Job Hunting Tips?

[Daithi]

A good book on interviewing is really helpful as well. Most people are awful at interviewing. This includes both the interviewee and the interviewer.

There are about half a dozens questions that get asked in every interview and you should come up with exceptional answers to these questions. Don't wing it. Practice your answers -- in front of people. I'd even recommend doing a mock interview and recording it. Knowing how to interview is THAT important.

Have a reason for why they should hire you.
Have an explanation for why you left your last job.
Have an explanation for anything that may look bad (lack of experience, lack of education, hole in employment history, etc.)
Have an answer for "Tell me about yourself."
Have an answer for "Tell me about your greatest accomplishment." (Keep it job related.)
Have an answer for "Tell me about your greatest failure." (Don't give a BS answer. Have a real failure in mind and an explanation for how you've overcome it.)
Every answer should make them want to hire you because they believe you'll be able to step in and start helping right away.
When they ask if you have any questions, a good one is "What kind of tasks would the ideal candidate for this job be stepping in and solving 3 months after starting this job?" Then follow up their answer with, "I absolutely believe I could do that and would be a good fit because..."

If you are prepared, and the guy interviewing you doesn't know what he is doing, it won't matter because you can steer him in the right direction. Actually, it's better for you if the interviewer needs your help by you answering questions they may not have even asked. Other candidates probably missed an opportunity by just answering what was asked. Learn how to interview and you'll land more jobs and get bigger offers when you do land a job.