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Tips for A Successful Interview

Interviews are the most crucial period for an individual. During our lives, we have to face interviews on so many occasions. We have to face an interview before admission in a good school or college, while starting a career in any field, while applying for a suitable job in a good concern or even during getting our children admitted in a school/college of repute.

Although, an interview generally lasts only for a few minutes, but those few minutes are the most vital moments for many of us as those few minutes can decide the course of our life.

We spend many sleepless nights mentally preparing ourselves for the coming interview. However competent we may be, those few minutes of an interview alone determines if we are the right person for the place/job we have applied for. Even a little mistake can deprive us of the thing we are otherwise entitled for. Here, in this article, I am providing a few tips on how to face an interview and ensure success in the task you have long cherished for.


Mental Preparation

Soon after you have applied for a job/position in a company/institution, get yourself mentally prepared to face the interview. Be positive and optimistic. Never think yourself inferior to other candidates. After all, you possess all the necessary qualification and that is why you have applied for the job/post.

Never tell a lie

Remember, the interviewer is an expert in his job. He must have already gathered a lot of information about you before calling you for the interview. He can easily find out whether you are a straight forward type of person or a shrewd one. A straight forward candidate is always preferred to a shrewd one even if he/she is a little inferior in qualities to the shrewd one. The interviewer has the capacity to break any lie, however well woven may it be. Never forget that he/she must have handled hundreds of candidates like you and his experience is far superior to yours. At the same time, if you are honest and truthful throughout the interview, the chances of your making mistakes or stammering reduces drastically. So neither be dishonest nor try to mislead the interviewer.


Assess your strengths and weaknesses

During an interview, a candidate is often asked to assess his/her own merits and demerits. Whenever you face such a question, be honest in your replies. However, you need not list out all your weaknesses unless you are specifically asked for; rather tell them more about your plus points, about your interests and passions and try to convince them that you are really competent enough to handle the job properly. By doing so, you will make a good impression and you will neither be required to tell lies or hide your weaknesses.

Always Avoid Direct Argument

Never try to argue with the interviewer even if you feel that he/she is on the wrong. A direct argument is like a suicidal attempt in an interview. It may be possible that you might not agree with the interviewer in some of the issues during your interview. But never lose your cool, and just try to convince your interviewer of what you intend to convey in a diplomatic and polite manner. It may also be possible that the interviewer may be playing a stress test on you to see if you can keep your cool even under stress situations. So under any circumstances, never go for arguments or verbal fights.
After all, the interviewers are also human beings who would never like a candidate who argues. Hence, it can leave a negative mark on your score sheet. This can also be a cause of your disqualification even though you might have passed all other tests well.

Show Your Eagerness to Learn

An employee who is always eager to learn is preferred by all companies and institutions. Therefore, try to show that you are eager to learn new things and face challenges. By doing so, you would easily be able to impress the interviewers. Therefore, be inquisitive about the company, its future plans, nature of the job, your future prospect as an employee and such other things. It would definitely leave a positive mark about you in the interviewer's mind. However, try to be in a reasonable limit.

Be Cautious About Your Body Language and Dress Code

Body language and dress code reflects your traits and taste. So be very careful about body language and dressing style. The interviewer is usually very well trained and well experienced in reading body language. Your body language is like a mirror reflecting all details about your personality. As such, you must be cautious about it and if needed, you can even take help from a professional expert in this matter. Almost all the companies or institutions prefer people with a professional touch and your body language and a proper professional dressing sense is the first key in assessing your professionalism. Avoid casual dress like jeans and ‘T’ shirts. A full sleeve shirt of sober colour with matching pant and a tie would be a good option.

Be Fresh and Vigorous

Never be in panic or nervous. Be fresh during the interview period. Try to have a sound sleep at night before the interview day. Always be optimistic and have confidence in yourself. Wash your face and have some energy drinks before going into the hall. In this way, you would never run out of energy half way through! After all, one can produce the best only when he/she is fresh, lively and vigorous.

Be Alert and Attentive

Always try to be alert and attentive. Listen to the question well, analyse it in your mind and then only give a suitable reply. Never try to be over smart. Always try to give your replies in a polite manner. Try to know as much as you can about the company, the business they are into, and develop your own ideas about how the business can be improved further. There would definitely be some questions from these fields and these are some of the things that are sure to give you an upper hand in the interview. Try to gather facts and shape them according to your judgement and deliver them in your own language. It would enhance your chances of selection. However, don’t try to memorise these things and reproduce it there; rather try to use your judgement. There are also some questions that can be predicted beforehand and a good deal of research and preparations can greatly enhance your performance at the interview.

Go through some mock interview sessions and practice the above steps so that they can become a part of your expertise. If you follow the above rules, then I am sure that you would do well at the interview.

Wishing you all the best for a successful interview!

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