Your well-written resume finally landed you an interview. Just when you thought your work is over, the most important part has just begun. No matter how experienced you seem on the resume, if you canβt leave a good first impression during the interview, it could cost you the job right there and then. To increase your chances of getting hired, check out these 10 tips to improve your interview performance:
1. Prepare yourself
Prepare yourself as much as possible. Read about interview tips online, ask your friends or family for advice, go through all the commonly asked interview questions, and research about the company. More importantly, prepare yourself mentally for the interview. You can spend days or weeks prepare for the interview but if you get panic during the interview, you might just ruin your chances of getting hired.
The key to this is, anticipate even the unexpected ones. Youβll never know if itβs going to be an one-on-one or a panel interview. Just keep calm and do your best.
2. Mind your body language
An interview is a chance for your to show how you carry yourself through your body language and the way your answer each question. Show your confidence by practicing good body language; sit up straight and lean forward to the interview when talking, good eye-contact, firm handshake or even the way you walk in can make a difference.
3. Dress appropriately
Nowadays more and more companies especially start-ups donβt have a strict corporate dress code. But that doesnβt give you a pass to dress casually for an interview. As a job seeker, you want to show your professionalism and that you take this interview seriously. A formal outfit is always a safe choice especially if youβre applying to a big organization or corporate firm.
4. Donβt be late
This should goes without saying. Being on time for your interview is the most basic respect to the interviewer. You wonβt want to leave a bad impression before the interview even begins. Try arriving the interview venue 30 minutes before the agreed time. Give yourself some time to compose yourself instead of rushing there last minute and set yourself up for a bad start.
5. Pay attention to details
You might think that interview is your chance to shine, but your ability to listen is equally important. During the interview, pay attention to every piece of information the interviewer share with you. It could be useful for your follow-up email by mentioning some key information he or she shared during the interview. It will not only show that you listened but also your respect to the interviewer.
6. Donβt boast
Itβs important to be confident during an interview but donβt go overboard. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, find the right balance and display your professionalism and humility. You might overly excited when sharing your achievements in the past, but try to compose yourself and demonstrate your ability professionally.
7. Use formal language
Always use formal language during the interview. Avoid using any inappropriate slang words or remarks about sensitive topics such as religion, politics, sexual orientation, and race. You might think that youβre being friendly, but itβs better to keep it professional.
8. Ask the right questions
Most employers expect sensible questions from the applicants. Make sure you ask the right questions that are relevant to your application, the company, and the position youβre applying for. By doing so, it shows that youβve interest in what goes on in the company. And it gives you a bigger idea if the role or company is suitable for you. To get more brownie points, pay attention to what the interviewer mentioned during the interview and ask for additional information.
9. Use real life work experience
Instead of repeating all the skills you listed on your resume to the interviewer, try to use actual work experience to demonstrate your abilities. For example, to show your leadership skill: Share with them your experience of leading a project and how you delegate tasks to your team member. Action speaks louder than words. Being able to use your real life work experience as examples is definitely more convincing than a long list of skills.
10. Donβt show your desperation
Even if you are, donβt show it to the interviewers as it makes you seem not confident enough. Stay calm and do your best to show your capabilities to the employer. You have to believe in yourself before you can convince others to think so too.
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