Fresher Job Interview Tips

Smile – it could make all the difference!!!

Your task at an interview is to demonstrate that you’re the best person for the job. Here are our top tips for interview success… you need to gather facts about the job, and sell yourself to your potential employer. The interviewer’s task, on the other hand, is to decide if you are the right person for the job, looking carefully at your skill, qualifications and attitude. The bottom line is that there’s only one person who can demonstrate that you’re the best candidate for the job: you.

♦ Preparation for the Interview ♦

Be Prepared !!!! The key to a successful interview is preparation. Prepare well, and you’re likely to feel less stressed and come across as more confident on the day. The following tips will help:

•  Take two copies of your CV

• Take original copies of your qualification certificates.

• Written testimonials from your senior faculty

• Read over the job posting again as a reminder of the position and its requirements. Review your CV and application form to remember what you’ve written.

• Make sure you know where and when the interview is, and plan your journey to arrive 10 minutes early.

• Find out as much as you can about the company offering the job.

• You should look at the company website if they have one. Ask the personnel official when scheduled about what format the interview will follow and the number of interviewers.

• Prepare answers for questions that may be asked.

• The night before the interview, spend some time with a friend or family member, telling them why you would be the best for the position. Use superlatives galore.

♦ How To Dress For An Interview ♦

• In an interview your attire plays a supporting role. Your conduct, your interpersonal skills and your ability to articulate intelligent and well thought out responses to questions are the most important elements.

• Smell Good

• Appropriate attire supports your image as a person who takes the interview process seriously and understands the nature of the industry in which you are trying to become employed.

• Your attire should be noticed as being appropriate and well-fitting, but it should not take center stage. If you are primarily remembered for your interview attire, this is probably because you made an error in judgment!

• Dressing nicely and appropriately is a compliment to the person you meet, so if in doubt, err on the side of dressing better than you might need to.

• Even if you are aware that employees of an organization dress casually on the job, dress up for the interview unless you are specifically told otherwise by the employer.

♦ Stages of The Interview ♦

1. Introductory stage The interviewer will establish rapport and create a relaxed, though businesslike, atmosphere. This is where the interviewer gets the very important first impression of you. 2. Review of your background and interests This usually takes the form of “what,” “why,” “where,” and “when” types of questions. Focus on what you are like, and what you have accomplished, your academic background, and your goals. One of the interviewer’s objectives is to see if your qualifications match your declared work interests. Give concise but thorough responses to questions. 3. Matching begins Assuming you have the necessary qualifications, the interviewer will begin the process of determining whether the company’s job opening(s) match your qualifications and skills. 4. Conclusion In this stage, the interviewer explains what the next steps are in the hiring process. Be sure you understand them. Promptly provide any additional information requested. There should be ample opportunity for you at this point to ask any questions you have. Remember, the interviewer does not negotiate salary, benefits, etc. Don’t even mention them in the interview.

♦ At the Interview ♦

Instant judgments will be made about your appearance, so dress smartly and arrive in plenty of time. Remember to relax!!! Take a deep breath, remind yourself of your career success to date and appreciate the fact that you are a talented individual. Most of all : be yourself !!! The following may sound obvious, but could make all the difference at your next interview: Greet the interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake. Eye Contact - Do not just assume you have good eye contact. Ask. Watch. Then practice. Ask others if you ever lack proper eye contact. Posture — posture sends out a signal of your confidence and power potential. Stand tall, walk tall, and most of all, sit tall. Gestures — contrary to popular belief, gestures should be very limited during the interview – small and meaningful Openness and warmth — open-lipped smiling, open hands with palms visible, unbuttoning coat upon being seated Nervousness — pinching skin, jiggling pocket contents, running tongue along front of teeth, clearing throat, hands touching the face or covering part of the face, pulling at skin or ear, running fingers through hair, wringing hands, biting on pens or other objects, twiddling thumbs, biting fingernails, tongue clicking should be strictly avoided. Listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying, and try to understand what’s behind their question. Then try to frame your answer in response. Technology - Bring appropriate samples of your technology skills – graphics design, presentation software, word processing, etc. Let the interviewer know you have them, and do not offer to show them unless asked to do so. Flash drives make it possible to bring a lot of material with you in digital form in a case no larger than a pack of gum. Don’t be negative - you may have already have had some negative experiences, but don’t focus on them. Focus on the positive ones, or talk about what you have learned from the negative ones. Be professional and focused, yet friendly and personable; your attitude and demeanour matter as much as your response. Be brief but thorough in your responses. Strike a balance between avoiding simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers, but not waffling on. Don’t make things up - you are likely to be asked to give practical examples of what you have stated on your application form. If you don’t understand a question, ask the interviewer to explain. Explain how your qualifications and skills relate to the position and the company’s specific needs. Make sure you have the opportunity to ask questions of your own. You are interviewing them as well, and trying to find out if their company is the place for you. Thank the interviewer at the end.

 ♦ Interview Questions to Ask the Employer ♦

• How would you describe the responsibilities of the position?

• How would you describe a typical week/day in this position?

• Is this a new position?

• How many people work on the project i am going to be assigned

• How often are team meetings held?

• What are the prospects for growth and advancement?

• What do you like about working here?

• If I am extended a job offer, how soon would you like me to start?

• Are there any other questions I can answer for you?

• How is my performance evaluated?

♦ After the Interview ♦

•  After an interview, it’s always a good idea to send a letter or email thanking an interviewer for letting you discusses your experiences. Send it out immediately after your interview to stay fresh in the interviewer’s mind .you may even score bonus points for excellent follow-up skills.

• If you have time during the interview, collect business cards from those you interview with. That way, you’ll have contact information to easily follow up. If that isn't feasible, check on LinkedIn for the correct spelling of the names, job titles, and for the contact information for your interviewers, if it’s listed.

• Proofread your follow up letters before you send them. A typo or grammatical error can knock you out of contention.

• If there’s something you had wished you’d shared during the interview, do it now. Mention anything you wished you had said, but didn’t, during the interview.

• Spend some time thinking about how you can improve your job interview technique .

 Courtesy by Teachershive.com