Blog: My top 13 tips on how to nail your next job interview!
Furrows on the forehead, checking the clock nervously to see if it’s the appointed time and sweaty palms! We have all been through this painful experience some time or the other in our lives. The interview fever! But does it have to be like this? Can’t interviews be experiences that are positive, enriching and that which provides us with valuable learning lessons notwithstanding the outcome?
The answer is ‘Yes, they can be!’ The applicants themselves or their mentors can provide the necessary ammunition to make the battle of job interview a rewarding and winsome experience.
What are the vital aspects which can contribute to a positive outcome in an interview?
There is a need for a basic checklist when it comes to preparing for an interview and being prepared on those lines would ensure that you don’t end up feeling stressed, under prepared or nervous at the appointed place and time. Some of the key elements that can make your interview a pleasant experience is:
1. Be on time and be prepared with all the expected basic questions– There certainly would be questions related to years of experience you bring and the kind of experience and academic qualification. Specific job role related enquiries from previous jobs need to be expected as well.
Questions relating to willingness to travel or relocate, reasons for gap years etc could be anticipated.
Having a resume on hand as a hard copy and as a soft copy is also advisable. It is also important to familiarise yourself with your resume before handing it over, so that you have the right responses ready for points brought up from the resume.
2. Be well researched on the industry and the company you have applied to specifically – It is a reasonable expectation when you apply for a job that the candidate is clear about what the company does, relevant details about the company with respect to the role applied for, company culture, social media handles and why they were in news etc. The same applies to your current employer as well. Your knowledge levels about your current employer helps the prospective employer gauge your engagement levels and commitment to your present job.
3. Be polite and confident without appearing to grovel – there is a subconscious tendency seen in some people to go out of their way and be obsequious and fawn over people who are in a position of power with regard to their careers. This can come across as desperate and people tend to see through it. What is ideal behaviour is to be proud of your achievements and be confident and polite in expressing your thoughts and answering queries.
4. Have a confident but non-threatening body language – Things like fidgeting, inappropriate dressing, staring, glaring etc to be avoided at all costs. Maintaining eye contact with an even gaze and polite smiles should be ensured at all times during the interview. Having the right body language and attention to non-verbal communication should be taken care of. Talking to everyone in the interview panel and not addressing just one person can send positive signals. The difference between being poised as against being arrogant and overconfident is to be well understood.
5. Speaking well about the current employer – Your attitude and words about your current employer would give the interviewer an idea of your personal integrity.
6. Have relevant questions ready in your mind regarding the job role – You could have your own set of doubts and clarifications regarding the job role you have applied for. These could be about the scope, the expectations, timings, remuneration, dress code, company culture or anything else. They might encourage you to seek clarifications and if that happens you should not be caught off guard. Alternatively, you could seek clarifications proactively too.
7. Use the ‘tell me about yourself’ section to your best advantage – This is an opportunity that should be leveraged to your best advantage. State your USPs and your positive traits that could benefit the role clearly and talk confidently about difficult situations which you think you handled remarkably well where these traits were displayed.
8. Be sure to answer only after hearing out the interviewer entirely and not cutting them ahead of them finishing the question – listen completely to the question and listen with an intent to understand and not just to answer. If you listen well then, a coherent answer emerges as well.
9. Be aware of your shortcomings – Knowing clearly where you fall short for the role helps. This would help you to be prepared for the line of questioning that could happen about those aspects.
10. Be careful not to use negative words or words that indicate doubt or diffidence and focus on open communication style – It is crucial that words like ‘but’ and ‘what ifs’ are not used too liberally as those indicate an unsure and doubtful mind. Ask clear questions and adopt an open and straightforward communication style
11. Keeping the focus on positives – Assume you have a gap period in your employment history. You need to explain the same honestly and unapologetically. Do not try to avoid or circumvent answering such queries. Steer the conversation back to the future and to your aspirations in connection to your role.
12. Handling inappropriate questions – You need to be prepared for an eventuality of inappropriate or irrelevant questions being asked as well. You can politely ask the interviewer what relevance the question has to the position or why the question is being asked. You can also redirect the conversation towards a discussion of your skills and abilities as they relate to the position. You can choose to answer the question or refuse to if it is against your personal ethics and end the interview if you are uncomfortable.
13. Follow up after interviews – It is important to express gratitude for the opportunity given to ‘sell’ yourself to the interview panel. A well worded and frugal thank you note also serves as a subtle reminder to the decision makers to hasten a response if they intend to.
If you are looking for some help in preparing your team or equipping them to the reach for the next level in their careers or hoping to offer any kind of coaching services to upgrade their soft skills, do write to us at harish@harishrao.world to know how we can help you with it. We would love to work with you on this or any other business coaching needs you may have!