(Disclaimer: My advice below is primarily written with the underdog type of person in mind (like myself in many situations). I.e. the one who doesn’t necessarily possess all the merits on paper, for some jobs, but whom I think can (and should) compensate for said shortcomings by means of being extra creative in their way of handling job interviews.)
One key method that I always practice before job interviews, is to drill my mind through all the thinkable questions and scenarios that I might be confronted with. Of crucial importance, you should try to map all the delicate stuff – the stuff you’re MOST uncomfortable dealing with – that might risk harming your chances for success if not handled properly. This is really the most important excercise before meeting with your possible employer.
If you give them a shady, undiscernible uttering of an answer, simply because you really don’t KNOW what to say, and due to the awkward fact that you really haven’t thought about this particular ‘thing’, you’re the only one to blame.
This (harsh) way of thinking may seem like a counter-productive state of mind (having to prepare your arguments, counter-arguments, double-arguments and whatnot rhetorically useful, and blaming yourself if you did not), but it’s rather relieving:
Should you walk out the door knowing you’re not getting the job, you know that you at least presented what you’ve got, and you did so by doing the proper groundwork of assessing probable situations that may arise.
Furthermore, in times when there’s an obvious drawback working against your odds in the competition for a particular job, the simple rule of no surprise applies. When or if this Achilles heal is stepped on, you’re the one who will show that you’re not surprised and not willing to look down the floor just because of that. Simple. Why should you? You know you’re good for 5 times the talent of the competition anyway. (Of course, don’t get cocky just because of that: keep being balanced. Know that this is martial arts, just in other form. Some people have all the kinds of weapons and tools when they go to a job interview; but you – you are open handed. Like a real ninjutsu demigod. See where I’m going with this. It’s all about passion. Sure, thinking in terms of martial arts and that, it’s just rubbish. But again, passion is number two in importance during job interviews. You NEED to have some sort of inspired mental image before going to the job interview. Almost like you’re carrying with you, your very own semi-absurd, yet warm and comforting inner companion that prods you in the right direction during the meeting. And you NEED to let the essence of this special trick of yours exude, in the way you talk, act, move, think.
Granted, this sort of technique may not apply in some types of job interviews at all, depending on the job’s niche, where in some case there’s just a matter of hunting recruits with the best education and the longest and most meriting work experience.
A final word. Act like you’re mature. Or should I say, use your maturity. And if you lack maturity alltogether, simply go back to square one and put on some flesh first.