We spend thirty minutes to an hour with an interviewer. This may determine our entire future! So, it is worthwhile, preparing carefully for an interview.
Preparation is the first and foremost important step towards a successful interview. Some people just attend the interview without any apparent preparation.
Your job interview should be an exciting time. The employer is obviously interested in you since you were invited for a personal interview.Now, it is up to you to show that you are THE most qualified person to fill the job.
To prepare for the interview, you should know basic details. The exact place and time of the interview., the interviewer’s full name, the correct pronunciation and his/her title.
You should know specific facts about the company concerned.: where it’s offices and stores are located., what it’s products or services are, special equipment or processes used by the company, what it’s growth has been and what it’s growth potential is.
You should prepare answers to the following typical questions:
1) Why did you choose this particular profession or occupation?
2) Why do you want to work for this company? What you can offer?
3) What do you know about the company?
4) What interests you about the products or services?
5) Can you provide recommendations from your previous employers?
6) What have you learned from the jobs held earlier?
7) What are your qualifications?
8) What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
9) Are you willing to relocate?
10) What are your interests?
You should also prepare some questions to ask during the interview.You can consider asking questions like ,
1) What are the responsibilities of the position?
2) What would be my role now and in the future?
3) Are there any advanced training programs available for further job development?
You should dress appropriately. Wear only conservative clothes and no sports clothes.Make sure that you are well groomed.
You are interviewed , because the interviewer wants to hire people.Therefore you should have a positive attitude about your abilities, demonstrate confidence in yourself and be honest about yourself.
You should plan to arrive on time or a few minutes earlier for the interview. You should shake hands of the interviewer firmly, look into his eyes and smile. During the interview, you should maintain proper eye contact with the interviewer.Make sure that your good points are conveyed to the interviewer in a sincere manner.Keep in mind you alone can sell yourself to an interviewer. Make him or her realize the need for you in the organization.
Don’t ever answer the questions with a simple ’yes’ or ’no’. Try to explain the questions asked without too much elaboration.At the same time, you shouldn’t be too personal about yourself.Don’t ever make bad remarks about your present or former employers or companies.
You shouldn’t inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement etc at the initial interview, unless you are positive the employer is interested in hiring you. If the interviewer asks you what salary you want, indicate that you are more interested in job opportunity than in a specific salary.Then you can ask the interviewer what the company is offering.
At the closure of the interview, if you are interested in the position, ask for it or request another interview if the situation demands it.If you are offered the job and you want it, accept it on the spot.If you think you need some time to think over, be courteous in asking for that time.You should also set a date when you can provide an answer.
Don’t be too discouraged if no definite offer is made or specific salary discussed. The interviewer may probably want to confer with his office first or interview more applicants, before making a decision. In this case, you can try to set up a second interview if you are really interested!
At the end of the interview, you should thank the interviewer for the time and consideration of you.
Hope you find my tips useful for being successful at the interview. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find a job after your first few interviews. Finding a right job is not an easy task. You must persevere.Look at each interview as a good experience and concentrate your efforts on the next one!
GOOD LUCK !