Continuing with the series on Job Interview Questions and Answers, below is an article on Best Interview Tips For Personal Interview.
It’s an eternal truth that cracking interviews remains one of the toughest challenges to combat for all aspirants or job seekers. Across the globe, any discussion or session on clearing interviews has been a buzzword!!! At times I feel that Interviews are more like real life movies for which there is an outline within which one needs to act. Also, it would not be wrong to say that it’s like a game. You know that you can do the job-you just need some help in persuading interviewers to give you the chance to prove it.
As I mentioned previously that interviews are like games, and it’s all about succeeding in it. Don’t get surprised!!! Indeed, interview is a game. Remember that. And like any other game, interviewing has rules. It’s true that some of the rules are unspoken and an interviewer will never tell you face to face that you have broken a rule, but if you break the rules, you will not get offered the job.
Follow the rules, and you will get the job. It’s that simple. Because the person who gets the job is not always the best person for the job; more often than not, they simply know the most about how to get appointed.
Let’s be very practical. Many experts have suggested through articles, interviews, forums etc., that one needs to very original in one’s approach at the time of interview. Many people followed this principle as a sincere and prospective candidate, but the end result was not very conducive. And Trust me, with practice even you can master this art of interview questions and answers and find career success.
You can also follow the Power Of Affirmations, taught by my colleague and author Sudakshina Bhattacharya through her successful book, Your Career Build It Your Way.
Many of us have heard these famous lines at the time of feedback from the interviewer/s-“Better luck next time, you were good but our job demands something else, you are not the right fit for this job, thanks you so much for being here…”and it goes on…Surprising right!!! Don’t be.
Always remember- always speak what the interviewer wants to hear from you. Or expects you to speak…Therefore, at times you need to act by projecting what you are not. And that’s why you prepare yourself hard; attend personality development classes; joining language classes and what not. This clearly states that the world follows a particular dimension within which we need to enact… Otherwise, no matter how original or good you are, if you fail to live up to the preformed standards, you are always going to fall short to the finishing line. And this is very much applicable when we talk about ‘facing interviews’.
Interview means a medium through which and interviewee answers or responds to some sacrosanct questions asked by the interviewer/s. So don’t be afraid of interviews anymore…Read on…
“Oh! God knows what will happen in the interview tomorrow? What all questions will I be asked? Will I be able to answer all the questions? What if I look nervous and then panic when questions are shot to me?” Well, all these thoughts must have haunted or have been haunting you. Sit back, relax and take a deep breadth. Don’t worry if you are nervous!!! Surprised to hear that! Be nervous before you face any interview. Don’t ever forget that nervousness precedes every big event.
And all achievers in life feel that pinch before the ultimate outcome as they are concerned. So be nervous, but don’t ever panic. If you are nervous then it states that you are concerned ‘with the way or manner’ it’s going to welcome you. However, too much of nervousness leads to panic and that’s something one should try to avoid. Breathing easy, having a glass of water, and going through your resume are some simple ways in which you handle your nervousness easily. These not only allows you to calm down but also help you in handling those initial questions about yourself in a relaxed manner, enabling you to get over your nervousness.
So, the golden principle is to prepare…prepare and prepare…Remember there is no substitute to preparation when it comes to interview.
By Job Interview Preparation I mean- Doing your homework properly and on time.
Anyone can improve his performance at interview. No matter how much you hate interviews, no matter how long it has been since you had an interview, no matter how nervous you might feel, I can guarantee that doing your home work will boost your confidence and improve your chances of securing a job.
There are some people who are naturally extrovert and able to excel during the interview. But for most people it’s doesn’t come naturally. And that’s why success at interviews usually comes down to good preparation and practice. In fact, I’d say that 90 percent of what determines success at interview comes down to good preparation and rehearsal.
¨ Commitment- Candidates who are going to stay for a while proving their mettle and sheer commitment towards the organizational development.
¨ Chemistry- Candidates who can build a good rapport during the conversation by answering or handling their questions tactfully.
Things to be followed by any candidate to get the best of the jobs at any level:
¨ Studying job adverts for crucial information- Use a highlighter to pick phrases in the job advert. Then brainstorm at least possible questions that an interviewer could ask you about each of those key phrases.
¨ Researching your prospective employer: Be prepared to invest efforts in researching each prospective employer. Avoid simply memorizing facts about the organization- try to form your own opinion.(Read from company’s website, articles, overview of the industry, talking to people in the industry, contacting the employees of the organization you are applying for.)
¨ Dressing appropriately for interviews- Bear in mind that interviewers (often subconsciously) believe that your appearance is the outward manifestation of your personality. So what does your appearance say about your personality? ( I’m sure every job seeker knows that definition of power dressing)
¨ Carry a smart bag or a file (which is not torn)- It’s imperative to carry some good bag or file in which you are going to carry your credentials.
