What Is an Interview?

An interview is considered as the final step of recruitment. Since you are called to attend in the interview it means that the employer has at least some interest about you. A job interview is a conversation between a potential employer and a job applicant in which the employer evaluate the applicant for the prospective employment in their organization. In an interview the employer generally hopes to determine whether the applicant is suitable or not for the job. On the other hand the applicant tries to emphasis his/her necessity in this organization by making impression with prior experience or consisting qualities. Although an interview generally mean a face to face conversation, now-a-days, many other types of interviews are seen in the recruitment process like video interview, online interview and so on. The conversation of an interview is generally formal and may range to a serious discussion with an assortment of people working within the company.

One may have to face only one interview for a job in an organization but the applicant may have to face two or more interviews if the employer thinks so. The number of interview generally depends on the size and recognition of the company or the organization. In smaller businesses, candidates are often interviewed directly by the employer. In other cases, a representative of the human resources department may interview a candidate first, and then s/he will go through a series of interviews with potential supervisors and other personnel. Larger companies may also have interview panels with multiple members who cooperate to make a decision.

There is no fixed process of taking an interview, even no fixed question and no fixed topic is determined for interview. An interview may have different styles and techniques. The interviewer applies any kind of variation in an interview to justify whether the applicant is able to manage unexpected situation. In many interviews the interviewer asks behavioral questions, questions about hypothetical or actual situations to justify the candidate and to learn more about him/her. For example, the interviewer might ask “Tell me about your worst experience of your career.” In some cases the interviewer may apply so-called stress interview method in which the ability of the candidate of controlling stress will be determined.

Interview Preparation

Wining an interview is not a chance; you have to do it with your proven capability. Interview does not have specific question to get prepared about. But before attending in an interview you have to be prepared properly for that. Without preparation it is quite tough to handle the pressure of an interview. Here is the question- how can you be prepared since you have no significant guideline for an interview? You have to follow some strategy to do that. You will not learn the answer of typical question but the strategic aspects of answering question. The preparation includes your knowledge as well as your approach to the interviewer.

About yourself– Before attending an interview, be sure of your own qualifications, the requirement and duties of the position you are applying for. If you find everything in your favor then move for it. Learn to demonstrate your qualities and relate them to the requirements and duties of the position. You have submitted a CV or resume to the employer, study on it so that no information become contradictory when you answer in the interview board. Take preparation on some typical question like ‘Tell me something about yourself’, ’what are your strength or weakness’ etc. Prepare a statement of your own which you think would be essential to let them know. After taking all the preparation ask yourself as an interviewer and answer yourself as an interviewee. This will help you to rehearse your preparation. Take a shower before making your journey and dress yourself up with washed and official dress like shirt and pant (never wear T-shirt, fatwa or trouser). Arrive at the interview place in time (never make a late). Remember your first impression has a great impact on your interview, so be prepared to make first impression.

About the organization- Do a little research on the organization. Your research may include the establishment, working/business area, goal and achievement, and overall standing of the organization. You can learn it from their website (if available), Annual Report, leaflets and advertisement provided by the organization or any other reliable source discussing about the organization like newspapers. Remember as much as you know about the organization your confidence will be higher. Find out as much as you can about the position, the organization and its needs. It will be better if you can discuss topics related to your position. For example if you are applying for marketing officer you have to discuss about products or services, revenues etc. if you are applied for the position of executive, you have to discuss about management style, goals, reputation, and image etc. But don't act as if you know everything about the place. It will be a plus point for you if you ask intelligent questions about the position, the company and the industry.

First Impression

First impression is the most important part of an interview as it convinces the interviewer directly. Your intention will be to make the first impression to them and you must remember and follow some tips for doing that.

Make yourself good looking- Dress appropriate for the position you're seeking. Your attire must be official not informal at all. If you don't know what the typical attire at the organization is, ask when setting up the interview. Your shoes should be polished; pants/skirts and shirts pressed. Clean hair and fingernails are essential. Avoid excessive cologne, jewelry or make-up.

Be punctual– Get on the board on time! Never make any late, late arrival for a job interview is never excusable. If you have the possibility of being late allow extra time for traffic, parking and slow elevators. Try to reach in the place few minutes early; even you can go there the night before in order to avoid the risk of being late.

During the interview

You have a better preparation for the interview, but all of these will go in vain if you fail to present them properly during the interview. There are some rules you should never avoid and some tradition you should never overlap in the interview.

Getting in- When you are called to the interview board enter the room gently and seek their permission to sit down. Thanks them for giving your sitting permission. Remember this manner works for making first impression.

Do not be nervous- It is general for the first time interviewees that their faces become gloomy and worried. Their heart bit started to increase consistently and become nervous. As a result the remaining parts of the interview get out of their control. Do not let it happen. Think yourself as a participator of the discussion not an answering machine only and be confident of your standing.

