The kind of impression you make during your interview can not only get you your dream job but also make life easy on the job. That is the power of first impressions. Seasoned recruiters and successful jobseekers have the following advice for all young job seekers:-
- Got Contacts? Use Them!
Reaching out to people for professional purposes is always a good idea. Provided you do it well. If you know someone who already works at the company you want to appear for an interview at – call them in advance! Find out about the culture of the company, the way people communicate, the general do’s & don’ts. Your confidence will shoot up after this exercise
- Keep Your Online Presence Clean
Social Media is a big tool for a background check these days – your recruiters might check up on you during the hiring process. Make sure the image you create is in alignment with the kind of jobs you apply for. Consider your social media as part of your resume
- Work On Your Personality
It’s not enough to get good scores, your overall profile must be well rounded. So that when the recruiter asks you to tell them about yourself – you have interesting things to talk about other than your marks. Talent, character, integrity, and street smartness are all important factors to a recruiter
- Mirror Effect
Mirror your interviewer – their tone of voice, level of enthusiasm, gestures, volume – mirror it all, but don’t mimic. Listen eagerly, take time to process and answer with confidence and sensitivity
- Establish A Connection
How can you establish a connection with someone you’ve never met, you ask? If you listen intently, you will discover some common interests and passions between the two of you. Remember, it’s a person who is going to hire you eventually and not a company per se.
- Ask Questions
Be an active participant of the interview process – this tells the recruiter that you are not fearful but in fact it will bring out the genuineness behind your application. Ask about the organisation, about the position – assess your employer.
- Work On A Good Closing Statement
A few minutes into the interview, and you will start to see a pattern emerge. If you’re attentive and confident – you’ll be fine. Signs of anxiety and inarticulate mumbling is a big no-no. It’s not the end of the world – put your best foot forward and you won’t have anything to worry about. Use examples to elaborate your point – and if you can, try to close your statements with a clear punchline
If you sharpen these 7 key skills, your next interview is sure to be a winning one.