¨ Building rapport with interviewers: Interpersonal chemistry is incredibly important during interview. Don’t underestimate the power of smile. With a good pleasing smile you can always put your employers in a good mood.
¨ Reach the venue on time- Make sure that you reach the venue in time. You shouldn’t reach an hour before your interview though. Rather, ensure that you should reach at least 30 minutes before the interview. Don’t get late, or else you know the repercussions?
¨ Pre-plan some small talks- Once you reach the venue, you might start feeling the pressure. So the best thing is to make your self feel comfortable by looking at the reception area or observing the building features. It helps at time to initiate a talk. For instance: Let’s say once you enter in to the interview room you can always say, “What a nice set up/office you have.” Or, “You really have a wonderful office.” It makes you feel comfortable once you have greeted the interviewer.
¨ Maintain a proper eye contact and smile broadly at the time of greeting the interviewer/s.(don’t forget that. It’s very important to build the chemistry).
¨ Shake hands firmly- If the interview extends his hand to you as a nice gesture then ensure that you shake hands with him firmly. Also, ensure that your take your hands back after 3 seconds.
¨ Use your body language (posture and gestures) and tone of your voice throughout the interview- As they say, “ Action speaks louder than words.” During interview your posture (your body position) and gesture (your body movement) should compliment your words that you speak. So nod your head to show the interviewer that you are paying attention, flash your eyes by raising your eyebrows occasionally, and move your hands to substantiate your points
¨ Add humor – speak with some humor if you can. But this is very situational. This will alleviate the pressure from you if you are nervous.
¨ Avoid sounding monotonous- Maintain a good pace while speaking at the time of interview. Develop a good intonation so that you don’t sound monotonous and flat all the time.
¨ Think about the speed with which you speak: Speaking too quickly could make you appear nervous; speaking too slowly will drain the energy from your interviewer. Try to vary your speed occasionally. Remember- Quickening your pace may be appropriate to convey enthusiasm. Slowing down may be useful when you want to appear more thoughtful, considered, and mature.
¨ Minimize any distracting body language- Avoid any distracting body movement as it emanates some negative signals to the interviews. Like: Fidgeting with your hands or playing with your pen, ring, cuff links, curl of hair etc, tensing your shoulders, biting or chewing your lips. Crossing or uncrossing your legs frequently.
¨ Practice in front of a mirror or record your mock interview-Flick to a random question written in a book or in your notebook and read it aloud as if an interviewer has asked it to you. Then respond out loud. Watch yourself in the mirror and try to observe. You can also ask someone to record your style of answering using a camcorder or you phone.
Practice Affirmations and get over your fear, Refer to the awesome Career Book, Your Career Build It Your Way
¨ Never answer question about which you are not sure- If you are honest in saying that you do not know the answer, people will appreciate it more than if you guess something absurd. It’s not mandatory to answer all the questions in an interview.
¨ Wish all members before and after the interview- It has been noticed that many candidates do not feel it necessary to wish the members and many others skip it due to nervousness. It does not give a good first impression of the candidate if he does not wish the board members. And please do check the time by your watch at the time of greeting your interviewer/s.
¨ Drawing the attention of the interviews- Another thing to keep in mind is that while a question is being asked to you; focus all your attention to the person asking the question. But while you are answering the question, address everyone on the interview panel. This will highlight your attentiveness and allow you to have everybody’s attention. If only one person is taking your interview then it quite obvious that you need to look at him/her while answering.
¨ Smoking is injurious- If you are a smoker than make sure that you use a mouth freshener before you go in for your interview; you could be in trouble if the interviewer is allergic to the smell. Even if he/she is not, why take a chance. If possible try not to smoke before an interview. It is important to smell the rat and not smell like a rat.
And the list goes on… There are a lot of things that one needs to keep in mind at the time of interview or while preparing for an interview. Remember- you can always rule the world if you want to. The choice is all yours…Following some principles (mentioned above) one can gear up for any interview and make the road to success easier in no time.
I’m sharing a set of Interview FAQs with the expected answers for your reference. 90% of the cases you will find these questions are being asked. So have a quick glance at it.
There are varied forms of interviews like: Panel, In-depth, stress, formal, informal and so on. However, preparing some expected questions can help you to be at the top always…
All the Best!
