Before the Interview:
a) Know about the company:
Before you go for the interview, you should visit the company website and get as many details as possible. It is very important to understand the business in which your potential employer is, their top clients, their top products or services, the overall trend of the industry, the competitors of your potential employer, the cultural values, mission and vision of potential employer etc. If possible, you should also try to identify the opportunities and problems that your potential employer might face in near future. This will give you confidence and you can sell your self in a planned manner. At the end of interview, every interviewer will give you a chance to ask questions to him about company or position. If you have done a proper search about the company, than you will be able to impress the interviewer by asking informed and intelligent questions.
Before you go for the interview, you should visit the company website and get as many details as possible. It is very important to understand the business in which your potential employer is, their top clients, their top products or services, the overall trend of the industry, the competitors of your potential employer, the cultural values, mission and vision of potential employer etc. If possible, you should also try to identify the opportunities and problems that your potential employer might face in near future. This will give you confidence and you can sell your self in a planned manner. At the end of interview, every interviewer will give you a chance to ask questions to him about company or position. If you have done a proper search about the company, than you will be able to impress the interviewer by asking informed and intelligent questions.
b) Know about the position:
Try to understand the job description for the position you have applied and try to identify whether you have all the required skills necessary for that job. If you have some weaknesses, than you can plan to overcome it before interview.
c) Know some job related data:
If you are applying for a finance position, than you should study the finance related data of your potential employer, its competitors and overall industry. Many questions are asked on this when tie happens between candidates.
d) References:
Potential employer will request for 3 to 5 references to whom they might contact, before or after interview. References should be from previous employer, or close business associates. Never list down family members as reference. You should always ask for permission before adding your references name in list. You should also inform them whenever you go for interview, so that they can remain alert that a phone call might come regarding you reference check. Be sure to carry your list of references while you go for interview since we don't write our references on resume. You should take print out of references on a separate high quality bond paper with the title "References for Your Name". If possible, take written recommendation from your references and once your job search is over, don't forget to write them a thank you note.
Try to understand the job description for the position you have applied and try to identify whether you have all the required skills necessary for that job. If you have some weaknesses, than you can plan to overcome it before interview.
c) Know some job related data:
If you are applying for a finance position, than you should study the finance related data of your potential employer, its competitors and overall industry. Many questions are asked on this when tie happens between candidates.
d) References:
Potential employer will request for 3 to 5 references to whom they might contact, before or after interview. References should be from previous employer, or close business associates. Never list down family members as reference. You should always ask for permission before adding your references name in list. You should also inform them whenever you go for interview, so that they can remain alert that a phone call might come regarding you reference check. Be sure to carry your list of references while you go for interview since we don't write our references on resume. You should take print out of references on a separate high quality bond paper with the title "References for Your Name". If possible, take written recommendation from your references and once your job search is over, don't forget to write them a thank you note.
During the Interview:
a) Be enthusiastic and sincere:
Show your interest in the job and the company. Enthusiasm works best when it is sincere and based on your deep interest to work for that company.
Show your interest in the job and the company. Enthusiasm works best when it is sincere and based on your deep interest to work for that company.
b) Sell yourself:
You need to sell yourself as a product and you should make sure that interviewer understands completely that what you have to offer him. If you sit back and wait for the interviewer to ask questions related to your skills and qualities than you might never get sufficient time to mention your skills. But this doesn't mean that you take over the interview or ignore the interviewer's questions. It does mean that you need to enter into interview with a clear idea of your key selling points and how to get those points across, whether interviewer asks the right leading questions or not. The interviewer controls the flow of interview, you can control the content.
c) Sell differently:
Most of the candidates use a generalist statements like "I am a good learner", "I am a team player", "I am smart worker" etc. Interviewers get bored with a generalist statements. You should try to answer questions along with the brief details of the situation where you have demonstrated those qualities. This will help you to sell yourself differently from others. Practice it before interview many times be create impact on interviewer.
d) Listen to interviewer carefully:
If you are not listening carefully to interviewer, than you are telling the interviewer, that you are not interested or you lack communication ability. If you face a tough question, than you can take a pause to think a appropriate answer. You can even ask for clarification or elaboration from interviewer, but never be defensive.
You need to sell yourself as a product and you should make sure that interviewer understands completely that what you have to offer him. If you sit back and wait for the interviewer to ask questions related to your skills and qualities than you might never get sufficient time to mention your skills. But this doesn't mean that you take over the interview or ignore the interviewer's questions. It does mean that you need to enter into interview with a clear idea of your key selling points and how to get those points across, whether interviewer asks the right leading questions or not. The interviewer controls the flow of interview, you can control the content.
c) Sell differently:
Most of the candidates use a generalist statements like "I am a good learner", "I am a team player", "I am smart worker" etc. Interviewers get bored with a generalist statements. You should try to answer questions along with the brief details of the situation where you have demonstrated those qualities. This will help you to sell yourself differently from others. Practice it before interview many times be create impact on interviewer.
d) Listen to interviewer carefully:
If you are not listening carefully to interviewer, than you are telling the interviewer, that you are not interested or you lack communication ability. If you face a tough question, than you can take a pause to think a appropriate answer. You can even ask for clarification or elaboration from interviewer, but never be defensive.
After the Interview:
a) Self evaluation of Interview:
Recollect the questions of interview and analyze where you did well and in which question you faced difficulties. Practice those questions regularly to improve it. This step is important as it will also help you to write a thank you note to interviewer.
Recollect the questions of interview and analyze where you did well and in which question you faced difficulties. Practice those questions regularly to improve it. This step is important as it will also help you to write a thank you note to interviewer.
b) Thank You Letter:
Within 24 hours of Interview, you should send a brief personalized thank you letter to the person who has taken your interview. The courtesy you show to your potential employer will pay you later. You should also send a sincere thanks letter to those persons who have given written recommendation to you, referred you to employer, who has offered you a position, who has provided you with general information or to the person who has rejected you for employment. Sending a thank you letter even after rejection is important, as you can reiterate your interest in job and zeal to work for the company once again.
In the thank you letter, you should address the weak points which interviewer had pointed out in you as well as the positive points which interviewer liked in you. This will create a good image in the memory of interviewer about you. The most important thing to do before dispatching or emailing the thank you letter are to get the letter proof read by others and check for spelling and grammar. If you are sending by post, than take printout on high quality bond papers, however most of the employers prefer thank you note by emails.
c) Follow up:
The preferred time to follow up with employer after interview is 4 to 5 days. You can call them or contact them via emails to inquire about the position.
