Tips for a Great Job Interview - Part 2

Focus on the Details

In Part 1 we ended on how to present oneself during an interview. Now let’s talk about the little things that are important to remember. This should be obvious, but when we’re stressed or nervous the details tend to get away from us. Before leaving your home (or turning on the webcam) for the interview, go through a self-checklist. Are your nails clean and cut? Are your clothes stain free and your shoes shined? Did you remember your trousers? Yes, even for Skype interviews. Many potential employers and interviewers focus on these small details, and might even stop considering you as a candidate due to something like dirty nails or a weak handshake. Focusing on the details, not just of your appearance, but of the quality of your resume and the way you interact with everyone, can help set you apart from the other candidates.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do stay professional during interviews. Don’t get too familiar or informal with the interviewer. Keep your language professional, and stick to positives as much as possible, in all aspects. If they ask you why you left your previous job, don’t start complaining about how horrible and incompetent everyone over there was (true or not). You never know who knows whom, who’s friends with whom, or who’s married to whose sister, so make it a rule not to start badmouthing or being negative. Positivity will always be more constructive than negativity. And if you really can’t make it positive, keep it neutral.

Another don’t you want to avoid in your interview is saying, “I don’t know.” This is what all the prepping and research you did will help you avoid. Know what your goals are. Have a mission statement. What are your values and principles? You should try to be able to relate everything to the company you want to work for as well.

A few more Do’s:

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• Maintain eye contact
• Bring a cheat sheet
• Bring extra copies of your CV
• Prepare questions YOU have for the interviewer
• Be confident!

A few more Don’ts:

• Don’t mumble
• Don’t give unnecessary personal information unrelated to the job
• Don’t stress too much (Tip: Chew gum before an interview; great for reducing anxiety)
•  And finally, don’t over prepare

 

The last one might seem to directly contradict the entire message of the article, but one can be too prepared. These are all guidelines, and it’s good to internalise them and practice them in mock interviews, but don’t expect to be able to follow them 100%. The point is for you to get comfortable following these hints and tricks, so that they come to you naturally, as opposed to you rehearsing your exact answer to every possible question and reciting your responses like a stricken robot. Do your research and preparation, and then take a breath. The best thing you can do is have faith in yourself and be confident.

 

 

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