How to Shine at an Interview
Interviews, interviews and interviews…they are the launch of a new
job or a career. But most of the times, they are neither uncomplicated
nor very pleasing. A job
interview
is the perfect example when a person faces excitement and pressure at
the same time. This strange combination of sentiments can cloud our
judgment and tie our tongues.
Perfection is not a man’s trait and many
recruitment managers often over look puny interview
mistakes. It is, however, important to be prepared to the greatest
extent. There are some slip-ups that you can’t afford and there are some
ridiculous mistakes that can cast a bad shadow over your abilities and
future career.
On the day of your interview, remember to look good and confident and
say all the right things. The rest will be fine. Don’t fret and try to
think a little before uttering each word.
How to Avoid a Disastrous Interview
Don’t be late:
Make proper arrangements beforehand to ensure that you reach the designated place on time. Getting up earlier than usual for a
single day won’t hurt! Don’t leave your dress un-ironed till the eleventh hour; you never know about electricity!
If something unexpected happens and you can’t avoid being late, whether it be a traffic jam or your
alarm clock
didn’t beat on time, immediately call ahead and inform them that you
will be late. Don’t keep them waiting, they might adjust you at some
other time or reschedule the meeting for some other day.
Don’t forget your CV and other important material:
Perfectly dressed to please and accompanied with your work bag, you accidentally left the file containing your impressive
resumes,
well crafted work samples and portfolios in the kitchen. That is bad
but can be managed. You must have the CV and portfolios in your email.
Try to get them printed before hitting the office for interview.
Handling a Wardrobe Malfunction:
Nearly everyone has faced some wardrobe malfunctioning before
important events and moments. Such circumstances are sometimes beyond
our control. One might get splashed by a passing by car on the way to
the interview. It is quite possible that your crisp shirt ends up
looking idiotic as you reach the office. The best thing to do in such
circumstances would be to continue with the interview and at the start
of it, explain what happened. Your interviewer would rather like you for
your sound experience than loathe to your mud speckled shirt.
Be Prepared and Deliberate:
Do necessary research about the company and the people you are about
to encounter. Any misinformation regarding them might suggest careless
attitude on your part. You just can’t forget the interviewer’s name but
if it skips your mind out of sheer nervousness, try to be smart and look
at the nameplate on the desk for a clue or search for certificates or
credits that might be adorning the walls. In this way you might get
through the situation.
If You are a Young Professional…
If you are a fresh graduate, you are not a seasoned professional with
decades of experience on the resume and employers are well aware of
this fact. They know that your lack of experience will be compensated by
the knowledge you have about the current trends and technology. Be
confident about who you are. During the interview, you should emphasize on the fact that how enthusiastic you are about learning from the industry leaders on board.
Things Not to Say During an Interview:
When Asked to Introduce Yourself…
This is one of the trickiest yet interesting questions asked during the interview.
Upon this question, you do not need to ruminate on your life. The
interviewer is least interested in your life’s intricate particulars.
Don’t blurt out the following details.
- A brief synopsis about your childhood.
- How badly you want this job.
- The details of your unstable marital life.
- Your religious and political beliefs.
The potential employer certainly is interested in your professional
capabilities and not in your personal life. All he wants to make sure is
that you can diligently handle the task at hand.
I Hated My Last Boss:
Your last boss was a living misery and the sole purpose of his life
was to make the lives of his subordinates miserable. You know this but
you potential employers don’t know! Trash talking is a highly frowned
upon habit. People do not like back biters in their team. Even if you
are rightly speaking, you would not be liked for cursing your boss.
I Don’t Know Anything About the Company:
This is part of the
homework that you should be accompanied with while going to an interview.
If the interviewer asks why you are interested in this job and you come
up with this sort of reply, then it could be easily assumed that all
you are after is money and not a career. With today’s swift technology,
there is no excuse for this kind of reply except slackness and
irresponsible attitude. Google the company’s
profile and grab all the important information so that you can justify the reason for
your application.
Don’t Talk About Promptness…
Punctuality is a sought after trait. You show up 10 minutes late;
most probably it is going to be fine. It is not going to be nice if you
suggest afterwards that promptness is your strength. Avoid any such
contradictory statements.
Yes, Yes, Yes, No, No!
One word
answers are never persuasive. At an interview,
it is your task to convince the interviewer that you are the perfect
person for the post and you can do a fine job. Even if the question is
vague, try hard to answer it in the best possible way. Don’t drone on
and on, but avail every chance to prove that you are the person they are
hunting for.
Don’t Embellish Your Experience
Don’t go too far on the road of convincing. Be truthful and honest.
If you don’t know something the interviewer asks for, fess up and tell
him how much you are looking forward to learn the new things. If you
brag about qualities you don’t have, chances are that sooner or later
the employer will find out. This situation will lead to even worse
circumstances; you will certainly not be liked and you might get kicked
out!
I’m Going to Need to Take These Days Off:
We all are committed to our personal lives and we all need to fulfill
our responsibilities. The potential employer is clearly aware of this
fact. Don’t bring up your personal life during the first interview. If you make it to the offer stage, talk about your personal issues and hopes. Talking about your life prior to a
job offer will make an impression that either you are self obsessed or too confident that you will get the job.
And Another Thing I Hate…
Don’t scorn in front of a potential employer. Most people want to
hear it all sweet and cutesy. Do not present opposing views on subjects
that do not matter. It seeds ill feelings and you might get a rejection
in the mind of the interviewer. If you don’t agree upon certain things,
either say it politely and respectfully or just let it go. After all you
want to score this job and have a good working relationship with your
boss.
Most Common Interview Blunders:
According to a survey, the following are the errors job seekers make most often:
- Using cell phone: 77 percent
- Appearing disinterested: 75 percent
- Dressing improperly: 72 percent
- Appearing haughty: 72 percent
- Talking disapprovingly about current or previous employers: 67 percent
- Chewing gum: 63 percent
During a job interview, the interviewer seems vicious. Believe me, he
does not want to humiliate or mortify you. He just wants to make sure
that he does his job flawlessly by choosing the right person for the
company. He is certainly not a sadist; his job (recruitment) makes him appear so!
