Try to relive that first interview of
yours. It sure was scary, wasn’t it? Your heart racing, your palms sweating and
you are engulfed with nervous energy. Well done though! Look where you are now?
I am sure you are in a position to advise another on how to do a better job at
their first interview right? It’s always good to have an open mind and learn
new things. Even about something, you think you don’t need to know more about,
or you think would not really help you in the future.
Good News!
Are you about to face your first ever job
interview? Or are you thinking of switching company or role? If the answer is
yes, I have laid out a few tips especially for you! I I have been through more than 5 Job interviews
in my life and I am fairly confident that what I think was important should
really help you ace that interview with 100% confidence
Know your company
Be sure to research a fair bit on the
company you want to join. You may use their website to get an understanding of
the company history, type of industry and business they are in, size of the
company/no. of employees and the current leadership (knowing the Chairman’s
and/or CEOs names would do).
You are giving a positive signal to your
interviewer that you are interested and you have done your homework in case you
are asked to mention what you know about the company you want to join so badly.
Plus points for you!
Know your role
It is important to know what your role
entails. You need not know every single word in a similar job description,
however, knowing the key tasks you may be expected to carry out would show
that you mean business. This will also help you formulate your answer in case
you are asked, “So how do you think you can add value in this role?”. Remember
to link your skills and abilities here.
Points for you!
Strengths and Weaknesses
Sounds simple right? But it’s not as simple
as you think if you aren’t prepared. I remember being asked this question at an
interview and I was caught by surprise. Thankfully I was able to put an answer
together in the nick of time!
Note down 3-5 strengths of yours (what are
you good at?) and 3 or so weaknesses (what you think you can improve on). Remember
to avoid mentioning weaknesses that may imply that you are not suitable for the job at hand. You should avoid
applying for a particular job vacancy if you know quite well that there’s a lot
more you need yo work on before you get there. So this is why it’s important to
do some self-reflection and based on your analysis work on improving yourself.
For example, if you apply for a customer service
kind of role and one of your weaknesses is that you are short-tempered or hate
to hear people complain, I reckon you should accept the reality of the
situation and understand that if you want to do a particular job, you might as
well enjoy it. Think about it deeply. You see what I mean right?
Now, let’s look at the bright side. Say you
have a knack for understanding people’s emotions, you enjoy helping people resolve
their issues and you want to build a career around understanding who your
customers are and giving them the best service possible. This will not only
help the company enhance its reputation, but also will pave the way for a
brighter future for you.
Your CV
No employer is going to take the time to go
through a CV that looks like a mini-thesis right? Leave aside the employer, would
you? Yep, that’s right. So put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes and appreciate
the value that a very simple and concise CV will bring to the table. There are
so many platforms that help you design your own CV with step by step guidance.
First impressions count and do not miss this opportunity.
Dress how you want to be addressed
Be sure to be well-dressed and well-groomed.
It’s always a good idea to wear formal attire (Suit may not be necessary unless
it’s a very senior role) in my humble opinion a nice white shirt with a simple
tie and office trousers will go a long way. The ladies could stick to something similar (of course without the tie!). Also, make sure you convey your
interest in the job by how you behave while you wait. Do not forget to be
punctual! As this is a sign of mutual respect and professionalism. Always
target to be at least half an hour early to an interview so you keep some
buffer for you in case anything unexpected happens on the way.
Be equipped
If you are asked to bring a set of
documents along with you. Make sure you do that. Have a checklist before you
leave the house. It’s normal for us to get to the location and then realize
that we have left something important at home and come.
Hot Seat
Be relaxed. Take some deep breaths before
you enter the room. Smile, and do not sit down before your interviewer requests
you to take a seat. Once you are in your seat, and you are asked to say
something about you, don’t recite everything in your CV like a poem (haha).
Rather, give a quick intro to you. You may start with your name, mention the
school(s) you attended, any higher education you have completed or are pursuing
currently, any extra-curricular activities you were part of and a bit about
your family. Also, give some examples of your interests too.
Who are you and how would you add value
Once this is done, they may ask you why you
selected this job and company. Ensure that you convey the message that you will
be able to add value in the new role. What are your experiences or innate
abilities that you possess which will help you excel in that job role? Do note
that every job requires some form of interaction with people from all walks of
life. So do make sure you are comfortable with this.
Package
Discussing your package (if the interviewer
asks) is something that should be dealt with tactfully. This is part of your
research. Make sure you get in touch with some industry experts or even your
parents, uncles or aunties or anyone who you know who has been in a similar
role as what you are applying for to understand the industry average pay rates.
This will avoid the risk of you quoting too high or too low. Trust me, every
single detail counts!
Assurance
Now you have successfully gone through some
tried and tested tips coming from a Business Analyst in the Apparel industry
with 4 years and 3 months of experience who is also a member of the Charted Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA,
CGMA), completed CIM (UK) and has an MBA (UWL) with a research article published
in a renowned journal. I had none of these qualifications when I faced my interviews (Okay maybe 1), so not to not worry!
All the best with your next interview! 💪
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Mahen Brendon Makalande
Sri Lanka
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