Have you ever imagined how amazing it would be if you didn’t have to appear for job interviews?
To be honest, interviews are an essential and integral part of any organization’s hiring process. Irrespective of the job you apply for, an interview is an opportunity for employers to know you and assess your knowledge as well as social skills.
The reason why you might feel uneasy at the prospect of a job interview is that it is not an easy task to successfully sell yourself. Interviews are often high-pressure and you can never be too well prepared or know the answers to all the questions thrown at you.
But there are certain tried and tested tips and techniques which work for almost all job interviews. Following these tips can help you succeed when you go for a discussion next time.
Go ahead and check these tips below:
- Practice:
While nobody can predict what an interviewer might ask, some questions are almost a certainty in every interview. For instance, “Why do you want to join our organization?” or “Why did you leave your last organization?” and so on.
Thus, practicing answers to such questions will give you greater clarity of thought, make you more confident, and will likely give you a head-start.
- Research:
A candidate who knows nothing about the company beyond the job description is likely to have almost no chance of getting hired. At the least, spend an hour searching about the company, products or services, reputation, turnover, and key personnel. Knowing about the company will help you frame answers and expectations related to your potential employment. Go ahead and hit Google!
- Positive body language:
A person’s body language is as much a part of their interpersonal skills as verbal communication. Make sure to dress up properly, look fresh, and maintain positive body language during the interview. Wear professional clothes, sleep well on the night before to avoid any red-eyes or fogginess, smell good, and maintain a mild smile.
Body language such as drooping shoulders, a feathery handshake, reclining into the chair, or sitting with arms and legs crossed is not conducive to a good impression. Avoid such behavior!
- Punctuality:
A candidate who doesn’t value time is probably not worth the time. If you’re appearing for an interview, make sure you don’t make the interviewers wait. It isn’t uncommon for interviewers to cancel the discussion when there’s no sign of the candidate on the appointed hour.
Nowadays, interviews are frequently conducted online, and a few minutes of delay could mean losing the opportunity.
- Probe:
A job interview is supposed to be a discussion and not a quiz where you need to only answer what is asked. The interviewers ask questions to understand you, and also expect you to display your keenness and thoughts through questions of your own.
There has to be a delicate balance as you don’t want to take over the role of the interviewer either and shouldn’t ask any questions which make little sense during the interview. For instance, “will there be a salary deduction if I take unscheduled leaves?” isn’t the best question. However, if you ask, “what’s your company’s leave policy?” the interviewer will feel that you are confident about landing the job.
Ask about the work processes, company culture, growth prospects and appraisal system, etc. If you didn’t grasp any information being shared then there is no harm in asking again.
- Send a thank-you note:
This is the digital age, but, still a good old ‘Thank you’ note still has a lot of value in the corporate circles. Even if you are communicating digitally, send a nicely worded ‘Thank You’ email. However, be cautious not to go overboard and keep the language formal and the message crisp.
Interviewing is an essential part of employment. Since you can’t run away from this reality, it is better to brush up on your interview skills and make the most of the opportunity. Good luck for your next interview!
