Interview tips and insights, marketing the best version of Yourself
There are several things that are unavoidable in life – death, taxes and interviews!
Whether you’re an eager university graduate or a seasoned professional, interviews are the first interaction you will have with a new organisation.
The interviewers will be working and sharing a significant part of their day and lives with you. For a successful interview, there are several essential tips and subtle details one must pay attention to.
How we can prepare for an interview?
You must have the physical, mental and emotional intelligence to appeal to the interviewer. Physically, you should have your well-pressed, professional attire ready and be well-groomed. Mentally, you would have researched the company’s products and culture to prove your interest in working there.
Finally, you must have the emotional intelligence to remain composed, listen attentively and speak clearly, particularly if it’s a phone interview.
Have copies of your qualifications, resume and references on hand for easy access.
Your Body Language in an Interview
Maintain good posture – straighten your back and look the interviewer in the face. You can relax a little, but do not slouch to look lazy or uninterested. Cross your legs and place your hands together neatly on your lap. Smile occasionally to maintain a friendly expression, letting them know working with you will be a pleasant experience.
An overlooked job interview tip is monitoring your diet. First impressions can be affected by what you eat. Having a big meal prior may make you feel sluggish or sleepy. Eat something light and have a little water so you will be well hydrated.
In the 21st century, the best version of yourself means both online and offline. Clean up social media content; employers do search social media for background checks so if you wouldn’t want your boss to see it, remove it!
You never know exactly who will be there in the interview room and how information travels in that company. For example, you don’t want to encounter the “nobody” employee you walked straight past in the hall on the interviewing panel. Say your good mornings to whom you encounter including the receptionists, handymen and janitors. Don’t assume these people are not important. Make a good first impression on everybody.
What are the frequent interview questions?
Interview questions are customised depending on the job. For example, if you’re applying for an advertising position, marketing interview questions will assert your communication and creative problem-solving skills.
If you are applying to teach, expect education interview questions regarding your classroom experience, organisational skills and teaching methodologies.
If you are applying to a job in a Bank, banking or accounting interview questions will test your analytical problem-solving skills. Questions may also be behavioural, meaning the interviewer will paint a scenario for you, such as dealing with a difficult customer or witnessing an employee stealing funds and ask how you would respond to that.
How to Answer Frequently Asked Interview Questions
Regardless, the interviewer usually starts with, “Tell me a little about yourself”.
This question is perhaps most misunderstood. Candidates usually ramble on about their birthplace, education, hobbies and past work experience. The interviewer is already familiar with that information because it is included in your resume. This question analyses self-awareness. What kind of person are you? Are you introverted or extroverted? How would you describe your personality? Your work ethic – do you like working independently or you prefer working in teams? What motivates you?
Other Usual Interview Questions
Other interview questions normally involve what past projects you have worked on. Elaborate briefly on past assignments. Highlight the skills you developed. Discuss challenging situations you overcame and problems that you solved.
Employers usually ask for your strengths and weaknesses in your own words. Every candidate will describe how hard-working, honest and creative they are. Observe the 21st century ‘show, don’t tell’ culture. Give examples where you displayed those qualities – working overtime to meet deadlines or coming up with a Christmas marketing slogan.
With weaknesses, be very careful. You are marketing yourself to them, so you want to be portrayed in a positive light. Emphasise a shortcoming that you’ve had in the past that you have been able to overcome. For example, if you had an issue with time management, explain that you took a course, started waking up earlier to manage your time better. This tells the interviewer you are a self-aware problem solver and you wouldn’t be bringing this negative trait into their organisation.
What Not to Say in an Interview
For a successful interview, it is wise not to badmouth your previous employer or bring up salary unless the interviewer does so. Eagerness to discuss salary and benefits tells the interviewer that you’re there to benefit only yourself. Emphasise the skills and experience you bring to the table instead.
Based on the job application, you can reach out to persons in similar positions on social media and ask what’s a fair salary range in the event the interviewer does ask an expected compensation amount. You can also quote the salary from your previous job to give them a figure you would likely start from.
Interview Tips to Getting Hired
During the conversation, stay concise and to the point. Hiring professionals have multiple candidates to interview. Do not waste any time. Listen carefully to the question and provide the specific information needed.
The interviewer is human, and would expect you to be a little nervous but don’t let your nerves control the situation. Slow your breathing. Maintain eye contact. Keeping yourself composed demonstrates that you keep calm under pressure.
As nervous as you are, do not lie or modify the truth in any way. Recruiters follow up with your references. Make sure your references are updated, informed about your job search and will provide a good recommendation on your behalf to provide the cherry on top of a successful interview.
