by Candace Meyer, Undercover Recruiter
Though there are plenty of job opportunities out there, there is no assurance that you can get a certain position in the field or industry that you want to belong to. In every company, there are set of rules and requirements and if you don’t fit or aren’t qualified, you will not get the chance to have a job interview, let alone get hired.
To get a call or a scheduled job interview from a company where you applied is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so you must make the most of it. Aside from getting prepared in terms of a good resume, in-depth research about the company, gaining confidence on how to answer effectively in interview questions, preparing yourself mentally, physically, and psychologically, etc. there are more things that a job hunter should be aware of. Sometimes the stuff that we neglect or we often overlook are essential to aceing your job interview:
The interview outfit is important:
We all know what attire we should wear when we go to an interview. But there are times that some people go under-dressed or overdressed. Being under-dressed is a big problem and so is being overdressed. The way you carry yourself and the way you present yourself to the interviewer will greatly affect the overall outcome of your assessment. You need to be very careful in choosing the proper interview outfit that you are going to wear. Since you have done research already about the company’s work, then you will also have an idea of what kind of environment or workplace they have.
Appropriate language matters:
You can become engaging and personable to the interviewer, but you have to keep in mind that you are just an applicant and he or she is the interviewer. Don’t use casual language because that is not appropriate in a business setting. But of course, it doesn’t mean that you cannot speak in an informal language. Tone is significant when talking to people, particularly to professionals. In order to successfully communicate to the interviewer, you need to get the right tone.
Don’t be too formal or too informal when talking. Be mindful of how the interviewer talks to you. If he/she asks about technical terms regarding the job you are applying for, you can speak formally. But, when you are describing your qualities, goals, and relevant work experiences, you can speak in a natural language. You can omit unnecessary formality and just be yourself.
Right attitude lasts:
Aside from first impressions, employers are very particular to the attitude of the applicant.
Why did you apply for the company? Is it only to earn a regular income? To be not called a bum?
Whatever your reasons are, what’s important is that you have the enthusiasm for the position you applied for. If the interviewer thinks that you are not passionate or that enthusiastic about the job, the greater the chance that you get rejected. How can you show them that you really like and badly want the job? You have to prove to them that you can contribute something to the company. Tell them the unique abilities that you bring to the organization. Know everything about the job and show them why you deserve the position.
Common courtesy is a must:
Common courtesy in job interviews should not be taken for granted. Many applicants are not aware of these things and most of them get rejected. To avoid this, you must know and understand the value of common courtesy in job interviews. Some simple common courtesy during and after the job interview are as follows:
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As you enter the room, always greet the interviewer and smile.
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When you are talking to them, look them in the eye.
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Wait for the interviewer to ask you to sit down.
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After the interview, don’t forget to say thank you for taking the time to meet you and the opportunity to be interviewed.
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Send a follow-up letter and be grateful for the information or suggestions you got from the interviewers.
Never be late:
Punctuality is one of the skills that employers look for in their potential employees. A job interview is vitally important to the applicant as well as to the interviewer, so you must never be late. Whatever your reasons are, once you’re late you may not get an another chance. The interviewer might have a busy schedule so an ample amount of his or her time is very precious.
You cannot just say that you are very sorry for being late and just reschedule the interview. Remember, you are the applicant. You need the job more than they need you. There are other applicants that they can look at for the position. So be sure to be punctual.