Interviews are what can improve or absolutely destroy your chances of getting a job, regardless of your qualifications. You see, the competition is so stiff that everyone looks good on paper nowadays.
As a result, most companies use the first interview as a way to narrow down their selection pool and end up with a well-rounded candidate. So you need to be on top on your game on interview day and make sure that you are unforgettable (in a good way).
Here are a few tips
Preparation begins once you get the call to come for the interview. So here’s what to do in the days before the actual interview day:
- Location: if you don’t know where the offices are, find out and make a reconnaissance trip to see how long it will take you to get there. If you have been given a time slot, do your run through then to see about the traffic and other potential delays that may occur.
- Inside man: you need to know the history and culture of the company so find an inside man to give you the scoop on everything from dress code, language, hierarchy and all that. It will help in knowing how to present yourself and answer the questions.
- Current affairs: find out what is happening in the industry and specifically with that company with regard to your position. Make sure you internalize this information so that you don’t sound rehearsed.
- Practice: rehearse answering questions. It sounds silly but your mind could go blank in there and you will need to have those rehearsed lines in your head. Also prepare some questions to ask the interviewer; it makes you look informed and interested.
- Outfit: have it clean and laid out the night before. Try it on to see how you look and fix anything that could be loose, torn or just untidy.
On the day of the interview, here are a few things you need to make sure of:
- Be calm: I know you are scared but you need to exude confidence right from the moment you walk into the building. Take a deep breath, calm your nerves and walk in with a smile.
- Body language: watch your posture as you answer questions. Keep your hands on the table, don’t bunch them up in fists, sit up straight and don’t cross your legs. Remember to keep eye contact at all times but don’t stare them down like you are in some kind of a contest.
- Listen: most people assume they know where a question is heading to by the first few words. Not good! Listen carefully to the question until the end so that you can be sure that you are answering the right question.
- Show what you know: this can be when answering a question or when asking a question. Relate your statements to your experience in that field. it’s a subtle way of showing what you know without looking like a know-it-all.
- Say thank you: thank the panel or employer for their time and walk out as confidently as you walked in regardless of how you think the interview went.
And that, kids, is how you land the perfect job. Good luck!
Do you have any advice on getting the perfect job? Tell us in the comments below.
Photo: Flazingo Photos / Flickr
Joshua Twain has written a variety of books ranging from human resources to a dialogue on debt consolidation reviews. As an employer himself, he is more than qualified to write this blog.
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