Best Interview Tips For Personal Interview – Job Interview Questions And Answers
It’s an eternal truth that cracking interviews remains one of the toughest challenges to combat for all aspirants or job seekers. Across the globe, any discussion or session on clearing interviews has been a buzzword!!! At times I feel that Interviews are more like real life movies for which there is an outline within which one needs to act. Also, it would not be wrong to say that it’s like a game. You know that you can do the job-you just need some help in persuading interviewers to give you the chance to prove it.
As I mentioned previously that interviews are like games, and it’s all about succeeding in it. Don’t get surprised!!! Indeed, interview is a game. Remember that. And like any other game, interviewing has rules. It’s true that some of the rules are unspoken and an interviewer will never tell you face to face that you have broken a rule, but if you break the rules, you will not get offered the job.
Follow the rules, and you will get the job. It’s that simple. Because the person who gets the job is not always the best person for the job; more often than not, they simply know the most about how to get appointed.
Let’s be very practical. Many experts have suggested through articles, interviews, forums etc., that one needs to very original in one’s approach at the time of interview. Many people followed this principle as a sincere and prospective candidate, but the end result was not very conducive. And Trust me, with practice even you can master this art of interview questions and answers and find career success.
You can also follow the Power Of Affirmations, taught by my colleague and author Sudakshina Bhattacharya through her successful book, Your Career Build It Your Way.
Many of us have heard these famous lines at the time of feedback from the interviewer/s-“Better luck next time, you were good but our job demands something else, you are not the right fit for this job, thanks you so much for being here…”and it goes on…Surprising right!!! Don’t be.
Always remember- always speak what the interviewer wants to hear from you. Or expects you to speak…Therefore, at times you need to act by projecting what you are not. And that’s why you prepare yourself hard; attend personality development classes; joining language classes and what not. This clearly states that the world follows a particular dimension within which we need to enact… Otherwise, no matter how original or good you are, if you fail to live up to the preformed standards, you are always going to fall short to the finishing line. And this is very much applicable when we talk about ‘facing interviews’.
Interview means a medium through which and interviewee answers or responds to some sacrosanct questions asked by the interviewer/s. So don’t be afraid of interviews anymore…Read on…
“Oh! God knows what will happen in the interview tomorrow? What all questions will I be asked? Will I be able to answer all the questions? What if I look nervous and then panic when questions are shot to me?” Well, all these thoughts must have haunted or have been haunting you. Sit back, relax and take a deep breadth. Don’t worry if you are nervous!!! Surprised to hear that! Be nervous before you face any interview. Don’t ever forget that nervousness precedes every big event.
And all achievers in life feel that pinch before the ultimate outcome as they are concerned. So be nervous, but don’t ever panic. If you are nervous then it states that you are concerned ‘with the way or manner’ it’s going to welcome you. However, too much of nervousness leads to panic and that’s something one should try to avoid. Breathing easy, having a glass of water, and going through your resume are some simple ways in which you handle your nervousness easily. These not only allows you to calm down but also help you in handling those initial questions about yourself in a relaxed manner, enabling you to get over your nervousness.
So, the golden principle is to prepare…prepare and prepare…Remember there is no substitute to preparation when it comes to interview.
By Job Interview Preparation I mean- Doing your homework properly and on time.
Anyone can improve his performance at interview. No matter how much you hate interviews, no matter how long it has been since you had an interview, no matter how nervous you might feel, I can guarantee that doing your home work will boost your confidence and improve your chances of securing a job.
Being invited for a Job Interview is a significant step.
Many employers see hundreds of resumes or application forms and shortlist only a handful of candidates to invite to interview. You should pat yourself on the back for getting this far. So don’t mess it up now.There are some people who are naturally extrovert and able to excel during the interview. But for most people it’s doesn’t come naturally. And that’s why success at interviews usually comes down to good preparation and practice. In fact, I’d say that 90 percent of what determines success at interview comes down to good preparation and rehearsal.
Understanding the secrets of How To Get Interview Success.
It goes without saying that interviewers want to hire good candidates. But what exactly are they looking for?The answer lies in ‘ three Cs’, elements of any Job Interview Success.
¨ Competence- Candidates who are equipped with knowledge, skills, leadership, to name a few that can bring difference to their organization.¨ Commitment- Candidates who are going to stay for a while proving their mettle and sheer commitment towards the organizational development.
Things to be followed by any candidate to get the best of the jobs at any level:
¨ Studying job adverts for crucial information- Use a highlighter to pick phrases in the job advert. Then brainstorm at least possible questions that an interviewer could ask you about each of those key phrases.
¨ Researching your prospective employer: Be prepared to invest efforts in researching each prospective employer. Avoid simply memorizing facts about the organization- try to form your own opinion.(Read from company’s website, articles, overview of the industry, talking to people in the industry, contacting the employees of the organization you are applying for.)
