Y. Lumchio Patton
Asst. Prof., Dept. of Sociology, St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama
Interview and Self confidence
After successfully completing education, every young individual looks for a decent, well-paying, challenging job to make a rewarding career for the working life. Therefore, in order to achieve this, one has to go through a rigid selection process. Preparing for an interview is something not to be taken lightly but has to be diligently prepared for.
Before The Job Interview the interviewee should be ready with his/her:
• Interests, abilities, experiences, values that relate to your occupation.
• Be sure you can answer any question about your education and past working experiences.
• Addresses and current telephone numbers.
For large, well-known companies, read all the company literature you can find (if you’re using the Web, start with search engines or directories; you’ll often find the most up to date information on the Web).
For smaller, local companies that aren’t on the Web, go to your local Chamber of Commerce to reach the company. Find out about the company’s products or services, major competitors, philosophy, goals, history, size, number of employees, annual sales, market share, and hiring practices.
Things to carry for the Interview:
• Bring proof of your birth (normally school-leaving certificate)
• Bring copies of your resume.
• All interview outfits should be neat and clean.
• It’s usually helpful to bring paper and pencil to the interview in case you need to make notes.
• Be careful about how much perfume you use.
• If you feel that you do have a problem with bad breath, it makes good sense to take a breath mint before the interview.
• If the job states you must have your own tools, it’s helpful to have them available at the interview.
• Prepare work samples, volunteer efforts, and self-assessment material and put them all in one place.
During the Interview
•Here’re some helpful dos and don’ts to get you through the interview
Do’s
• Come alone
• Come a little early
• Wait until you are asked to be seated
• Maintain good eye contact
• Take time to think about your answers to the questions asked.
• Ask for clarification if there are questions you don’t understand.
• Be positive.
• Stress your qualification for the job and your readiness to undertake its duties.
Don’ts
• Ask when you may call to learn about the hiring decision
• Smoke or chew anything, even if invited to do so
• Apologize for your lack of experience
• Ask about salary or days off
• Handle anything on the interviewer’s desk
• Discuss personal problems, financial problems, other jobs you did not get
• Criticize former teachers or employers
• Provide information which is not factual beg for the job or hang around after the interview.
Be prepared with answers to the following:
• Why are you interested in this job?
• What do you know about this position and company?
• What are your short-term and long-term goals?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What are you currently looking for in salary?
• What questions do you plan to ask the employer either about the job, company, or other things?
• When are you available to start?
• Are you willing to relocate? Change industries? Travel?
• Here are the most commonly asked questions in the job and other interview, which will help you prepare yourself better and also give you a competitive edge over others.
• A well thought out answer to each of these questions, prepared and rehearsed in advance with the logical sequencing of the events will help you sail through.
Tell us about yourself
1) Family Background
2) Educational Background (starting from schooling to professional qualifications)
3) Achievements
• Why do you want to join us?
• What would you like to be doing five years from now?
• Do you prefer working with others or alone?
• What are your biggest accomplishments?
• What are your favorite subjects?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your hobbies?
• What is the worst feedback you have ever got?
• What is the most difficult situation you have faced?
When attending a job interview, you want to impress your prospective employers by projecting a professional image of your-self. Much of this is achieved by anticipating question that will be asked and preparing appropriate answers. The following tips might be useful to you in preparing for an interview.
Listen before answering questions:
• Need to concentrate and listen very carefully to the questions.
• Make sure you understand the questions before offering any answer.
• Allow the interviewer to finish asking the question before offering an answer.
• Better to think carefully for an appropriate answer than to offer an answer in a hurry.
• Do not give yes/No answers only. Give your answers directly and support it with relevant evidence from past experience.
• Attempt to offer positive responses to every question in the interview.
• Do not put blame on others or offer an excuse for yourself.
• Be honest and sincere about weakness or shortcoming, and turn it into something positive.
Use most appropriate language:
• Do not ask the interviewer to repeat directly using: “Pardon me” or “Excuse me, Can you repeat the question again?”
• The interviewer feel that you have not been paying attention
• Be careful in using expressions such as: “Sure” “Obviously” “Of course” “No problem” “As you know”. That makes the interviewer feel you are conceited and arrogant.
• Be careful in using expression such as: “To be frank” or “To be honest”. That implies that you have not been honest in answering previous questions.
Let the body language work for you Body posture: Feel comfortable with your posture. You may sit upright or perhaps lean forward a little to project an eager and confident image. Make sure you are seated properly in your interview dress.
Eye contact: Look at the interviewers when answering questions. Make sure you look sincere and honest.
Facial expression: Keep a friendly on your face to show your enthusiasm. Be careful not to look too eager for the job or so relaxed that you don’t seem care. Try to project a serious and professional image on your interviewers.
Voice: You should speak clearly and relatively slowly. You can pause when you are thinking of appropriate replies before answering questions. Make sure you do not pause for too long. Be careful not to pause too often in the middle of your answers or fill your pause with too many types of filler such as “Em…” or “Ugh…” That make it difficult for your interviewers to follow what you are saying.
Humor: You can use humor appropriately in an interview to lighten up a tense atmosphere in the interview room. You can demonstrate your leadership quality by showing that you are a confident person who is relaxed and capable of controlling a tough situation.
Be careful not to be overly humorous. Your interviewers may feel that you are not serious enough to the job.
