Interview Preparation: Tips and Techniques

Interview Preparation: Tips and Techniques

Going for an interview first time is quite nervous. Below we will discuss about preparing about an interview but before that you need to know some facts. An interview invitation shows that you are definitely a candidate the interviewers are looking for, for the vacant position. It is an estimated fact that more than 75% candidates are rejected at the application stage only.

Let’s talk about interviews now. Talking about bigger organizations, they will definitely have interviewers who are already personal professionals which are highly trained, skilled and experienced interviewers. You should expect the interviews to be step by step and well structured interviews to obtain maximum out of you. While at smaller organizations and firms you will be most likely interviewed by a partner or the owner himself who may not be a skilled and experienced interviewer. Against such interviewers you can work out their questions as a means of conveying your points to clear out with the firm. It can be good tactic to change the direction of the conversations to the topics you are more strength and highlighting your strong points. But again, for this you need to be a decent at talking out.

Interviewing techniques:

1. The straight forward step by step interview where one is asked questions about and around his CV/application form.
2. Criteria based interview. These are such interviews where one will be asked to explain his way of working with different situations with a team where you should at least reach the expectation levels of the interviewers.
3. The off the point questions type interviews where you are probably asked hypothetical questions or give out your views on something which are challenged and you are dragged into an argument. These types of questions help them know your reactions and how cool can you keep yourself under crucial circumstances and situations.

Step-1:

Things to check before attending an interview:

• Go through your resume/cv again.
• Prepare for expected questions
• Check clothes
• Read vacancy details
• Find out interviewer’s thinking â€" what they want and expect from the candidates

Step-2:

Make a good first impression:

• Arrive in time
• Make a confident entrance
• Keep good posture, look self-confident, handshake, and maintain eye contact.

Step-3:

Interview:

• Be prepared to talk, but not over talk. Use your hands while you talk
• Be honest
• Don’t be afraid to ask for clarifications
• If you feel like asking something, go ahead and do it but it should be relevant to the post you are applying for.
• Illustrate your answers with proper and suitable examples
• Keep your calm and hold your nerves. Don’t show desperateness!
• Show yourself interested for the job

Step-4:

Ending Part:

• Read out the interviewer’s body language, know when the interview is over
• Thank them for their time!
• Smile and leave.

 The above illustrated points will help you out to deal with an interview. Being judgmental for any interview can really become a reason for turning down of you as perception makes a lot change to the attitude of a person who is appearing for the interview. Being over-attentive can also affect to your gestures and leads to nervousness, the best advice is to be calm and positive for your interview irrespective of the outcome and play natural in all circumstances.

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