Welcome to the jobless world! This is what we usually hear from people as we receive our college diploma. Getting a job is a major dilemma for most people especially for fresh graduates. In recent years owing to global recession, many people have lost their jobs and its effect has been widely felt. Consequently, competition for employment has reached a peak and the only way to survive is to get ahead of others. How? Make employers hire you!

To sell yourself in a job interview, think of yourself as the interviewer. Assume what it is that you are looking for from a new employee. Focus on what the employer needs and you will become an applicant that no employer could resist.

To start with, carry out extensive research to find out as much as you can about the company that you are applying to. Familiarize yourself with their mission/vision, their major customers and the company's economic stability. The more information you uncover, the more confidently you can answer the questions of the interviewer. Study the job description for the post you are applying for. Evaluate your own skills and compare them to what is expected from a candidate. Rate yourself as to how versed you are with the skills required. After evaluating, identify your strengths and practice how you will explain at the interview the ways they complement the job requirement. Cite some specific examples of how can you do the job and practice how to present them fluently and wittily.

In an interview remember that first impressions last, so ensure that you make a winning one. Be prompt, keep eye contact and initiate a handshake as appropriate. "Dress to kill" - wear your best outfit, but dress for the occasion. Coming to an interview wearing a dress that is one notch beyond what is expected for the position can give you better opportunities to be noticed by the employers. Look for something that you and the interviewer may have in common. If you have the resources, find out a little personal information about the interviewer. Who knows? Both of you may come from the same school, club or organization, or you may have common friends, interests, etc. Any common ground that you find with the interviewer may help you establish a rapport and eventually give you an edge over the competition. Be careful not to exaggerate otherwise you will just look desperate.

Employers sometimes see a personal weakness as a reason not to offer a job, so work on any that you have identified. Transform your weakness to a potential strength using such phrases as "I have not done internet marketing but I am an internet savvy person. I spend plenty of time browsing the net so I am confident I can learn the process in no time." Always try to compose answers and explanations so as to show confidence.

During the interview, cite some specific and practical examples to show why you are well suited to the job. Ask relevant questions that demonstrate real interest in the company. Given the opportunity, ask the interviewer why the position became open and how the company treats its employees. This is also one way of finding out what kind of organization you will be working with.

Finally, demonstrate how you can be a problem solver. Companies hire employees to solve an existing problem, so show them that you can produce a solution. During your research, you may be able to identify some company issues and identify how you can resolve them. Be enthusiastic, friendly and honest. After the interview, send a thank you note to the interviewer and mention some notable topic discussed between you during the interview. If you do all these things well, no employer will be able to resist taking you on!