G.A. Viray
“In most cases, the best strategy for a job interview is to be fairly honest, because the worst thing that can happen is that you won’t get the job and will spend the rest of your life foraging for food in the wilderness and seeking shelter underneath a tree or the awning of a bowling alley that has gone out of business.” – Lemony Snicket
Congratulations for earning that college degree, now you are ready to face the real world, or are you really ready? So, it’s your first job interview, but you have no clue what to expect or how to act, or what to say… Or you might be looking for a better opportunity but have already lost your confidence because your last interview was many years ago…
Attending a job interview is always one of the most nerve-wracking meeting you’ll ever attend. Since Human resource is the key ingredient to the success of a company, recruitment specialists make sure they sift the applicants before they hire one that is highly qualified. And it’s not just the fresh graduates who have this experience, almost everyone has felt like they have butterflies in their stomach during a job interview. So, what can we do to ace one?
Here are some tips from Jobstreet, About.com, and Quint Careers. We also sought the help of a Human Resource and Corporate Training Specialist Kristoffer Viray of Yangtze Group of Companies to complete our list of tips to ace your job interview.
1. Know what you’re getting into.
Aside from knowing what the job requires of you, you also need to know what company you want to be part of. That’s what Google is for. Do your research before you go to the job interview. Get to know as much as you need about the company and the people. Know the vision and mission of the company. “We want our employees to have the same vision as our company”, Kristoffer Viray of Yangtze Group stated.
2. Arrive on Time.
This one is a given, it’s not just because it would make a good impression, but recruitment specialists measure the level of commitment of an applicant from their ability to be punctual during their interview. “Being late for an interview shows an applicant’s lack of interest and commitment to the job”, according to Viray.
3. Look Smart.
They say the job interview is like a first date so we have to make the best impression. Look neat for the interview and make sure you dress appropriately. Being overdressed is similar to being under dressed. Follow the company’s dress code requirement for the interview. While some companies require their applicants to wear suit and tie, other companies require their applicants to be in smart casual attire. If you are a lady, try to accentuate your features with light make-up and make sure not to wear too many accessories.
4. Mind your actions.
More than what you have to say, recruitment specialists also gauge an applicant based on how they act. A comfortable and sincere smile, eye contact, good posture, and a firm handshake is key to impress your prospective employer. Viray said, “The sincerity of an applicant can be seen through their body language.”
5. Be confident and humble at the same time.
Your qualifications and skills are already written in your resume, what do employers look for during the interview? Confidence, humility and a positive attitude. Your confidence spells your capability to have the will to finish tasks assigned, which is a determiner of a positive attitude. But, be careful not to be overconfident, more than your confidence, humility is a virtue that shows if you also have the ability to be obedient in the first place.
6. Be clear and concise with your answers.
When the interviewer asks you questions, make sure your answers are clear and not too lengthy. Interviews don’t usually take an hour, specially the initial interview. Interviewers want direct, clear answers. If the question is vague, you may ask the interviewer to repeat his question instead of giving an answer that is not relevant to the question. Recruitment specialists observe if their interviewees are actually listening to them. “When the interviewee is not clear of his answers, it’s difficult for us to determine if he is really actively listening”, Viray added.
7. Ask insightful questions.
The interview is a venue for the applicant to learn more about the job and the company. Recruitment specialists can measure the level of interest of an applicant when they ask insightful questions. Just make sure you don’t ask too many of them as your interviewer may think you are arrogant.
8. Exit gracefully.
The interview is already finished. You were able to answer all the questions and make a good impression. What’s next? Exit gracefully. Although the interviewers may not be taking down notes anymore, your exit can still make a good impression to the interviewer. Don’t forget to thank them by their names and give them a handshake. When time comes that they would have to deliberate which applicant to hire among the interviewees, the person who gives the best final impression may be able to get the job. “Applicants who are consistent from the time we first meet them until they leave the room are our first in mind when it’s time to choose which person to hire”, Viray further said.
With these tips we hope that you can get the job that you’ve been dreaming of. However, remember to not just make a good impression, but also be yourself during the interview. These tips can help your personality shine, but also make sure you really love the job you are applying for.
