How To Face An Interview
By Benjamin BrummThe Aim Of An Interview
The first thing to consider for a job interview is to have a think about the purpose of an interview. A job interview is where a representative of the company meets with you to establish several things:
- If you are capable of doing the job in question
- If you are a good fit for the company
- If the salary expectations of both of you are similar
You need to be able to go in and prove the first two points. The first point, being capable to do the job, comes down to how well you match the job description and the role being offered. Obviously, you wouldn't be there if you didn't think you had the skill for the job! This point, however, is more about the recruiter trying to determine if you can do the job well enough for the company and will fit the role that has been advertised.
The second point is where the recruiter tries to determine if you will be a good cultural fit for the company. Culture is a big part of workplaces these days, and it basically translates to the environment and personality of workers and the company as a whole. If the company values creativity highly, then they will want to see this in you. The same goes for teamwork, intuition, hard-working, dedication, and any number of qualities.
The third point, the salary expectation, is a little different and actually has room for negotiation. I'll write more about this in a future post, but if your expectations don't match the recruiter's, then one of you will need to adjust or the job offer won't go ahead.
How Do I Meet These Criteria For An Interview?
So, we've highlighted a couple of points that form the basis of an interview. Now it's time to work out how we can turn the odds in our favour and learn how to face an interview.
Research and Be Prepared
One of the most important parts of the interview process is actually researching the company you're applying for. This is more than just the name of the company and the location they're based in. You should learn more about their mission, the type of workplace they have, what their workplace demands are, what their main projects or products are, who their main clients or customers are. All this information will help you in the interview process, by showing how thorough you are with your work and how much you want the job at the company you're going for. It will also help you adjust your interview technique to make sure you're a good fit for the company. You can talk up various characteristics of yourself that match the company's values. For example, if you're a bit of a perfectionist and find out the company values high quality products, you can mention that you're perfectionist attitude results in good quality work.
Have Confidence
Nothing beats confidence in a social situation. Well, maybe a few things in an interview, like topic knowledge, but having confidence goes a long way to getting a job. This isn't just confidence of getting the job - it's confidence in your own skills, confidence in your speaking ability, confidence in the company you're going for. If you act and speak with confidence, you'll come across as someone who knows what they are doing and what they want, which will increase your chances of the recruiter offering you the job!
Be Polite And Professional
Manners and politeness are one of the most important parts of an interview. The way you act before, during, and after the interview will say a lot about who you are as a person and will be included in the recruiter's assessment of your application. Make sure you smile when you greet the interviewer, and stay calm. There's no need to panic during the interview. If you're not sure about a particular question that the interviewer asks, you can ask them for clarification. It's better to ask for clarification that to make something up and get noticed as someone who doesn't know what they're talking about!
I try to remember these points whenever I go for an interview, and I like to think it helps my chances of landing the job.
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