Prepare yourself in the best possible way. 
• Speak a little slower than seems natural: It may sound funny to you at this moment, but you should listen to some good orators (including Barack Obama). Many people also express nervousness by talking fast. People with real expertise tend to speak a bit slow, as if they expect their listeners to hang on every word.
• Eliminate your verbal ticks: Some people use verbal ticks ("Uhhh....," "you know...," "I mean..., etc.) while thinking of what to say next. This makes you sound like you're unsure of yourself, so it's better simply to silently pause in mid sentence. Record yourself and practice, if needed.
• Keep an eye on your body language: An interview is much more than a question answer session. How you conduct yourself is a huge part in your success or failure. Your body gestures might affect the outcome of an interview, so you need to be really careful.
• Smile: Interacting with a charming person can make people remember the conversation. Moreover, smiling only makes you more pleasant.

Writing a Cover Letter

Writing a Cover Letter is one of the most important but often overlooked part of job hunting. While a perfectly written resume is a must have, cover letter is something that adds value to it.

You must have heard of a very famous fact that a hiring manager takes no more than 30 seconds to screen a resume. A cover letter should be written in such a way that it tempts the hiring manager to open and see the resume. Infact, if you write a perfect cover letter half the battle is already won.

Most of the students think that if they are sending a resume with all the required details they do not need to attach the cover letter. But that is not the case. A cover letter adds that customized touch to your job application. For example, your resume remains the same for all your job applications and interviews, but your cover letter is customized as per the job requirement. Here are some tips to help you write the cover letter:

Starting the letter: Do not write “ To whomsoever it may concern”. Try to find out the hiring manager’s name and address it properly.  Most of the job descriptions have the hiring manager’s name mentioned on it. Mention the job title that you are applying for in the first paragraph as the recruiter who reads your letter may be hiring for several other posts simultaneously.

Keep it precise and to the point: You do not need to write an entire one page letter to make the impact. Rather, your cover letter should be brief yet compelling.  Convey that you understand the company and its goals, and explain how you'd help it reach those goals.

Do not include the same details as your resume: A cover is supposed to focus on details that are not mentioned in your resume. Like, your interest in working for the organization you are applying to and how you can be the best fit for the job.

Mention your achievements: This can be one of the luring factors for a hiring manager. Include your achievements in the cover letter like worked on a new and rare technology, involved in the growth of a company, increased the revenue of an organization and so on. However, please stay away from using generic terms such as hard working, fast learner etc.

Break it into paragraphs: A letter written in paragraphs makes it easier for the hiring manager to read. Start with your introduction and background. In the next paragraph mention your skills and how you fit into the profile. An additional paragraph for your achievements and then ending the letter by adding thanks and your contact details.

Proofread before you send it: Like your résumé, your cover letter should be error-free. A single typo or other mistake can lead to your application being discarded. other mistakes besides typos include addressing the letter to the wrong company or misspelling someone’s name. Neither error would be picked up by a grammar or spell checker so you need to proofread carefully before sending.

I would also suggest you not to use form letters from books or internet. Experienced human resource professionals can sense when a cover letter is a form letter, perhaps copied from a job-hunting book, with a little customization thrown in.. Like your résumé, your cover letter should be customized for a specific job opening.