Topic – How to kill an interview | Simple Guidance On How To Kill An Interview
Short of hearing that you’ve been hired, walking out of a job interview thinking you’ve nailed it is one of the best feelings you can have. However, success in an interview requires more than just luck. In the days preceding up to the interview, thorough preparation is just as crucial as saying the correct things to your potential new boss.
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Understanding the importance of the term “How to kill an interview”.
When it comes to job interviews, there are two types of people:
Those who do not prepare, intending to just answer every question honestly and be themselves, hoping that the interviewers are simply looking for a raw and hardworking candidate with a great personality. And those who study for an interview like an exam, improvising answers to potential questions word for word like a script.
Also Read – Successful CEOs without college degrees | Learn how they broke all traditional rules
In reality, none of these candidates are perfect. When it comes to job interviews, you should be prepared to some degree and have rehearsed answering some of the most common questions, such as “why do you want this job?”
However, do not become so rehearsed that the discussion becomes robotic. Show your personality to the interviewer and be genuine while providing intelligent and well-thought-out responses. Aside from these few pointers, here are a few concrete things to remember to help you ace any job interview:
1. Talk to the other applicants
You may be left in a waiting area with other candidates prior to an interview until the interviewer steps in and calls your name. If you’re in the waiting area, strike up a conversation with some of the other prospects.
You don’t have to become their best friend or be false around them; simply strike up a casual discussion. When you go into the office, this will demonstrate to the employer that you have interpersonal skills and are likely good at interacting with others.
It is true that the interview begins the moment you step through the door of the company. The sole purpose of an interview is to judge you.
Make small talk with the person next to you to show the interviewer that you are not awkward or bashful. It will immediately distinguish you from the other people in the room who are scrolling through their Twitter feed.
2. Know everything there is to know about the company
You may show the interviewer how your vision aligns with theirs and how your morals connect with the company’s if you know a lot about the company’s mission and what they’re currently trying to accomplish. It will also help you if you can find out about any current projects that the company is working on. At the same time, make sure you’re not talking about the company too much.
The interview’s goal is for them to learn more about you. Even if you don’t wind up spewing out everything you know about the firm, knowing something about it is never a bad thing.
3. Share your experiences with them
When interviewers ask open-ended questions, the first thought that comes to mind is to just respond as if we were having a casual chat. It’s important to remember that this is not casual talk. Even if their query does not begin with “tell me about a time when,” you are able to respond by sharing one of your own experiences.
Candidates differ from one another in their ability to persuade. The best method to do so is to demonstrate rather than tell. Rather than telling them what you could or would do, tell them what you have done and demonstrate that you are the type of person they seek.
4. Express your delight
This is a simple one. Nobody enjoys a downer. You’re already off to a horrible start if you enter the room slouched and quiet. Do whatever it takes to start the day off right — get a good night’s sleep the night before, get a decent workout in the morning, drink a cup of coffee to wake you up, phone a friend to cheer you up — whatever it takes to be the greatest version of yourself that day.
5. Your Skills and Experience (Crucial point on how to kill an interview)
Before going to the interview, make sure your resume is up to date and that you have copies of any required reference letters and portfolio items. According to the career development website Quintessential Careers, self-evaluation should be part of your pre-interview preparation.
The interviewer will ask you questions about your work ideals, skills, and even weaknesses in addition to your experience. Consider the types of questions you’ll be asked and how you’ll respond to them. When asked, for example, be prepared to give three exceptional abilities along with examples to provide additional insight.
6. Mirroring your interviewer’s body language is referred to as “hire-me” body language
The manner in which you communicate information can be just as telling as the content itself. Fidgeting hands, drumming fingers, and flailing movements reveal your anxiety, not hire-me signals. Making regular eye contact with your interviewer is one of the easiest social clues to boost your employment prospects.
According to body language specialists, looking someone in the eyes conveys confidence, authority, and presence. Maintaining eye contact is a fundamental aspect of body language. A more advanced class to take involves purposefully copying your interviewer’s tone, posture, mannerisms, and energy.
The “chameleon effect,” as social psychologists term it, has been discovered to boost your interviewer’s likelihood of like you and smooth over encounters.
7. Go over the job description again
Study the job description so you can explain why you’re qualified for the job’s functions and responsibilities during your interview. Concentrate on keywords such as required skills and experience, as well as the duties that a successful candidate would be responsible for. Consider how your abilities and objectives align with the job description so you can give the hiring team relevant examples.
8. Recognize the STAR technique
Many hiring managers ask behavioural questions during job interviews to gauge how candidates handle common workplace circumstances. Learn the STAR approach, which involves discussing the situation, task, action, and result, to prepare for the questions.
To use this method, first establish the context of the scenario before discussing your function or task in these circumstances. Next, consider the steps you took to address the problem and the outcome of your initiative. This will definitely help you bag the round and kill any interview in general.
9. Prepare for your interview by dressing appropriately
Take steps to dress appropriately when meeting with the hiring staff to make a good impression. Try looking up the company’s dress code on their website or social media profiles. Use that as a guide for what to wear.
Business casual clothing (such as dress pants with a professional shirt) or a business formal suit would serve for most interviews.
10. Be honest about your weaknesses
In response to the question, “What is your biggest weakness?” Your first thought might be to devise a strategic response that highlights your strengths.” I’m such a perfectionist,” you might say, or “I work much too hard.”
However, according to new research from Harvard Business School, “humblebragging” or boasting is hidden behind a complaint, might be a turnoff in interviews. It’s better to say something real in this type of situation. “I’m not always the best at being organized,” comes across as more honest and may persuade the interviewer to recommend you for the job.
11. Be cheerful
Candidates with a higher level of effect, energy, and pitch and amplitude fluctuation are considerably more likely to be invited back for a second interview
A number of studies have revealed that candidates who exhibit enthusiasm and excitement are more likely to receive the job, as Jonathan Golding and Anne Lipert point out on Psychology Today.
12. Anticipate the interviewer’s concerns and questions
For open positions, there are frequently more candidates than available seats. As a result, interviewers are on the lookout for techniques to weed out candidates.
Put yourself in their shoes and think about why they could be hesitant to hire you (“I don’t have this,” “I’m not that,” etc.). Then prepare your defence: “I appreciate that [their reservation] may lead you to assume that I am not the best candidate for this position.” However, you should be aware of the reason behind the interviewer’s indifference.
13. Pose questions to the interviewer
The interviewer will always ask if you have any questions for them at the end of the interview. Saying no is the absolute worst thing you can do. It demonstrates that you are uninterested in the job and in them as people. Even if you don’t have any questions prepared or already know the answer to a topic you’re considering, go ahead and ask it. Cross question is considered to be the ultimate card to kill an interview.
Inquiring about their experience at the organisation is something that may make you look nice. You may ask them about what they’ve learnt while working there or what they like best about it. This will demonstrate to the interviewer that you are serious about working there.
14. After the interview, follow up
You must take further steps after the interview to improve your chances of landing the job. Send a thank-you email to the recruiting manager within a day of the interview. In the email, reiterate your interest in the role and express gratitude for the interview.
If you don’t hear back within a week of the job advertising closing, write a follow-up email expressing your continued interest in the position and the prospect of moving forward in the hiring process.
For more, refer to The business journals’ article on 7 habits that will answer your question to How to kill an Interview