Things to keep in mind during an interview.
An Interviewer looks at various aspects that they will judge you on in an interview. How you present and hold yourself is among the most important factors they will look at to understand the type of person you are and how you will behave further on. These are a few factors that are important to consider during an interview and make for a good interview from an employer’s perspective.
Punctuality
One of the most important things during an interview is to be punctual. When meeting a person, it is always polite to reach at the given time or a bit earlier, but being late sets a bad impression, especially in an interview. Being late to a job interview shows your lack of time management and respect towards the other person. An Interviewer that has to wait will judge you based on the fact that you did not make it on time and further assume that even to work, you would be late. A first impression sticks and will decide how the interview goes on. In a case where it is unavoidable to be late, you should inform them prior so that you can reschedule, showing you’re interested in the job and that you aren’t taking it for granted.
Appropriate Clothing
Not a lot of people talk about this. How you dress and present yourself is also a very important factor when it comes to an interview. A clean look is a must because nobody wants to hire someone that can’t clean their shoes or comb their hair. Presentation matters, whether it is a sales role or a work-from-home job. Being able to present yourself well is a very important factor when you go for an interview.
If you go for an interview with ripped jeans and some t-shirt with some band on it vs. someone who is well dressed in a formal shirt, tie and clean pants. Whom do you think people will look at as a more sensible person? Of course, the person who dressed up well for the interview, because this also shows you put importance into the meeting and dressed up for it indicating your dedication and interest towards the following job. Another thing to keep in mind during your interview is your posture, while dressing well and looking professional is a must, sitting up straight and not being fidgety is also something to remember. Slouching and sitting crossed-legged or with your arms crossed indicates a withdrawn and closed personality which no interviewer wants.
Being Prepared
Being prepared for an interview is a key aspect. Having all your documents ready, whether it’s your resume or your work portfolio, having them at hand to show and discuss is a plus. A lot of times we tend to go to interviews unprepared, this sets a bad example to the interviewer because being unprepared indicates that you are not interested enough to be your best self for this interview, showing disinterest, disrespect and an unprofessional personality. Nobody wants to hire someone that isn’t interested enough in the job that they cannot put some effort into it. Your first impression at an interview can be your last if you aren’t prepared for it.
Confidence
Being confident and looking confident in an interview shows you are strong-minded and are able to trust your own abilities. Speaking confidently, answering confidently and being sure of yourself helps the interviewer see that you are determined and strong-willed for the job at hand, giving a positive impression of you. Being confident also means speaking at will, not hesitating, being able to look at the interviewer directly and being able to answer questions without pausing and showing signs of any doubt. All these small aspects build up together and show whether you’re confident or whether you’re not. The main aspect of being confident is to show that you don’t doubt yourself and your capabilities and to assure your interviewer that they shouldn’t doubt you either.
Knowledge
Knowing your stuff and being aware of what’s happening around you is very important. In a job interview, if you are asked something about the company or the industry it is in and you don’t have an answer or appear like you have no clue, it shows a lack of awareness and could destroy your interview. Before going for a job interview, you should look up the company you’re interviewing for and try to understand more about it: its industry, its goals, the types of work they do and how you could add value to that. You should also make yourself aware of any current changes in the industry and possible future endeavours they might pursue. When you respond and show that you know things and have put effort into understanding more about the company, it shows a great level of interest that interviewers love. Apart from learning more about the company and the industry, it is also important to show your best skills and learnings so far. Your knowledge and previous experiences and the way you talk about them are also key to getting a job. The interviewer will ask you about your previous work experiences and what you have learnt from them, having a stable answer ready and knowing your work thoroughly will put you over the top and display a high level of confidence and understanding. Employers look for various things when they try to find the perfect employee, someone that knows how to do their job and explains it without hesitation shows the level of professionalism that many look for.
