Your good grades and a well-written resume might land you an interview but it’s your behavior during the interview that will get you the job. Most people are disappointed when they don’t get the job despite having ‘nailed’ the interview i.e. having answered every question correctly. What they don’t know is that it’s their attitude and not their aptitude which is the deciding factor for their HR before he/she makes a decision.
You might have all the concrete qualities mentioned in your resume’ such as knowledge and experience. Your behavior will point to the abstract qualities you are implicitly being interviewed for. Here are a few things to watch out for during an interview:
1. Plan ahead
You should not wait for the day of the interview to decide what outfit you’re going to wear or how you’re going to do your hair. It is important to plan everything in advance. Check out the outfit you’re planning to wear and make sure that it’s neat, comfortable, and suitable for your job environment. Closer to the interview day, do not go to a party and drink or come home late as you need to eat healthily, sleep on time and wake up on time.
2. Arrive early
You can never be too late for a job interview. Just to play safe, try to show up at least 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. This will give you adequate time to calm down and focus. This will help you focus better and observe how the people over there act. This could give you a mental guide on how you should act when you eventually step into the room like you are already one of them.
3. Treat people with respect
You should be respectful towards other candidates as you’re not the only one waiting to be interviewed. A factor that can guarantee you the job is how you treat the people you meet in the waiting room. Being respectful and courteous could grant you immunity, as any candidates for the job could be asked about you. You can forget getting the job if your first impression on them was awful.
4. Walking In
Gently walk in to the room with a smile, and greet. You should wait till you are offered a seat, and once that happens gently push or draw the seat back to sit down without causing any noise. Let everything be about poise and confidence.
5. Body language
You should sit calmly and straighten your arms on the arm rest of the chair. You can put them on your lap if the chair doesn’t have any. Your hands should not be seen fumbling, or twitching or shaking as this shows signs of nervousness, anxiety and lack of confidence and that is not the image you want to project.
When asked a question, remember to use your hands to a bare minimum. Do not let them lie limp by your side neither should they be in the face of those interviewing you. Keep it at your distance and use limited hand movement to point . You don’t want to want come off as intimidating or pushy, after which you place them at your side. Appear confident and assured and humble.
6. Be Yourself
Interviews are to test how you will perform with a team. Do not be too nervous, or too loud. Just be yourself. speak up, smile, laugh a bit where needed and add your sense of humor a bit.