¨ Dressing appropriately for interviews- Bear in mind that interviewers (often subconsciously) believe that your appearance is the outward manifestation of your personality. So what does your appearance say about your personality? ( I’m sure every job seeker knows that definition of power dressing)
¨ Carry a smart bag or a file (which is not torn)- It’s imperative to carry some good bag or file in which you are going to carry your credentials.
¨ Building rapport with interviewers: Interpersonal chemistry is incredibly important during interview. Don’t underestimate the power of smile. With a good pleasing smile you can always put your employers in a good mood.
¨ Reach the venue on time- Make sure that you reach the venue in time. You shouldn’t reach an hour before your interview though. Rather, ensure that you should reach at least 30 minutes before the interview. Don’t get late, or else you know the repercussions?
¨ Pre-plan some small talks- Once you reach the venue, you might start feeling the pressure. So the best thing is to make your self feel comfortable by looking at the reception area or observing the building features. It helps at time to initiate a talk. For instance: Let’s say once you enter in to the interview room you can always say, “What a nice set up/office you have.” Or, “You really have a wonderful office.” It makes you feel comfortable once you have greeted the interviewer.
¨ Maintain a proper eye contact and smile broadly at the time of greeting the interviewer/s.(don’t forget that. It’s very important to build the chemistry).
¨ Shake hands firmly- If the interview extends his hand to you as a nice gesture then ensure that you shake hands with him firmly. Also, ensure that your take your hands back after 3 seconds.
¨ Use your body language (posture and gestures) and tone of your voice throughout the interview- As they say, “ Action speaks louder than words.” During interview your posture (your body position) and gesture (your body movement) should compliment your words that you speak. So nod your head to show the interviewer that you are paying attention, flash your eyes by raising your eyebrows occasionally, and move your hands to substantiate your points
¨ Add humor – speak with some humor if you can. But this is very situational. This will alleviate the pressure from you if you are nervous.
¨ Avoid sounding monotonous- Maintain a good pace while speaking at the time of interview. Develop a good intonation so that you don’t sound monotonous and flat all the time.
¨ Think about the speed with which you speak: Speaking too quickly could make you appear nervous; speaking too slowly will drain the energy from your interviewer. Try to vary your speed occasionally. Remember- Quickening your pace may be appropriate to convey enthusiasm. Slowing down may be useful when you want to appear more thoughtful, considered, and mature.
¨ Minimize any distracting body language- Avoid any distracting body movement as it emanates some negative signals to the interviews. Like: Fidgeting with your hands or playing with your pen, ring, cuff links, curl of hair etc, tensing your shoulders, biting or chewing your lips. Crossing or uncrossing your legs frequently.
¨ Practice in front of a mirror or record your mock interview-Flick to a random question written in a book or in your notebook and read it aloud as if an interviewer has asked it to you. Then respond out loud. Watch yourself in the mirror and try to observe. You can also ask someone to record your style of answering using a camcorder or you phone.
Practice Affirmations and get over your fear, Refer to the awesome Career Book, Your Career Build It Your Way
¨ Never answer question about which you are not sure- If you are honest in saying that you do not know the answer, people will appreciate it more than if you guess something absurd. It’s not mandatory to answer all the questions in an interview.
¨ Wish all members before and after the interview- It has been noticed that many candidates do not feel it necessary to wish the members and many others skip it due to nervousness. It does not give a good first impression of the candidate if he does not wish the board members. And please do check the time by your watch at the time of greeting your interviewer/s.
¨ Drawing the attention of the interviews- Another thing to keep in mind is that while a question is being asked to you; focus all your attention to the person asking the question. But while you are answering the question, address everyone on the interview panel. This will highlight your attentiveness and allow you to have everybody’s attention. If only one person is taking your interview then it quite obvious that you need to look at him/her while answering.
¨ Smoking is injurious- If you are a smoker than make sure that you use a mouth freshener before you go in for your interview; you could be in trouble if the interviewer is allergic to the smell. Even if he/she is not, why take a chance. If possible try not to smoke before an interview. It is important to smell the rat and not smell like a rat.
And the list goes on… There are a lot of things that one needs to keep in mind at the time of interview or while preparing for an interview. Remember- you can always rule the world if you want to. The choice is all yours…Following some principles (mentioned above) one can gear up for any interview and make the road to success easier in no time.
I’m sharing a set of Interview FAQs with the expected answers for your reference. 90% of the cases you will find these questions are being asked. So have a quick glance at it.
There are varied forms of interviews like: Panel, In-depth, stress, formal, informal and so on. However, preparing some expected questions can help you to be at the top always…
All the Best!
Best Interview Tips For Personal Interview – Job Interview Questions And Answers
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