Sell yourself- Ace the interview
On the day of the interview: Do’s and Dont’s
Do’s- Prior to the interview
| Arrive at the interview venue 30 minutes prior to the interview time slot. |
| Freshen-up at the interview venue. |
| Inform the recruiter that you have reached the interview venue. |
| Speak politely to the front office staff. |
| You could quickly have a glass of water or a small quick snack if you have sufficient time. |
| Switch off your cell phone or put in on silent mode. |
| Keep the document folder ready. |
| Wait patiently for your interview to begin. |
Do’s- During the interview
| Greet the panel members. |
| Maintain eye contact with the panel members. |
| Take your time before answering any interview questions. |
| If you do not know the answer to a question, politely decline. It is appreciated to be honest rather than just wasting everyone’s time. |
| Use formal business communication during the interview. |
| Be yourself. |
| Be honest. |
| Take down notes if required. |
| Answer the interview questions to the point. |
| Use the time to have a conversation with the interview panel. |
| Present yourself or your company or your manager in positive light. |
| Be polite and Be courteous. |
| Ensure you highlight your skills, expertise, accomplishments. Create the lasting impression. |
| Thank the panel members at the end of the interview. |
Dont’s- During the interview
| Don’t answer office or personal calls during the interview. |
| Don’t reply to personal texts during the interview. |
| Don’t use words you don’t know the meaning of. |
| Don’t use jargon unless it is common knowledge. |
| Don’t talk too much or be too descriptive unless specified by the panel members. |
| Don’t be defensive. |
| Don’t be arrogant. |
| Don’t criticize your company or your manager. |
| Don’t use slang. |
| Don’t be nervous. It is not the end of the world if you don’t get the job |
| Don’t reveal confidential information to the panel members regarding your current or past companies, products or any such information which is not available in the public domain. |
| Don’t cross talk, wait for your turn. |
| Don’t adjust your hair or clothes continuously during the interview. |
| Don’t ask invasive or private questions to the panel members. They are not your friends. |
Do’s and Don’t’s- After the interview
| Send a well drafted thank you note the recruiters and the panel members. |
| Wait patiently for a follow up call or email from the recruiter. |
| After 15 days, you could contact the recruiter for feedback. |
| Most recruiters share feedback of the interview- What went well? What didn’t go well? |
| Feedback will help you understand the gaps and give you inputs for the next interview. |
| Don’t continuously follow-up with the recruiters, sometimes they require time to evaluate other candidates and to take a decision. |