INTERVIEW TIPS
Facing a job interview is never easy even if you have been through the process many times. It’s always a new and different experience as the company and the people who interview you constantly change, however what stays the same is the fact that you have to market yourself in a manner that will secure a job for yourself.
We have listed a few ways that will help you prepare for an interview:
Research
It is extremely important that you do as much research on the company that you have applied to since questions such as, “What do you know about our company?” will certainly come up. Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions. Remember that’s the only thing you should research, find out as much as possible about who is interviewing you through LinkedIn so that you are fully prepared.
Practice
The saying, ‘practice makes perfect’ relates perfectly to interviews. The most important thing you need to take into account with interviews is that if you are prepared, then you will do well. So go through typical job interview questions that you can find online and practice answering them with a friend or a family member.
Dress for Success
Make sure you pick out the best attire possible for your job interview. Your outfit should also relate to the company that you are being interviewed by. So, once again it is necessary to do thorough research on the company beforehand. Some companies expect all their employees to wear suits whereas others prefer a more casual look so be sure to know what type of company they are.
Get in Early
Forget getting to the interview on time; make sure you’re there 15 minutes before the time that they are expecting you. Remember not too early and definitely not later. 15 minutes is the perfect amount of time to impress the interviewers and it also gives you enough time to analyze the company’s culture from the inside which is something you can bring up during the interview process.
Stay Relaxed
Do not get nervous during an interview, employers need to see their potential candidates handle stressful situations in the right way and nothing is more stressful than an interview. So, stay calm, do not ramble, fold your hands or even lean back your seat and make sure to answer the questions accurately. To make sure you do that, always listen to the question properly and take your time in answering them.
Follow up
24 hours after the interview is done follow up by sending the interviewer a thank you note through an email or even a short phone call. By doing this you are reiterating your interest in the position. Do not make multiple calls or send a large amount of emails to find out where you are in the process, as it can be frustrating to the person who interviewed you.
INTERVIEW PREPARATION
Interviews. The word alone is enough to send shivers down your spine. While some of us seem to breeze through them with an exceeding amount of confidence, the other half of the spectrum wishes a doppelganger could do the job for them. Unfortunately, parallel universes are still a theory so this is not really an option! A better idea would be to challenge yourself, face your fears, and tell yourself that you will give it your absolute best shot and better yet, secure that position. Believe it or not there are some very simple things that people tend to overlook during the process which can either make it or break it for you.
For those of you who have been anxiously twiddling your thumbs dreading that upcoming interview, perhaps these stress-busters from Mankind should help you take a deep breath.
5 Tips to help you nail that job interview!
Relax:
First of all, do not panic. Keep calm. Just as in any emergency situation if you lose your head there is really nothing useful you can accomplish other than make things significantly worse. By forcing yourself to relax, you are allowing your brain to think clearly, make rational decisions as well as act like a responsible human being. Once you get that much anticipated call, remember to speak coherently, to the point and politely. Then begin your preparation process. In Sri Lanka, it is quite common for the whole family to get worked up about an interview which only makes you feel even more pressured, which is why our advice is to try to not let it get to you!
Trick Questions:
Just as you think you could not be more prepared for the interview; you are suddenly bombarded with a question that you suspect has an underlying motive but are not sure exactly what. A good example is when the interviewer asks you what you consider to be your negative traits. This throws most people off as your common sense tells you they most certainly do not want to hear you are weak or not suited for the job. So, what do you do? Well, these are trick questions so the only way to answer, is with wit. We recommend that you turn the negative into a positive; for instance, you could say that you do not take much time for yourself because you cannot relax unless a project is seen through to the end. Voila, negative and positive in one!
Describing Yourself:
It is easy to get caught up in all sorts of stories when your interviewer asks you to tell them a bit about yourself, but once again you must remember you are applying for a job. They are not really looking for you to describe that time you spent with your aunt on a day trip to the hill country where you discovered a new type of flower. What they are looking for is information about the skills you have acquired in your previous positions that would help you do this job well. In short, what the company gains by employing you.
Dressing Up:
Here, most people seem to make some of the most basic mistakes. You must always remember to dress for the job you want not what you feel like. Sure, any day is a jeans and t- shirt type of day, but this would not really be received with much enthusiasm at an interview. It all boils down to preparation; if you feel that you do not have something appropriate to wear and if you have some time anywhere, hop into a shop to pick up an outfit. It need not be expensive, just relevant. It is incredibly important that if you are to show confidence, you must embody it.
Punctuality:
This is something invaluable not only for interviews but for life in general. It shows consideration for other people’s time as well as a want to work on a timely basis not to mention seriousness. Having said that, avoid getting there way too early; after all, your interviewer is a busy person and he might not appreciate being disturbed in a meeting just to come down and meet you. Around 15 minutes early is sufficient as it also gives you time to fill out any forms you need to. Unfortunately, we have had a lot of trouble not just getting people to show up for their own interviews, but even getting them to let us know early on if they cannot make it. In fact, we have noted 30% of no shows without the courteously of informing either. Hence, we have now introduced a policy of blacklisting such candidates as it saves time for everyone, and also opens up doors for other potential applicants.
Apart from the above technicalities, you should also remember to be very involved throughout the interview. Do not let your interviewer ramble on while you have your mind on your lunch. Listen carefully to whether the job is what you are expecting, what kind of pay they are willing to offer as well as what their working hours are. You can in turn ask any questions such as what their work culture is and any other information you would find useful such as the history of the company, additional benefits and the like.
Remember you are not obligated to take up anything you are not happy with. Our team at Mankind would like to stress that unless you have a dire urgency for money, use your knowledge, experience and skills where they will be truly appreciated. Good luck!