10 interview skills that can help you get hired
An interview is a gateway to getting a job. It can be your dream job or first job, an interview is one of the most important rounds that a person will need to prepare for, in order to land a job.
Even though the standard interview functions the same way, a human mind will tend to get nervous over personal questioning and displaying their worthiness or skill. This is where it gets hard.
Let us discuss a few interview skills that can help you get hired.
Doing well in an interview is everyone’s goal, however, without a few things kept in mind, an interview can go terribly wrong.
There’s an etiquette that needs to be followed and certain skills that can help you get ahead. Dressing well for an interview, learning to present the perfect resume, and some rules for an interview are essential in order to do well.
#1. Prepare
You might think that speaking impromptu is the best option because that’s when you’re yourself completely, but that’s wrong. It’s always better to practice and prepare what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it. You can never be sure of not feeling nervous, and if you’re nervous and unprepared, you might blurt out things you didn’t intend to. Go through the job description and make a clear note of what it is that the company is expecting from you. And then, read your cover letter and resume once more, and check if there’s anything that you’d want to explain or talk about. Make sure you do not include credentials in your resume that exaggerate your skills. Be to the point. Go through some potential interview questions, and see where you stand and where you need to improve.
#2. Be punctual
It’s a terrible sign if you’re late for your interview. Always be punctual, in order to land the perfect first impression on to your interviewers. Set four alarms and wake up early if you have to, have a friend call you up in the morning just to be safe. Pack your bag the night before the interview, to ensure that you do not have to hurry in the morning. Along with your bag, get your outfit ready as well. It’s essential that you reach on time or early to let your interviewers have an impression that you do not slack off. Interviews are meant to make an impression.
#3. Think hard
It’s always better to answer slow and carefully than in a hurry. This doesn’t mean you sit quietly and think of an answer right then and there, in front of them. However, it is completely alright to take a few seconds for yourself and give your answer. You can say, “This is a good question, I’ve never been asked this before. Can I take a few seconds to answer this question?” Avoid using ‘um’ or ‘uh’ in the middle of your sentences, but try not to sound completely robotic as well. Maintain a calm composure and answer carefully. Take some time to answer and get back to them with a statement like, “I was actually thinking about this..” to ensure that your thoughts have been backed up by the time you’ve taken.
#4. Be clear
It’s almost natural to feel nervous during an interview. However, it’s important to not let the nerves bring you down. So, drink some water, maintain your nerves and try to speak clearly. Be cohesive with your speech and if you’re feeling too nervous, take a few seconds to calm down. You’re in an interview meeting, but that isn’t the end of the world. There is a lot of pressure on you, but it’s not something that the interviewers have not seen before. Just be calm and be yourself. It’ll be alright, and you will do great.
#5. Don’t be arrogant
It is good to show yourself in a good light. It’s good to showcase your skills and talk about what you’re good at and what you’ve learned. However, there is a tone you will need to follow to showcase your skills in the right way. Do not be too arrogant when talking about yourself. Try to maintain modesty with what you display of yourself. Arrogance is not favored in a candidate, and interviewers steer clear of any signs of arrogance. Modestly explain to them what your skills are and what you are good at, to give them the right impression.
#6. Listen
It’s important that you listen to what your interviewers are saying. If they are talking about the company or what they expect of the candidate for the preferred job role, make a point to listen to them or even take notes of certain things. Don’t just nod and say, ‘right’. Try not to zone out and stay in the moment when they are talking to you, answer back if asked a question or add to some things when you find an opportunity.
#7. Be positive
It’s always nice to be positive, but here for an interview, it is essential. It’s important that you carry yourself optimistically. Your interviewers would prefer hiring someone with a good and approachable attitude rather than a brood. Do not bad-mouth your previous company or display any signs of discomfort. Smile courteously, greet them when you enter, maintain a friendly demeanor that’ll help you go a long way in not just the interview, but even after you land a job as well.
#8. Don’t be desperate
It’s good to be interested in the job that you’ve applied, however, make sure you do not exceed the interest to desperation. If you are disinterested, your interviewer will invariably be disinterested in you. However, there are downsides to being very interested as well. This will give your interviewers an impression that you really need the job and would do practically anything to get it. A desperate candidate will leave at the first sign of a better opportunity, and cannot be considered a loyal employee. Interviewers would want someone level headed and would steer clear from desperate candidates.
#9. Know more than what you show
We all have the basic method to introduce ourselves. We talk about our education, professional qualification till date and our hobbies and skills. But, you must be willing to talk about yourself more than this. Because, if you’re rehearsed with just these few bits of information, then it’ll get harder for you if your interviewer asks you a tricky question. Be prepared to answer something out of the box, and ask some questions to the interviewer as well. You can ask them about the company or work culture.
#10. Be grateful
This doesn’t mean you go all out and bring them gifts. Express gratitude with pleasantries like ‘thank you’, and ‘please’. After you get home, you can send them a thank you mail. Your silence in this matter can give an impression to the interviewer that you are not interested in the position.