Job Interview Tips

I interview 15-20 people a day and I get hoards of idiots who are either there for their first interview or who have been interviewed so many times that they think following the interview codes are below their personality now. Here’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts for interviewees that they should try out to make a better first impression, and don’t get on my hate list as soon as they walk in chewing a gum!

Dos:

1. Be confident – don’t walk into an office as if you’ve come to beg for a job, regardless of how needy you are, don’t cry about your problems in front of the interviewer and plead with them to hire you coz you are in a financial crises and really really need the job.

2. Make eye contact – look into the interviewers eye and answer his questions, (don’t stare – that would be too rude) but look with genuine interest.

3. Use hand movements – when talking use your hands, people who use their hands when talking feel more likeable than people who sit rigid answering like robots

4. Wear nice clothes - walking in smelling like a dog is not the way to ask for a job

5. Wear clean shoes - I could easily toss you out for wearing bright colored sneakers for a job interview

6. Always carry your resume - walking in to an office and saying I’ve already sent you my CV is the wrong thing to say to a recruiter. If the recruiter is me that may just be the last time you see me.

7. Ask sensible questions - asking questions simply coz you need to fill in a gap is the most ridiculous thing you can do, ask questions when you have queries otherwise simply say bye and leave

Don’t

1. Be oversmart – don’t ever walk in for an interview thinking you’re too good for this job, if that’s what you think, then don’t go for the interview

2. Reply in monosyllables – keep your answers short, and precise but there’s no need to keep them limited to 1 -2 words or tiny phrases. Explain things as much as you can – remember you are selling yourself, the better you market the better you’ll be received.

3. Don’t wear T-shirts – or other casual clothes for any interview, in fact don’t even wear a suit for a more casual post. What you need to keep in mind is the post you are applying for and dress accordingly, if you dress down or dress up for an interview that too can work against you.

4. Forget to get the recruiter’s name and contact – you should follow up on your application, I say this with personal experience; sometimes you land jobs simply coz you follow them up.

Remember you’re an equal when you walk in for an interview, the company is never better than you, nor you are any better than the company. Always attend interviews keeping in mind they can reject you while you too can do the same so don’t think of the other any less than you.