Are You Really Prepared For An Interview?
posted on 02nd Jan 2010
by Sheahlin
by Sheahlin
Pick me!
What makes you pick Nike over Adidas, Gucci over Chanel, Mac over Windows? The answer is simple - marketing and packaging.
Interview is no different from marketing and packaging, and the product is you!
Let’s face it. Nobody likes interview. We all know that it’s impossible and unfair to assess us in 30 minutes. However, as more and more students are getting excellent results and places in coveted companies or universities are limited, interviews are unfortunately inescapable. Love it or hate it, it is crucial to ace in an interview as it is the only way to distinguish yourself from all the other candidates.
Don't Let Your Dress Steal Your Show
Interview is all about first impression! Every candidate is given a limited amount of time to impress the interviewer and you will want to make full use of the time to convince them that you are the right person for the course. Before going for an interview, call the institution up and enquire about the dress code.
As a rule, formal attire can never go wrong. Invest in fitting attire and make sure you are comfortable in it. A top that is too tight will only add to your anxiety level when you are waiting nervously for your turn! Make sure that you iron your clothes before putting them on. Nothing says ‘I am not interested’ more than an ill-ironed shirt.
It is also wise to stick to safer color tone and more conservative designs especially for female students, unless you are applying for fashion related courses. After all, you want the interviewer to be interested in you, rather than your attire.
If you are expecting an interview, go easy on your haircuts and hair colors. It might be cool to be spotted with a pink afro on the dance floor but it might leave a wrong impression on the interviewers.
I Think 'B' Is The Correct Answer
One of our greatest fears during interview is to be dumbstruck by the questions. In order to avoid that, many of us overdo the preparation, and started memorizing model answers. As cliché as it sounds, there really isn’t one model answer for interviews.
Interview panels are very experienced and had interviewed hundreds of candidates before you. They are trained to catch that faint smile of relief or the flash of panic in your eyes! Hence it should not come as a surprise when many interviewers commented that candidates ‘seemed to be regurgitating a memorised script’.
Another common mistake that candidates make is to second guess the answer. We are so pressurized to impress and we almost always subconsciously pick the ‘correct’ answer without thinking much. Truth is, most of the times, the seemingly ‘correct’ answer will be followed by a string of very tricky questions asking you to justify your answer. Interviewers are as interested in your thought process as much as the final answer. Therefore, do not blurt out an answer without thinking through it. Take around 20 seconds (but not more!) to think through the question, consolidate your answer and present it systematically.
Are You Really An Expert?
Remember the episode in Friends where Joey lied about speaking French and how it backfired? That’s the last thing you want in an interview. As much as you would like to impress the interviewers, do not lie about your experiences. The impression they have of you when you cannot elaborate on the contents of your curriculum vitae or resume could mean definite ‘NO’.
Instead of lying or exaggerating your experiences, it is more vital to be able to explain your actual experiences in relation to the course or job you are applying for. For example, being in a football team shows that you are athletic and is able to work in a team. However, if you can relate specific instances in your football involvement such as staying back every day after class to train for a major game, you are also showcasing your other characters such as commitment, loyalty, perseverance and goal-oriented!
Companies and universities are always looking for the right person with the right attitude and personality. Your resume may not be as impressive as some of your peers, but the way your present it will single you out as a candidate with insight. Ultimately interviewers are not looking for the quantity of experiences but rather what you learn and gain from every experience.
It is also extremely important to glance through the information that you had submitted the day before the interview. Pull out relevant details regarding each point that you would like to highlight during the interview. Organize these details and practice how to present them systematically once or twice (note: do not memorise!) especially if the particular experience is complicated. This will help you to maintain a flow on the next day when discussing your resume.
All The Bad Habits
You are looking your best, sitting in the interview room calmly, answering all the questions confidently and convincingly, yet all the interviewer can think of is ‘I wish she will stop shaking her legs’.
Truth is, we are all guilty of this, be it rubbing your hands against your shirt, starting every sentence with an ‘er..’, playing with a pen or twirling your hair. What makes these habits fatal is the fact that we may be completely unaware of it!
The first step to correct these habits is to find out what they are. Ask your lecturer, a close friend, or anyone trustworthy to simulate an interview. Give them a few sample questions to ask you and answer them as you will on the real day. Ask your helper to look out for your 'bad habits' specifically and feedback to you. You will be surprise to find out what you've been doing subconsciously!
The most effective way to correct these habits is to practice public speaking. If your college have a speech club, participate actively in it. If not, join your local Toastmaster Club. These clubs are experts in picking up 'bad habits' that go unnoticed. The members will also take turn to give you constructive feedback regarding your performance and progress. Moreover, through observing the other members you can identify their 'habits' and take on an active role to not repeat them.
Being Too Much of Yourself
It is always important to be yourself. I am not suggesting that you put on a façade but rather, be selective of which side of you to be presented to the interviewer. Be mindful of what characters the interviewers are searching for. Interviews, like selling a product (yourself!) is all about packaging.
If you are applying for an accountancy job, it is important to showcase how meticulous and detailed you are. If you are applying for a medical course, it will be wiser to not reveal your hobbies as eating, sleeping and watching Gossip Girls!
It is quintessential that you understand that you only have 30minutes to promote yourself and it is impossible to cramp a life story in 30 minutes. You may be the Prom King in your high school, the winner of ‘blog and win 2008’, an avid stamp collector and read all of William Shakespeare’ works. However, ask yourself are they related to the job or the course you are applying for? If they are not, don’t mention them. Use your time wisely and pick the experiences that matter. It is more beneficial to name a few related experiences and elaborate on them than to give a list of all your accomplishments.
It is however essential to know your strength and your weaknesses. When asked about your strength, do not just answer with descriptive words. Always remember to back them up with examples that are specific to your claims. It will be a bonus if you can associate your strength to the attributes needed for this course or job!
More importantly, never answer ‘I do not have any weaknesses’. We are all human, including the interviewers. Saying that you have no weakness only revealed your lack of insight. Remember that it does no harm to be frank about your weakness. However, always follow-up by telling the interviewers how you can turn your weakness into strength that will contribute to your development.
In A Nutshell
Interviews are here to match the right person to the right course or job. It’s potential to be nerve-wrecking is directly proportionate to our desire for that position. Believe it or not, the interviewers are not there to fail you. The fact that they took time to interview you shows that they are interested in you and that they see the potential in you. Your task now is to focus and prove to them that you are worth their time and attention.
Take two deep breaths before you walk in through that door to the interview room and give them a reason to pick you!
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