Preparing for a Job Interview

An interview is an important phase in applying for an overseas job, there are times that foreign employers do the interview themselves. This is where an employer gets a glimpse of you as a person and as a potential Filipino worker. It is imperative that you prepare well for an interview – because no matter how good your credentials are, it won't matter if you can't answer questions correctly.

A lot of Filipino workers show up to an interview without any prior knowledge of the host country, the industry and, more importantly, the company to which they are applying. Remember, you are applying for an overseas job that needs to be filled up by a qualified individual who can solve problems within the jurisdiction of the position. How can you do that if you can't even accomplish the simplest preparation for a job interview?

Here are guidelines to help you top that next job interview:

1. Research the Company - you have to research everything you can about the company, the industry it belongs to, and the position you’re applying for. Not only will it help boost your confidence, it will also be plus points for you. Your interviewer will definitely be impressed because it shows that you really mean business. You came there for an interview for them to get to know you better, but you also came equipped with the knowledge that you know them better.
   
   
2. Research the host country – since you are applying for an overseas job, it is imperative that you know everything there is to know about the host country. This is very important, especially when the foreign employer initiates the interview. You have to be familiar about the traditions, cultures, social norms, and especially the laws of the host country. It would also be a plus point for you if you can learn some basic language, which you can apply in the interview, such as “good morning or good afternoon”. Some foreign employers will definitely be impressed because it shows that you are really serious about getting the job.
   
   
3. Know Thyself - you have to reassess your character attributes and skills that will be a plus to the company and the position - and make sure that you get a chance to dwell on it during the interview.
   
   
4. Know your Work History - you have to re-evaluate your achievements in the past (and try to get the gist of it) so that you can describe it to your interviewer in detail,. You should not take several hours to finish, however. Remember, some foreign employers only flew in to conduct interviews, their not staying for a vacation. If you go off into a too-lengthy ramble, it might give the impression that "you talk too much" but do little in terms of actual work.
   
   
5. Top 10 Questions - you can bet on it that "Tell me about yourself" will be asked. Others take this for granted – and they are wrong. Foreign employers don't want to know about your family, your personal life, your dog, or your neighbors. What they want to know is what you can bring to the company that can be an asset to them. Put yourself in the shoes of the Foreign employer, and ask yourself, "What do I want to know about the applicant in relation to this position?", then try to answer that. Because this is one of the questions that have a high probability of being asked, prep yourself to answer this and start practicing. It would also work favorably for you if you prepare some question of your own. Foreign employers want you to answer questions, but they will also be interested if you can ask questions, yourself, about the host country, the company, the industry, and the position.
   
   
6. First Impression - the first five minutes of an interview is very crucial. You have to project a competent, professional and enthusiastic first impression. Your goal is to persuade the interviewer that you are an asset and not a liability.
   
   
7. Punctuality - whatever happens, do not be LATE. Foreign employers conducting the interview themselves are almost always on the go, they have limited time, and wasting them because you’re late, is not something that they will tolerate.
   
   
8. Proper Dress and Grooming - your attire should be suitable for the position to which you are applying. Some foreign employers are very particular about appearance, (take note of that when you research the host country), they may not tell you directly but it does affect your chances of getting hired.
   
   
9. Communication Skills - This is very important especially when a foreign employer is conducting the interview. If their national language is not English, communicating with them can be difficult. The best thing to do is to listen carefully and analyze the question before you give your answer.
   
   
10. Listening Skills - one of the most common problems that applicants face in an interview is that they do not listen well. If you can listen well to what the interviewer is talking about, you might have a chance to ask related questions yourself. There is nothing more agreeable to a foreign employer when an applicant asks intelligent questions.

also other good resources at this site http://blog.kabayanhotel.com.ph/2007/12/preparing-for-job-interview.html