Job Interview Tips

Do not see interviews as the chance; think it as an opportunity to present you to a

company. It is a chance for you to prove yourself in front of the interviewer, so you
should come with full preparation of questions you need answers.

You can search for the company profile. Also gather the latest information on that
company. If want all information about the company, then a good option is to check
their website which may have more background information. If you want to do well at
the interview, you will need to convince the interviewer that you are technically qualified
to do the job.

The job interview tips covered most job interview tips and also covered lots of things
which we have to avoid during interview.

Here are some Do's and Don'ts while interview.

Do's

Some job interview tips are given below; please go through it that will help you a lot.

1. Preparation and confidence

Preparation and confidence are very important tips. Good preparation always creates
confidence. So the important thing to an interview is to be well prepared. In this you
have to consider two things:

• You must prepare yourself practically for the interview.

• You have to gather information which is useful during the interview.

2. Checklist

While going to interview you must consider the following things:

1. You have to confirm about the time, date and location of the interview and name
of interviewee where appropriate.
2. You have to plan to get there no earlier than half an hour before the interview
time.
3. You must ready with your dress which is professional.
4. Concentrate on the interview at the interview.
5. If you are asked to bring certificates, references etc., get them ready before the
day. Your interview letter must be with you.
6. On arrival ensure the receptionist knows you are there.
3. Be on time!

Public transport may be useless if the traffic is heavy. Always keep in mind that you
never get a second chance to make a first impression. So be on time at the particular
location of interview.

Also if you are there so early, you can wait nearby cafe of shop. And if you are going
to be late, then best option is call them.

4. Be Prepared!

Preparations means not only preparation of your syllabus etc. but also look at the
company’s website and learn something about the company before you attend your
interview.

5. Write down and practice possible questions!

If you collect the job interview sample questions and practice for it then it will make
easy to remember when you get to the interview. Use the third person when talking
about the job. Avoid sounding as though you assume the job is yours.

It is fine to ask about the package on offer and accommodation - living in and living
out are particularly relevant. Do not forget to find out if the company will guarantee a
resort or chalet - many will only allocate you a country. You could also try a fewer
more testing questions such as how they differentiate themselves from their
competitors or what they think the toughest/hardest part of the job is.

6. You never get a second chance to make a first impression!

First keep in mind that you never the second chance to make a first impression so be
careful. Some points are here to remember:

• Smile is one of the things which may matter in your impression. Good smile
always please people.
• Dressing is also an important thing. You should be in professional dress. And you
must be looking formal.
• Do not forget for firm handshake.
• Eye contact without glaring is showing your confidence.

7. Do not talk too much!

Always remember that communication is two-way things so give them a chance. Also
don't interrupt to interviewer when he/she is talking. Give him/her full chance to talk.

One common mistake candidates make when interviewing is talking too much. It is
important to listen to the question asked and answer that question. Keep your
answers to two to three minutes at the most. When you limit your time, you tend to
stay more focused. It is very easy to stray off the subject and ramble about things
irrelevant to the job if your answer is too long.
8. Be enthusiastic and positive!

During interview always enthusiastic. Do not say bad points for the previous
employers. Focus on positive achievements and views.

9. Check in During Interviews

Your initial interview answers should be brief. But some of your best stories may take
time to detail, then after two minutes ask for permission to go on. You may say
something like, "Now I have described about my project, would you like to hear about
my role in detail?"

10. Answer Briefly

The best interviews have a give and take atmosphere. To do this, you need to ask
questions and try to draw out your interviewer rather than talking about yourself
nonstop. When it comes to talking during an interview, sometimes less is more. A
general rule is you should speak one-third of the time and definitely no more than half
of the time. When it is your turn to speak, do not hesitate to talk about yourself.

11. First Comes the Phone

Now a days telephone screening is becoming very common. So you need to be

prepared for the phone to ring at any time. These screenings may be for 10 to 15
minutes, depending on your answers and fit for the job. it is helpful if you have
thought about questions likely to be asked during the screening and prepared your
answers.

