The 12 Most Important Tips for a Successful In-Person Interview

01 Nov 2021

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Placement Prep

In-person interviews are stressful, and you need to put your best foot forward to land your desired job.

1. Do some research on the company

Being well informed on what the employer is seeking will help you prepare for the interview questions they will most likely ask and will give a better idea of the answers they want to hear.

Take some time to learn more about the company online by reading articles or watching YouTube videos of them made by third parties. The organization's website, social media accounts, other published materials, search engines, research tools, and your contacts will all be useful sources of information.

2. Be prepared

Read your resume and the job advertisement or description just before the interview. Do not wait until the last minute to choose a formal dress, print your professional resume, or carry a pen and a notebook. 

3. Arrive a little earlier than the scheduled time

Try to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled interview to give yourself time to complete the extra paperwork and settle down. 

4. Make a great first impression with formal dressing.

Plan an outfit that fits the company and its culture and showcase yourself as a professional. Whatever you choose, it is important to look neat and smart. Do not wear too much jewellery and keep accessories to a minimum.

Dress well, arrive early, and greet your interviewer by standing up, smiling, and making eye contact.

5. Body language

During the interview, do not bend your arms, bend backwards or look at the floor! Use your hands when making a point and bend forward. 

The quality and delivery of your answers during the interview are important. Smiling, active listening and nodding are all effective kinds of body language. Bowing, looking away, fiddling with a pen, swinging in a chair, back hair, stroking face, chewing gum, and whispering are all ineffective body language. 

6. Clarify when a question is not understood. 

If you do not know what the specific question is, ask again. Do not assume and answer.

7. Be positive, and focused

Interviewers like to see people who are optimists and are excited about challenges. Show energy, humour and a smile. 

Your goal should always be authenticity, to answer interview questions honestly. Also, your goal is to get to the next level, so you want to provide a focused view that showcases your skills, experience and fitness along with the job and the employer. Provide accurate examples of solutions and successes - but keep your responses short and accurate and to the point. 

8. Sell ​​yourself

Job seekers often do their part in job interviews, showing why they are ideal candidates for a job and company. You have to see for yourself to achieve this. Demonstrate your fit with departments and organizations.

9. Ask practical questions

You need to ask at least a few questions to show that you have done some research, are interested and are a serious candidate for the position. Even if the interviewer gives a thorough explanation and you do not know or want to know anything more, ask questions.

It is best to write a list of job interview questions a few days before the interview and add additional questions to the interview.

Examples of questions asked at the end:

What does your new hire expect in the first three to six months on the job?

How do I measure my performance in this role?

How is the formal performance review process in your company?

Studies consistently show that employers assess an applicant's interest in a job by asking or not interviewing questions. This way, even if the hiring manager has thoroughly discussed the job opportunities and what to expect, you should still ask some questions. Job seekers are asked to add any additional questions that may arise from the interview and ask questions a few days before the interview. 

10. Showcase your competencies: In most cases, recruiters list the qualities they are looking for - team worker, good communicator - so it's up to you to think of examples of how you can demonstrate these skills. Be prepared to talk about your knowledge, experience, abilities and skills. Have at least three strong points about yourself for the company and the job on offer.

11. Evaluate job interview questions and prepare answers

Write a list of job interview questions and answers. Look at job requirements and think of specific examples you can give to highlight these skills.

The easiest way to do this is to compare the key skills in the job description with your skills.

"Tell me about yourself?" In addition to preparing your answers to all such simple interview questions. Make sure you create an example of how you can add value to the organisation. What are your most important achievements? How do they relate to the job you are interviewing for? Do you have examples of challenging situations you have overcome, dealing with conflict, working under pressure or managing important projects? Make sure you write down a few notes and spend many hours preparing answers to the most common questions asked.

Your answers should be short and focused. Demonstrate your skills and experience to suit the job and the employer. Your answers should be short and focused. Demonstrate your skills and experience to suit the job and the employer. 

12. Make a wonderful final impression.

Chances are you remember the last impression you left. Make sure it is positive. Convey thanks to everyone who interviewed you before you left. You can also specify how excited you are about the opportunity after meeting them.

If you follow these job interview tips, you will avoid the most common pitfalls and make yourself a strong candidate for the job.

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