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Moms at Work

The Art of Interviewing

By Mary Dixon Weidler

Is there anything more stressful than a job interview? When it comes to stress, interviewing ranks right up there with your first meeting with your in-laws or the unexpected siren of a traffic cop. All job seekers know that interviewing is an essential step in the process, but most would rather skip that step altogether.

Now add to that stress the fact that the last "power breakfast" you had was over Cheerios with your 2-year-old and a Mr. Roger's video, and you'll really feel those butterfly wings begin to flap.

That's why it is a bit ironic that the first rule of successful interviewing is – relax. "If you've been called for an interview, you should feel good about yourself," says Frank McCormack, a professional employment counselor from Philadelphia, Pa. "It means that you've passed the initial screening, and your resume and experience are impressive enough that the employer is willing to invest time meeting with you. That's something you should feel proud about, and something you should keep in mind if you start feeling anxious about the interview.

"Relax – you've caught their eye. Now it's time to close the deal," says McCormick.

But how do you "close the deal" when it's been years since you've been in the game at all? "Most mothers returning to the workforce after a break should approach the experience similarly to a college student first seeking employment," advises Ron Fry, author of 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions. "Reacquaint yourself with the process before the interview. Find out all you can about the employer and the work you'd do there, and formulate your answers in a manner that will reflect your understanding of this." Doing a little bit of homework – like researching the company visiting their Web site and catching up on their latest press releases – will pay off for you when you're face-to-face with a human resources manager.

Want to see more?

• More Than a Job: Managing Your Career and Pregnancy
• Join the discussion on our Family.com community!
• Changing Career Paths: It's Never Too Late to Start a Second Career