Watch your body language - e.g. don't cross your arms (it gives the impression of putting up a barrier between you and the interviewer); make frequent eye contact; good posture is important
Listen
Answer all questions clearly and concisely
Make a note of points to return to
Let your answers show how your skills match the company's needs
Asking smart questions - about the company growth, career path, opportunity, size of company etc
Be courteous to everyone you meet
Relate your response to the position
Be honest
Believe in yourself
Thank the interviewer
Interview Tips
This is a long article as it should be in order to give you useful pointers before going for your interviews. To help you read this more easily, we have divided the article into 4 sections, Before the Interview, At the Interview, Questions to ask and Closing an Interview.
Just as no two people are exactly alike, no two job interviews you ever experience are going to be exactly the same. Therefore, no list of interview tips that either we or anyone else may give you is going to be equally applicable in all situations.
However, all interviews are sales situations with the job seeker in the role of seller. In recent years so much has been studied and written about effective selling and marketing that one could say that what had been the art of selling is now a science.
The interviewing tips that follow are based on the principles of effective salesmanship. Naturally some will be more applicable in your particular situation than others. The purpose of these tips is to help you prepare in advance for every interview. They are intended to help you orient yourself ahead of time as to what it is you have to sell as well as how you hope to make the sale.
Interviewers generally prepare for interviews and have an idea of what it is they are looking to "buy." It is possible, if the interviewer¡¯s original concept does not describe you to a "T," that you might change the interviewer¡¯s mind in your favor during the course of the interview. But in order to convince interviewers that what you have to offer is best for them, you must first be fully aware of what it is you have to offer and how and why it is best for them.
While you shouldn¡¯t go into an interview unprepared and simply "wing it," don¡¯t go to the other extreme and conclude that you can handle it all from a prepared script. Ultimately it comes down to just two principles:
KNOW YOURSELF, which does require preparation and with which these tips can help you, and...
BE YOURSELF, of which Shakespeare wrote, "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night to the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."
How to Shine at Interviews
Do your homework
About the job, the company, person who is interviewing you, its culture, the location, direction to the company, questions to ask, your attire, carry 3 ¨C 4 reference names & details, ?etc
First impression
Warm, courteous, friendly, smile, firm hand shake, attire, body language, etc
Asking & answering questions
Think before asking/answering, give examples or scenarios, share some of your achievements, demonstrate you are a team player or problem solver
Relax, honest and be yourself
don't put yourself under extra pressure by having to rush, always have a clean copy of your resume / CV, a small little note book and a pen
Job Search Strategy
As a working adult, you will spend more than 50% of your waking hours on your job. A right career choice can thus ensure that, for the most part of your life, you will find happiness, enjoyment and fulfillment. Much thought should therefore go into planning for your career.
Besides, a career is not like a computer game where, if you do not like the way things are going, you can simply reload the .save file and restart. Oftentimes, there is no turning back or the price of turning back is high.
Career planning is therefore very important. It involves a self-searching process, careful planning, diligent and conscientious studying and lifelong learning. Choosing your career is the first step in career planning.
Let's start here.
Get Started - No time like the present!
Set Goals
What do you want to achieve in life?
What have you accomplished in life so far?
Identify jobs that interest you
Identify Training you may need to be competitive
Determine Salary Requirements and Acceptable Range
What are your personality traits and characteristics?
Include your family in your job search strategy
Get Organized
Schedule your Time
Remember, getting a job is a full-time job
Job Research
Find out exact job descriptions by reading career books and magazines, attending career talks/fairs, surfing the net etc.
What are the academic requirements? This is very important for you as it determines your course of study or whether your current course of study is appropriate.
What specific skills, training and experience are required? By knowing this, you can give yourself a head start by taking relevant courses and working during school holidays.
What are the job trends today? For example, jobs in information technology are in great demand today. Which jobs pay best? Which jobs offer opportunities for advancement etc.
Talk to people. Parents, teachers, friends, relatives, school counselors and working professionals are excellent sources of good advice.
Practical experience. The best way to know about a job is to "get your hands and feet wet". Working at different jobs while schooling will help you discover more about yourself, how you relate to others and give you invaluable hands-on experience.