12. Take a spare photo and CV with you!

It may happen that the interviewer wants your resume and photo. Your interviewer
won't be expecting it so you will impress them. It also helps them remember you
after the interview. So always keep a spare photo and resume with you while going
to interview.

13. Look Them in the Eyes

Eye contact is showing your confidence. Eye contact is one of the most important
aspects of nonverbal communication and can make a significant difference in how
you present yourself. If you look away when speaking to someone, you are viewed
as lacking confidence or interest. So always answer the question with eye contact to
interviewer.

14. Look Better, Feel Better

If you want to spruce up your appearance for the interview but can not afford new
clothes, consider altering an outfit you already have by pairing it with a different
shirt, tie, blouse or accessory. Even on a tight budget, you can find some real
bargains out there. Think about what you need before you go out shopping. Outlet
stores and resale shops offer some great treasures. For better or worse, looks can
make a difference.
15. Talk about specific achievements!

Interviewers like to know how you felt about a particular success. Some will ask for
specific examples of things you have done that you are particularly proud of; how
you solved problems; how you learned - and improved - from difficult situations.

16. Think of an Interview as a First Date

Instead of the Inquisition, think of a job interview as a first date: you are both
trying to figure out if there is a match. This mindset proffers many advantages. You
come off as curious, not desperate, you do not assume that too-formal, phony-
appearing job-seeker persona, you talk about what you want to talk about instead of
just passively getting bombarded with the employer's probes and you are more
likely to ask questions during the interview. Those questions will help you assess if
you really want the job. Treat the interview as a first date, and you will both be
better informed when deciding whether you should hook up.

17. Bring Up a Weakness

In an interview, bring up a weakness before you are asked for one. For example, "I
really need to work on my leadership skills. I am a good worker and totally
competent, but sometimes I lack the confidence to stand up and take a leadership
position."

This will help you a lot as you want to improve yourself.

18. Get the Info

Informational interviews are a great way to get leads and information regarding
company. It is important that the person you contact understands you are seeking
information not a job. Be prepared when you ask for an appointment to say what
you are looking for and why you want to talk to this person. At the informational
interview, have a prepared list of questions. At the end, ask if the person has any
recommendations of others you could speak with.

19. Virtual Thanks

You can send follow-up letters through email if this is the way you and the potential
employer have been communicating all along.

20. Attitude Adjustment

It is difficult to remain upbeat in a tough job market. Isolating you and waiting for
the phone to ring is the worst way to handle negative thoughts. When you start
feeling down, take steps to turn your thinking around. Go for a walk, or do
something fun. It may be just what you need to feel relaxed and at ease. Getting
together with friends and having a support system will help you to laugh and keep
going.
21. Explain Why You Left

Follow these guidelines when interviewers ask, "Why did you leave your company?"
Carefully describe the reason for your departure, and do not go into details unless
asked. Provide references to support your reasons for leaving and job performance.
Stay with the facts of what happened, what you did, how you felt and what you
learned. Then describe how you will handle things differently in the future.

22. Your References

For your reference list, you want three to five people and their contact information.
Do not forget to get permission to use your references' names, and while you are at
it, ask how they prefer to be contacted. You should also send them a copy of your
resume so they will be aware of what you are saying about yourself.

23. The World's Toughest Job Interview Question

Great questions to ask early in a job interview: "What are you most hoping to find in
the person you hire?" and "What would be my first priorities on the job?" The earlier
you can ask these questions, the sooner you can start tailoring your answers to the
employer's priorities. At the end of the interview, ask, "Based on what we've talked
about today, I feel good about the position. Do you have any concerns about my
ability to do the job?" Often, that gives you a chance to counter any objections.

24. Know What You Offer

Prepare answers for open-ended questions, like, "Tell me about yourself," by making
a list of your skills and traits that match the employer's requirements. The closer
your skills and traits are to the job description, the better chance you have of
landing the job. You should leave the interviewer with a clear picture of what you
have to offer.

25. Prove What You Could Do

Always put a positive spin on your answers to difficult questions. If you lack a
particular skill or do not know a certain computer program, be sure to emphasize
how quickly you learn. Give an example of a time when you were able to get up to
speed in a similar situation. Companies are interested in people who can hit the
ground running.

