In short the interview is an assessment by a panel interview session to select the best candidate for appointment to a position or promotion. For any work whatsoever, but there is definitely a different way of interview and also interview spot.
Because the interview is a method of external assessment and mental health, candidates must be properly prepared for the interviewer to convince the panel that you are the most qualified candidate.
What aspects need to be emphasized during the interview?
Actually there are 10 main aspects that need to be addressed:
◦ Why they should hire you
◦ How your skills and experience are relevant to this job and this particular organization
◦ Give clear examples of your work, results and value you've added elsewhere
◦ How you can add value to the organization
◦ Rapport-building skills
◦ What you have learned through your experience so far
◦ How you are qualified in a variety of ways: experience, education, other experiences
◦ Repeat and add to your CV and cover letter - don't assume they've read it
◦ Positive aspects of previous employers and work experiences
◦ Why you want this job
Some asked, is it necessary to prepare before the interview? The answer must be.
Presentation and Etiquette
The interview does not start or finish in the interview room!
As soon as you walk through the Company glass doors you are being interviewed. As strange as it may sound it is the truth. A smart interviewer will assess you prior and after the interview. Here are some tricks to assist you in a graceful entrance and exit.
- Be positive and smile allot. If you have a great natural smile, flaunt it and use it to your advantage, it may change the direction of the interview to your favour.
- Be positive when you meet the recruiter in the reception area before the interview. There is no such thing as small talk, if you are asked a question answer in the most positive way possible. I remember asking a candidate; how was your trip in this morning to the interview? She answers by bitterly complaining about the traffic and weather. She did not get the job!
- Shake hands firmly and look into the recruiters eyes without staring, this will establish a positive contact.
- Dress accordingly and look neat. For men, a good dark colour suit represents status and authority. For women try not to be to flash and not to conservative please, you need to find that appropriate balance in your modern executive wardrobe. I do not pretend to be an authority on women's fashion; however, I have always found that employers seek dress standards to reflect modern corporate attitudes.
- There has always been a debate whether it is appropriate to bring a bag or brief case to an interview. In my opinion it does add a touch of professionalism if you do. However make it work for you, if you like to take notes during an interview, like I do then it acts as a working tool and therefore is justified as an accessory.
- Address the recruiter on a first name basis unless advised otherwise. Don't be shy to use the first name whilst answering an interview question; it adds a personal touch to your response. For example; "Julie, I have always felt that the best way to handle difficult employees is to listen carefully to what they are saying and sympathise with them."
- Here comes the grateful exit! Shake hands firmly on conclusion of the interview, smile and thank the recruiter for their time in meeting with you by addressing them in their first name.
- The recruiter will most likely show you the way out, be careful of small talk again. Don't be negative, show that you enjoyed the interview experience and reinforce that it was a pleasure to attend the interview.
In fact during the interview there are many things that need to be emphasized. Sometimes things seem easy for us, but it is a big thing in the eyes of the interviewer who may also be a factor we failed in the interview. An example might be late to the interview, too confident, not appropriate attire and also the language used during the interview is not appropriate.
There are several things you can do before the interview such as:
1. Shirts must be scrubbed thoroughly and also for women, do not wear revealing clothes.
2. And dressed in accordance with the position you have applied for.
3. Sit properly during the interview. Sit straight and vertical.
4. Responding to a question asked with confidence even if you are in doubt with your answer.
5. Apologies if it is not clear and ask them to repeat the questions. If you do not know how to answer the question, answer honestly you do not know how to answer that question (if the question of fact) but tell the interviewer you can learn and want to learn about it.
6. Using proper and standard language.
7. Use appropriate intonation
8. Using body language (non-verbal communication) suitable
9. Looking towards the panel fielded questions
10. Always smiling and cheerful. Even if you are sick or have personal problems, the interviewer did not know you have a problem, and may not want to know. So happy to see a bit of acting and body language show you appeared determined to get the job.
There are some things you can not do before the interview such as:
1. Wearing tight jeans or trousers for men. For women, wearing that is too revealing.
2. Wearing sparse and thin clothing.
3. Wearing sandals or sport shoes.
4. Shaking your legs during the interview. That shows you nervous, uncomfortable and seemed disrespectful to the interviewer.
5. Lying. Do not lie primarily on work experience, academic and also about your personal matters.
6. Interrupt the interviewers when they are talking.
7. Get off subject or give rambling answers.
8. Regional dialects. This is often done by accident by the candidate and please practice the correct use of language.
9. Replying to a question by touching the sensitive matters and certain political when asked.
10. Be too aggressive.
11. Talk negatively about your current or past employers.
12. Speaking too fast.
13. Pointing fingers to interviewer.
14. Keep looking at your watch!
10 Body Language Interview Mistakes
1. Bad Posture
Leaning back is lazy or arrogant, leaning forward is aggressive and slouching is just lazy. Instead, experts say to aim for a neutral position, sitting tall as if a string were connecting your head to the ceiling.2. Breaking Eye Contact
"Hold eye contact one extra eyelash," says charisma coach
Cynthia Burnham. She says we tend to feel uncomfortable holding eye
contact once a personal connection has been created. Don't stare, but
try to hold your interviewers gaze for one extra second before breaking
away. "Do this especially when shaking hands," she says.
3. Chopping and Pointing
Cynthia Burnham, a California-based charisma coach, says
chopping or pointing motions can"cut up" the space between you and your
interviewer in an aggressive way.
4. Crossed Arms
"Arms crossed over your chest signal defensiveness and
resistance," says Karen Friedman, communications expert. "When they're
open at your sides you appear more approachable."
5. Excessive Nodding
"Sometimes we undermine how powerful or in focus we are by nodding like a bobble-head doll," says Burnham, a habit that's particularly common in women. "Nod once or twice with a smile of agreement. But find your still center and stay there."6. Fidgeting
"Stop fidgeting!" says Amanda Augustine of TheLadders. "The
nervous energy will distract the interviewer. You want [him or her]
focused on what you have to say, not the coins jingling in your pocket
or the hangnail on your finger."
7. Hands Behind Back
It's important to appear approachable and open, so don't try to
control gestures or fidgeting by keeping your hands still. This is
especially important when you begin to speak, says Friedman. "Keeping
your hands in your pockets or behind your back inhibits movement and
makes you appear stiff."
8. Mismatched Expressions
"If your tone isn't matching your facial expression you could
find yourself in hot water," says communications coach MAtt Eventoff.
"If someone asks what you're most passionate about and your face is in
deadpan while you answer, it's not going to translate well."
9. Shifty Eyes
Friedman says distracted or upward eye movements can suggest
someone is lying or not sure of themselves. "It's important to look
someone directly int he eye to convey confidence and certainty."
Futher reading:10. Staring
"It's important to be confident and look the interviewer in the
eye," says Amanda Augustine, job search expert at TheLadders. "But then
break away. Locking eyes with someone for an extended period of time can
be interpreted as aggressive, not to mention creepy.
More info:
Resource:
- http://www.careershifters.org : Top 10 things to emphasize in an interview
- http://www.forbes.com : 10 body language interview mistakes
See Also:
