Do you realize that the first interview that you ever gave was probably the one you gave for your admission to primary school?… It might not look like that but we did go through an interview process…. Some sitting alongside their parents and narrating alphabets while others were just nervous kids interacting with their teachers for the first time.
Interviews should be seen as a two-way conversation, rather than an interrogation. The answers are exchanged by both parties and finally, the compatibility is decided between both sides.
Job interviews are conducted by employers to access the qualification and suitability of the candidate. In this article, we will talk about all the things that you need to know about job interviews and will guide you to crack your upcoming one.
Interviews may differ depending upon the mode of interaction as well as the situation. Discussed below are a few media which can be used for conducting a job interview.
The different medium of interviews
Voice call interviews
This is often used when the list of candidates is huge and they need to be narrowed down to shortlist the suitable ones. They are short and may last for 15-30 mins. It involves a basic introduction of the candidate and knowing about the suitability of the candidate for the profile.
Since voice is the only way the interviewer can judge your personality in a phone call remember to be loud and clear. Once this interview ends on a successful note, the candidate may be asked for a face-to-face interview.
Video call interviews
When a candidate is not present in the same or a nearby location to the employer, this may be the preferred way of interview. Also in recent times when coronavirus is a huge threat to mankind, social distancing is the only way to keep us safe, video call interviews are emerging as the preferred way amongst employers these days.
This is by far the most suitable way of interaction which closely mimics face-to-face interviews.
Video call based interviews let both sides understand each other.
Things to keep in mind while attending a video interview:
- Ensure you have a good internet connection
- Ask your interviewer for a number through which you can contact them in case of any technical difficulty you might face during the interview.
- Dress professionally for the interview even if it taking place at the comfort of your house, this will show your sincerity towards the job.
- Prepare yourself beforehand with all the details and keep a pen and paper handy.
- Switch-of or put your gadgets in silent mode so that there is no disturbance at the time of the interview.
Face-to-face interviews
Last but not least are interviews that are conducted in-person. They may be the most popular and preferred way of interaction since you get to see the interviewee closely and assess the candidate. The interview might involve a single interviewer or a panel of them, depending on the vacancy post and the administration system of the company offering the job.
The entire process of an interview can be more or less broken down into three major phases (pre-interview, during the interaction, and post-interview). The following section will describe each phase in detail along with helpful advice to succeed in getting your aspiring job.
Stages of an interview
1. Pre-interview
So, as soon as you get to know that your resume is shortlisted for a one-to-one interview you should start your preparation for the interview. Remember that getting a call for an interview is not the final step of the recruitment process and doesn’t ensure you get the job. The actual battle is still to be fought so brace yourself for it.
A few pointers may come in handy while you try to bag the job of your dreams
- Learn about the job profile and all the roles and responsibilities related to the vacancy.
- Research about the company that you are aiming to join. If possible try to read about the products/services offered by them. This not only will create a positive impression on the interviewer but will also show your interest in the company.
- Prepare for smart questions that you might ask the interviewer or any doubts that you might have regarding the post offered.
- Keep all your documents ready and organized in proper order. This will show your sincerity towards the opportunity.
- Keep multiple copies of your resume ready with you for the interview.
- Prepare for the basic questions that might be asked during the process.
- Brush-up on the technical knowledge and skills that might be appropriate for the job.
During the interview
This is the day where all that you have planned until now needs to be executed.
Being the most important day in the recruitment process one must take care of a few things such as:
- Be on time no matter how you manage to do it. Keep in mind the traffic and try to create a first impression that’s worth giving a thought.
- Dress according to the profile. Both, being underdressed as well as overdressed can be seen as a negative pointer by the employer. Plan your outfit and look the part. Wearing casuals for an interview related to a marketing profile may not be the best choice.
- Show confidence but avoid cockiness. In your interaction session with the panel, be confident and maintain eye contact. Answer the questions with full confidence but don’t try to act over-smart. Answer questions that you might know. It is always better to say that you don’t know the answer than giving a wrong answer.
- Be polite to everyone you come across in the building. This will radiate a positive vibe from you and will portray a positive image of yours.
- Be true and add authentic details in your resume. Fabricating or falsifying in your resume can put you in the wrong spot and create uninvited trouble.
2. Post-interview
Most people tend to ignore this part of the interview process. Following up after your interview session will bag you extra brownie points.
- As soon as you are done with your interview, ask for a means to contact them in case of any query.
- After you are done with the interview, you can send a thank-you note to the interviewer for giving you the opportunity. It is better if it can be within 24 hours of your interview process since it will be fresh in their minds.
- Analyze your performance in the interview and also read about the topics (if any) that you were unable to answer.
- Last but not least, keep on looking for more options, no matter how the interview went for you, be prepared to give more interviews because until you get an offer letter which satisfies your demands, the hunt is not over.
I hope these tips would be helpful to people from all walks of life and can be used for almost all types of interviews. The most important thing that you need to remember is to always be a polished version of yourself.
Every interview that you might appear for in your life should be considered as a learning experience. No matter if you get selected or not don’t get disheartened and keep trying. After all, you need just one perfect opportunity to bag in your favor. So be positive and work hard.
