For many people, attending a job interview, especially when it is their first time, can prove very scary. The fear of how to respond to questions, whether the interviewer would like them or not, which attire or dress to wear, and several other unknown factors literally turn first-time interviewees to wet pants.
If you are in this category, you should take a deep breath and relax. Granted, everyone feels nervous when it is their first time facing a panel of recruiters. However, because interviews are no new process or concept, you can always glean from the examples of others, and avoid the mistakes capable of ruining your chances.
Here, you will learn some job interview tips to help you ace your screening and make a good impression. These tips for interviews revolve around having a robust preparation that would boost your confidence to do well. Off we go
1. Research the Company or Job Well
As soon as you get the notification that you have been shortlisted for an interview, your first duty is to gather every available information about the company and your intended position.
Of course, by the time you were applying, you might have known a few things about the company, but now, you need to go beyond the surface knowledge and dig deep.
If the company has a website, take some time to go through its mission and vision, understand what is expected of you if hired, and creatively concoct what values you can add Values to them if hired.
2. Practice Interviewing
To tell you the truth, the interview seat can be hot for an unprepared first-timer. That’s because you will be meeting expert human resource managers who know how to detect unprepared candidates. Learning some job interview tips is good, but practicing those tips before attending one is better.
You can draft out a list of possible questions you might be asked and ask your friend to mimic a recruiter by posing them to you. Take this mock interview seriously and respond just exactly you would do if you were in front of your interviewers.
This way, you can get to correct any noticed defect in your question-answering skills.
3. Get Your Documents Handy
Going for an interview means you would need some documents. These can include your credentials, resume, and other supporting documents. Your resume is one important document that can help your interviewers form a good impression of you. StudyClerk will help to get your resume professionally written and eliminate your chances of omitting vital information that can set you aside.
Once all your relevant documents are ready, arrange them neatly in a file and mark their order of arrangement. This will help you to easily refer to it when you need any of them. Plus, make sure you can back up your claims with relevant documents.
4. Dress Professionally
Almost all job specifications have their dress code or ethics. That’s why you should find out beforehand what dress is appropriate for your job. As it goes, the way you are dressed can go a long way in making or marring the entire interview process. One key addition to dressing professionally to your job interview is to also keep things simple.
Over-dressing can suggest desperation or misplaced priority. If you are a female, you should be careful not to go overboard with your makeup. Also, make sure that whatever dress you are wearing is not revealing and you must be comfortable in it.
5. Arrive at the Venue Early
It is a bad thing to arrive at interview venues late. It shows you are lax and possibly cannot be trusted to handle a role that requires punctuality and precision. As such, you should aim to get to the venue not less than 20 minutes before the set time. This will allow you to settle down and get yourself together.
6. Be Honest and Practical in Your Responses
As much as you want to impress your interviewers, make sure you are not making bogus claims. Remember that these interviewers have experience in the role you are seeking and promise or claim that sounds unrealistic can send a wrong signal of naivety.
Be as honest as you can in responding to questions about your strength, skills, and experience in the role you are seeking. If you claim to be able to do a thing which in reality you can’t, that may cause you the job.
7. Watch Your Mannerisms.
Your attitude matters a lot when in an interview session. Remember that your interviewer hasn’t met you before, and they have about 15 minutes to form an opinion of you. To this end, you have to be cautious in your responses.
Do not be overbearing or display unwarranted sarcasm. Smile moderately when greeted and never offer a handshake first. In all, you should let your gut direct you as to what actions are good or not.
Conclusion
These seven tips for interviews are very important if you are having the experience for the first time. They may look simple and insignificant, but they are the reasons some have missed what could have been their greatest career opportunity.
Interview rooms are not the place to begin preparations as the atmosphere can turn out intimidating if you have not done all you need in advance. Veritable online resources can help in your preparation so that you know how best to respond to some common interview questions.
