Top 10 Steps to Make your Job Interview Great

Top 10 Steps to Make your Job Interview Great


When it comes to job interviews, the very thought of attending one, or having to attend one, can lead to a lot of worry, bother, and continuous nail – biting. Because for any job applicant (especially if the candidate is a fresher), nailing his / her job interview is one thing that he / she always has to do, because most of the time, the candidate really needs the job, as he / she would not always have the luxury of receiving other job offers from other companies which could be translated into a back – up option if the current job interview doesn’t go well. No wonder that in today’s day and age, nobody is short of both worrying for nailing that precious interview, or tips on how to crack one.
But don’t worry, the tips given below are a pre-requisite any candidate wanting to make a lasting impression must follow:

10. Have extra copies of your Résumé:

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While it is true that any self – respecting company that is looking to recruit candidates for any of its positions will already have got, and gone through copies of your résumé (from their Human Resources department), it always makes sense to carry a few extra copies, because not only do you not know how many panel members your interview will have, it will also project that you are thoughtful, organized, and have planned for this interview.

9. Remember your body language:

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A candidate’s body language is one of the most important factors the interview panel members will be looking at and a parameter on which they would be judging the candidate. Knotty hands? No. Shaky legs / knees? What for? Sweaty palms? Are you kidding me? You must exude an aura of confidence and assertiveness – as in, stability. You want to show your panel that you are the guy they want, and that you’ve got it all under control. As the popular saying goes, “it is decided in the first five minutes of laying eyes on you whether you will be hired or not”. See? Before you even say anything!

8. Remember your manners:

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Whether you’re a fresher with little or no relevant work experience, or someone with a formidable amount, you have to remember to act like you need this job, not like as if the company needs you. Yes, there will definitely be a time in the interview process where you’d be required to justify why the company must hire you, but you must, at all times be courteous, alert, pleasant, and sensible in your bearings, because right from the time you enter that conference / boardroom, all eyes are on you. So ant sort of airs or graces, throw them out, and then walk in.

7. Be on top of your subject knowledge:

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Once your interview begins, and you are done with exchanging pleasantries with your panel, this is when they check for your thorough understanding of your subject knowledge corresponding to the job you’re applying for. Never underestimate the power of strong conceptual frameworks. You need to know the basic common terms that pertain to your line of work (say recruitment / selection for Human Resources, Mergers / Acquisitions for Finance enthusiasts) – you get the drift, right?

6. Adequate preparation:

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Whatever be the job you’re applying for, you definitely need to prepare at least a week, if not ten days in advance. If you get the call for an interview when you least expect it, well, you should have been preparing for the interview quite well in advance. Not only on your technical knowledge will you be judged – you also need to know a lot about the company that you’ll be joining – this shows your level of dedication and commitment to the process. What does the company stand for? What were its recent deals? Had it been merged / acquired by another company? You need to know all of these!

5. Be at ease:

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It’s no secret that a candidate will only do what he can, to the best of his / her ability. So in that case, as long as you’ve prepared, and are confident about yourself and your concepts, you have nothing to fret / worry about. Be at ease. Take in and carefully listen to what your panel is saying to you. Remember, even if you don’t get the job, these guys are almost always are ones with a lot of experience. So take in what they say. Also, you will definitely gain extra points if you manage to keep your panel at ease too (since they would be juggling a lot of commitments along with your interview at the same time)!

4. Make sure you plan well in advance:

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Obviously, it’s not a utopian world where every candidate will have to walk or travel only a few kilometres to reach the office / branch of the company where the recruitment is happening. More often than not, when we get a call for an interview, it will almost always be in another city / state. So what? As long as you make sure you’ve got people there who can guide you to the interview centre, its fine. And if you don’t, still no problem. Plan train / air tickets well in advance, so that you still have time to freshen up, have a power meal, and dress to impress before the interview! – you just cannot be late!

3. Think on your feet:

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It is no secret that these days, companies are looking for candidates who, apart from performing the basic duties and responsibilities listed on the job, are also able to counter unexpected threats / activities / situations that could disrupt a normal day’s flow of events. So don’t be fazed when you’re hit with an unusual situation – based question, or even a general, weird question (as to why are pizzas placed in square boxes). All the company is looking to see is how you perform under tricky situations.

2. Engage yourself in the interview:

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You need to hang on to every word that your interview members throw at you. You cannot afford to let your attention and interest slip, as all your panel members’ eyes’ will be scrutinizing everything you do, every move that you make. So if you find you mind wandering, please snap yourself out of it, lest you lose out on something really vital that your panel members are saying – it might have been about the perks your position offers!

1. Look your absolute best:

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I’ve saved this vital and very important point for last because it is really very important. You absolutely need to be neat and tidy, and you must be dressed to impress, and exude an aura of confidence. And seriously, in an interview, clothes do make a man, as the popular saying goes! You must look like a professional from all quarters – Neatly combed hair, adequately trimmed facial hair, soft, muted colours that match (especially your shirt and tie), a clean and crisp suit, shiny shoes, a good belt that batches the colour of your shoes, and most importantly, you have to make sure that all your clothes are ironed!

So, as long as you keep these points in mind, you’re all set to cinch that elusive job at your next interview!