There’s lot a candidate has to do while preparing for an interview. The candidate has to research about the company, get their facts right, study the latest trends and technology, keep in par with the world happenings and so on.
The candidate is also expected to show proper etiquette and confidence while attending the interview. This includes proper attire, proper attitude and attention to detail.
No matter what format is the interview, there are certain things that the candidate has to follow so as to look promising to the future employer.
What You Must Convey in Every Job Interview?
1. Start making an impact on the very first day:
Try to give an image to the interviewer that you are hardworking and that you can be able to make a positive impact on the very first day of work. This is necessary as this shows that you are a promising employee and that you have a hardworking mentality. This is the first thing that you should do. To do this, you have to use your previous work experiences and correlate them with the position that you are applying for.
A good candidate will tell you how good they were in their previous job, but an exceptional one will tell you how well they can be in the current job that they are applying for by utilising the previous experiences and knowledge that they have acquired. Try to connect the dots and everything will automatically fall into its place.
2. Try to fit in with the team:
Fitting within the team does not mean that you are compatible with everyone just socially, you also have to make sure that while working within a team you have your priorities straight and that you are doing your part of the job properly. Also, ensure that others are also doing their part well, and try to help them when in need. While, you can be likeable among the group, always make sure that you get a clear understanding of the job, so that you can stand out among the group.
3. You’re enthusiastic about the job:
Most companies prefer candidates who are enthusiastic in their jobs rather than bored ones. Try to ensure that candidates are enthusiastic about their jobs rather than being desperate for one. Ensure that there is a fine line between eagerness and desperation. Also, asking the manager about every single detail that catches your eye, may label you as overactive or distracted. Instead, take your time and ask meaningful and thoughtful questions like about the company, the office mannerisms and such. This will make an impression to the manager.
4. Try to shine:
Do not let professionalism hide too much of your personality and do not become too bland. Try to be enthusiastic while discussing in what you love and have interest in doing. That doesn’t mean that you should be talking much about your experiences in doing things such as, travelling through Europe, hiking in the mountains and such. Do not get too carried away by your interests. When you talk about something that you like, not only it acts as a confidence booster, it also makes you a suitable candidate for the job. Everyone loves a person who loves what they do, be it in work or hobbies.
5. Organisational skills:
Organisational skills are an essential factor for any kind of white collar jobs. How the candidate organises himself shows how well prepared he is for the interview, and how well he can do at the job. Also, people who have good organisational skills do take their job seriously and work more efficiently unlike their sloppy counterparts. This is a good way to impress the employer. Your organisational skills can be shown in the following ways:
- Dress smart and carry yourself in the interview. Dress professionally and neatly.
- Try to keep supplies in hand if you feel that they are necessary. These might range from pens, pencils, papers, resumes and business cards depending on what kind of jobs that you apply for.
- Organise your thoughts
- Prior to an interview, and be prepared for what you are going to say. Prepare for your interview to show that it shows a sense of readiness and a calm composition.
6. Critical thinking skills:
No employer wants an employee who does not think on their own. They are not interested in employees that get flustered for even the smallest of setbacks. They want employees who are problem solvers. They require employees who can think and respond effectively to any type of dilemma. The best way to display such skills are :
- Try to prepare anecdotes and examples that display your level of critical thinking from your previous jobs. Try to keep some examples handy and discuss about such experience when needed in the interview.
- Try to work your way through the answers. Do not be answer ready for all the questions asked. Instead, answer in such a way that the employer knows your thought process and how you think about the problem. Moreover, this is a safe method to buy you some time, if you are not sure about the answer. Try to be as calm as possible when interviewing such questions.
7. Communication skills:
Try to control your fear of speaking of public or Glassophoba when attending such interviews. Employers want employees who have good communication skills and are able to express their ideas. Unless they can express it freely, they have to have a certain amount of confidence. The best ways to show good communication skills are:
- Practice how to speak in public. This can be done by speaking loudly in front of the mirror and stressing out the necessary points. Practicing in front of the mirror helps you to speak in a controlled and loud voice and also lets you see things that you may be doing wrong.
