This is a user generated content for MyStory, a YourStory initiative to enable its community to contribute and have their voices heard. The views and writings here reflect that of the author and not of YourStory.
How to nail an interview?
You have landed yourself an interview, now all that’s left for you to do is convincing the interviewer of your potential to fit into that role in a matter of few minutes.
Wednesday October 12, 2016 , 3 min Read
This is a user generated content for MyStory, a YourStory initiative to enable its community to contribute and have their voices heard. The views and writings here reflect that of the author and not of YourStory.
Interviews can be unnerving and stressful. If it’s a first then I am sure you’re just a bundle of nerves.
But then can you really escape them? No. You’re at that point in your life where interviews are inevitable and that too a job interview, but don’t sweat because it’s not that complicated in spite of all the hype.
It doesn’t matter if you’re the head of a business looking to change your job or just a regular normal employee, there are some things that you just cannot be excused for during an interview.
What if I tell you there is a way you could exude charm and reliability and successfully impress the interviewer without sweating it out?
Do your homework about the company
It’s always a bad idea showing up for interviews with a company you know nothing about, because trust me when I say it -‘how did you hear about us?’, ‘Do you know what exactly do we do?’ - are some of the questions which will definitely be shot in your direction. So it’s better to look up the company in advance and know about them briefly.
Dress appropriately
Formals are the official interview attire, make sure you buy a pair of trousers and a decent shirt in case you already don’t have one. It’s crucial that you look the part, so showing up in an unironed shirt that you thought wasn’t looking too bad it’s a bad bad idea (trying to over emphasize on this point). In fact save yourself the trouble and time, iron and lay out your clothes at night.
Go through your Resume
You don’t want to end up in an interview where when the interviewer asks you something from your resume, you sit there looking completely clueless. Memorize your resume, remove things/words you may not know or look them up. Make a list of possible questions that could be born out of your resume and remember their answers or at least make sure you have an idea.
Body language
Maintaining eye contact with your interviewer and consciously being attentive throughout the interview will win you bonus points. Don’t fidget if you don’t know or understand something, ask the interviewers again to get a better understanding of a question or topic. The key is to maintain your composure throughout the interview so that they can see how well you work under pressure.
Extra tips –
1) Go to the interview armed with certain stories to help you answer questions better by giving an example of how and what you did in a particular situation.
2) Don’t badmouth your previous employers, this will definitely have a negative impact on the interviewer.
3) Bring along multiple printed copies of your CV.
4) Avoid using slangs during the interview.
Don’t try too hard and remember this isn’t going to be your only interview which is why if you make mistakes, learn from them.