Since interviewers are looking for candidates who display a positive attitude, you should state that you enjoy your job; that you are enthusiastic and ambitious; and that you welcome challenge.

It is important to tell truth in interviews. However, try to present facts as persuasively as you can. It would be pointless and self-defeating to reveal negative facts which are largely irrelevant and which only serve to highlight weaknesses in your case. So examine and assess your own case and tailor facts to give best and most positive impression.

It is essential to develop a rapport with interviewer. If you can give impression that you are in agreement or have something in common with interviewer and if interviewer takes a liking to you, you are off to a great start. So be pleasant and agreeable.

On other hand, it would be a grave mistake to appear as a grovelling 'yes' man or woman. Discretion should be your watch-word in this as in other areas.

Interviewers usually place a greater emphasis on experience than on paper qualifications, so it is up to you to convince them that your experience qualifies you for job on offer. This will involve using your experience as evidence to support statements that you make in answers to questions.

Now to sum up: here are success secrets known understood and applied by thousands of successful job interviewees.

1. Make adequate preparation to enable you to express yourself fluently in interview situation.

2. Be confident but try not to sound conceited: use examples to support your answers.

3. Make sure to acquaint interviewer with all relevant information in support of your case.

4. Relate all your answers to job for which you are applying.

5. Look out for indirect questions and know how to cope with them. 6. Concentrate on positive aspects of your case and be ready to deal with questions relating to any negative aspects.

7. Do not tell lies, but tailor truth in order to present a positive impression of yourself.

8. Determine to establish a rapport with interviewer right from start.

9. Convince interviewer that your experience entitles you to job.

************************************************************ The above article is an extract from introduction to 'Four Minutes to Interview Success',an audio-cassette based guide to CVs and Interviews, which has been recommended by N.Ireland Government Training and Employment Agency, and featured in 'Irish Independent', 'Daily Express', and numerous other publications. www.assignmentsplus.com

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3. Again write down every option you can think of which will get you back inro work in any respect...looking at all options including voluntary, part time, full time, government related assistance schemes and Odd-jobbing. At this stage do not discount anything, even putting your name about to cut grass or baby sit in your local area!

4. Ok Time for a game plan...looking at everything you have written ...what is best option for you Right Now! If you have some capital you may be able to go for extra qualification route and supplement your income with oddjobs or part-time work. Evening classes may be a way forward as well as full time working. Voluntary work will probably lead to greater networking opportunities. What ever you decide to do...ACTION is required! Don't just Talk Talk......Walk Walk.

I know ...I've been there ...a two year distance learning course changed my life around, gave me a focus and let me live a life that I could not have envisaged before.

Take Broad Concept and mold it to your personal needs and use it as a tool whenever you need to.

Harry