IMPORTANT RULES FOR INTERVIEW

Follow these rules for making all the right moves before, during, and after the interview, and you’re sure to shine.

  1. Be on time

Never arrive late to an interview. Allow extra time to arrive early in the vicinity, allowing for factors like getting lost. Enter the building 10 to 15 minutes before the interview.Rehearse (Be Prepared)There are several questions that you’re pretty much guaranteed to be asked during an interview: “Why do you want to work for this company?” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

  • Do Your Research

At minimum, review the company’s website and Google its key players. Find out who you’ll be interviewing with and learn something about them, such as when they were last quoted in a publication or if they’ve recently received an award. Casually reference the information during the interview and quote specifics, such as “I see the company has expanded into several new markets over the past year.” You’ll project the image of someone who is interested, does their homework, and pays attention to details.

  • Brush up on Body Language

Be aware of what you’re communicating through your posture and stance—and make sure it’s good. For example, sitting with your arms and legs crossed sends a message that you are closed-off or feel defensive. If you keep your hands in your lap the entire interview, you could signal that you lack self-confidence. And, twirling your hair can make you look nervous or juvenile.

Next, always stand up when someone else comes into the room. Professionally, you lose respect and credibility by staying seated—it sends a weak and powerless message. Think your movements through ahead of time so you’re not distracted (or distracting) during the interview.

  • Dress the Part (Look sharp)

An interview may be the only shot you have to impress the decision-maker in person, so make sure you’re dressed impeccably.

It’s always better to overdress than underdress, but do some sleuthing and find out what the corporate dress culture is before you walk through the door. A dark suit (jacket and pants or skirt) and a crisp white shirt, manicured nails, simple make-up, and clean, professional shoes will be perfect in most cases. And, definitely avoid dangling earrings, too much perfume, and multiple, clanking bracelets.Above all, dress for confidence. If you feel good, others will respond to you accordingly.

How to answer the questions  ?

  • Listen

One of the most neglected interview skills is listening. Make sure you are not only listening, but also reading between the lines. Sometimes what is not said is just as important as what is said.

  • Use appropriate language

It’s a given that you should use professional language during the interview. Be aware of any inappropriate slang words or references to age, race, religion, politics, or sexual orientation—these topics could send you out the door very quickly.

  • Practice good non-verbal communication

It’s about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a firm handshake. That first non-verbal impression can be a great beginning or quick ending to your interview.Non-verbal communication is the process of sending and receiving messages without using words, either spoken or written.

Types of Nonverbal Communication

  • Kinesics or body movements including facial expressions and eye contact;
  • Vocalics or paralanguage that includes volume, rate, pitch, and timbre;
  • Personal appearance;
  • Our physical environment and the artifacts or objects that compose it;
  • Proxemics or personal space;
  • Haptics or touch.
  • Chronemics or time. To this list, we would add signs or emblems.

How Nonverbal Signals Affect Verbal Discourse:

“First, we can use nonverbal signals to emphasize our words. All good speakers know how to do this with forceful gestures, changes in vocal volume or speech rate, deliberate pauses, and so forth. . . .

“Second, our nonverbal behavior can repeat what we say. We can say yes to someone while nodding our head . . . .

“Third, nonverbal signals can substitute for words. Often, there isn’t much need to put things in words. A simple gesture can suffice (e.g., shaking your head to say no, using the thumbs-up sign to say ‘Nice job,’ etc.). . . .

“Fourth, we can use nonverbal signals to regulate speech. Called turn-taking signals, these gestures and vocalizations make it possible for us to alternate the conversational roles of speaking and listening. . . .

“Fifth, nonverbal messages sometimes contradict what we say. A friend tells us she had a great time at the beach, but we’re not sure because her voice is flat and her face lacks emotion. . . .

“Finally, we can use nonverbal signals to complement the verbal content of our message. . . . Being upset could mean we feel angry, depressed, disappointed, or just a bit on edge. Nonverbal signals can help to clarify the words we use and reveal the true nature of our feelings.”

  • Give specific examples

One specific example of your background is worth 50 vague stories. Prepare your stories before the interview. Give examples that highlight your successes and uniqueness. Your past behavior can indicate your future performance.

  • Shake it Like You Mean It

No “fingers-only” handshakes, ladies! The proper, professional way to shake is using the entire hand, extending your arm (first if possible) for a firm, but not overbearing grip, while rolling the index finger around the bottom of the other person’s hand. The “fold” between your index finger and thumb should touch the other person’s.

  • Smile

Yes, a job interview is a high-pressure situation, but freezing up and looking nervous will lose you points in the few critical moments you have to shine.

Smiling naturally (without pursing your lips tightly together) will make you appear confident, friendly, and approachable. Even if you’re not feeling it, fake it. A smile conveys that you’re someone who can get along with fellow employees, wow the boss, and impress the clients.

  • Don’t appear desperate

When you interview with the “please, please hire me” approach, you appear desperate and less confident. Reflect the three Cs during the interview: cool, calm, and confident.

  • Don’t be too familiar

The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer’s demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.

