First impressions last – it may seemed a cliché but it is true. In applying for a job, that is also the case. You need to maximize your 15 to 30 minutes of fame in showing off what you are made of to impress your potential employer thus landing the much-coveted job that you wanted to have.
A Job interview is the toughest part of the recruitment process. It is here where you can expound on your educational background as well as work experiences to back you up in getting the position that you are applying for. Job interviews usually last for 15 to 30 minutes depending on the position applied for, the work experiences the candidate has, and the questions asked by the interviewer or recruitment officer to help him decide on whom to choose for the open position.
(SEE ALSO: The Best Job Hunting Tips)
There are several tips on acing job interviews, and they may be divided into three categories; preparing for the interview, during the interview itself, and after the interview.
When preparing for an interview, an applicant must be physically and mentally prepared. The choice of clothes to wear, looking your best, having enough sleep and eating a healthy meal prior to the interview date comprise the preparation process. Aside from that, coming ahead of time of the scheduled interview would create a good impression to the potential employer that would earn you points towards punctuality.
Here are the things that you should do and look out for during a job interview:
- Relax and be yourself and learn stress management.
- Make sure that your mobile phone is turned off before the interview in order to avoid distractions.
- Use first impression gestures such as a firm handshake, eye contact, warm smiles, good posture and a confident introduction of yourself that will add up to the points you could earn in the hiring process.
- Learn the proper use of body language signals to hide your feelings if you feel nervous during the interview so as to appear confident all throughout.
- Use concrete experiences to illustrate important information about yourself.
- Avoid using poor or slang language to impress the interviewer. Use familiar but concise words during the interview.
Show interest during an interview by striking a good balance between speaking and listening. - If you have some points that you weren’t able to discuss towards the end of the interview, take the initiative to mention a couple of things you want the interviewer to know about you.
- Before leaving an interview, ask the interviewer what the next steps would be.
- Know what to expect and when to hear from them.
- After the interview, it is best to thank the interviewer for the time spent with you and make notes of what was discussed about the company for them to help you out in the succeeding sets of interviews. Also, it would not hurt if you would make a follow-up call to know your status and your succeeding interviews.
(SEE ALSO: Check Your Body Language During A Job Interview)
With these tips in mind, job applicants will surely leave a lasting impression to the recruitment officer and will earn them the spot in their much-coveted job that they are applying for.
