How do I Build Interview Skills?

Building interview skills can often be achieved through a combination of textbook knowledge, training and practice. Researching common interview questions and desirable answers can help you get an understanding of successful interviewing from both the hiring manager's and job applicant's perspectives. It's also a good idea to find accurate information about how to dress for interviews as well as on laws and etiquette that relate to the interview process. Whether you will be the person conducting interviews or the one who will be interviewed, understanding the opposite role can better prepare you for unexpected or difficult questions.

The mock interview can be a great way to prepare for a real life one. You can try this alone or with another person to help you build interview skills. To do the exercise yourself, place two chairs a comfortable distance apart. Move from chair to chair as you take turns role playing the part of the interviewer and the interviewee. If another person is helping you, ask him or her to take one role while you answer or ask questions in the other part.

Many people find that when they practice interviewing skills by anticipating answers to questions or thinking about what questions to ask, the thought of the actual interview can seem less worrisome. If role playing the parts of an interviewer and interviewee doesn't seem to help you as much as you had hoped, there are other options available to improve your skills. Interview training is available at many business schools either through face-to-face learning or in online classes. Business textbooks in supervision or management classes usually have at least a chapter or two that focuses on interviewing. Interview skills training is also often given free at community job clubs or employment resource centers.

The more you have real interviews, the better your skills in this area are likely to become. Learn from any mistakes you make in trying to build your interview skills rather than let these bring down your self-confidence. Being prepared in terms of what to wear and how to behave during interviews can make the real experiences much more comfortable. Especially if you are the interviewer, you should be aware of laws that prohibit asking job applicants certain questions, such as whether they are married or what their religious beliefs are. If you are the interviewee, it's still a good idea to know what questions are allowed since a company that doesn't follow the law in regard to hiring practices isn't likely to be a worthwhile place to work.