It's all in the preparation. Review on Being Successful at Interviews

Interviews should be looked upon as a situation where one presents themselves in the best possible method, highlighting your positive personality traits, work ethics and desire to create an effective agenda managing system, no matter in what field you are getting into.

The amount of streamlined preparation that you do before each interview, will give you the confidence to believe that you deserve the post offered. If your attitude and belief in yourself is strong and positive enough, the panel conducting the interview will also be convinced in your abilities.

Your preparations before the interview should include:

1. Researching the company you intend to join- since this gi ves an impression of enthusiasm which is a very basic criterion requisite for potential candidates.

   
   




2. Restructure your resume such that it suits the current company?s post more. This generally should involve rephrasing your accomplishments and giving emphasis to certain points so that their requirement is suitably met, and NOT creating stories about non existent qualifications.

   
   




3. Know your resume well. If your resume has been professionally made, make sure that you assist the listings, since only you will know your efforts. There is no such thing as illustrating your achievements over-explicitly, feel free to stress on your constructive aspects, since the panel of interviewers do not know you and your strong points. By reiterating these features you may convince them that you are indeed suitable for the post. (But caution, over doing it will brand you over confident and brash)

   
   




4. Be thorough with your subject matter learnt (and mentioned on the resume). Generally you will be asked questions on your topic, and encouraged to think. At times such as these, when you are not sure of your response or don?t know it, don?t hesitate to clarify or agree that you don?t know. Then show a keen inclination to find out. Always, the learning sustained by the employee is growth for the employer, so when you show an interest to learn more, it projects positive signals after which even if your resume is not properly suited to their requirements, they may be willing to reconsider.

   
   




5. Prepare a mock questionnaire for yourself based on what you expect to be asked during the interview. It helps further if you record your voice and have a friend help you by asking these questions. By hearing what you sound like, it is easy to make amends to realize a more confident sounding you.

   
   




6. Always remember that the confidence you have in yourself and your abilities, has the potential of overriding many shortcomings. One cannot expect an outsider to see potential in a person who doesn?t believe in his own worth.

   
   




7. How well you present yourself. This aspect involves the clothes, shoes you wear, personal grooming, general awareness and the way you greet the panel members interviewing you.

   
   

For clothes light colours, full sleeves (with tie) and neutral/dark trousers is generally acceptable for men, and women can wear either Indian or western formals. Western formals could mean a simple well cut blouse paired with trousers of a neutral colour. Shoes should be well maintained, clean and polished, and please wear socks. Strong perfumes, after shaves and colognes are best left out of the picture, as are ringing cell phones, large earrings and flashy accessories.

A lot is to be gained if you have seen how the regular employees dress, whether the attitude is more conservative. Most importantly, all is lost if you are not comfortable with what you are wearing. Your clothes should reflect yourself and the person you aspire to be.

On the day of the interview, make sure to have a good breakfast and enough liquids so that you handle the stress better. Deep breathing exercises, yoga and general exercise go a long way in maintaining your mental, physical and emotional equilibrium. Be punctual, and still better if you arrive at the destination atleast a half hour before your given time.

You will then have enough time to calm down and anchor yourself, study your surroundings and the people working there, as well as leave a very good impression concerning the seriousness of your purpose. Most of your chances are lost if you happen to keep the interviewers waiting, and most often excuses are not believed.

A firm handshake accompanied by a smile all around gives a view of an open temperament. Whenever spoken to, reply slowly after thinking, and be to the point as far as possible. A little humor can be added to your conversation if you feel the panel is capable of appreciating it.

One must be able to understand the character/ atmosphere in the room. There is no point in using funny personal remarks when your panel is aloof and serious. During the process of the interview you may find someone who is more endearing to you than the others and it helps a lot if you can build on this aspect. Don?t view your opinions unless asked to, especially here say or personal information about your last employers. You must remain non judgmental since strong opinions might back fire on you, and always maintain your ethics.

Most importantly, speak clearly and confidently, smiling/ talking while looking into the interviewers eyes (so atleast you look honest!), enthusiastic, and be completely confident in your abilities. It also helps if you are courteous or chivalrous which goes a long way in projecting your personality development. It could be simple things such as getting up when someone enters the room, helping with the chairs and generally being courteous by saying your thankyou?s, please?s and pardons.

These were some of the exceptional tips that I saw being applied by an uncle of mine after his graduation from IIM Ahmedabad. Being an alumnus from such an institution one would think he wouldn?t need so much of preparation, but probably he inculcated it from there. I used the same techniques when I applied for my first appointment and I?m still working with them.