Career Zone

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Few tips to Impress Interviewers



Most people make up their mind about you in the first few minutes, so first impressions are all-important. If you can make people feel positive about you as soon as you enter the room, the whole interview will be a lot easier.

Create a good first impression instantly by:

-Making sure you look clean, smart and crease-free.

-Smiling, making eye contact and shaking hands with them.

-Using a clear and confident voice.

Ultimate purpose of the interview is to find out whether you're suitable for the job and if that job is right for you.

Check out the following tips to get you on the right track:

Seven Ways to Impress

-Be a good listener. Let your interviewer know that you're listening attentively by nodding, using facial expressions that make you look interested, leaning towards the interviewer, picking up on key words they've used and asking them to expand on subjects that genuinely interest you. But never interrupt your interviewer.

-Be honest. If you don't understand a question, ask for an explanation. If you’re faced with something you really can't deal with, be truthful about it . it's more impressive than pretending to have the answer to everything. Use get-out phrases like 'that's something I'd need time to think about' or 'that's outside my present experience' to give yourself a bit of a breather.

-Be consistent. Many interviewers ask the same things in different ways as a means of checking you out. Listen to yourself as well as to them. If you feel you've made a mistake, put things right by saying, 'going back to what I said earlier about...what I really meant was...'

-Avoid the temptation to talk too much. If there are awkward silences when you've finished saying what you want, don't fill them with nervous chatter. Some interviewers use silence to see how you'll react. Pass the lead back to them by pleasantly saying: 'Does that answer your question?' Also, stick to providing the answer requested - don't fill up the interviewer with information they don't need.

-Be aware of your body language. Stillness is reassuring and fidgeting is a distraction. Looking your interviewer in the eye is essential, but don't overdo it . A smile sets everyone at ease, but a constant grin is disturbing. Try to sit up straight. Leaning forward makes you appear attentive and enthusiastic - being slumped conveys boredom.


-Be positive. Even if your last job had pitfalls, if asked for your reasons for leaving, don't let a negative word pass your lips. Never say anything unfavourable about your colleagues, boss or job - it'll just make you look bad. Instead, say: 'I genuinely enjoyed my last job, but I'm eager to move onto a different challenge and use the skills I've gained'. Then, impress them even more by stating how those skills match the job you're after.


-If you're not asked about something that you feel is important, raise the subject yourself. This is your one chance to sell yourself, so don't waste the opportunity.

Source BBC

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