Interview Tips

Nonverbal Communication During An Interview.

Let’s start with the cliché – Stay calm.

Am I fucking kidding?

It’s your job at stake, and I want you to stay calm?
No, that's not how things work. 

Let me show how you can make it work.
First of all, when you enter, find out possible time for your turn and then, find your place and sit. 

Feeling anxious?

Well, it’s natural. 
Get a glass of water.
They have a coffee counter?
Get one for yourself.
But resist your temptation to smoke, no matter what.

Start a light conversation with other candidates. 

However, don’t compare yourself with them or discuss possible questions. It will just make you more tensed, nothing else.

Coming to more important stuffs, check the order of name and stay prepared. Once, your name is announced, gently knock the door and ask for the permission.
Never enter the room unannounced.

When you enter the room, your whole personality should be oozing with confidence.
Make sure that your shoulders are not lumped or your neck isn't low.
And most importantly – SMILE!

Wish them good morning or afternoon or evening as per the time. Now, approach the interviewer/s and extend your hand. Look right into their eyes and shake hands with them.
Here again, smile when you do all this. 

If I am asked the most important thing needed to swim across the interview, it would be – smile.

Now, there must be a chair for you in the room. No, don’t sit there yet. First, you ask for the permission to be sitted. Or better still, just approach the seat and stand right behind it. The board will automatically take pity on you and ask you to sit. (This is in fact, is the best way to ask for a permission to sit.)

Now it’s time for the real interview.

Don’t shake your legs. Don’t look around the room. Just relax and sit straight. Maintain an eye contact. However, this doesn’t mean staring right into their eyes. Because a continuous stare will just make your interviewers uncomfortable. Sure, you don't want that.
Just look into their eyes and then drift your eyes for a few second.

Now, all you have to do is to answer their questions. More about that in the next post.

Interview Tips

What not to do at an interview.

Interviews are not get together, where you give a high-five and say – “Hey buddy! I am looking for a job. You wanna hire me?”

Interview are organized to select PROFESSIONALS. You have to look, act and sound professional. Not cool, not hot, just professional; period.

Don’t go to an interview, listening to an i-pod or texting.
Of course, you wouldn’t do all this, while entering the interview room.
But I am talking not just about the interview room, but even the venue. You think sipping a coke or chewing a gum is cool?

Save it for some other day.

Talking or texting on your cell phone while sitting in the waiting room for your turn can be the reason; why you were not there in the final list, when everything went so wonderfully.

They are looking for some serious (read - boring) guy for the job, who can manage two hours without talking to his girlfriend.

And one more thing, do you find the receptionist to be hot?
Control!

Don’t you dare to flirt with her.
Anything which you do. can spoil your prospects of getting selected.

I hope, I don’t need to remind you for being there in time.

But an added caution – Prepare for reaching there an hour before.
Anything from a traffic jam to a flat tire can steal away your dream job from you. 

Even if it’s a campus interview, there is always a chance of a form, which you forgot to get printed. Being prepared for such situations, lets you face these difficult situation calmly.

One more thing, keep a pen and a couple of papers, along with the resume. In case, they ask you to explain an idea, in an interview; a pen and a paper always help.

Of course, they can provide you with that. But it is always better to stay prepared – isn’t it?

Interviews gives you a chance to shine.
What you say and what you do, is going to either get you your dream job, or knock you out.

It doesn't take much to make an impression – good or bad.

Remember, if you haven't taken your time to dress appropriately or if you say the "wrong" thing, or act in an “inappropriate” manner, it will be over before you know it.

How To Answer Interview Questions

How To Crack An Interview?

Relax! It's just a job interview.

And, there is no reason, they won't hire you, if you do well.

Afterall, it's their job to hire people, and they know their job very well.

The question is - How well you know about your job?

Because, when you enter into the room, the first question they ask you is to tell about yourself.

Remember, "Tell me about yourself" or for that matter, any other question, are just ice breakers.
But you can utilize even these questions to your advantage, with proper answers. (More about that in another post.)

When they are asking questions, listen to them. Tilt your head  slightly and nod.

It shows that you are paying attention.

Now, think about this.
They ask you a question, from a field, in which you are an expert.
You know the answer, every bit of it.
Congratulations! But just don’t answer it yet.

First listen to the question completely.

It's always better to take some time and answer a question, than to jump to the answers.

If you don’t know the answer to a question, just admit it.

If you are in a doubt, tell them that you are not sure. But if you think that, you can befool them by pretending that you know the answer, but you have just forgotten it; seriously dude, you are heading towards a suicide…..

They are just looking for an honest, committed person for their firm.
There is nothing wrong in not knowing an answer. If they wanted to hire, “Mr. All Knowing” they could have just hired encyclopedia Britannica.

Now, suppose that you don't know the answer and you admit it. They, would for sure then answer it for you. In such a case, thank them.

When one panelist asks a question, respond directly to him/her. But, turn your head, even for a second, towards the rest of them as well.

Don’t make it a mechanical question answer session. It’s an interview, not a viva-voice from your school. Engage in a Conversation. Say funny things and laugh with them, as long as you don’t use slangs.You don’t have to be a stand-up comedian for that.

Just be your natural self.
The more comfortable and relaxed everyone is, the better are the chances of you moving to the next round.

This was all about answering questions. How about asking questions?

What do you do, when they say, “Any questions?”

This might be just a routine, but again, if you know the trick, you can use even this to your advantage.

Ask them a question that shows that you are interested in working with them.
Ask about their transfer policy, or an upcoming project, or their expectations from you, in case of your selection.

This shows that you are looking forward to working with them.

Trust me, an employer loves such candidates. Again, when they answer your query, thank them.

Once the interview is over, shake hands again. 

Thank them for their time and say that you look forward to work with them.

And most importantly, don’t forget them to wish them a good day or a good night.