How well are you able to market yourself during interviews? Have you ever experienced a thaw? Have you ever encountered an interview question where you were unable to understand what the interviewer was asking or where you were able to respond, but weren’t sure if your response was the correct one? My top ten interview advice for this month is shown below. These are just timely reminders of the fundamentals, not rocket science, as someone noted on Twitter:
Thoroughly review the job description
Before applying for a profile, you must make sure you have read the job description in its entirety. However, it’s equally crucial to check your qualifications against those listed in the job description before attending the interview. You can learn a lot by going through the JD repeatedly. One benefit is that it will enable you to pose pertinent questions during the interview, giving a favorable impression of the potential employer.
1. Research the organization
Do your research on the company because interview anxiety affects everyone. You should be anxious since it’s a huge event. The argument you make for why you ought to be seated in that interview room or in front of a panel, though, will begin to take shape in your own mind if you begin with some extensive study. An effective first step to conquering anxiety is to have some confidence.
Actually, a website’s job pages may reveal a lot about an employer. You can learn a lot about how an organization approaches hiring by looking at things like their core principles, how simple it is to research available positions, and how they respond to your application.
2. Examine the Questions You’ll Be Asked During the Interview
Make sure to create a list of potential interviewer-inquisitive questions. You may either sign up for an interview with Interview Stream through the Pomerantz Career Centre or practice your interviewing techniques with a buddy. The Interviewstream will ask you questions that are taken directly from real-world job interviews, and you’ll see the interviewer’s comments. All you need is a camera, or you may plan an interview in the Pomerantz Career Center’s interview stream room!
3. Expect the unexpected
Your interviewer could try to surprise you: According to a poll conducted by OfficeAngels, 90% of employers ask “killer” questions during job interviews. Even if it is hard to prepare for every challenging question, such as “How would your colleagues describe you?” strive to project a calm and collected demeanor. If necessary, ask the interviewer to repeat the question, but don’t try to sidestep it. Hopefully, you won’t suffer the same fate as the B&Q job applicants who had to dance to “Blame it on the Boogie”!
4. Continue to project a positive attitude
During interviews, a person’s body language is extremely important. Employers search for applicants with the ideal personalities as well as the necessary abilities and expertise in today’s fiercely competitive environment. The candidate’s body language and behaviors give subtle indications that interviewers are adept at interpreting. To see what your body language says about you as a person, work on your posture and practice it in mock interview situations or in front of a mirror. The interviewer gets a confident and favorable impression of your personality from your body language. It frequently has an impact on the interviewer’s choice to hire the applicant.
5. Interviewer knowledge
No two interviewing procedures are alike. You could be interviewed by a recruitment consultant, the HR department, the line manager, all three separately, or any mix of the three depending on the company and the position. Each will approach the interview with a distinct plan in mind. This is crucial to keep in mind because each should require a somewhat different approach from you.
The initial screener is always the recruiting consultant. Their job is to match your qualifications to those of the company and pitch you as a candidate. With each qualified applicant, the consultant recommends to the business, they build credibility. Spend some time courting them, especially if you believe they lack knowledge (which is a typical critique).
6. Ask questions
Don’t merely respond to questions that are posed to you. The majority of interviewers will ask you if you have any last questions before concluding an executive-level interview. You may also use this as a chance to determine whether the job and the organization align well with your own qualifications and career objectives. Bring a few targeted questions to the interview that you can use to demonstrate your interest in the job and determine whether it’s a good fit for you.
7. Keep your etiquette in mind
Being selected is preferable to choosing. Tell the interviewer why the organization and the job opportunity are appealing to you. Request a business card from them and then write an email or note of appreciation expressing how much you value the opportunity to speak with them and how intrigued you are. Use this chance to highlight your greatest strengths.
8. Organise your day in advance
Having everything planned out can reduce your anxiety and guarantee that nothing goes wrong on the day of the interview. At least a few days prior to the interview, decide what you’re going to dress (smart but not too formal will make a good impression). This will eliminate any potential delays caused by last-minute frantic washing of your lucky shirt because you discover it has a huge ketchup glob down the front.
9. Relax
Even though you might believe that this job is ideal for you, it could not be. There are alternative careers available. If you keep this in mind, you’ll relieve some of the strain that comes with feeling that this is your one and only chance to succeed.
Relax and use the interview as practice for the next one if you feel it’s not going well. You never know, if you use this strategy, you could even bounce back.
10. Following the interview, follow up
The follow-up phase of the executive interview process. Send a thank you note after your final interview with senior management to stay at the top of the interviewer’s or recruiter’s list. Your enthusiasm and gratitude for the chance should be expressed in the letter, which should also express your gratitude to the interviewers for their time.
Maintaining a drafting email at the ready and adding details as you leave the interview will ensure that they receive it straight away. Instead of having your email get buried amid other, more essential emails, this will assist them in forming a mental link with you.