Interviews: Top 8 Things To Keep in Mind

“An interview is like a minefield.”

Have you ever played the Minesweeper Game on your Windows Desktop back when you were younger? I think it is one of the those games that sends chills down your spine. We had to be both calculative and logical before pushing every single button in the game. An Interview is just an advanced version of Minesweeper thrown towards you which cannot be dodged by a simple ‘Exit Game’ button. 

An Engineer goes through a lot of trouble and hardship up till the Interview phase. One would want their preparation to be perfect for the interview and exhibit their best when they stand in the room of judgement. Elimination in the final stage which separates you from your dream job can be agonising. To prevent such a disaster, all you have to do is keep the following points at the back of your mind before and during you interview. 

1. Research about the organisation
2. Prepare for the possible questions
3. Review job description and your eligibility for the job
4. Resume & other documents
5. Update your social media
6. Tone of communication
7. Be on time
8. Thoughtful questions you would like to ask

“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.” 

1. Research about the organisation

Invest some amount of time into learning more about the company you are interviewing for. Companies like to hire people having similar set of principles as them and wants them to work towards common goals. The research would help you to build an insight over the company’s future aspirations and align your resume according to their requirements. You can do an in-depth study about the current projects, ideas, clients, management, work culture, long term mission, competitors, growth prospects, latest revenue, business plans and hierarchy. You can collect the above-mentioned data from the following sources:

• Social Media handles such as Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
• Website, most organisations have an ‘About Us’, ‘Investor Relations’ and ‘Recent Events’ section up on their websites. 
• Google Reviews or a simple Google Search
• Newspaper 
• Get in contact with a current or former employee of the organisation. 

A research would simply imply that you are extremely interested in the development of the company and are passionate and serious about the job being offered to you which would increase the possibilities of your selection.

2. Prepare for the possible questions

Make a note of all the questions that are generally asked during interviews falling under a similar job description. You should be well versed with the questions that concern your achievements, abilities, and experience. You should not just display your cognition regarding the skills but also your sense of creativity and personality. Therefore, it’s necessary to carefully frame your answers to demonstrate that you are a perfect match for the company. 

• Do not get intimidated by “What are your weaknesses?” question, the best answer to the question is your struggle with something that you are trying to improve.
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• What is your motivation to apply for this job?
• Tell me about yourself. 
• You must be prepared with basic questions concerning your major and skills. 
• PRACTICE WITH MOCK INTERVIEWS! It will help you relieve your anxiety, and you will not be overwhelmed during the actual interviews. It will boost your confidence and you can analyse your performance and improve upon it.  

This will allow you to answer the questions thrown at you in a flow without any hiccups or hesitation. The interviewer would take you to be a confident and trustworthy person.    

3. Review job description and your eligibility for the job

You must ask yourself if the job fits in the career path that you have planned for yourself. Consider if you will be able to benefit the organisation individually and whether it will have a positive impact. If you feel satisfied by the answer, proceed to understand the employer’s expectation by reviewing the job description. Evaluate the key words and phrases provided by them and prepare along those lines. You should be aware of the possible learning and development opportunities the organisation has in store for you and if it is ideal for your career progression.  

4. Resume & other documents

You should be mindful of the skills, projects, and certifications that you have mentioned in your Resume. Have a firm conceptual base, so that when inquired about them you are able to explain both in detail and briefly. By the rule of thumb is you must be able to explain each of your projects for at least 5 minutes. It is essential to have a proper understanding of your project and work experience so that if you are asked for an explanation, you can do it confidently. 

5. Update your social media

Employers often check your social media profiles to know more about your personality and background. Ensure that if there is anything unpleasant or inappropriate, it is taken down immediately. 

6. Tone of communication

• The interview is a discussion and not a debate, make sure to always have a polite tone to your speech. More importantly, you should be involved in the discussion and contribute to it. Do not hesitate to ask questions.  
• You must distinctly and clearly convey yourself to the interviewer since interviews are mostly conducted to check upon your communication skills.
•  If you are not comfortable with English and are unable to express yourself and your ideas, you can courteously ask the interviewer if you can switch to Hindi. 
• A few hours before the interview you can revise the main points you have prepared for discussion and the questions in order to get a decent grasp over it. 
• Talk positively about your teammates and avoid any negative statements about them as that would portray a complaining nature. 
• If you do not know the answer to a question, be honest about it. It is okay to pause briefly in order to collect your thoughts. 

7. Be on time

Make sure that you are present for the interview on time. Ensure a good internet connection and if you do face any issue, please keep the interviewer updated on the situation. 

8. Thoughtful questions you would like to ask

Most interviewers ask you to shoot your doubts and queries at the end of the interview in order to clarify and resolve your tangled thoughts in regard to the position that’s being offered to you, prepare some relevant questions about the job. In case you have doubts in regard to their business and work culture, that’s best time to get it resolved. If you do not have any questions, you can simply say so followed by a thank you.  

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BEST OF LUCK FOR YOUR INTERVIEW!