TIPS FOR THE INTERVIEW
Entering The Room
Prior to opening the door, adjust your attire so that is falls well.Stub out your cigarette, if a smoker and before entering enquire by saying, “May I come in Sir/Madam”.If they allow you to do so, make sure you shut the door behind you softly.Face the panel and confidently say “Good day Sir/Madam.” If the members of the interview board want to shake hand then offer a firm grip maintaining eye contact and a smile. Seek permission to sit down. If the interviewers are standing wait for them to sit down first before sitting. An alert interviewer would diffuse the tense situation with light-hearted humour and immediately set a rapport with the interviewers.
Lead The Interview
A good interviewer would be quick to settle and begin to lead the interviewers.
Enthusiasm
The Interviewer normally pays more attention if you display an enthusiasm in whatever you say.This enthusiasm comes across in the energetic way you put forward you ideas. You should maintain a cheerful disposition throughout the interviewer is, a pleasant countenance holds the interviewers interest.
Be Brief
Brevity is the hall mark of a good communicator. It is recommended that you volunteer information but this must be done in a lucid and to-the-pointer manner. An over-talkative or verbose person is instantly disliked and misjudged.
Don’t Bluff
If you do not know the answer to a question, it is better to acknowledge not knowing it rather than trying to bluff your way through it. The interviewer will respect you integrity and honesty. In our experience interviewers immediately take a stance of grilling a candidate if they suspect him or her of lying.
Humor
A little humor or with thrown in the discussion occasionally enables the interviewer to look at the pleasant side of your personality. By injecting humor in the situation doesn’t mean that you should keep telling jokes but to make a passing comment that perhaps, makes the interviewer smile.
Interviewer Fatigue
Mostly interviews are conducted the whole day leading to fatigued minds. A little humor as a starter will ease the fatigued minds. However, if you do not have the knack of humor, it is better not to get into it. You must be proactive in offering information about your-self as the interviewers will be willing listeners.
Be Well Mannered
The way you conduct yourself reflects your upbringing and your culture. It is good to project an air of humility. Over confidence is often misinterpreted by interviewees as Arrogance. Polite statements as recommended.
Avoid Slang
During an interview, slang will probably not be understood and certainly not appreciated. Your communication need to be as formal and explicit as possible.
Be Poised
Your posture during the interview adds or diminishes your personality. You should keep all certificates, testimonials and other relevant documents neatly on the table. Mannerisms such as playing with your tie, theatrical gesticulations, shake legs or sitting with arms slung over back of adjoining chair must be avoided. It is vital to be conscious of your posture and gesticulations as they tell a lot about our personality.
Ask Question, If Necessary
Many interviewees believe that an interview is a one-way street – the interviewee is the hapless interviewer “victim” struggling to be selected and the interviewer is the ‘all-powerful’ being in whose hands lies the destiny of the interview. It is myth. You may ask a question/clarify information if necessary. Interviewers quite in order and mush appreciate it.
Eye Contact
You must maintain eye contact with the panel, right through the interview. This shows your self-confidence and honesty. Many interviewees, while answering, tend to look away. This conveys you are concealing your own anxiety, fear and lack of confidence. Maintaining an eye contact is a difficult process. As the circumstances in an interview are difficult the value of eye contact is tremendous in making a personal impact.
Listen Carefully
It is imperative for you to listen carefully to the questions being asked. If a question is not clear, it would be quite in order for you to seek clarification on the same. Seeking a clarification is far better than giving an irrelevant answer. It is very annoying for interviewers when an interviewee misinterprets the questions and answers by saying something, which is irrelevant.
Be Natural
Many interviewees adopt a stance, which is not their natural self. It is amusing for interviewers when a candidate launches into an accent which he or she cannot sustain consistently through the interview or adopt mannerisms that are inconsistent with their own personalities. Interviewers appreciate a natural person rather than an actor. It is best for you to talk in the natural manner because you come across as genuine.
Guard Against
Some Common ailing candidates must guard against are:
Poor physical projection
Lack of courtesy and manners
Being over aggressive
Dishonesty
Lack of life
Lack of eye contact
Lack of knowledge
Non-punctual
Extreme opinions
Superficial answers
Bluffing
Causal approach
Typical Questions
Q: “Tell Me About Yourself.”?
This is very general question in which you can say almost anything about yourself. Prepare yourself for such a question so that you can tell about those things which are important such as basic details, your traits, achievements, aspiration, motivations and ambitions. Remember that a two sentence answer will only convey how little there is to know about you. You should be able to say a lot without being verbose or self-opinionated. You must give direction to the interview.
Q:“What is Your Strength’s and Weakness?”
This is a question that has stumped many an interviewee. It is asked to ascertain how much you know about yourself. A person who knows oneself well is likely to be more effective in life. Many interviewees find it difficult to verbalize their strengths and weaknesses. Interviewees try to give a weakness that will not jeopardize their chances in the interview. Interviewers view statements of weaknesses as being very disarming. Remember to go to your next interview having thought out well in advance what your strengths and weaknesses are.
Q:“Tell Me About Your Family Background.”
This question is asked by interviewers in order to determine the social, cultural, religious and economic milleu you come from.It could provide the basic attitudes that you come from.The best approach for such a question is to bring out not only the facts of a parentage and background but also some of the good principles they have taught you.In our experience, most interviewees simply mention their father’s name and occupations. They may sometimes tell us about their brothers and sisters with special emphasis of those who may have done well in life.
Q:“Why Did You Choose Your Particular Field Of Work?”
This is question is asked to get know your temperament, attitude and personal qualities It is advisable at this point to bring out your best qualities linking the with the job. For example, you may say, “I choose to be in a sales job because I am an extrovert and love traveling. I like meeting people and this job gives me the opportunity to do so.
Q: “Why do you consider yourself suitable for a seat?”
The organization is concerned whether you have the requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes and habits for the particular seat.They are also concerned with your personality profile, which includes your psychological and emotional make up, upbringing, values and motivations.This would require you to thoroughly understand before the interview, the career description and specific requirements from the candidate.
