INTERVIEW TIPS

Interview

1. INTERVIEW

In common parlance, the word "interview" refers to a one-on-one conversation with one person acting in the role of the interviewer and the other in the role of the interviewee. The interviewer asks questions and the interviewee responds. Interviews usually take place face to face and in person, although modern communications technologies such as the internet have enabled conversations to happen through video conferencing, etc. Job interviews are conducted for the purpose of evaluating the suitability of the interviewee for a specific position.

Interviewing for a job can be nerve-wracking. You may feel uncomfortable “selling” yourself or fielding unexpected questions. Or the prospect of having to meet and impress new people may be enough to trigger anxiety. However, interviewing is a skill you can learn. With the right tips and techniques, you can become a master at sharing your value with potential employers, presenting yourself effectively at interviews, and getting the job you want.

2. Prepare, Prepare and Prepare

You’ve just landed a job interview for a position you really want. Congratulations. Now, you know that you only get one chance to impress, but how exactly do you do that? Given all of the conflicting advice out there and the changing rules of getting a job, it’s no wonder that job seekers are confused about how to best prepare for and perform in an interview.

Interviews range from conversations lasting a few minutes to several formal meetings, sometimes with more than one interviewer. Interviews allow you to demonstrate that you are the right candidate for the job.

Most people know they need to show up to the interview having done their homework, but the fact is,” You can never invest enough in terms of preparation”. The better prepared you are, the more relaxed and comfortable you will be when the questions start coming your way. 

3. Do your research 

Gather information about the company and the position available. Try to specifically relate your experience to the duties the job opportunity entails.

4.  Practice interviewing

Enlist a friend - better yet, a group of friends and colleagues - to ask you sample questions. Practice making eye contact.

5. Practice Positive Body Language

Pay attention to body language and verbal presentation. Eliminate verbal fillers, like “uh,” and “um.” Practice using positive body language to signal confidence, even when you’re not feeling it. Instead of tentatively entering an interview with your head down and eyes averted, try standing tall with your shoulders back, smiling and maintaining eye contact, and delivering a firm handshake. It will make you feel more self-confident and help to put the other person at ease. 

6. Handle logistics early

Have your clothes, resume, and directions to the interview site ready ahead of time, to avoid any extra stress. 

7. Be in touch with your references 

Don’t let your references be the last to know about your job search, or even worse, get an unexpected call from a potential employer. Many offers are withdrawn over bad references. Why take that chance? Be in touch with your references right away to seek help and to avoid surprises on either side.

A few questions that you should ponder over: 

• Are your references relevant to your current job search? Who should you add or subtract? 
• Are there any reference gaps? Gaps that an employer will question? What is your story about those gaps?
• Can a colleague, vendor, customer, or board member be added to replace or enhance the list?
• What is the current status of your relationship with your references? 

8. Ace the first 30 seconds

First impressions matter. John Lees, a career strategist points to psychological research that shows that people form opinions about your personality and intelligence in the first 30 seconds of the interview. “How you speak, how you enter the room, and how comfortable you look are really important,” he says. People who perform best in interviews start off by speaking clearly but slowly, walk with confidence, and think through what “props” they will carry so they don’t appear over-cluttered. Lees suggests rehearsing your entrance several times. You can even record yourself on video and play it back without the sound so you can see precisely how you are presenting yourself and make adjustments. The same applies to phone interviews. You need to use the first 30 seconds of the conversation to establish yourself as a confident, calm voice on the line.

9. Anticipate likely questions

Anticipate the likely questions and be prepared with answers. The following tips might help:

• Review your research about the company and the position. 
• Make a list of key attributes for your desired job. 
• Write sample interview questions that are likely to uncover the attributes you identified as important.
• Create answers to the sample interview questions based on a template such as “Situation – Action –         Result” with specific details from your work experience. 
• Practice answering the interview questions and follow-up questions so that you are very familiar with several detailed examples/stories. Rehearse key points.  

10.  Ask questions during the interview

Being prepared and asking great questions about the position and the employer shows your interest during the interview. You can't just be an effective responder. You need to assert yourself, too. By the time you reach the interviewing stage, you should be clear about what you want and what you offer to the company.

Try to be thoughtful and self-reflective in both your interview questions and your answers. Show the interviewee you know yourself—your strengths and your weaknesses. Be prepared to talk about which areas would present challenges and how you would address them. Admitting true areas of weakness is much more convincing than claiming: "I have what you need and I can do anything I put my mind to."

11. Do your research

Google every person you know you are going to meet or think you might meet in the interview, especially senior executives. Learn what might be common areas of interest in advance. 

12 Listen and pay attention 

If you listen during the interview and look for commonalities, they will seem omnipresent. When your interviewer mentions his or her alma mater, weekend plans, kids, or favorite restaurant, you have the chance to ask questions and find common ground. You can also take a look around the office. Do you see a book you’ve read, a product you want or just bought, or a photo you like? If so, you have a means to discuss commonalities. 

13. Lead with your interests and passions 

How you introduce yourself and talk about yourself in the interview matters. If you integrate facts and interests into your spiel about yourself, then you create opportunities to connect. After the "What do you do?" or "Tell me about yourself" query, tell your story. 

14. Find common ground in the context

 Where you are meeting, your surroundings, and the purpose of your connection are all reference points. There is a reason why both of you find yourself at this unique place and time. Why are you both in this business? Do you know the any of the same people? While searching for commonalities, avoid pummeling your interviewer with a series of set questions. Let the interview happen naturally, but keep an eye out for hints of commonalities. Once you do, the world will feel like a smaller, friendlier place and your anxiety over interviewing will shrink.

 15. When it’s going poorly 

There are times when it’s clear the interview is not going well. Perhaps the interviewer is not engaged or you stumbled over answers to some important questions. Resist the temptation to agonize over what’s already happened. “That’s a surefire way to get lost,” Lees says. Instead, focus on the moment. “Concentrate on answering the current question as if it’s the first,” he says. You can also redirect the conversation by acknowledging the situation. You might say something like, “I’m not sure if I’m giving you what you need” and see how the interviewer reacts. “You just have to be sure you aren’t digging a deeper hole,” says Lees.