ShareThisQuite a few of my close friends will be attending interviews shortly so I thought it wise to elaborate on some basic interview skills that will help them and others during this period. The best interviewees won’t always make the best employees, but the best interviewees will get through to the next round. That means regardless of how well the job suits your skill-set, if you don’t perform in the interview, it’s unlikely you’ll be considered further. Therefore it’s imperative that you sharpen your interview technique in order to land that dream job.
Now these interview tips should help you during the interview itself and not pre/post interview. For some good advice about Pre-interview Dos and Don’ts, see my previous article. Also, I’m assuming that you have undertaken the necessary company research to speak at length about your interest in the firm and ask intelligent questions. If you haven’t taken this first step, then the below tips aren’t going to help you.
Tip 1: Ask questions THROUGHOUT the interview – Don’t store up all your questions for the end. You might find that the interviewer leaves you only a few short minutes at the winding down of the interview to ask questions, which may not be sufficient. Instead, ask questions directly related to things that have been said. It shows you’re paying attention and are not afraid to engage in dialogue. That’s exactly how an interview should take place – as a conversation rather than a lecture followed by Q&A. A non-responsive demeanour also suggests a lack of interest in the position which is not the image you want to portray.
Tip 2: Practice the most common interview questions – You’re always going to get an employer ask you a few of the standard interview questions such as “So tell me about yourself“, “Why do you want to work for this company?”, “Where do you see yourself in five years” among others. Whether you believe these questions are outdated or relevant is not the point either, practice them and know what to discuss when asked. Whatever you do though, DO NOT memorise them. If your answers seem too contrived it will convey insincerity. You can find a list of the most common interview questions by typing “common interview questions” into Google.
Tip 3: Don’t be afraid to write notes, but don’t overdo it – Sometimes a pen and paper will be provided, but I recommend bringing a small notepad and pen anyway. There’s no hard and fast rule about whether you should write notes or not, however if you feel that the interviewer makes some relevant points that may help in further assessment rounds, by all means take notes. Ensure that you only jot points down when it’s especially necessary…again it’s not lecture time. You may decide to go the whole interview without writing a single thing down which is ok, but sometimes a few carefully noted points indicates your keen interest in the position.
Tip 4: Refer to people’s names (especially if they are difficult) – This is a challenging one and not enough people do it. Candidates are always aware of the main person that is interviewing them as they would have previously corresponded via email. When it comes to the actual interview though, there may be a handful of others that will also participate in the assessment. Usually when you’re introduced to them, you’ll forget their names immediately. DON’T. Once you shake their hand repeat their name as it helps ingrain it in your mind. If the name is difficult (as I’ve found in Singapore with Chinese names) repeat it until you get it right. Then later in the interview when you want to direct a question or make a statement, reference that person’s name. The sound of a person’s name is sometimes the sweetest thing they hear and instantly builds rapport. For example if one of the interviewers names is “Heng Loon” and you want to ask them specifically a question, look at them directly and ask “Heng Loon, you mentioned earlier that blah blah blah”. Get the idea?
Tip 4: Match your body language with the environment – Candidates aren’t always interviewed in the company’s board room where a more formal physical disposition is required. Interviews can take place in a cafe, hotel lobby, bar, restaurant, garden, courtyard and other places. Ensure your body language coincides with the surrounding environment. If you’re being interviewed in a cafe for example, a casual manner may be more appropriate. Body language in itself is an extensive area to familisarise yourself with and is beyond the scope of this post. Pay attention to fidgeting and any other body language mistakes. Again Google the topic if you want some tips.
Tip 5: Record yourself doing a mock interview – This is a great idea, but hardly anybody does it. Acting out an interview is practising. It’s like shooting hoops, practising your golf swing or playing chords on the guitar. The more you practice something, then the better you get at it. It’s the same concept with interviews. Taping yourself with a video camera also allows you to analayse your posture, any nervous tendencies you may have (such as tapping your foot) and how you respond to questions under pressure. In fact the mere presence of the video camera itself is likely to increase the pressure of the situation to a near interview like atmosphere.
Tip 6: Reaffirm your interest and/or Ask for the job - Not enough candidates do this either; they feel it is too forward and are uncomfortable asking. This means that they leave the interview without affirming their desire for the job. Think of it this way. If a hiring manager interviews ten equally qualified and impressive people for a position, and only one person asks for the job, who do you think the manager will favour? Ask if you want to receive! Don’t just assume your interest will be evident by your presence. If you’re not interested in the job after the interview, don’t say you are for the sake of it; be honest about your intentions at all times.
There are probably at least a dozen other tips that I could have elaborated on but these are definitely some basic concepts that are often forgotten. There is an abundance of quality resources on the internet so I highly recommend doing as much research as possible to polish your interviewing skills. Feel free to subscribe to Gradkin’s Blog for the latest career wisdom and employability skills too 
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Tip 7: Bring a handkerchief or tissues in case you sneeze - Let’s just say I learnt this one the hard way. 
