Break through the job interview – Part 4
In November, we have been focussing on techniques that you can use to excel in an interview, especially job interviews. Last week, we discussed the first three of the things that you need to do on the actual day of the interviews: dressing formally and professionally, arriving in plenty of time and that you need to carry all your important interview documents. Today, we will discuss the next five things that you need to do in the interview room if you want to sail through the interview with ease.
4. Structure all your answers: You may have a good answer, but if you do not structure it appropriately, it may not have any impact on the panel. They may not even understand you. With a good structure to your answer, even if the answer is not the best in terms of content, it may come out stronger than a good answer presented badly. Pay attention to the style of delivery as much as you do with the content of your interview answers. Every answer must open powerfully and with points clearly structured and with a punch summary sentence. But this should not be traded with brevity. You still need to make your answers concise, precise and succinct.
5. Speak with confidence: People tend to listen more to those who speak with confidence than they do with those that lack confidence. In fact, a confident speaker stands the chance of being believed more easily. When you speak with confidence, it is easy to win people to your side. Clearly, speaking with confidence as you answer your interview questions will give you a big edge against the other candidates.
6. Answer questions to compete: As you answer interview questions, remember that you are not playing games or participating in some simple exercise. You are in a competition – contesting for a big opportunity. You therefore need to put up your best performance. You need to have the right competitive mind-set so that you win the interview. Of course, you do not need to necessarily show that you are competing seriously or that you are desperate for the job. You need to be calm while internally, you are doing everything possible to win.
7. Take note of difficult questions: In the course of the interview, it is not uncommon to face a question or questions that are very difficult – questions that you are not sure if your answer is complete or correct for. When you reach that stage, do not panic. Think hard and deliver what is your best possible answer. But do remember the question so that you can return to it at the end of the interview. The good thing is that when you do that, your brain continues to work on the question in the background subconsciously. At the end of the interview, the panel will ask if you have any questions or comments for the interviewers. You can use that opportunity to return to a question that you think needed more clarity or a stronger answer. Just tell the panel that you want to provide additional information to one question. They will not say ‘NO’!
8. Maximise impact of your summary: Usually, at the end of the interview, the panel will ask you if you have any questions or comments. Many candidates like to ask about when the interview results will be ready and released. But you can distinguish yourself here too. Take the opportunity to summarise your unique value preposition. Why should they employ you and nobody else? You need to quickly do a short ‘manifesto speech’ about your candidature. Just a two minute punchy statement to close your case and then leave it up to them to consider you. Enjoy and relax as you return home waiting for your telephone call from the employing HR department! This way, you will rise and shine!
—To be continued next week…
