In earlier articles, we discussed introduction to interview process and interview preparation in detail.

In this article, we will talk about the interview itself.   Here are some of the points to help you perform better at interviews 

1.   Be on time – You should target to reach the interview spot 15 mins before the scheduled time.  In campus interviews, there is no uncertainly about interview spot, traffic or parking time.  In off-campus interviews, be sure to do a trial commute a day earlier or keep enough buffer time to not be late for interview.

2.   Dress Professionally - Take care with the way you dress and groom yourself to show the employer that you are taking the job seriously.  You don’t need to dress in formal suit; regular business casuals are perfectly fine.  Avoid flashy clothes, unkempt hair or making fashion statements

3.   Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, good eye contact and a smile – It tells people that you are sincere, confident and trustworthy

Tip - Keep extra copies of your CV 

4.   Use professional language - Avoid slang expressions such as “ya know” or “like”.  Even if interviewer uses such language, do not follow suit. 

Tip – Avoid cracking jokes during interview

5.   Turn your cell phone off or set it to silent

6.   Monitor your body language – Sit straight up, don’t fidget, slouch, chew gum, mumble, or play with objects. Do speak clearly and powerfully, project your voice, maintain eye contact. 

7.   Responding to Interview Questions - Listen carefully to the questions, take time to phrase your responses, and ask the interviewer to repeat the question if you're not sure what they are asking.  Be brief and don't ramble when you respond. However, do be sure that your responses answer the questions, are focused, and highlight the skills you have that are relevant to the job.

Tip – if you need time and are not ready with your answer, request a moment to think about your response. If you do not know the answer, admit it. 

8.   Keep all interviewers engaged – If there are multiple interviewers, it is important to keep all of them engaged. Do not just focus all your attention to the one who asked the question.   Start your answer by looking at the interviewer who posed the question and during the course of your answer, maintain brief eye contact with other members of panel.

9.   Exude enthusiasm, energy and a positive attitude at all times – Do not speak negative about fellow students/ team mate when talking about failed project / difficult internship. When answering, why you want to leave other job offer in favor of this company – do not speak negative of that organization.  Keep the interview focused on your qualities, and why you're the right person for the job 

10. Describing / Presenting your Project - When describing your project, follow a systematic approach.  Mention objective of the project, what did it achieve, what was your contribution and where does the project stand now (i.e. if it was implemented anywhere).  It is important to highlight achievements and learning(s) of the project.

Tip – Extremely important to acknowledge the efforts of other members in the project and not to exaggerate your contribution to the project 

11.   Answer questions honestly – Do not lie. Even if there is something embarrassing (e.g.  Failed class / failed subject or botched up project), answer honestly.   

12. Bring on your narrative – In the last article on preparing for interview, you developed your narrative, which is your core selling point.  Keep it handy and based on interview questions, steer them logically towards your narrative.

13.    Do not discuss personal issues –  When interviewer ask you about “Tell me something about yourself” or  in general course of interview,  do not go into every single detail of your family history, extenuating circumstances and personal situation.  Unless there is a specific situation, which restricts / limits your ability to discharge your duties truthfully.

14.   Ask Questions to Interviewer - In the last chapter, we talked about preparing questions to ask the interviewer.  Bring those on.  In addition to the prepared questions, you should also ask questions depending on what you heard in the current interview discussion. This shows you are listening and paying attention to them.

Tip – Not asking any question is a strict NO. Don't ask about job benefits or money or “what would a typical day be like for me”

15.   Cleanup Up Your Social Media Image - Over 90% of prospective employers review your online social media accounts and profiles to learn more about you. That’s why it's important you don't post anything about yourself on social media accounts that could reflect poorly on you as a person

Tip – For campus interviews this point might not carry enough weight. However there no harm in following this.

I hope this article has given you new insights and will help you prepare better for your next interview. 

Have a good career.