How to Face an Interview

What is an interview? 

Interview is a purposeful conversation between two or more people that follows a basic question and answer format. Interviewing is more formal than most other conversations because it has a preset purpose and uses a focused structure. There are many kinds of interviews. The employment interview is one which most of you are likely to face.

Preparation Tips for Facing Job

 

 
Interview

Evaluate yourself Review your skills and character traits that could help the organization’s bottom line. Think in terms of the value that you can add to the position and the company you intend to join. 

Analyze the organization 

Prior to attending the interview, do some research about the company that you have applied. So that you can explain why you want to work there and why you the perfect for he company. 

Evaluate your job history 

Review your past achievements mentally and be prepared to describe your work experience in detail. Put together samples of your achievements and some reference letters to be presented to the interviewer as a proof of your past achievements. Gather some good words to describe your experience in terms of responsibilities and achievements at each job. 

Expect questions 

Try to anticipate the general questions that will be asked. One general question that you will surely be asked is “Tell us about yourself.” If posed with this question, focus your answers on your background and a few professional and personal accomplishments. Stress on your achievements. For example: Your sales records, the processes you have developed or systems installed, projects that you initiated, etc. Medical transcriptionists, your overall accuracy, speed, proficiency in English, productivity etc. Think of the worst questions you could be asked about your experience and abilities, then prepare positive responses. As well, anticipate the following set of questions:

• As well, anticipate the following set of questions:
• Tell us about your background and accomplishments.
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• How would you describe your most recent job performance?
• What interests you about our company?
• Why do you want to leave the current job/company? 

Prepare your own questions 

Employers are as much interested in your questions as they are in your answers. Intelligent questions about the position, company and the industry will have a favorable reaction. (For eg, what would I be expected to accomplish in this position? What are the greatest challenges in this position? How do you think I fit the position?) 

Visualize your interview: 

Get a bigger picture of the interview. Imagine yourself performing. A major share of your success in the interview depends on the impression you make in the first few minutes. To succeed, you must project a professional, competent and enthusiastic image. Your aim is to convince the interviewer that you would be an asset to the company. 

Acts To Do On The Day of Interview: 

Documentation: 

Keep all your certificates, testimonials, experience letters etc neatly in a document folder. If you are an MBA, an IT Project Specialist or a Design Professional, then you can carry summer training /project reports / portfolio. In other words, do carry supplementary documents to prove your credentials. 

Dressing: 

It is necessary to dress appropriately for an interview. A formal wear like suit is generally the best and recommended for either sex as this enhances your personality. In the absence of a suitable formal wear, you may use the best from your wardrobe. A neat hair styling, clean nails and polished shoes are a must. You may use an anti perspiring or a mild perfume just to make you feel comfortable. 

Arrive early: 

Arrive at the venue at least 10-15 minutes early as this would give you the opportunity to settle down comfortably before the interview. Use this time also to assess the surroundings, especially the reception area and look around for Product displays, Brochures, Awards, Recognitions, Industry affiliations etc. Keenly observe employee behavior and interactions, as this would give you an idea of the environment. Additionally, you will get to know other candidates and might get clues about the interview process. 

Seating: 

Always wait for the interviewer to offer you a seat, if not offered ask. Sitting before the interviewer offers you the seat can give very bad impression like overconfidence/arrogance or nervousness. 

Confidence: 

Be a picture of confidence. Take the nervousness out of your mind and consider an interview as a meeting for discussing a common subject or an interaction and not as if the interviewer is waiting to pounce on you. 

Eye contact: 

Try to establish an eye contact as early as possible. If you try to avoid eye contact, the interviewer may perceive that you are hiding some thing or are an element of untrustworthiness. 

Be attentive: 

Once you are seated comfortably, be attentive and wait for the question. Nothing can be more irritating for the interviewer than to find you are lost somewhere necessitating repeating the question. 

Be brief: 

During the initial phase of the interview, the interviewer does the majority of the talking, explaining about the position, the company and other general information. At this stage positive body language works to your advantage. Be cautious about transmitting any negative non-verbal messages. The interviewer will catch them from your eyes, face and upper body. The best interviews have a give and take atmosphere. To do this, you need to ask questions and try to draw out your interviewer rather than talking about yourself nonstop. A general rule is you should speak one-third of the time and definitely no more than half of the time.

Body language:

The key to success is to work your body in tune with your mouth; positive movements should support positive comments. Raise your eyebrows slightly upon meeting to draw attention. Your facial expressions can tell many stories. Enter the room with a relaxed smile, this will give a perception of openness and a friendly attitude, and will put both the parties at ease. A tight face or a tensed smile will indicate the inability to handle stress.

Parting: 

Remember to thank the interviewer for his/her time and end the session with a confident and firm handshake. On the completion of the interview, rising before you are invited to do so, forms an impression of being impatient and not interested in the interview. Shake hands upright in the same manner as you did when you arrived. This displays friendliness and acceptance of the interview, and also leaves a positive impression on the interviewer. Finally, walk away with energy.