Master the art of interviewing with our comprehensive guide to the fundamentals of interviews in 2024. Learn essential tips, techniques, and strategies to confidently navigate any interview scenario. Stay ahead of the competition and land your dream job with our expert advice and insights.
In today’s job market, knowing how to navigate through an interview is almost as vital a skill as your capability for the job itself. However, it is very important to remember it’s a two-way process. It is imperative to present yourself as you truly are, as it isn’t just your potential employers who are judging if you are fit for the role you’re applying for, it is also you deciding if joining their organization is what you want to do. Let’s go over some of the must-have interview skills.
I cannot stress how important preparation is to your success in an interview. It’s very noticeable when you are winging an interview, and it would instantly disqualify you from the job in most cases. It’s a very easy process to prepare for an interview.
Read through the job description, and understand which parts you excel at and which parts you aren’t as effective at.
Review both your CV and Cover Letter to understand how you presented yourself, as well as some interview questions. There are many questions that you will commonly encounter in interviews, for which you can prepare your answers beforehand.
Finally, research the company. You should never have to ask a question which you can answer yourself by looking at their website.
How you present yourself is a key factor in how people perceive you. Always be polite, regardless of who they are. Respect is a two-way street and no one will respect you if you come across as cocky and arrogant. Also, you should be dressed for the job. Find out the dress code of the organization. If it’s more casual, then you should arrive in business casual. Otherwise, go for a suit.
Here I refer to both vocal and body language. Your thoughts should be communicated fluidly. Always listen, before you talk. Be calm and confident. Don’t use words like umm, uhm, hm or ahh in between every other sentence. This goes without saying, but never curse. Refrain from any offensive words, and do not try to implicate anyone in a negative way. Your body language should show your sincerity and interest. Sit up straight and maintain eye contact. Be expressive, but don’t be too eager.
Ask questions you may have about the organization and the position, but make sure they aren’t questions you can find out the answers to, by yourself. If at any point, you were nervous or didn’t answer a question to their liking, ask if you can readdress the topic. Thank the interviewers for their time and let them know that it was nice to meet them. It isn’t necessary but it always helps to send a follow up email afterwards, to show your sincerity and to keep you at the forefront of their minds.
It is easy to get nervous during an interview but it’s a crucial skill for anyone to have. Don’t be disheartened if you feel like you didn’t do as well as you could have in an interview. There will be more in the future, and it’s easy to learn and improve.