Introducing yourself- Generally the question of an interview starts from introducing yourself. Do not repeat the information described in your CV/resume. Introduce yourself with your workings and expertise. If you have no prior work experience start your speech with your educational achievement. For example say ‘I am X graduated from University of Y’ instead of ‘I am X, son of Z’ or ‘I am X born in Y’. The next speeches will follow your achievements during your previous life.

Do not hurry in answering- Few interviewee answer too fast to understand. Their nervousness may help occur it. Take proper time to answer. That does not mean make it too slow to bother. Deliver your speech effectively which make your dialogue worthy and meaningful.

Do not answer like recitation- You have a preparation on a specific question that asked, you may start answering it as you prepared. But be careful your answer does not show you are reciting a memorized answer. Answer the question in a similar manner of your general discussion.

Ask your own question- To make yourself easy and be a part of the discussion raise your own question to the interviewer. For example if the advertisement does not indicate the job location you may ask- ‘may I ask where my job location is?’ or if the advertisement does not describe about duties you may ask- ‘may I know the duties of the position?’ This kind of question will help you to precede your discussion and make yourself comfortable.

Do not ask red mark question- You may ask your own question, this is appreciable. But be careful if it is red marked. Avoid question which can negatively impact on the interviewer. For example- you are not interested in relocation and you asked ‘is relocation a requirement?’ By this question the interviewer can assume that you do not want to relocate at all and this will have a bad impact. Try to ask the question in this way- ‘could you tell me how often I might be asked to relocate over five or ten years?

Do not lie- Never tell a lie during an interview. Do not provide false information. Remember your resume is in their hand and that includes all the necessary reference and link to find out your absolute condition. To tell a lie is an obvious quality which throws you out of the selection process.

Answer the question properly- Do not add irrelevant objects while answering a question. Try to answer point to point. Do not make your answer too long or too short. Do not provide any information which may be contradictory with your submitted CV or resume. Be relevant, concise and assertive in answering a question.

Avoid few aspects- Don't inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement, etc.; let them bring the subject first. Unless the interviewer asks what salary you want, do not mention the amount. Focus more on the interview, less on the job.

Show positivity- Give your answer in a positive manner. Try to use assertive form of sentence and words that show positive meaning. Such as- ‘dislike’, ‘unhappy’ instead of ‘do not like’, ‘not happy’. When you are not agreed with a comment or concept; do not directly oppose it, try to discuss it passively so that your opposition becomes unspecified.

Establish your opinion- Try to establish your opinion with appropriate reference. If you could not find reference strengthen your opinion with your confidence. But be careful so that your confidence does not show arrogance. In a dilemma do not change your position, no matter which decision have you taken but the matter is whether you change your mind randomly.

Be attentive- Listen the question and follow the attitude of the interviewer carefully. Do not pretend of listening while you are thinking else. Your carelessness earn you negative marking from the interviewer. Be attentive to the question and answer properly according to the question.

Emphasis your specialty- Whenever you answer; try to explain it in your own way. It will be better if you can add an example from your life to explain your efficacy. Relate your specialty and achievement with the demand of the employer. Emphasis on your specialty, that means why you are fit here.

Avoid negative body language- In an interview body language has a great impact. You have to avoid some physical movements and to add some movement to show your easiness. There are some physical movements which are assigned as negative body language. Some of these attitudes are sign of your nervousness and some are your un-smartness. Both of these will gain you a failure in result. During an interview never do the following attitudes-

• 1. Frequently touching your mouth.
• 2. Fidgeting (moving hand, fingers or other part of body nervously and continuously).
• 3. Faking a cough to think about the answer to a question.
• 4. Gently massaging or tugging on the ear.
• 5. Biting on your lip.
• 6. Scratching your neck.
• 7. Artificial or forced smiles.
• 8. Tugging your collar.
• 9. Swinging your foot or leg.
• 10. Smooth the back of your head.
• 11. Folding or crossing your arms.
• 12. Slouching (standing or sitting in a frustrated or annoyed mode).
• 13. Picking at invisible bits of lint.

All of these attitudes should be avoided and the following are the physical attitude which you should add in your behave.

• 1. Regular eye contact with the interviewer (but do not stare).
• 2. Show your emotions in your face.
• 3. Smart handshake.
• 4. Natural smiling (not laughing).

After the Interview

Follow-up is the final step in the interviewing process. Follow-up your interview with a thank-you note as soon as possible. Be nice to every person you met at the office of the organization including receptionists and secretaries. Remember to ask for business cards. They may not have the power to hire you, but they may be asked for input into the decision.

You may forward a call if you are sure that it will be appropriate process to continue to express interest in the position.