career
Career Insight: Strategies for Amazing Performance in an Interview
Tarif Mohammed Khan
Are you a fresh graduate? Or perhaps an unsatisfied employee? Or maybe you are the individual who is planning to switch job for a better opportunity. So, you are looking for job circulars in newspaper, job sites and in some other sources. You are applying frequently to different companies matching with your career interest. From some of the application your are getting call for an interview. The interview is most crucial and important phase for a job. It is as like as a table tennis game where employer and employee both wants to pass the ball to the other side of the tiny court! Employer wants to assess the best from the thousand applicants and the potential employee wants to impress the employer in every possible way within the shortest time duration meeting. That five or ten minutes time can decide your next journey to the corporate world. So, you need to be best prepared to meet the employers. There are some basic areas which is really significant to think about and act on those. Because you never know any of that particular issue might impress your employer for life time or even irritate so much that you might loosen your chance forever.
Research about Company: It is highly important for an applicant to know about the company she/he is going to attend an interview. Most of the corporate houses have their own website. You should look for the website at first to know about the company. Study properly and try to understand their vision, mission and objective. Go through their product details, features of products, unique value they offer with the products, current promotional activities or any discount offer etc. It is going to help you the most on interview when you will be asked about the company. Also, look for any of your relative or friends have worked to the company earlier or working at present. It is not required for doing lobby to get the job, rather that person will be the best resource for you to know about the company culture and company tone ahead of the time! If you are a fresh graduate and applying in several places at a time; then keep a track record in which date you are applying in which company and for what position you are applying so that when you get the call for an interview, you can do quick study on that respective organisation within shortest time duration.
Brush yourself up: You need to make yourself prepare not only to talk in front of the interview board but also to have a presentable appearance. The day you are going to attend the interview is very vital. Please remember the address of the organisation well or even better note it down to a piece of paper or in your smart phone notebook. It is always better to be over dressed and wear formal attire whatever the position is. For example, you are wearing formal business attire and if you feel you are over dressed you may take off your suit but if you are not wearing it, you cannot wear that at real time of interview. Start having quality time in hand considering the distance of your interview place and most importantly traffic of your city. Keep your mobile on a vibrate mode or in silent mode if possible. Behave properly at the reception of the organisation and the waiting zone. You never know, few companies actually starts watching you from the moment you enter the office parking zone!
Tell a Story: The moment you enter the interview room your interview has started! So, start to act your level best so that you can impress the employer. One very common question you may face is to talk about yourself. Trust me; your employer would like to hear the achievements you have in your previous work place or you overcome any career obstacles by your own competence. Employers like candidates who are willing to learn and dynamic. So, if you are a fresh graduate then share your study life achievements which explain your personality and your confidence. Your story will give you opportunity to get connected with the peoples of the interview board as well as make you comfortable in front of them.
Negotiate the Salary: If you are a candidate who are good enough among the lot, employers might discuss the salary with you. It is better to be polite as much as you can when negotiating with the salary. Standard approach should be , express your high interest for the job not for the remuneration only. You know the market offer for the similar positions and you may ask for the best offer of the company if you are allowed to talk on this. For fresh graduates salary should not be the vital fact point to join in or not. If the offered value is up to the mark and meeting somewhat your expectations, you should not bargain anymore.
Be Aware of Background Check: At present, world is more open and it is really easy to know about a person. Social media is playing undoubtedly the central role for this. Employers are spending handsome amount of money to check about an applicant details if they want to recruit. Global and multinational companies are doing that very seriously. That is called a background check. So, be aware of your social media engagement. Do not share anything in social media which down your personality or go against your personal image building. It is always allowed to make fun with friends but not with everyone else. Having a positive image in every sphere is really helpful to join the winning team of a quality organisation.
