How to be successful on interviews
An interview is a direct self-presentation where you need to show case your ability to communicate and to convince the interviewer that you are the candidate of their choice. A successful presentation requires discipline and a thorough preparation. A candidate who is well prepared will perform better and achieve greater results.

To be polished - you must be prepared
Do Your Homework! Gather all the essential facts and information about the company:
business model, corporate structure, proprietary products/technological edge, financial strengths (i.e. annual reports), recent news articles, competitors, etc. Learn and digest the information! Think about how you can add value and integrate your talents to fit the organization's needs. Visit the company's web site to learn more.

Prepared questions and answers
Here are some questions typically asked during an interview. Set your answers on paper and rehearse your answers out loud (either to yourself to someone else). Once you have a fluid command of your answers, try to work on the tempo and the delivery. Your responses should be well thought out, thorough and natural. Practices and repetition will help you relaxed during the interview and appear more confident and professional.

Sample questions:

1. Tell me something about your self, background and accomplishments?
   
2. What was the reason for you leaving your previous employer?
   
3. How would you describe your most recent job experience and performance?
   
4. Why are you interviewing with us? Who else are you talking to?
   
5. Why do you think you are the right candidate for us?
   
6. What have you been doing professionally since your departure from the last employer?
   
7. What are your professional goals and aspirations?
   
8. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
   
9. Suppose you were given a project, how do you approach it?
   
10. How do you approach a project/subject that you are unsure and/ or unfamiliar with?

Be goal-oriented, focused, and team-oriented
This should be a natural instinct-when it comes to problem solving:
THINK about the project and see the GOAL, GATHER all related pertinent information, SET out a game plan and put together a team, ASK for inputs and advice from team members, EXECUTE, RE-EVALUATE and makes changes as you go along to reach goal.

What they are looking for
Interviewer is looking to see if you have thought out their questions and your answers carefully, logically, and intelligently. So take your time and address the questions.
Think before you speak. Repeat or reframe the questions to let the interviewer(s) know that you have understood the questions. Don't be to long winded with your answers. If you don't understand something, ask the person to repeat it! If you don't know, admit that you have not been exposed or been in the situation, BUT you're willing to learn. But more importantly, let them know that you are capable-cite an example(s) from your experience to demonstrate that you have been in similar situations and that you have successfully dealt with difficulties or obstacles in the past.

Questions you should ask the interviewer

1. What are your expectations and qualifications for the project/position?
   
2. What are some of the challenges for this position?
   
3. I know that value-added contribution will be rewarded, what/how must I demonstrate to set myself apart?

Image and character
Must do:

1. Arrive on time.
   
2. Wear a dark suit, preferably with a white shirt. Be neat and professional.
   
3. Greet the interviewer by name.
   
4. Smile and shake hands firmly.
   
5. Speak clearly and slowly.
   
6. Look the interviewer in the eye while speaking.

Must not do:

1. Do not be over-confident or think you know everything. Exude confidence with humility.
   
2. Never show any lack of interest or enthusiasm about the position or the company.
   
3. Do not hard-court press on your compensation. Just let them know that you know-talent and hard-work will be rewarded.
   
4. Never answer only "yes" or "no" to questions. With closed-end questions always follow with some explanation.
   
5. Do not discourage or overly criticized past employees, managers, projects or technologies.

What will make you successful

Your attitude
Positive mental and physical attitude will add value to your cause. If you are positive, motivated, persistent and well organized you will succeed. If you are goal-oriented and willing to put in time to prepare, we can help you. GreenIvy will offer our expertise and make available all of our resources to assist you. Our hands-on and personal approach will be of great service to you.

Your commitment
Commitment is the key to your success. We are definitely not a 9 to 5 organization! We believe that hard-work will pay off. You must be prepared to put in the hours necessary to achieve the desired results.

"You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don't do too many things wrong." -Warren Buffett