Job seekers are faced with trying to find a job one of the toughest environments in modern history.
 In today's job market the hiring managers will be much more selective, choosing only the best of the best.
 So how do you compete in a market like this? The successful ones will follow a structured plan for their job search and interviews.
 Most importantly, the successful job search will require extensive time invested in preparation and research long before you ever walk through the door of a prospective employer.
You will notice that the first seven steps occur before the interview.
 

1. Develop a personal career plan.
    Now is the time to evaluate yourself.
    Did you enjoy the last ten years of employment? Did the job match your abilities? Was there a high degree of job satisfaction? If not, why not? List your personal strengths and weaknesses followed by a listing of your skills and abilities.
   What jobs or careers really interest you? Don't assume that you need to take a job in the same field or performing the same functions.
    Outline your ideal career: the location, the hours, the advancement possibilities, and the desired benefits package.
    This will enable you to focus on the best opportunities for you.
   
2. Develop an exit statement.
    One of the first questions you will be asked is: "Why did you leave your last job?" You need to have an immediate and positive statement that will eliminate the interviewer's concern.
    You want a statement that includes your objective analysis of why you are now looking for employment.
    Be honest and include anything you have learned through the process.
    Do not talk poorly about the company or your former supervisors.
    This would negatively impact the rest of the interview.
   
3. Reframe your experiences.
    If you are changing fields or job responsibilities, you need to help the interviewer translate your past duties and experience to the new position.
    This is a difficult but very critical step.
    Don't assume just because you didn't perform a function in the past that you do not have the talents to do it well.
    You need to guide the interviewer and assist them in believing you can perform that function.
    Don't expect the interviewer to reach the conclusion on her own.
   
4. Translate past performance and abilities through stories.
    You need to preplan and write some one-paragraph stories that illustrate your strengths and weaknesses from Step 1.
    The best way to format these stories is the SAS method: tell the Situation that existed, how you Analyzed and Approached the problem, and the Successful completion or outcome that resulted.
    You should have at least a dozen stories developed so you can instantly relate one of them to the interviewer's question.
   
5. Be self aware.
    Self awareness is the ability to see yourself as others see you.
    Invest in some professional assessments like DISC, Myers-Briggs, Values, and axiological evaluations.
    Not only will they help you understand yourself, they will also highlight the strengths you should be leveraging and discussing in the interview.
    I routinely have my clients complete all of them for a complete picture of your personality, skills and behavioral traits.
    Self-awareness has proven to be the only consistent predictor of an individual's success.
   
6. Prepare for the most common interview questions.
    It always amazes me when an interviewee gets tripped up and confused on one of the standard interview questions.
    Know them and have answers for them.
    A quick web search will give you the most common questions used in interviews.
   
7. Do your research on the company and customize your resumé.
    Your resumé must reflect the skills and qualities required for the position.
    There are plenty of resources to help you craft a resumé but only specific research of the prospective employer will permit you to match their needs with your abilities.
   
Now you are finally ready to walk into the interview.
 You know what you want, what you can do, how to communicate those skills and abilities, and should have a very high level of confidence since you are better prepared than the majority of other potential candidates.

8. Experts tell us that only one third of our communication comes through your written resume and spoken responses.
    The rest is in non-verbal body language.
    First and foremost is your appearance and dress.
    Dress to match the company's culture.
    This is another place that your preparation will pay dividends.
    Sit, walk, and talk with confidence.
    Maintain eye contact at all times.
    Looking away indicates uncertainty or dishonesty.
    Use a well modulated voice with inflection to show interest.
   
9. Summarize your strengths and interest at the end of the interview.
    This is your opportunity to highlight any of your skills that did not get revealed in the interview.
    Use any SAS examples from Step 4 to reinforce why you would be an excellent candidate.
   
10. Follow up.
     Only about 1% of candidates ever follow up formally after an interview.
     The most effective is a hand-written thank you note mailed immediately after the interview.
     Thank them for the time they spent with you and restate your interest in the position.
    

Preparation is the key to successful interviewing.
 The first seven steps will prepare you and give you the confidence necessary to make a great impression on the interviewer.
 The last three steps will help you stand out from the crowd and land that perfect job!