What you say in the interview will be as important
as how you show who you actually are. Your body
language, mannerisms, attire, attitude will be noted & judged by the way to
talk and the way you carry yourself. It is therefore very important to know how
to conduct yourself in an ‘Interview’.
Though there are many tips which guide the job
aspirants to perform well in an interview, there
is this one thing that is the most common cause of interview failure i.e.
excessive nervousness and lack of self confidence. In an interview your goal is
to show the employer that you are able to do the job better than any other
candidate. If you are lacking self confidence the employer is going to wonder
if you can handle the pressure of the job. When you portray yourself as
confident, not arrogant, the employer begins to see your potential. Here we are
not saying that you won't be nervous, but that needs to remain inside. Like the
old saying goes "never let them see you sweat."
Here are some small suggestions which can get you
through an interview:
1. Keep your calm: I know it is hard to think of staying calm when your whole future
depends on this interview. Try to think of those things which makes you happy
let it be day dreaming about “you are hired” aspect.
2. Be Punctual: Make sure you are already in the waiting
room, awaiting your turn to be called. Avoid making the panel wait for you.
3. When You Enter: Knock lightly before
you open the door, ask for permission to enter & softly close the door
behind you.
4. Greetings: Your interview panel would consist of at
least 3-4 people. Greet everyone with a “Good Morning/Afternoon”. Your
handshake should neither be limp nor bone-crushing. Make sure you make
eye-contact with everyone. Wait till you’re asked to be seated. Thank them when
the offer to sit is made.
5. Dress Right: It is very important to make the right first
impression. Dress like a future manager would. Your attire should exude
confidence & maturity. Wear well-tailored & ironed clothes. Men should
opt for conservative business attire: shirt, trousers & tie. A business
suit would be ideal. Women can wear Indian or western formals. Avoid being
flashy. And don’t forget to wear a smile!
6. Be Confident: From the moment you enter the room, till the
second you step out after the interview, act confident. But make sure that you
don’t go over-board. The interviewers may grill you to check how you handle
stress. Maintain your cool throughout.
7. Mind your Body Language: One of the reasons why there is more than one
interviewer on your panel is so that while one of them throws questions at you,
the other can watch your body language along with what you say. Actions like
fiddling with your tie, shaking your leg continuously etc. convey nervousness.
Sit upright & keep your chin up. Maintain eye-contact with all the panel
members as you speak. Don’t talk to just one person throughout.
8. When You Speak: Be clear. Be concise. Don’t talk too loudly
or softly. You shouldn’t be asked to repeat what you said because you weren’t
loud or clear enough. Enunciate your words clearly. Most importantly, if you
don’t know the answer to a question, admit it. Your honesty would be
appreciated. If you fake it, it won’t go un-noticed!
9. In the End: Thank your panel as you get up to leave. Put
your chair back in position. Close the door softly behind you as you exit.
Practice this basic interview etiquette as often as
you can. Try to follow these tips every time you take part in such mock
personal interviews. You will gradually get a hang of how to conduct yourself
in an interview. These simple activities help you to tell yourself that you are the best
person for this job and thus you begin to act the part. By the time the
interview starts you will have begun to feel "at home" in your new
job and in you’re mind you will have already landed the job! So relax and the
job will be yours!
