The recruiter is a person who has a personal conversation with the employee; but he is not the manager or authority who can appoint people. The recruiter presents your resume to employers who demand the required skills; he should know about the requirements of the job and then select the employees according to the wants of the employers.
He helps the employee or applicant to practise and gain confidence when the real interview happens; this recruiter interview is an initial interview so be on your best behaviour and dress suitably for the job.
Interviewing is partially science and partially art; the candidates should both know how to have the suitable conduct, personality for the job and also display the interest and eagerness for the job; and the scientific part is that he should research about the job requirements and plan his interview and behaviour with the colleagues accordingly.
Tips to Tackle a Recruiter Interview:
1. Recruiter takes a practice interview:
Even though this is a preliminary interview try to be professional and adapt yourself to the suitable attitude and dress code needed for the job. These things are significant if you want to be successful in an interview; stand straight and make eye contact with the recruiter; have a firm handshake and look confident.
Explain to them properly why you are suitable for the job; also voice you questions and confusions about the job post so that he can discuss those matters and you can understand the job better; clear the confusions as it will be beneficial to both you and the recruiter; his credentials will depend on your performance as has recommended you.
The recruiter is more genuine about the reality of the company you want to work for than the company hiring managers. Simply ask the recruiter all your questions and also ask for suggestions on what to wear and how to behave; they are good advisors as they have been on the job for quite a long time.
2. The Recruiter is employed by the company and not you:
The recruiter will obviously work for the company that pays him; the company pays him to select the best candidates suitable for the job. Hence he will choose the suitable candidates only; there is nothing bad or personal in this choice.
Be in contact with the recruiter for sometime but continue the job hunt; as you never know when you will get lucky. Be cordial with the recruiter so he will inform you about job placements which are appropriate for your resume.
Ways to Impress the Recruiter:
Follow these ways and be perfect for the job you are aspiring;
3. Display the fundamental skills which make you suitable:
Many times the HR people or recruiters do not examine the educational qualifications other essential details like technical expertise; they will simply review whether you are suitable for the job and fulfil the basic requirements.
After the basic interview they will refer the suitable candidates to authorities of the company and the hiring managers; the recruiters only checks the baseline requirements.
The recruiters will always advise you meticulous research of the job description and listing of the skills necessary. Always remember to emphasize on your expertise and successes; and try to be punctual if you are hired as an intern.
4. Show you passion and enthusiasm for the job:
Recruiters always prefer applicants who are passionate about the job; and also have the expertise required for the position. Only having the qualifications and showing no interest for the job will mean that you are not eager for the job; so show your willingness to the recruiter.
This makes a good impression on the recruiter; and he will recommend you to the company hiring managers when he feels that you will be a good worker and succeed in the post.
Be confident and assured during the screening call with the recruiter; also be serious so he knows that you are just giving the interview seriously.
5. Exude vibes that you fit in the work place environment:
Recruiters hire people according to the likes and requirements of the companies they work for; and companies select candidates based on the requisites that whether the candidate has expertise and qualifications to do the job, then the managers and authority likes the candidates attitude and conduct and lastly the candidate is judged on whether they can properly adjust to the work place environs and the work culture.
The last requirement is a significant one as the worker has to stay in the work place for at least a few hours every day; and if he is not comfortable in the work place it will affect his working capability and performance.
So, first try to understand the work place culture and its requirements by talking with the workers; then do your best to blend in the work culture. Gain information about work environment and culture by following the company on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter; by doing an online research on the company the idea of the company, its requirements and workers become comprehensible.
When you have a vivid idea of the company; the self-reliance and belief increases and this gives better chances for getting the job.
6. Recognize the Recruiter’s Function in the selection process:
When the function of the recruiter is comprehended properly; it becomes easier to plan about the interview and how to conduct oneself; manage the interview in such a way that the recruiter thinks you are more preferable than the other applicants; the recruiters are awarded if the candidates chosen by them become good successful workers.
The recruiter will try to choose candidates who are hard-working and serious in their work; so always emphasize on your success and talk about your seriousness, commitment and eagerness for the job.
Recruiters get paid for each candidate they refer to the company; so the more candidates they give to the company the more they will be paid. Thus if a recruiter calls you and want to take your interview, be confident that he seems you worthy for the job and wants to select you; as if you land the job it is beneficial for them too.
Hence always ask the recruiter for interview advices and ways to impress the hiring managers; as he will do his best to groom you and make you suitable for the job if you show eagerness; so always try to co-operate with the recruiters; as it will make both you comfortable and confident and will make the recruiter’s job easier.
