Interview Tips
If you've had a few rejections you may find interviews intimidating. Even if you're actually working, any difficulties you're having in your current job, that have you casting around for another, may make selling yourself to a potential employer difficult.
Whatever you're feeling it's worthwhile remembering that interviews can be an opportunity to showcase your talents rather than an ordeal to be endured. Here are some interview tips to help get you prepared.

Why research?
Research can help you overcome nerves. The best research involves understanding your prospective employer, the role for which you are applying and the recruitment process you'll be going through.

Research the company and yourself
With so much available on the internet, there's really no excuse not to get yourself informed.

You can actually tell a lot about an employer from the employment pages of their website. Things such as the values they have, how easy it is to find out about potential jobs and their responses to you when you apply, can all tell you about the way they handle their recruitment. This in turn can be a reflection of what it's like to work there. If it's friendly and easy to apply then chances are they have given some thought to why you would want to work for them.
You'll also find online annual reports, media releases and product and service information. Online directories have company information and Google indexes the latest media news and references from other sources.
So why do I say do this research? Firstly having a look over a website still puts you ahead of many other applicants. However you'll really impress from all this research if you find some simple yet compelling reasons as to why you want to work for the employer and what appeals to you about the role.

Research the role and the recruitment process
Also important is a true insight into the role and the recruitment process. Dig deeper than the advertisement. I always suggest putting a call through if a contact number is provided. You can find out which of the skills that the employer requires are actually the priority. You can determine what you can do without and more importantly you can start to make yourself known (in a good way) to your future employer.
Even if the advertisement doesn't invite it, you can still contact the recruiter. If there are no contact details, be scrupulously polite, it usually means the employers are expecting a deluge of applications.

Ask them questions about the recruitment process, what the steps are, how long each step takes, and whether they've had many applicants.

Practice makes almost perfect
Most organizations now use behavioural questions - which means they will be expecting you to provide specific examples of where you have demonstrated the skill they are seeking. I strongly suggest practicing for an interview and seeking professional help. A professional is skilled at drawing examples out of you and finessing the ones you already have. However, I don't suggest that you rote learn your lines as you can never predict all the recruiter will ask. Memorising answers will make you stressed in the interview if you can't recall what you want to say. Worse still, you may not even be answering the questions the interviewer asks.

The insight on interviewers
No two interview processes are the same. Depending on the organization and the role, you could be interviewed by a recruitment consultant, the HR department, the line manager, all three individually or any combination. Each will have a different agenda for the interview. This is important to remember as your approach with each should be slightly different.
The recruitment consultant is always the first screener. Their role is to match you to the employer's requirements and sell you as an applicant. The consultant establishes their credibility with each good candidate they put forward to the employer. Take time to woo them, even if you think they don't know their stuff (as is a common criticism). Their role is essentially a sales one: to sell you the job and, if they believe you are right for the role, to sell you to their client. Make the consultant's role easier by focussing on your strengths and achievements and point out why you are a good match.
The HR consultant is usually the recruitment procedural expert. One of their jobs is to ensure the organization meets its legal requirements. They often set up the recruitment process and have a strong attachment to ensuring it is working. It's a safe bet that you will face a more structured interview from them, than you will from a line manager. They are often the employer's first screener and may need to sell you further, depending on their position and influence within the organisation.

The line manager will be the person who is most concerned about finding someone for the role. They may be a person down or not meeting their organisation's objectives by being understaffed. In the interview it will be the line manager who has the greatest sense of urgency about filling the role. Focus on your workplace achievements when fielding their questions. Work hard to build a rapport with them. They will be assessing your fit for their team.

It may sound obvious but treat each interviewer as if they don't know anything about you. You'd be amazed at how little communication goes on between each party.

Give yourself time
Leave plenty of time to get to the interview. Rushing breeds panic. No matter what excuse you have, lateness is noted. It creates a negative impression and it puts you behind immediately. Allowing waiting time for an interview gives you time to compose yourself, your thoughts and be mentally prepared.

Build rapport
One of the best ways to relax is to assume the interviewer is on your side. Good interviewers are not interested in tripping you up. In fact, most of them are on your side, or are at the very least they will be approaching the interview in a professional manner. It may even help to you to relax if you think of the interviewer as someone who wants you to do your best
If you are feeling nervous and feel comfortable acknowledging it, then do so. Interviewers expect it. They can see it   as a sign you realise the importance of the occasion. They are usually empathetic.

Take the pressure off yourself
While you think this may be the perfect job for you, it may be that it's not. There are other jobs out there. If you keep this in mind then you'll remove some pressure from yourself that this is your only chance to perform.
If you think the interview is going badly, relax and use it as practice for the next one. You never know, you could even recover if you take this approach.

An insider's tip
The interview is just the formal means of assessing your suitability as a candidate. However you are not just assessed there. Each interaction you have with your future employer feeds into the bigger picture of their impression of you. Use this knowledge. Be polite and friendly with whomever you meet in the process from the very first phone call to the last goodbye to the receptionist on your way out.