ALAMOSA — The local chapter of Toastmasters International club hosted a “rock your interview” on Monday. The speaker was one of the members, Evelyn Sprouse- Rowe, who gave five basic tips on how to prepare for an interview and be successful.

The five basics for a successful interview are:

1. Know yourself. Know your skills, education and experience on why you think you can do the job.

2. Know the company you are applying for.

3. Stick to effectively communicating just those qualifications that apply to the company’s needs and the job.

4. Turn negatives into positives. Be honest and authentic and willing to work on any shortcomings.

5. Have good presentation in appearance. Dress for the job you are interviewing for.

Another tip Sprouse-Rowe gave was even if you don’t get the call back or get the job, just keep moving forward.

“The fit may have not been right, so don’t lose energy,” Sprouse- Rowe said. “Get ready for your next one, think about what you learned and realize you have a little more experience under you belt.”

After the presentation, Wilma Paddock and volunteers from the club did two mock interviews. In these interviews, each interviewee was given a job they were “interviewing” for. Once the mock interviews were completed, Wilma evaluated each person and gave some advice.

Paddock said while interviewing, you need to keep bringing back whatever you say and relate it back to the job.

Toastmasters International is a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.

The local chapter is considered a prospective club meaning. They are working on becoming a charter club. There must be 20 members to be classified as a chartered club.

If you are interested in joining, you can visit www.toastmasters.org or attend a meeting. They meet every Monday at noon at The Bridge located at 3407 Carroll Drive, Alamosa in the gym. For more information, contact [email protected] or call (719) 937- 3143.

Kristin Hicks is an intern at The Valley Courier.

Caption: Evelyn Sprouse-Rowe gives a speech on “rock your interview” to members of the Toastmaster International Club./Courier photo by Kristin Hicks