Being selected for an interview can be a victory in itself as employers have to sieve through countless CVs and cover letters to find potential candidates who make themselves stand out. However, giving off a strong first impression in an interview is an entirely different challenge from writing a compelling cover letter or CV; it gives an employer the chance to get to know a candidate on a more personal level and to better determine whether they are a good fit for a company. A strong candidate should know how to thoroughly research the organisation and position they are applying for, and how to answer any difficult questions that may be asked during the process. An employer is more likely to be impressed if they know a candidate has put in the time and effort to properly prepare themselves for the interview.
First impressions are key to a job interview, and the way a candidate dresses and conducts themselves in a one-to-one setting could subconsciously influence an employer’s decision to hire them. Research shows that nonverbal communication and physical presentation may play a significant role in the success of a job interview; factors such as a weak handshake, poor eye-contact or bad posture can give off negative signals to an employer, as it can show a lack of friendliness or disinterest towards the interviewer. It can be easy for a candidate to accidentally send the wrong body language, which is why practicing for an interview may provide necessary feedback from friends to get into good interview habits.
Preparation for an interview should also include thorough research of the company and role being applied for. Showing an employer that a candidate is proactive demonstrates enthusiasm that can be a key factor when it comes to choosing a candidate. Employers want to know how a candidate can fit in and why they want to work for them. A basic way to test this is to ask a candidate how they would explain the mission of the company; this does not mean demonstrating a candidate’s ability to research and paraphrase, but to explain the goals of the company in relation to a candidate’s own interests and passions. For example, in the case of a digital advertising agency, a candidate could say:
“The company commits itself to providing high quality services to local businesses by creating unique and engaging online content, which can help businesses gain better recognition in an increasingly digitalised business environment reliant on social media. As a content creator, I can relate to the importance of thorough research and well-written content to make a business stand out in an increasingly crowded online environment”.
The main point to keep in mind when preparing answers is to make sure they are not too plain or overly rehearsed. Interviews give candidates the opportunity to show off their personality and interest; it is easy enough to memorise a company’s goals, background and statistics, but it is meaningless and uninteresting for an employer if a candidate cannot engage on a more personal level. This is also the reason why employers may ask personal questions about a candidate’s strengths and ambitions, in order to keep candidates on their toes and get a sense of the type of worker they are, as well as hypothetical questions to test a candidate’s quick thinking and problem-solving skills. Again, an interview does not solely depend on a candidate’s ability to research, but also their personality and attitude towards a job.
Employers may also expect a candidate to ask questions of their own. It can be important to make the best of this opportunity to make sure you are applying for the right job and to show further interest in the position you are applying for. Alternatively, an employer may assume a candidate has not fully prepared or is simply uninterested in the job. Possible questions to ask may relate to the job itself such as asking what a worker’s day-to-day responsibilities would include or what the company culture is like. An interview should be an engaging conversation with a clear purpose, rather than a passive process. Following up an interview with a thank-you email or message also helps to show good courtesy and lets an employer know that a candidate is appreciative to be considered for the job.
On the whole, the success of a job interview depends on a candidate’s first impressions as well as their ability to prepare and research for the interview itself. The combination of these two factors should be enough to build a strong character profile in an employer’s mind and to demonstrate a candidate’s suitability for a position within the company. Finally, practice should not be underestimated when it comes to developing effective interview skills.
Edward Mah
Sources
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/02627X02021002003
http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/9109-personal-job-interview.html
https://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/intervw.htm
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1975.tb01383.x/abstract
https://www.job-hunt.org/guides/google/google-for-interview-preparation.shtml