Top Interview Questions

  1. Tell me about yourself?

This is one of the first questions you are likely to be asked. Be prepared to talk about yourself, and why you’re an excellent fit for the job. Try to answer questions about yourself without giving out too much, or too little, personal information. You can start by sharing some of your personal interests and experiences that don’t relate directly to work, such as a favorite hobby or a brief account of where you grew up, your education, and what motivates you. You can even share some fun facts and showcase your personality to make the interview a little more interesting.

If it feels daunting to generate this information from scratch, you can rely on a simple formula to construct your answer. The ‘present-past-future’ formula is a way to share key background points while ending on a high note. Begin with a brief overview of where you are now (which could include your current job along with a reference to a personal hobby or passion), reference how you got to where you are (here you could mention education, or an important experience such as a past job, internship or volunteer experience) and then finish by touching on a goal for the future.Bonus points if you’re able to identify how the position you’re applying for aligns with how you envision your future.

No matter how you choose to respond, write out your answer in advance and then read it aloud to ensure it sounds natural. Try to keep it short and sweet, as you don’t want to come across as the type of person who endlessly drones on about themselves.

  • Why should we hire you?

Are you the best candidate for the job? Be prepared to say why you’re the applicant who should be hired. This is not the time to be modest (although neither should you be conceited). Make your response a confident, concise, focused sales pitch that explains what you have to offer the employer, and why you should get the job. This is another good time to review the qualifications and the requirements in the job listing, so you can craft a response that aligns with what the interviewer is looking for.

  • What is your greatest strength?

This is one of the questions that employers almost always ask. When you are asked about your greatest strengths, it’s important to discuss the attributes that will qualify you for the specific job and set you apart from the other candidates. Take the time before the job interview to make matches between your qualifications and the requirements as stated in the job announcement. This way, you will have examples ready at hand to demonstrate your suitability for the job.

It can be helpful to remember the tip “show, don’t tell.” For example, rather than stating that you are an excellent problem solver, instead tell a story that demonstrates this, ideally drawing on an anecdote from your professional experience.

  • What is your greatest weakness?

Another typical question interviewers will ask is about your weaknesses. Do your best to frame your answers around positive aspects of your skills and abilities as an employee, turning seeming “weaknesses” into strengths. For example, you might say something like, “I’ve always struggled with perfectionism – I truly want to do the job correctly the first time, but this sometimes means that I devote more time to a project than is necessary. I’ve learned to balance this drive with the equally important responsibility of meeting deadlines.”You can also share examples of skills you have improved, providing specific instances of how you have recognized a weakness and taken steps to improve yourself.

  • Why are you leaving or why have you left your job?

When asked about why you are moving on from your current position, stick with the facts, be direct, and focus your interview answer on the future, especially if your leaving wasn’t under the best of circumstances. Always try to put a positive slant on your response; it’s better to give the impression that you’re more motivated by the possibility of new opportunities than by trying to escape a bad situation. In addition, it’s important to avoid bashing your current organization, colleagues or supervisor.

When asked about why you are moving on from your current position, stick with the facts, be direct, and focus your interview answer on the future, especially if your leaving wasn’t under the best of circumstances. Always try to put a positive slant on your response; it’s better to give the impression that you’re more motivated by the possibility of new opportunities than by trying to escape a bad situation. In addition, it’s important to avoid bashing your current organization, colleagues or supervisor.

What are your salary expectations?

What are you looking for in terms of salary? It seems like a simple question, but your answer can knock you out of the contest for the job if you overprice yourself. If you underprice yourself, you may get shortchanged with a lower offer. Review the best way to answer questions about salary so you get the fair pay that you deserve.

  • Why do you want this job?

This question gives you an opportunity to show the interviewer what you know about the job and the company, so take the time before the interview to thoroughly research the company and its products or services, company culture, and mission. Be specific about what makes you a good fit for this role, and mention aspects of the company and position that appeal to you the most.

  • How do you handle stress and pressure?

What do you do when things don’t go smoothly at work? How do you deal with difficult situations? What do you do when something goes wrong? The best way to respond to this question is to give an example of how you have successfully handled stress in a previous job.

Avoid claiming that you never, or rarely, experience stress. Not only is this difficult to believe, but it could also lead the interviewer to conclude that you’ve only worked in low-pressure environments and therefore aren’t equipped to handle a difficult situation. Rather, formulate your answer in a way that acknowledges workplace stress and explains how you’ve overcome it, or even used it to your advantage.

  • Describe a difficult work situation or project and how you overcame it.

The interviewer wants to know what you do when you face a difficult decision. As with the question about stress, be prepared to share an example of what you did in a tough situation. It’s important to share details around this example in order to make the story believable and engaging. That being said, avoid talking negatively, or extensively, about other people. This can detract from what the interviewer really wants to know about, which is how you can successfully perform in a challenging situation.

  1. What are your goals for the future?

This question is designed to find out if you’re going to stick around or move on as soon as you find a better opportunity. Keep your answer focused on the job and the company you’re interviewing with, and reiterate to the interviewer that the position aligns with your long-term goals.