Job Search - Nailing The Interview
Seize the Opportunity and the Job: The Interview
So, you've submitted a killer Curriculum Vitae and supporting
documents. You're ahead of the pack and have just received a
call for an interview. What do you do next?
The interview is the most stressful and important part of job
hunting. This is where the employers make a decision based on
his or her impression of whether to hire you for their job. You
will want to do your best in this part because here lays the
culmination of all your job hunting efforts. Flub it here and
all your efforts from application to examinations will go down
the drain.
1. Make a Great Impression Always dress in your best attire for
the interview. Your attire should be appropriate. No matter what
the company may require for their employees, the first
impression for applicants should be conservative business attire.
2. Do a Little Research One of the best ways to make a good
impression on your interviewer is to do a little research on the
company you are applying for. This will equip you with material
to answer many of the questions the interviewer will ask. One of
the main points of the questions you will be asked is how your
skills can benefit the company. If you know a thing or two about
the company, you will find it a lot easier to answer this
question. Plus, dropping a few meaty tidbits about how much you
know about the company will go a long way in impressing the
interviewer.
3. Watch Your Body Language Many of the interviewers are well
versed in body language, and you will find that, throughout the
interview, they will be looking for hints about your personality
from the way you act, talk, and move. It would be abnormal to
assume a different set of body language during the interview.
What you should do is to take note of your body language so that
at least it communicates openness and honesty.
Avoid telling lies or embellishing your answers. Experienced
interviewers will notice this in an instant. Always keep your
palms open and avoid crossing your legs or your arms together.
Do not be afraid to make eye contact while speaking; just make
sure that you do not come across as intimidating.
4. Confidence Walk in with a purpose. Answer with a purpose. Try
not to be too self-conscious. Make sure you are confident in
what you say. If you hit a snag and find yourself in a
compromising situation, make sure you handle the situation
confidently - even when saying that you do not know an answer to
a question. Confidence reflects competence. Employers always
look for competent people to fill their ranks.