No matter how seasoned a professional might be, interviews can be a quite nerve-wrecking experience for many individuals looking for a new job. In the current day market and intense competition, it is essential for interview candidates to ace their interviews and this competitive pressure can make even experienced professionals nervous.
Here are some tips that can help interview candidates to boost their confidence, reduce their nervousness and deliver a good impression during their interview.
> Do you Own Research
Interview candidates should conduct their own research about the company and its business where they have been called up for an interview. Knowing about a company, its products and services, its competition, its market environment etc. will provide the candidate with a better understanding of the company’s needs and expectations and enable them to better sell themselves during the interview.
Also, knowing about the company’s culture towards gaining insight regarding the potential happiness you might gain working for the company. This research can be done by conducting an online search about the company, speaking to people you might know to work in the company, reading online employee reviews on various discussion forums etc.
Candidates need to ensure that they look sharp and appear presentable during the interview as the first impression you create can be a lasting one. Even if the company has a casual working environment, candidates should dress to portray confidence.
>Look Sharp
Candidates need to ensure that they look sharp and appear presentable during the interview as the first impression you create can be a lasting one. Even if the company has a casual working environment, candidates should dress to portray confidence.
> Be Prepared
Candidates should always carry additional copies of their resumes in case they need to be interviewed by other departmental managers on the same day. The candidates should also arrange their reference letters, proof of previous employment, academic credentials in handy in case they are required during the interview. This shows that the candidate is organised and portrays a positive image in front of the interviewer.
> Be Punctual
Never arrive for an interview late as it portrays a negative first impression in the mind of the interviewer and the hiring managers. There is no harm coming for an interview half an hour before your scheduled interview.
> Prepare answers for some frequently asked questions
Candidates can prepare for some frequently asked questions well in advance to enable them to be ready for such questions and answer these questions confidently. Some of the most commonly asked questions during a job interview include.
- Tell us something about yourself?
- What do you consider as your greatest strength and weakness?
- Tell us about your work History?
- Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
- Describe a time when you failed and how did you respond to your failure?
- Why did you leave your last job and what are your expectations while working with us?
Listen to the Interview
Candidates often do not listen to the interview questions properly and end up answering for a question not asked during the interview. It is vital that a candidate patiently listens to the interviewer's questions and in case there are some clarifications required, the candidate should feel free to ask for clarification.> Provide Examples
Experienced professionals should provide examples from their previous work experience while answering questions asked during an interview. Providing examples can showcase a candidates work experience and knowledge much accurately rather than merely responding to questions asked.> Communicate what you are bringing to the Table
An experienced professional should always communicate the interviewer what they will bring to the table, as it will help the candidate sell themselves better during an interview. This can be done by providing your past achievements, providing statistics regarding your contribution to your previous jobs etc. A candidate's accomplishments are their biggest asset during a job interview, and they should never shy away from communicating them to the interviewer.> Ask Questions
Many candidates fail to ask questions to the interviewer. These questions can provide them with valuable information regarding the company, the job and most importantly, the companies expectations from the candidate. This can give the candidates with some insights which can further enable to answer their interview questions much confidently and as frame their answer as per the expectations of the interviewer.It is understandable that interviews can give even the most experienced and professional candidates some jitters, but being prepared can help to calm their nerves, appear confident and sell themselves better.
