1. Academic attainment
Academic attainment is important but it is an easy thing to prove your
results. The interviewer will be much more interested in finding out
about your personality, the way you think and your career plans and
forming an opinion on whether he likes you and whether you will fit
into his organization and make the contribution he is looking for.
2. The interviewers
You cannot be graranteed to be interviewed by an expert. Some interviewers
will be more nervous than you. They may talk too much about themselves,
and not have the experience to ask the sort of questions that will help
you talk about yourself.
3. Number of interviewers
You may be interviewed by more than one person at a time.
4. Be yourself
Recruiters do not employ people they do not like. Being yourself and projecting your
personality is vital. Interviewers rarely recruit people they dislike even if they are
highly qualified for the job.
5. Difficult questions
The interviewer will ask difficult questions but his aim is not to trick you, but to see
how you handle yourself when faced with a challenge.
6. Dress up for an interview
It is wise to wear conservatively, unless you are very sure of the way
people dress in that particular position you are applying for, e.g.if
you want to become a fashion designer, conservative dress may suggest
you have no flair.
7. Hidden question
The important thing is to recognize the hidden question or concern,
e.g. "Why do you want to work here?" The recruiter does not
want to hear that you like the pay and conditions. What he is really
asking is "Why should I hire you?" "What contributions
can you make?"
8. Research the company
It is very important to research the company before the interview. Otherwise,
how do you know what contributions you can make? Moreover, a likely
early question is "What do you know about us?"
9. Asking questions in an interview
By asking questions you demonstrate enthusiasm and knowledge. However,
beware of the type of questions you ask; they should be about the company
and the contribution you can make, but not about salary and benefits.
Also make sure you don't ask questions you could have answered for yourself
if you had done more research.
10. Salary negotiation
There is plenty of time to talk about salary when the job has been offered to you. Then
you are negotiating with more strength because they have stated that they want you.
11. Never bluff
This opens the way for a skilled interviewer to expose your lack of
knowledge, and your lies. Admit not having a particular experience/skill
etc. but describe similar experiences or ways in which you intend to
acquire the relevant skill.
12. Solving problems in an interview
You cannot be expected to give a solution to a problem when you do not
know about the situation, details and personalities involved. Employers
will be wary of candidates who simply give instant answers without careful
thoughts. It is better to analyse the available information, and give
an outline of how you would go about tackling such a problem in general.
13. Your first impression to employer
The employer may have many pre-conceived ideas about you from your resume.
However, remember he has invited you for interview so the impression
he is to posses must be favourable.
14. Identify your key selling points
By comparing the person's profile with your own details you can identify the areas that
will interest the interviewer. Then prepare and practise your approach.
15. Negative effect of "talking too much about
yourself"
Talking too much about yourself can defeat yourself.
