What should I take with myself to the Interview?

Make sure you take your portfolio along with you to the Interview. Your portfolio should include spare copies of your Resume, certificates, mark sheets, passport size photographs and any other documents as specified by the company (if any).Reach the specified venue on the day of the Interview on time along with your portfolio.

How do I dress for the Interview?

Make sure you dress appropriately and as per the company’s requirements. Some companies might require their employees and interviewees to wear formals whereas others do not. The type of clothes you should wear might also depend on the job you’re applying for. Some jobs like Sales might require you to dress up formally whereas some jobs like that of a Print Journalist might not.

Do not hesitate in asking the appropriate authority a day in advance about the dress code you should follow for the Interview. If nothing is specified, dress up in comfortable clothes.

Any tips?

Be honest during the Interview. Honesty is the best way to appear confident. These may be clichés, but make a huge difference to the interviewer’s perception of you. Be yourself and answer all questions truthfully.

Always maintain eye – contact with the Interviewer and keep your body posture straight and alert.

Answer all questions to the best of your abilities but resist from only sticking to your prepared answers. Keep in mind that the Interviewers can ask you anything, so be prepared to use your spontaneity to answer questions on the spot with confidence. This can happen only if you are mentally keyed up.

In case you have any questions to ask the Interviewer about the organization, you can do so once the Interview ends.

What if I don’t know the answer to a question? How do I respond?

At times during Interviews, you are asked questions that you do not know the answer to. This happens mostly in knowledge – based questions where the Interviewer is testing your knowledge of the subject or industry.

In such a situation, rather than getting nervous and allowing it to affect the rest of your Interview, stay calm and honestly tell the Interviewer that you do not know the answer. You tell the Interviewer whatever you know about that topic, and also assure them that you are more than capable of gaining this knowledge/skill in a short span of time.

Remember that the Interview is not an exam, and Interviewers see your overall personality and suitability for the job, not just your academic knowledge. The primary method of testing your academic knowledge is through your marks, which you now cannot change.

A wrong answer to a knowledge – based question will do much less harm than what you would cause yourself by allowing the answer to affect you mentally and subsequently losing your confidence and composure for the remaining duration of the Interview.

How do you handle a question you haven’t prepared for?

Most candidates make the mistake of thinking that they can fully prepare for an Interview. The fact of the matter is that the Interviewer can ask you anything, and you should be more than ready to answer questions thinking on your feet.

If you prepared answers to 20 possible questions the Interviewer could ask you, and yet the Interviewer ends up asking a question about you or your previous background which you had never thought of, be honest and say what you believe is the best response you can make at that time. Remind yourself that you have only reached this stage because the Interviewer liked your Resume. Therefore there cannot be a problem in stating your opinions.

Do not use your preparation to answer questions; use your dynamism, spontaneity and your thoughts at that moment to answer the question confidently.

It is important to let your prepared answers only be a guiding force to help you through the Interview, and not let those answers restrict your thinking and spontaneity.

How do you respond to a not-so-friendly Interviewer?

You’re at your Interview, all dressed up and prepared, answering questions with confidence and poise. Then suddenly, your Interviewer starts challenging your opinions, refutes your claims and seems very angry.

During such a situation, it is very important to remind yourself that the Interviewer does not have a personal dislike towards you. It’s most likely just a technique to see how you react when put under pressure. The Interviewer only wants to check whether this calm and composed behavior you’re portraying is actually you or just an act you’re putting up for the Interview. It is your job to ensure him/her that this is the real you.

Do not, under any circumstances, lose your calm and start arguing with the Interviewer. Stay calm and stick to your points if you feel you’re right. State your opinion and points clearly, in a polite and respectful tone.

Do not let the fear of losing a chance of getting hired affect you. There are a thousand Interviews waiting for you, but only once you get through this one. Focus on what the Interviewer is saying and try and give a positive spin to what he/she is saying.

For example, if you’re being criticized for not taking part in many projects, thank the Interviewer for his/her feedback, and assure them that you will look into what they’re saying and correct the fault in yourself. State the reason behind your lack of participation in past projects, and assure them that you will take the initiative to participate in and even start projects during the job, if hired. Talk about how some of your strengths are going to help you excel while doing these projects.

How do you a handle a panel of Interviewers?

You step into the Interview hall expecting one, and you see five Interviewers staring at your face, waiting to grill you. Do not let this affect yourself mentally and wish all the Interviewers confidently. Remind yourself that this provides you with the opportunity to address and impress more Interviewers and thus increase your chances of getting a job.

During the Interview, maintain eye – contact with all the Interviewers, but primarily more so with the Interviewer who has asked you the current question. In case two Interviewers ask you a question at the same time, decide which question you wish to answer first, and respectfully tell the other Interviewer that you will get back to their question right after you finish answering the first question.

Do not let the image of 5 Interviewers taking your Interview scare you. They are hoping to see a candidate who will impress them, so stay confident and grant them their wish.