26. Sell Yourself

Interviewing is about selling yourself. The product you are selling is you. Give them
reasons to buy. Tell them what you can do for them. Emphasize what you can bring
to the company, department and position. Convince them that your product is better
than the competition's

27. Talking Salary

Timing is everything in the interview. Let them bring up the subject of money. If you
are asked what your salary expectations are too early in the process, just say you
would rather postpone that discussion until you have more information about the
position.
28. Ask your way into a better job

You cannot really tell how good a job is from an advertisement. There's often a gap
between the exciting opportunity portrayed in the ad and the actual job.

You can often get the straight scoop about a job by asking the right questions. For
example, in the job interview, ask, "What attributes are most needed to succeed in
this job?"

After you are offered a job but before accepting it, ask a few more questions or even
ask permission to talk with your future coworkers.

29. Do not forget to listen

Listening is one of the most underused interview skills. Most candidates are so
nervous about answering interview questions correctly that they forget to listen.
Follow these tips:

• Listen through eye contact.

• Listen with nonverbal expressions.
• Listen until the speaker is finished.
• Do not interrupt.

30. Ask the power questions

In the earlier you can ask these questions:

• What are you most hoping to find in the person you hire?
• What would be my first priorities on the job?

31. It is OK to be nervous

Not only is it OK to be nervous about an interview, but it is essential for you to

accept how you feel. Telling yourself you should feel differently than you do is
unrealistic and just makes you feel bad about yourself. What's the worst that can
happen at an interview? For many, it would be not getting an offer. Did you ever
think that maybe the job wasn't right for you? Try to look at the process as a
learning experience.

32. Put up with rejection?

If you are rejected from the company, you may feel hurt, angry or fed up. Instead
of being stuck in feeling rejected, take back the power by staying proactive. If you
really wanted to work for that particular company, sit down and write a letter.
Remind them of all the positive points you could bring to the organization. Let them
know you are still interested in working for the company if something should change
or open up.

33. Face the feedback

If you ask for feedback from an interviewer, be prepared to hear things that could
be upsetting. You should listen carefully, and take notes to refer to and react to. Do
not argue or defend yourself. At last do not forget to thank the interviewer. Then,
take the advice and think about changing some techniques to improve on your next
interview.
34. Follow the interviewer

During the interview, your interviewer is giving you information that can guide you
on how to behave during the meeting. Observe your interviewer's style. Listen very
carefully, and let him/her know that you have been listening by asking good
questions and making good comments. Answer questions by providing the
information asked for.

35. Emotional preparation

Preparing emotionally for the interview is also important. The right mood helps you
perform at your best. Try out following points for preparing emotionally:

• Get moving that means go for a walk, run, exercise, meditate, do yoga, stretch,
dance.
• Sing your favorite song while driving to the interview.
• Repeat an inspirational phrase aloud that's meaningful for you

36. Preparing to meet the employer

The interview is not the time to get to know about the post or the employers
business. It is a chance for you and the employer to get to know one another.

Gather information about your employer before you are interviewed like what are
their current projects, what other interest do they have etc.

You should know job description, or ask someone in a similar post. Otherwise ring
the company to clarify.

Keep in mind that the employer is interested in you as a person, your experiences
and your opinions do take the time to sit down and think about you, who you are
and what you have achieved.

Remember the one thing that your CV must be with you and make notes about your
work record and what you have achieved. Make notes and prepare and rehearse
sound bites about yourself.

37. Ask Questions

There is always the opportunity to ask them questions at the end of the interview,
remember the interview is a two-way process; you need to be sure you want to join
them. Try to concentrate on issues, which are both important to you and combine
an apparent interest in the company. Write your questions down prior to the
interview and take them with you.

38. Be honest!

Be honest with every question. No need to lying about your background and/or
skills. If you get caught then you will definitely out. Job interviews are about
matching needs, if there is not a good match, and then there is no chance of job.
39. Check your CV for possible gaps!

If there is any gap between your academic then make sure you know how you are
going to explain time gaps on your CV.

