Job Interviews

An interview is your chance to prove to a prospective employer that you are capable of performing in a role. Whilst it is imperative to make sure that you’ve gathered as much information, it is important to remember that an interview should be a two way process; an opportunity for the employer to meet you as well as an opportunity for you to understand the employer. Interviews will help you make an informed decision about joining the company if you are eventually offered the job.

Job interviews are like sales calls, or rather, an invited sales call. Should you get selected for a job interview, bring along all your best “products and services”.

The Interview

• Always arrive at least 15 minutes early. This will allow you to collect your thoughts and appear cool and confident before the interview.
• Treat everyone you meet with professionalism and kindness. You never know if the receptionist could contribute to your assessment.

In the waiting room

• Our mannerism is equally important as our attire. There’s nothing worse than a well-dressed person behaving badly.
• Be wary of your body language while in the waiting room. Pacing the room nervously, sitting slumped in a chair or frowning at the receptionist can all work against you.
• Always start with a warm smile and a firm handshake. Smiling helps you to relax and makes you come across as confident and approachable.
• Greet the interviewer. Address him/her by his/her last name.
• Do not sit until the interviewer invites you to.
• Remember to stand and sit upright as slouching will give the impression that you are not interested in the job or that you are a sloppy worker.
• Remember to switch off your mobile phone before entering the interview room.

During the Interview

• Your main goal here is to impress and convince the interviewer that you are the right fit for the job. You need to be specific here and emphasize your achievements and skills that particularly relate to the position.
• Speak clearly and confidently. Do not speak too fast as this could send a message that you are nervous. Remember to punctuate and pronounce your words.
• Control the volume of your speech. Use the right tone and fluctuate your pitch. You do not want to sound too monotonous.
• Be careful of your intonation. There is a fine line between boasting and being modest and competent.
• When describing your job scope and duties, use active words to demonstrate your capabilities, e.g. "initiated", "conceptualised", "designed", "organised", etc.
• Avoid any negativity such as complaining about your current employer or boss, or putting down your ex-colleagues.
• State truthfully your qualifications and your skills. Bragging is one thing, outright lies will trap you.
• Be observant throughout the interview and try to understand the type of personality the interviewer looks for in a candidate this would enable you to position your questions and responses accordingly.
• Listen carefully to what is being asked; take a few quick seconds to think it over and then answer. Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question. It is alright to take a few moments of silence to gather your thoughts before answering. Try not to "beat around the bush" or take a long time to give the answer the interviewer is seeking.

Body Language

The use of body language is important in creating a favorable impression to interviewers. Through appropriate body language, candidates could demonstrate their confidence, personality and interest in the job.

• Always sit upright. Unless you are suffering from a sudden bout of fits or happen to be sitting on an ants’ nest, avoid fidgeting as it shows uneasiness and screams a lack of confidence.
• Be sure to look interested by maintaining good eye contact, smiling and nodding appropriately while you listen to the interviewer. Avoid staring, squinting or glancing away as flitting eye movements can be distracting.
• If you are sitting across the table from the interviewer, it is advisable to place your hands on your lap. Use appropriate hand gestures to support what you are saying; for example, an open palm gesture is commonly regarded as a sign of openness and sincerity. Do not cross your arms around your chest as this is a strong sign of defensiveness.
• Be wary of ‘unconscious’ actions like fidgeting in your seat, shaking your legs under the table, biting your nails, touching your hair, fiddling with your ring/earrings or constantly glancing at your watch. Not only are these gestures distracting, they give the impression that you are nervous, uninterested or in a hurry to get out of the interview.
• Other actions to avoid include shaking your legs, darting eyes, slouching and the constant crossing and uncrossing of legs.
• Always respect the personal space of your interviewers. Avoid standing or sitting too close to them as this might annoy them or make them feel awkward. Likewise, do not touch their personal belongings.

Towards the end of the Interview

• Ask relevant and intelligent questions about the job. Show the interviewer you are enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Elaborate on your previous experience and show your interest in the role.
• It is worthwhile to ask specific questions related to the industry and/or the company.
• Remember to thank the interviewer(s), bid farewell and end with a firm handshake.

Here are some questions that you could ask towards the end of the interview:

• How do you see me fitting into this role? By asking this question, you would be able to roughly determine how well or how badly you have done for the interview. Do you have any feedback on my resume or on this interview? Is there any room for improvement? Acknowledge that the interviewer is the expert in this area.
• What is the company’s vision? What is the company’s direction for the next 2 to 5 years? Asking these questions will show the interviewer that you want to be part of the company’s long-term vision.
• What is the dynamics of this position? How will this position contribute to the company? Do not ask these questions if the hiring manager has already shared some information about this earlier in the interview process.

Questioning techniques

• Always use open-ended questions. Open-ended questions not only force a longer answer and allow you to find out about the personality of the applicant but will also give you a glimpse into the candidate's thinking process.
• Be open and avoid pre-determined answers prior to the interviews, as it is highly unlikely that any applicant will come close to this.
• It is useful to bear in mind ideal features that you are looking for. These can include the ability to think for oneself, to show original thought and to be confident in expressing their own ideas, even if they are unsure as to their validity. Conversely, weak applicants may show a leaning towards 'safe' answers, which show little original, inventive thought and will not air their views with any self-belief.
• Tailor the expected response to the job for which you are interviewing. If the job will require quick decisions to be made on the spot, favour those who offer a confident answer in a short amount of time. If the job requires patience and contemplation, favour those who take time to mull over the question in hand before offering their response.

Obtain information about the company and the job. Communicate your experience and skills clearly and convincingly to the interviewer. The right knowledge, confidence, clear communication and positive body language will create success in job interviews.

References

Adecco, ‘Interview Tips’, http://www.adecco-asia.com/singapore/job_seeker_resources.asp
Monster Career Advice, ‘Interview’, http://career-advice.monster.com/interview-tips/home.aspx