Crack the job

As the campus placement season kickstarts at various universities and institutes, Asoke K Laha gives a few tips to impress the interviewers and crack a job

Interviewing is a competitive process and it provides you with a small window to shine and make a big difference. An important key to success is self-confidence. The interviewer wants to know whether you can do the job, you fit into the team, you can adopt the organisation culture, what you have accomplished in your prior position(s) and how can you help the organisation. The candidate is under close examination of the interviewers right from the time he/she enters the room till the time he/she exits. The candidate should thrive to leave a lasting impression on the mind of the interviewer.

The following are the partial list of guidelines:

Do a thorough research about your work profile and the company: Before going for an interview, you must always do some research about your prospective employer and the job role for which you are being interviewed. Go through their website, understand their mission and any latest initiatives they have taken. Candidates who want to succeed, need to appear before the interview panel, fully prepared on subject content. Review your own resume thoroughly and make sure you vividly remember your dates of employment, detailed job experiences, and how your qualifications are the best fit for the job. The more informed you are, the easier it will be for you to pitch your candidature to the interviewers and answer their questions effectively.

Arrive early at the interview venue: Everyone should prepare for the worst-case scenario for bad traffics, and plan to arrive at the venue at least fifteen minutes early. Arriving early will also help you settle down and relax.

Be neatly groomed and dress formally: The first judgment an interviewer makes will be based on how you look and what you are wearing. The effort you put in to dress properly reflects your seriousness for the job. The first impression may make a vital difference to the outcome of your job interview.

Be confident: Greeting the interviewer by giving a firm handshake with a slight smile on your face, reflects your personality. Maintaining an eye contact with the interviewer and responding to questions being asked will make the interviewer feel that you are confident about yourself and your answers.

Maintain a composed body posture: Your body posture can speak volumes. It is imperative to maintain a correct body posture, which is, sitting straight and be attentive. How you carry yourself makes a big difference.

Focus on listening: While going through the interview process, you remain calm, focused and listen well to what the interviewers say. Hear out all the questions posed to you patiently and take time to frame the responses. It is important that you understand the interviewer’s point of view, his/her expectations from you and retain composure while engaging in a formal conversation with the interviewer. If you aren’t clear about the question, ask the interviewer to repeat the question.

Say, ‘I don't know’; if you don’t know the answer: The interviewers are fine if you don’t know the answer but wouldn’t like to listen to any wrong, evasive or vague answer. A seasoned recruiter can easily see through your lies. If you don’t know the answer, just say so.  They appreciate the fact that you are being honest enough. However, tell them that you can find out the answer.

Answer the questions skillfully: Take the time to review and prepare typical interview questions, you’ll probably be asked during the interview, beforehand. This helps you calm your nerves and answer confidently. The idea is to display your core strengths and willingness to take up new challenges and responsibilities with ease. Don’t be hesitant in answering personal questions since interviewers sometimes look for stability in your personal life, to develop confidence in you as a candidate. Be aware of regional interview styles and react accordingly without getting offended.

Show interest and ask the right questions: As the interview draws to its conclusion, the interviewer might offer to answer any of your queries. Make sure you ask questions relevant to the job profile and company. Not asking any questions could make you seem disinterested and might have a negative effect on the outcome. Also, take this as an opportunity to further highlight some of your skills and qualities which might not have been discussed in the interview as yet. Asking specific questions can help you impress the potential employer with your knowledge in the industry.

Conclude the interview on a positive note: After the job interview, make it a point to thank the interviewer for giving you the opportunity to interview for the position. This isn’t only good interview etiquette but also reinforces your interest in the position. Before you leave, ask the interviewer what the next steps would be? Ask graciously and don’t be pushy.

Follow-up after the interview: Even though the interview is over, follow up the interviewer with a thank you note. This could be an opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and also remind the interviewer of any details or qualifications you forgot to mention in the interview.

Each interview should be taken as a learning process in order to do better in the next one. Learning from the experiences of the last interview, one can prepare better for the ones to come. The recommended attitude should be to give one’s best performance, irrespective of results.

The writer is president and chief executive officer, Interra Information Technologies.