The first thing to remember while sitting for an interview is to think of oneself as a good salesperson, because a job interview is nothing but selling oneself to the interviewer. The way the world has now shaped up, it is now more important to showcase how you are than how much you know. The candidate may be technically very sound, but might fail to present his/her talent in its entirety, thereby failing to make the right impression. Here comes the foremost requirement of good communication skill – the most important job interview tip. Above all else, this is the most important criteria to handle a confident and successful interview. The indicator of a successful interview is measured not only by getting selected for the job, but one should also try to:
1) Leave the interviewer with a great impression and trust on his/her hiring
2) Get your side of expectations from the job answered
3) Get a clear understanding of what the job really entails
In order to fulfill these objectives, one has to create an impression right at the first moment. This is done by attire, body language, and speech. As you are ready to meet the interviewer, keep the following tips in mind:
1) Introduce yourself in a clear voice, with a firm handshake, and a soft smile
2) Let the interviewer be seated first and then take a seat yourself
3) Always maintain eye contact with the employer throughout the conversation
4) A very important part of good communication is listening. Listen carefully to all that the interviewer speaks. In case you do not understand a question, politely ask for a beg your pardon
5) Demonstrate to the interviewer your skills and how you can be of value to the company based on prior research
6) Give positive answers to all questions though being honest all the time. NEVER SHOW A PIE IN THE SKY
7) Do not sit with crossed legs or arms crossed over the chest. This means you have a closed mind
A very important job interview tip is on the dress to wear. For interviews as a rule, always wear formal clothing. This never goes wrong even if the concerned company may not be stringent on formal clothing. For men, it is advisable to wear formal shirt and trouser, preferably a lighter shirt matched with a darker trouser. Ties are optional depending on weather conditions. Shoes must be formal with proper polish and socks that match the color of the trouser (not the tie or shirt). For women in India, formal wear is more relaxed than men. Depending on your comfort level, choose between western formals or Indian formal wear. Please abstain from overtly bright colors. Trousers with shirts or knee length executive skirts with formal shirts can be chosen under western formal wear. Jeans are a complete restriction. It is important to make sure that your appearance looks neat, tied up and comfortable.
The third most important tip is about creating impressions. Often the interview starts with the interviewer asking, “Tell me about yourself”. This is the first golden chance at making your best impression. Here you give the interviewer the reason to hire you over others. The factors to cover within this window are: education, family background, early life and career, key experiences that have shaped you and gradually arrive to why you are here. Here the interviewer gets to real business. Therefore, be adequately prepared for the next level of technical and job related questions. While ending the interview, ask the recruiter questions about the job. Whether you call it a tip or not, some important things to know to join somewhere are:
1) What is the profile and designation?
2) What are the work hours and who will you be reporting to if hired?
3) Other tactical details involved pertaining to the job
Once all your doubts are cleared ask the interviewer about the next step. This response will give you an idea of what the interviewer thinks about you. Do not talk about the package in the first or second round unless. It can be discussed only with the HR team.
Keeping this in mind will help facing a tough interview and packaging yourself in the correct manner. Some more job interview tips that help are:
- Arrive 15 minutes early to the given time
- No harm in carrying an extra copy of whatever papers you are required to submit
- Carry your personal file with relevant documents in case needed
- Do a research on the company and have a basic understanding of the position applied for before the interview. When you suddenly come with vital information about the company during the interview, it makes a good impression on the selector
And finally, remember that no tips work unless you learn to be yourself, come what may.