40. Presentation

Dressing is also important aspect at the time of interview. Dressing should be

appropriate for the post and the company. Try to get information about what the
company would expect from employees. What would be appropriate for a building
company is very different for a public relations agency. Be well-groomed and clean
and above all try to look confident.

41. Thank-You Salutations

While writing an interview thank-you note, problem may arise like whether to use a
formal or informal salutation? If the hiring manager is in a high position of authority,
use a formal salutation. But if the hiring manager suggests using her first name.
When in doubt, use a formal salutation.

42. Get to Work!

If you are unemployed, then your job right now is to find a job. Do not blame to
yourself. Think of this as going to work. Research companies, industries and
positions. Take this as good experience to succeed in future interviews.

Don'ts

As we have to consider the positive things while interview, also we have to consider the
worst interview blunders.

Following are the points which we have to avoid during the interview:

1. Not preparing for the interview:

Keep in mind that preparation always increases confidence. So do not face the
interview without preparation. You cannot communicate without pre-interview
research.

2. Showing up late or too early:

One of the first lessons in job-search is to show up on time for interviews. Many job
seekers do not realize that showing up too early often creates a poor first
impression. Arriving more than 10 minutes early for an interview shows that the job
seeker has too much time on his or her hands. Always remember that your time is
as valuable as the interviewer's. Always arrive on time, but never more than 10
minutes early.

3. Poor handshake:

In every place handshaking matters a lot. With the help of handshaking anyone can
judge your personality. The shake hand starts the interview and that is your first
opportunity to create a great impression. If you have delivered a poor handshake, it
is impossible for you to recover it. Here are some examples:
 • The limp hand gives the impression of disinterest or weakness.
• Only tips of the fingers shows lack of ability to engage.
• The arm pump shows overly aggressive salesman.

Your handshake may be telling more about you than you know. Ask about your
handshaking to your friends who are not afraid to tell you the truth.

4. Treating the receptionist rudely:

The first person you meet on an interview is a receptionist. The receptionist has the
power to say about your positive or negative points before you even set eyes on the
interviewer. The interviewer may also solicit the receptionist's opinion of you after
you leave.

5. Talking too much:

Talking too much always creates a problem. To avoid over-talking, practice

answering questions in a direct manner. Avoid nervous talking by preparing for your
interview with role-play.

6. Talking negatively about current or past employers/managers:

The fastest way to talk yourself out of a new job is to say negative things. Even if
your last boss was not good, never state your ill feelings about him/her. No matter
how reasonable your complaints, you will come out the loser if you show that you
disrespect your boss because the interviewer will assume that you would similarly
trash him or her. When faced with the challenge of talking about former employers,
make sure you are prepared with a positive spin on your experiences.

7. Asking about benefits, vacation time or salary:

Do not ask about the benefits, vacation time or salary during the first interview.
Wait until you have won the employer over before beginning that discussion.

8. Verbal ticks:

The first signs of nervousness are verbal ticks. We all have them from time to time
"umm," "like," "you know." You can also sometimes avoid verbal ticks by pausing
for a few seconds to gather your thoughts before each response.

To reduce the verbal ticks practice for sharing your best success stories ahead of
time, and you will feel more relaxed during the real interview.

9. Not enough/too much eye contact:

Eye contact shows your confidence but it may happen that it creates a negative
effect also. Avoid eye contact and you will seem shifty, untruthful, or disinterested.
If you sometimes have trouble with eye-contact balance, work this issue out ahead
of time in an interview practice session with a friend.
10. Failure to match communication styles:

It is almost impossible to make a good first impression if you can not communicate
effectively with an interviewer. But you can easily change that situation. Following
points will help to you.

• If the interviewer seems all business, then you must behave like business.
• If the interviewer is personable, try discussing his/her interests.
• If the interviewer asked a direct question, answer directly.

Allowing the interviewer to set the tone of conversation can vastly improve your
chances of making a favorable impression.

11. Final Thoughts

Just as a strong resume wins you an opportunity to interview, strong interview skills
will win you consideration for the job. You already know that you won't earn an
interview unless your resume sets you apart as a candidate of choice. Start your job
search with a resume that creates a stellar first impression.