You are here: Looking > Interview Skills Interview Skills Do you get nervous at the thought of going to an interview? Are you confused in interviews about what employers are REALLY trying to ask? Do you want to improve your interview skills?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then read & click on!

	The Purpose of Interviews:
	*To allow the employer to get to know you
	*For you to get to know the employer, the company, and the job
	*Ultimately to see if you and the job are a good match
	Preparing for Interviews:
	Interview Checklist
	Dressing for Interviews:
	*There is no one single rule when it comes to dressing for an interview
	*Key concepts to guide what you wear: 1) Dress Industry Specific  - know the industry (business/office, trades, high fashion, etc.) and dress accordingly 2) Match Your Interviewer - If you think the people interviewing you will be in suits, wear the same; if they will be in jeans and steal-toe boots, do the same.  In some cases however, your interviewer may be dressed very casually, and you don't want to assume that it's okay for you to dress that way too.  So, be on the cautious side - wear clean, conservative, and professional looking attire. 3) Dress Up - It is commonly understood that, in most cases, interview clothes are fancier and more polished than what you would normally be wearing to do the job.
	If you need some help getting the right interview wear, contact these helpful resources:
	Clothing Resources for Men:  Working Gear    Clothing Resources for Women: Dress for Success
	Mock Interview Questions - For you to practice
	Print the questions off, and have someone interview you - it's the best way to overcome interview jitters!
	Questions for a Customer Service Position
	Questions for a General Labour Position

Some Interesting Stats: 

	When employers decide to hire...
	10% of the decision is based on past work experience
	10% is based on the applicant's education / training
	This means only 20% of the decision is based on the applicant's qualifications! (depending on the industry)
	35% of the decision is based on the person being punctual to the interview
	45% is based on appearance and first impression (including dress, attitude, body language, and overall demeanour)

How exciting!  This means, no matter what you bring to the table in terms of your experiences, you have the chance to WOW an employer, and make them want to offer you the position, by presenting yourself respectfully and positively during the interview process.