The interview
When does it really begin and how do I prepare for it?
by Pn Elia Talib and Faridah Hameed
Getting invited to an interview brings up two very different emotions; Excitement!,because you've been chosen and Terror!,because now, you have to face a total stranger and sell yourself effectively to them!
This article will help you deal with these two emotions, by giving you some simple, common sense on how to prepare and perform at an interview.
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
There are five areas you need to look into before you even step into the interviewer's office:
Additional Research
Presuming you did your research before you sent out your resume and cover letter, now's the time to make sure you check the latest information about the company that has just offered you an interview. Break down your fear, it's primarily 'fear of the unknown'. Find out all you can about the company, so you feel you know more about the shape and face of it, not just as a shadow. Research on the Net, look for newspaper/magazine articles about the company and its key personalities. Update yourself about the company, the major players, their projects and expansion plans. Some interviewers will ask what you know about the company. Others will ask why you want to work with them. Be prepared with answers. Videotape yourself in a rehearsal (if possible) and practise the various ways you can answer the following questions:
1)Did you have trouble getting here?
2)Tell me about yourself.
3)Why did you choose this company?
4)What are your strengths?
5)What are your weaknesses?
6)What extra-curricular activities did you do at university?
7)What do you foresee for the country's economy, next year?
8)What do you understand by the word 'management'?
9)What problems did you have at college, and how did you solve them?
10)Do you think you have teamwork skills?
11)Do you have any questions?
Know where you're going
Confirm the date, time and address of the interview. Some companies have several branches, so don't assume you know which one the interview is being held at. Call up and reconfirm.
Grooming
If you think you might need a haircut, get one. If you need to buy some new clothes, accessories or shoes, do it. Invest some time and effort in being well groomed. A delicate matter: make sure you don't have body odour or bad breath. If you tend to sweat a lot, wear anti-perspirant or perfume. However, don't wear an overwhelming scent. Something light, like your soap and shampoo smell is fine. For men, clip your nails, any nose hair and shave. If you have a beard, please make sure it looks tidy. For women, please remove any excess facial hair! A little makeup and one or two accessories is fine. Take some breath mints with you for refreshment.
Dressing
There is some leeway about the way you need to look for an interview, depending on the type of industry. Creative fields like advertising, public relations, music and broadcasting tend to allow a less conservative look.
More 'serious' fields like banking, law, accounting etc. definitely require a more conservative look. All HR Managers concur that for the first interview-whatever the industry-it's best to be slightly conservative. This means dress more on the side of plain and formal. Check out fashion magazines for stylish, conservative work wear and make an effort to buy at least one outfit that suits your personality well.
For men, a long-sleeved white or light-coloured shirt with tie is best. For trousers, choose a dark colour-blue,black or grey. Yellow mustard or purple are not conservative colours. Avoid jewellery if you can. If you have a nose ring, it's fine for women, but not for men. You don't have to wear your jacket all the time, you can carry it over your arm.
For women, a skirt and blouse, pantsuit or baju kurung is acceptable. Avoid clothes that are too tight, or too bright. If you wear a tudung, tie it stylishly. If you wear a skirt, make it below the knee. Wear light skin-tone pantyhose. Some women don't wear pantyhose, which is ok, but it's preferable to wear pantyhose because this is perceived as normal working wear.
For men and women, get a briefcase. Put your cover letter, resume (and photocopies of certificates) inside, and something cheerful to make you smile when you see it.
THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW
Arrive early
Plan your journey so that you arrive at least 15 minutes, but preferably 30 minutes before your interview is scheduled. This is to ensure you are not delayed by any unexpected traffic situations. Also, you will understandably be quite nervous, so the waiting time gives you the opportunity to relax and get your thoughts organised.
Bring copies of work done
This is a great opportunity to showcase work you have done. You should have photocopies of your certificates.
Get the name right
Make sure you know the correct name, pronunciation and job title of the interviewer. Ask, if you don’t know. Listen carefully when they introduce themselves (repeat it, or ask if you did not hear properly!) and say hello. Ask politely for a business card-when you leave. To ask as you first sit down may be seen as a bit cocky. It depends on the polite way in which you ask. The card gives you the information you need to write a ‘thank you’ note, whether you receive good news or not.
The first impression
The interview begins the moment you walk into the office.
Imagine that from the moment you arrived, someone is noting they way you are dressed, how you greeted the receptionist, your handshake. Are you well-groomed and pleasant? Do you offer a limp-fish handshake or a firm one?
After a bit of opening chit-chat or warm-up, the questions begin. It almost always begins with Tell Me About Yourself. Some fresh graduates are surprised by this. They expect a snappy question and answer session. No, after the first few questions like ‘Did you have a problem finding the place?’ or ‘How are you?’, the interviewer will probably ask a question that has an open-ended, or never-ending answer. This is because the interviewer wants to see how well you present information, and how confidently you can describe yourself-basically, how you communicate. They are also waiting and watching to ask you questions related to what you say about yourself. They may ask you to elaborate about a certain experience, or ask you to give examples of some situations.
Body language
Sit comfortably, with your back straight and maintain good eye contact throughout the interview. This displays confidence and energy. Avoid shaking your legs or looking elsewhere.
Be polite
Be polite the moment you walk into the company. You never know who you may bump into and whether that person may have an influence on whether you get hired or not.
Keep your answers simple
Listen carefully to the questions and respond with direct answers. If you don’t know the answer, say so.
Don’t ramble
Sometimes, the interviewer will keep silent after you have answered a question. This can be uncomfortable, but refrain from jumping in to fill in the ‘dead air’. Avoid words like “um, uh, like, well, err”. If you are nervous, take a deep breath and try to relax. Take your time before you speak.
Be prepared with questions
When the interviewer asks, “Would you like to ask anything?” or “Do you have any questions?”, what is your response? If you just smile and say “no, nothing”, you do not make the best impression. You could say “no, nothing at this time, thank you”, but ideally, you do not have a question. Such as “I understand the company has around 300 employees. Is that right?” (You ask because you want to know the latest size of the company. A good question is “What kind of training or orientation programme does a fresh graduate have (in this company)?”
How much?
While salary can be an important consideration is your job search, don’t be controlled by it. It’s more important to listen and provide reasons why they should hire you. Don’t talk money first, if the interviewer brings it up, be prepared. Do your research about market rates for the job you are interviewing for.
When can I know?
Ask politely for a date by when you can expect an answer. Make sure you have the name and contact details of the person who interviewed you. If you do not hear from them at the agreed time, you can follow up.
Prepare for the runaround
We have heard of complaints from some fresh graduates that some companies seem to interview fresh graduates with no other purpose than to see ‘what’s out there’-they don’t actually have a vacancy. This is obviously unfair, but safe to say that as far as we know, reputable companies don’t do that kind of thing, not least because interviewing takes up valuable time. If you are unlucky enough to be given the runaround, let us know about your experience.
(source : graduan.com.my)
posted by Faizul Izwan @ 2:34 AM
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