Interviews have always remained a dreaded term for job
seekers. Mention the word and it is known to launch a state of anxiety,
sometimes panic in candidates. It is such a state that even the most successful
of candidates or exam toppers are not able to crack the interview, so all their
efforts to get a dream job, go in vain.
The word interview may be interpreted as Inter + View. Inter
is a prefix meaning between, mutually or together. View means the way of seeing
something or an opinion. During the interview, the potential employee gets a
view of the employer and vice versa. The aim is to see you as a person, a human
being and make an assessment based on the views that you express and the signs
that you carry with yourself. Hence, a truthful projection of your real self
often pays dividends. To reach the altar of the interview, the first step is to
prepare a resume. A resume gets you to an interview, while the interview gets
you the desired job.
Your resume should be neat and factual. Remember that when
you apply, your resume is very likely to be parsed by software for keywords. So
you stand a better chance if you include the necessary keywords in skills and
competencies. Don’t try to falsify facts on our resume that might be very easy
to decipher during the course of the interaction. You don’t want to get into an
embarrassment if you’re asked a question on your hobby because you thought it
was cool, but know nothing about it.
Your knowledge being what it is, a special attention to
appearance is noteworthy as a significant part of the interview. When you
appear for the interview, you should be well dressed. This means, that you need
not get designer wear to impress, but neat, crisp, comfortable attire is a
must. Avoid displaying your love for brands or your net worth too overtly. Pay
attention to your shoes and polish them before you appear for the interview.
Wearing low waist jeans, cargo pants, latest Bollywood hairstyles are an
absolute no-no, unless you’re appearing for a role that demands you to do that.
Women should avoid overdoing makeup and wearing strong perfumes. Formal attire
works best that lets the interviewer focus more on your work and not be
distracted.
Interview etiquettes are even more important. Some of the
tips are as under:
• When you
enter the interview room, do not shuffle your feet and walk. Avoid wearing
shoes that your interviewer can hear before they see you.
• Be polite
with a smile and a greeting. Your handshake should only come to an extended
hand and should be firm not bone crushing.
• Always
maintain eye contact. If you are in a room with multiple interviewers, always
make it a point to look at the person who is talking to you and answer back to the
group.
• Focus on
the right things. Avoid staring at just one person or at one thing on a person.
• In a
situation where one interviewer sits behind you on a sofa, and asks you a
question, it is all right to tilt the chair to face the person obliquely.
• If you
wish to sit cross-legged, you may do so, but bear in mind that you don’t rock
the table.
• Avoid
shaking your legs while you talk or fiddling with any objects in your hand or
folding your arms close to your chest.
• Do not
approach the interview after a smoke, or chewing tobacco.
• If asked
about beverages, please indicate your choice clearly. Avoid answering
‘whatever’. Sip your beverage without a noise or any other action like blowing
into it or dunking a cookie etc.
• Ask
questions about the company, about role. It shows that you are an interested
worker. A right fit for a role is beneficial both for the company and the
candidate.
One of the problems candidates may face is the use of the
spoken language for the interview. India is a totally linguistically
diversified country, with over 22 languages and 720 dialects. It is therefore
not strange that a language barrier exists when you appear for an interview.
Most companies would conduct interviews in English language only. Interviewers
who are trained to look beyond language, if the role does not demand so, would
have the interaction without a problem.
As compared to the private sector, the
acceptability of other languages is more in the public sector. In government
job interviews, the interviewer doesn’t give too much consideration to the
language; questions are generally asked in both languages. So, candidates not
comfortable with English language can easily represent themselves to the
interviewer.
So flaunt your skill, be confident and step out to win over the world!
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