Basics To Interview Preparation

Hey there, job seekers! How confident do you feel to attend an interview? Does the very word “interview” fill you with fears? Having a job or a settled career is important in today’s time. It not only makes you self-sufficient and financially stable, but it also strengthens the economy and community. Using your skills and experience to earn a good income while simultaneously developing and learning new things, adapting to work culture, creating an employment record, and most importantly, creating a solid foundation to base your future on, is a dream every individual wishes to come true. Getting a job as and when you want, let alone your dream job is comparatively difficult than earlier times. For you to get a job, its important that you crack the interview and create a first impression so good that makes the employer wonder “Yes, he/she is the perfect candidate I am looking for!” We are here to help you by providing a few easy tips you can work on to crack an interview: (a)   Do thorough research (company website, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) about the company and its workplace environment. Never dress too casually. If you are not sure about how to dress, dress better than you think is necessary. (b)   Your eyes are a window to your soul. Maintain eye contact and project a confident body language. It reflects how you react to challenges and situations ‘out of your comfort zone’. Do not fidget because that is a sign of nervousness and lack of confidence. Never rush or blurt something which you cannot take back while answering any question.  (c)    Be a good listener. Participate in the conversation actively and ask questions to clarify your doubts. When you ask questions, it shows your interest and that you have been listening carefully. Do not dominate. Let the interviewer be in-charge and set the pace of the interview since they already have certain parameters to decide whether a particular candidate is suitable for the job offered. (d)   Prepare for your interview well. Be clear and practice to explain everything you have written in your resume and why. Do not forget to focus on what the company desires and the reasons you are a perfect fit for that position. This is only possible if you have researched well about the company. Do not jump from the interviewer’s question into your resume. Try to answer the questions in a way that you do not diverge from the topic but also highlight how your background addresses that question. (e)   Honesty is the best policy even if it highlights your weakness but leverage the conversation back to your strengths. Do not mislead or lie about your academic qualification or past experience just to impress the employer. Do not embellish or omit details. (f)     Talk about your past experiences in a positive way and highlight how those gained experiences will benefit you in the future. Never criticise your old boss even if it ended on a bad note. You can never get in the good books of a potential employer by criticising your previous boss or workplace.  (g)   We have heard this many times “The first impression is the last impression”. But walking out of an interview is equally important. Look the interviewer in the eye and either give a handshake or politely say “Thank you for your time and consideration. Looking forward to working with you”. Even if you feel that the interview did not go well, do not make a rushed exit. (h)   Although we live in a world where we are overly dependent on technology, KEEP YOURSELF AWAY FROM USING YOUR SMARTPHONE during an interview.