- Practice interviews with another person so that you get used to speaking in front of a stranger and to be as calm as possible in front of them. This method will also help you to keep calm and react normally and properly to other people’s comments and suggestions.
- Stay calm as possible and always maintain a steady eye contact. This is necessary as a constant and a strong eye contact will show that the person is confident and is ready for any kind of challenge. Moreover, it is hard to disagree with a confident person, so a confident employee may have the upper hand in the interview.
8. Interpersonal skills:
Along with the ability to express your own feelings , you should be able to take notice of other’s feelings and also work along with them. This is necessary for the success of any team. Try to show the employer that you are receptive of other’s feelings and you work constructively with them. Companies need and value employers who are versatile in nature, that is, people who have the determination to work on their own and also to increase the morale and the effectiveness of the team. They should value the efforts of group and should value the result. The best way to display these skills are:
- Same in the case of critical thinking, you could bring up some examples which shows your effort and contribution in a team effort. These items may not be on the resume, but these could be brought up during the interview.
- Try to show the employer that you have the determination and skills to lead and take charge of a group. Try to reflect on your previous experiences and take note of how you have handled and you could have handled situations well. Utilise your prior experience.
- Try to be as honest as possible when you state your experiences related to group work. A group does not always have to agree on everything unanimously. These are group obstacles and explain how you overcome such difficulties and also what methods were chosen so as to end up in a common decision.
- Try to make an impression that you are ready to overcome any obstacles that comes within the group and that the success is the main priority than anything else.
9. Multitasking abilities:
Employees are always happy to understand employment cost. The best way to do so is to hire employees who are good at multitasking and other abilities. They will prefer one employ who can preferably do the work of two employees. This is necessary when there is a case of employee cut off and to reduce the employee and labour turnovers. The best ways to display these skills are:
- While discussing previous positions during the interview, add instances that shows how well you are in multi-tasking and how you have been able to take control of many situations due to multitasking. Employers pay the employee by the number of hours that they spend and the type of job that they have to do.
- Try to include examples that shows how well you have organised the given work into different clusters and each cluster is then handled simultaneously. Explain how the clusters are addressed and be prepared for explaining the reason clearly. This show how well you know about the system and the office work.
- Show some eagerness and curiosity to the work. Try to accept more than one task. Any worker can pick up one or two, but if they pick up more than two and not be discouraged and do the work properly, then they are considered as an asset for the company. Try to show willingness in what you do. This shows how well you take the job seriously and how efficiently you finish it.
10. You are a character with great personality:
Many first time interviewees have come across as nervous when they attend an interview for the first time. A successful candidate should easily overcome these nerves and try to be as calm and composed as possible for the interview. Try to behave with confidence, so that the employer could see how much potential you have got. If done right, you might end up putting a good impression to the employer. Try to add your personality to the interview. Add your personal quirks and likes while discussing about topics.
Keep in mind that when there is any lack of personality or character, the individual might be seen as lacking and boring. Having a colourful personality means that it is easier to differentiate you from the rest of the candidates having similar experiences and skills.
11. Show the right amount of passion:
Try to show yourself as a go-getter and show them that you do not miss out any possibilities and chances when it comes to work. Show the right amount of enthusiasm and passion, otherwise the employer will consider you as an over reactive person.
Make the interviewer believe that you have the potential to show what the supervisors want and that you are more than interested in doing your job and also guiding the team properly. Furthermore, add instances where you have faced any challenges at your previous work and explain what all measures you took to solve the problem.
Also, do proper research when you attend an interview to show that you are knowledgeable about the company and you have an interest in making it into the company as an employee.
Always use your resume to point out your strengths and should be used as a primary source of communication between the candidate and the prospective employer. Always try to value yourself and prove that you have more skills than what is just written on the resume. The employer will give the candidate a time to shine.
Utilise the given chance and prove that you are up for any challenges and you have the potential to become an employee for the company. Try to show as much secret skills as you can, so that the employer could be assured that you are fit for the job.
