A Winning Interview
By Alexis Melteff
You have decided to change careers. Or you are between jobs. Whatever the reason, you are looking for a new position. In any case, you will have to go through the stressful experience of a job interview. But if you prepare yourself properly, you can minimize the stress and simultaneously greatly increase your chances of landing the position you want.
The preparation must be threefold: you will have to do some research on the company you will be interviewing with; you must write an effective resume; and you have to rehearse. Yes, rehearse. Don't laugh: this is much more important than you may think. Remember that a job interview is stressful, and under stress a person automatically reverts to that which he is used to doing. So you need to create a precedent for yourself, one you will be able to fall back on if the need arises.
Think about some questions an interviewer is likely to ask: "What do you know about our company? Why do you want to work for us? What can you contribute to our company? How do your education and background fit in with our needs? What are your good and bad qualities?" Now think about how best to answer each of these questions: straitforwardly, truthfully, positively, never negatively. With assurance, but without bragging. If you don't have a ready answer now, formulate one and rehearse it. Does it sound good? Does it answer the question without evasiveness? Does it produce a favorable impression? If you have a tape recorder, tape yourself, listen to yourself, critique yourself (but don't criticize, a very important distinction; don't say 'What am I doing wrong?', ask rather, 'What can I improve?').
The research on the company need not be in depth. The commercial sections of most embassies will be able to help you with some basic facts on companies registered in their country. Find out how long your target firm has been in Russia, what fields its activities cover, what percent of its overall income comes from Russia, who is in charge of local operations, what cities its operations are in, who the competition is. A visit to the commercial section should not take long, but it will be well worth your time.
The last part of you pre-interview preparation consists of writing your resume. Since this is the first document the interviewer will be seeing, it will create the first impression in his mind, and, of course, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Often your resume will precede you, as many companies ask applicants to mail or fax their resumes, then wade through reams of paper to pre-select candidates for a first round of interviews. The slightest mistake on a resume could disqualify an applicant in the eyes of an HR manager, so every word you write is of paramount importance. Keep your resume to one page. Be brief and to the point. Don't go into too much detail. Authorities in America recommend a standard format for resumes that must include (in order):
•	Your name 
•	Your profession or specialty
•	Your address 
•	Your telephone 
•	Fax and/ or e-mail, if applicable 
•	Your citizenship
•	The languages you speak and the degree of fluency
•	Your high school and university education, in chronological order 
•	Your work experience, in reverse order.
Outline your duties briefly, emphasizing your principal activities, especially those that apply to the company you are talking with. A number of don't applies here: don't give too many details, such as names of supervisors. Don't include your age or your family status; if the interviewer wants to know, he'll ask. Don't leave gaps in time, account for every year. And above all, don't stretch the truth. If the HR manager checks and finds a statement that is not true, this will automatically and permanently eliminate you from a candidacy. What's more, HR managers of large companies talk among themselves, and the word may get around.
If you don't have a computer at home, ask a friend who has one to help you put your resume on paper, or go to a specialized service and spend a few dollars; you will find it is money well invested. And take a copy with you when you go for your interview. The HR manager will probably have his copy, if you have sent one ahead, but be prepared just in case. Keep an unfolded sheet readily available in a folder in your attache case, so you don't have to fumble for it. Also in your case keep two pens (in case one won't write), a packet of tissues, and mints or gum to freshen your breath. But get rid of the gum before you go in the door.
Many companies will ask applicants to send or e-mail resumes. If you do this, include a cover letter, which should be brief but to the point. If the ad gives only an address of a company, without a specific name, your salutation should be, "Dear Sir/Madam", rather than "To whom it may concern", judged as sounding too impersonal. You may want to think about bringing the papers by hand. This will enable you to get to know how to get to the office, and save you time when you go for an interview. On no account must you be late.
When the HR department calls to make an appointment, be polite but businesslike. Try to mИЁУx№П