Common Interview Mistakes:
Certain errors made by applicants in interviews with the recruiters; ways to avoid these mistakes and what to learn from them;
7. Not doing any research about the company and the job:
Researching about the company you are applying for is an important task; always learn the basic facts about the company as this helps to understand the job requirements and how to impress the hiring managers and the company authorities. Not doing enough research on the company one is applying for is one of the most common errors the young applicants commit; as they do not have much experience in the job sector.
The recruiters and HR professionals dislike candidates who give interviews in jest with no prior analysis or research about the job; they are uninformed about the requirements of the company and have no idea how to adapt themselves to the company’s work culture. This silly mistake of not giving enough effort to know about the job and not being eager enough cost many deserving candidates their jobs; so always do the homework and know about the company and the people taking the interviews.
Being unaware about the job and the company where you have applied for is stupidity in the age of internet; where you only need to have some interest to gain information on any topic; this reflects your priorities in life; and this simple mistake proves that you will not be a sincere worker in the company and lack commitment to work.
8. Always try to be truthful about personal, academic and professional details:
During interviews with recruiters should be confident and poised; but do not ever be over-confident, boastful and arrogant about your achievements. Being arrogant and boastful during interviews is offensive to the recruiters; and they may not select you for this reason only.
As knowing one’s place and being humble are the best qualities in any person; also arrogance makes it difficult to co-operate with others and affects performance in group projects.
So never be boastful and always talk about facts; never try to lie and appear superior to impress the recruiter or the hiring manager. Only talk about things you have done and achievements you have really accomplished; lying and impressing the recruiter will only nullify the chance of getting the job.
9. Always be composed and self-possessed during interviews:
Everyone gets nervous during interviews but compose yourself before the interview starts; since nervousness make people fidgety and answer unmindfully which will adversely affect the candidate’s chance to get the job.
The best remedy for controlling nerves is to plan everything about the interview beforehand; and prepare the probable questions so that the interview questions do not make you confused and anxious.
Research about the background of the job post you are offered; so that during the interview you will not digress about unrelated and meaningless things; and can answer appropriately according to the purpose.
10. Never promise to achieve targets which you know are impossible to fulfil in such short time:
Interviewers sometimes play the trick of perplexing the candidates by giving them hard tasks to complete in very short time or ask weird confusing questions to make them nervous and lose their cool.
The aim of the recruiters or the hiring managers in creating this confusion is to test the patience of the employees and observe how quickly and intelligently the candidates reacts in unexpected and difficult situations.
Awkward questions are asked to see how the applicants perform under pressure and stress; so when you are in such a situation in the beginning repeat the questions slowly which allows some time to think and prepare the answer. Also be punctual during your interview sessions, dress appropriately, and stay calm and composed all through the interview.
11. Avoid smoking before an interview:
Always the recruiters and hiring managers’ advice that if a candidate is eager for the job; he should come early with at least fifteen minutes to spare before the interview starts.
Avoid smoking before an interview since it reflects badly on your behaviour and appearance; as others do not appreciate the smell of smoke and the managers will surely not be impressed to see this lapse. The smell of smoke is also repelling to non-smokers; and if any of the interviewers is a non-smoker he will be disgusted.
Always after arriving at the interview venue; check your appearance in the washroom mirror; tidy the hair and make sure that the tie is straight and the hands are clean.
12. Always check the presentation and be efficient with technology:
Technology is both a bane and a boon according to the way it is used; so be adept in the technology you are using in the presentation. Also be careful to use that particular technology for presentation at the interview which you planned earlier; or else you will be untrained and confused with a new technology and the presentation will be hampered.
Have a back-up plan for every step during an interview; as you never know what difficulty will arise. Prepare well before the presentations, often the reason for a lacklustre presentation is the lack of preparation.
13. Discussions about the salary should be done very carefully:
Discussions about the salary are a very tricky thing; as both the parties are interested in being beneficial from the proposition.
During the initial stages of the interview with the recruiter; when expectations about salary are asked from the applicant; always retort an approximate and try to avoid accurate figures since in the initial stages all the responsibilities and demands of the job are not yet clear.
In the second or third interview when you get a vivid picture of the job and the demands; then you can voice the expected salary in details and accurate figures.
Conclusion:
In any interview there can be no set rules for success or failure; it all depends on the candidate and his expertise, eagerness for the job, confidence, conduct and also the luck factor.
But always remember to get clarifications about matters you are confused about before starting the job; since this is the last chance to understand whether you want the job and whether you deserve the job.
The interview is a bi-directional process and both the employer and the employee should be beneficial from the process.
