An entire academic carrier of a person boils down to one event - the Job Interview. One may have worked hard their entire life but still a doubt hovers over his/her mind about it. This phobia arouses due to lack of knowledge of the process itself. Most of the time candidates are unaware about what the interviewer is expecting. A research says that about 36 percent of the employers look for multitasking skills; 31 percent look for initiative; 21 percent look for creative thinking in their candidates. So in order to successfully crack interviews, candidates should ensure to reciprocate the mix of these traits. Here are some tips that will help you in preparing for any interview and provide an edge over others.
Creating the First Impression:
While in an interview the main intent of a recruiter is to filter as many candidates as possible. According to a research, one in five HR Managers say they lose interest in a candidate/applicant if they have a sloppy appearance, regardless of how impressive their C.V. is. It is important to look presentable and dress appropriately, and when in doubt it is always better to confirm the dress code. What you wear and how you look is an important part of your interview it shows your level of interest in the company. Organize yourself and your belongings. Carry a tidy folder and arrange your documents neatly. Remember, there are thousands, equally deserving candidates.
Understanding who you are:
The significance of knowing who you are not is more than knowing who you are. Understand yourself and analyze your strength and weakness. A person can and will only be able to talk about oneself clearly if they know who they really are. The recruiter is barely interested to learn about your strength but his prime cause of interest in the subject is to know what you bring to the table and how profitable and instrumental you will be in the company's growth. Being clear on what one wants and what one desires from a particular job will further help in preparing for the interview.
Use knowledge as your leverage:
52 percent of candidates spend less than 2 hours researching the company and preparing and rehearsing for the interview. Prepare according to the company you are attending. One should not only know his domain but also should have a brief knowledge about the company. Although much of the concentration and the test will be formulated to assess a candidate's knowledge but a recruiter will also expect their candidates to show interest in the company. One prime intent while in an interview is to please the recruiter, and knowing about the company will add value to one's profile.
One can also rely on social networking sites, forums to understand the present requirements and hence prepare accordingly. One can also contact people who already have cracked the interview for their tips. No information is small or insignificant; grab all you can and when you can.
Sell what you tell:
Confidence is what they are looking for in you. A candidate should be able to carry and justify their words. The way one explains and responds to the questions is very important. According to a research, it has been found that during an interview the first 10 seconds are most crucial. Hence it is always better to tell your strong traits first and then move on to the weaknesses. So make the most of it. Be calm and confident during your interview. Keep an even pace in your speech. Recruiters always tend to ask basic questions so make sure you have rehearsed answers for them thoroughly and confidently. Also keep in mind that your body language is as important as your speech, there should be a perfect synchronization between what you say and what your body expresses. Over two thirds of the failed interviews were caused by candidates not making eye contact so making eye contact and nodding when spoken to is also equally important. Listen to your recruiter carefully and intently, your answers will not have any meaning if your answer doesn't justify the question.
Preparation is a continuous process it is never complete. These above mentioned steps will certainly help you get an edge over others but one has to keep building new skills and improve on these steps. However, it is important to not get lost in the process. People should not try to fake their interest in the job just to get in because after comes the hardest part - Work. It is important to remember that the interview is as much as screening process for the company as it is for you. We hope that this article helps you find the job that you will enjoy and ace the interview successfully.
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