Worried about facing the interview panel? Relax! You are not the only one. It is normal to have butterflies in your stomach before facing the interview panel. The secret is to make this anxiety work for you. A little bit of anxiety before the big day will help you concentrate better on pre interview preparations. The good news is that your potential employer short listed you because they found you worthy of the position. Acing interviews is not rocket science. It is all about the preparation and confidence that you bring to the table.
To face an interview you will have to be at your very best. Do not take chances. Prepare well. It is important to start preparing a few days before the big day. This will help you relax as the interview date approaches. Here is what you should be doing to succeed at interviews –
Before the date of interview
Read up: Get all the information you can get about the company. You should know its core business, objective and who owns it. There is no need to pore over financial statements, unless you are applying for a financial position, merely a cursory look will suffice.
Brush up your skill: If you are applying for a technical position, little bit of reading is needed. No need to burn the midnight oil, learning new formulas or marketing strategies, as it will only stress you further, just a little brushing up on your skills will do.
Formal Wear: Choose what clothes you will wear at the interview very carefully. First impressions are important. Don’t wear dirty, shabby clothing to an interview. Your clothes should be cleaned, ironed and ready for the interview. A small tip: it is better to wear something that you are used to rather than buying something new to wear at the interview.
At the interview
Showcase your skill: Know that your resume has been shortlisted because of your skills. Your employer will be very interested to know whether you are as skillful as you mention in your resume. Be ready to answer questions related to your skill set and education. Think of instances when you had to depend on your skills to salvage a particularly difficult situation. Mention this at your interview. Remember, your employer will want to hire you for your troubleshooting skills as much as your ability to blend with other employees of the company.
Look sharp: It is important to look sharp and confident at the interview. Look like you are interested in the job. Don’t interrupt the interviewer. Make sure that you understand the questions before answering them.
Be positive: Show a positive demeanor during the interview. Employers are not interested in sad stores. Smile at the end of the interview and shake hands with the panel.
It is easy to ace an interview if you are confident in your abilities. However, never let overconfidence be the ruin of you. Prepare well in advance and get the job.
