Chapter 6 – The Interviewee

Being prepared for an interview is essential for various reasons. Firstly, it demonstrates your interest and commitment to the opportunity at hand. Showing the interviewer that you have taken the time to research the company, its culture, and the specific role you’re applying for reflects your dedication to the position. Additionally, preparation boosts your confidence levels significantly. Knowing your resume thoroughly, practising responses to common interview questions, and conducting thorough research on the company can make you feel more at ease during the interview, ultimately influencing how you present yourself and how the interviewer perceives you. Moreover, preparing in advance allows you to articulate your skills and experiences effectively. By anticipating potential interview questions and having compelling examples ready, you can effectively communicate your qualifications and leave a lasting impression.

Furthermore, being prepared enables you to handle unexpected questions with ease. Even if unforeseen queries arise during the interview, thorough preparation equips you to promptly provide thoughtful responses. Tailoring your responses to highlight how your skills, experiences, and personality align with the company’s needs and the role’s requirements further showcases your value proposition as a candidate. In a competitive job market, thorough preparation can help you stand out from other applicants who may not have invested as much time into their interview preparation. Employers value candidates who demonstrate dedication and thoroughness. Overall, being prepared for an interview not only increases your chances of success but also allows you to make the most of the opportunity to showcase your qualifications, experiences, and personality to potential employers

Here are a few points to keep in mind before an interview

Learn About Your Potential Employer

Learning everything about your potential employer, including their mission statement, values, and culture, is crucial to demonstrating your knowledge of the organization during the interview. Places to review include the website, LinkedIn page, Glassdoor reviews, and News articles.

Know What You Are Going to Do

First and foremost, familiarize yourself with the job description and requirements. Be ready to discuss how your skills and experiences fit into the position.

Get Ready for Standard Questions

Practice answering common interview questions so that you convey your thoughts clearly and briefly. This will help you become more confident during an actual job meeting.

Don’t Forget to Mention Your Achievements

At the same time, describe your achievements using examples from previous jobs/projects instead of simply listing them. Show how these contributions have improved things for both organizations or projects where you used to work.

Good Dressing Sense

The dress code must be professional as per the culture of the company you are targeting. The level of formality in that line of business should determine what you wear when attending such interviews.

Ask Something Meaningful

Prepare meaningful questions about the position, the organization, the culture, or ways of working. Make it evident that all those queries come from a genuine desire for knowledge and involvement on your part.

Be Enthusiastic About It

Express enthusiasm over this new employment post and the chance to work with such companies in the future. Talk passionately about what they do on a daily basis.

Exhibit Adaptability:

Discuss situations where you had difficulty adjusting to change and challenges faced at the workplace quickly. Employers particularly value candidates who can negotiate ambiguity while demonstrating resilience.

Write Thank-You Emails:

Send an email thanking everyone involved for taking time off their busy schedules within 24 hours after the interview finishes, but do not forget to mention again why exactly you want to be a part of this firm.

Don’t Be Late:

Avoid being late for the interview. It is important to plan your journey on time and be a little early to show that you respect punctuality and are well-versed in the ethics supporting time management.

Personal Stories Should Stay Personal:

Building rapport is necessary, but avoid sharing any personal information that does not match the job’s entails. Limit your discussions to professional accomplishments and qualifications.

Negative Comments Are Prohibited:

Avoid trash-talking past employers, colleagues or experiences. Maintain a positive and constructive tone throughout the interview.

Don’t Break in:

Let the interviewer complete their questions first before you answer. Interrupting is impolite and can disrupt the flow of an interview.

Resist Over-confidence:

While confidence is important, avoiding sounding too proud or feeling like you know it all is good. Demonstrate your skills and experience without bragging.

Don’t Talk Too Fast:

Speak at a moderate pace, being clear and articulate. If you speak too quickly, they may not understand you.

Avoid the Overuse of Filler Words:

Avoid using filler words like “um,” “uh,” or “like.” Instead, Try speaking confidently and coherently to express your ideas effectively.

Do Not Criticize Past Employers

No matter how bad things were with your previous supervisors, do not condemn them. Instead, concentrate on what was learnt here and how one has grown from such encounters.

Remember Non-Verbal Cues

Watch out for body language cues, including crossing arms, fidgeting too much or looking bored; stare right at them directly, then give positive feedback non-verbally

Check out Chapter 6A for a list of commonly asked questions.