Tips for Interviews

 First impressions determine a lot of things in life, and it is also very essential when attending job

interviews. The best way to give off a good first impression is ensuring that you have made

sufficient preparation for any and every situation that you can predict or give an estimate on how

the job interview goes.

Your first impression to the interviewer is vital as it can help to stand as some sort of credibility,

i.e; you are able to present yourself in a way that reflects the skills and experience listed on your

resume. Without giving off a good first impression to the interviewer, you wouldn’t be able to

convey or portray yourself in a way that aligns with what the employer/recruiter is looking for.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW

1. Be on time: punctuality is an essential factor when it comes to attending interviews.

Typically, you’d want to arrive at job interviews 10-15 minutes early as interviewers are

often ready before the scheduled time of appointment.

 

2. Greet the interviewer with a handshake and a smile: Showing confidence and

politeness by a handshake with a smile shows the interviewer that you are prepared,

shows good mannerism, and also shows you’re not nervous.

 

3. Dress appropriately: This is self explanatory, but your dress code is essential in making

a good first impression. Now of course, the proper dress code for jobs is subjective to the

type of job interview you are going for. For instance, a job interview for a position at

Foot locker wouldn’t mind a casual attire being worn on the day of the interview, while

an interview for a position at TD Bank would require a business formal attire. Whatever

type of job interview you go for, always make sure you dress appropriately. For the

ladies, close all unnecessary openings, avoid fixing lashes or nails, and go with a decent

hairstyle. For the males, avoid sagging your clothes, avoid unnecessary jewelries or

accessories.

 

4. Go with a pen and a notepad: Even though you may not get to write much, it shows the

interviewer that you are constantly trying to gather information about the company, and

taking notes of feedback you receive from the recruiter.

 

5. Make a research about the company: Researching the company you are applying for a

job allows you to have background information about the company and its policies, and it

also helps answer questions like; “why do you think we should employ you?”How can

you contribute to our goals as a company?”

 

6. Convey a proper tone: avoid using words you don’t know the meaning of or how to

pronounce at an interview under the guise of trying to impress the recruiter, be sure you

are loud and clear enough for the recruiter to understand what you are saying, but not too

loud in a way that you’d come off as rude or aggressive.

 

Resources

https://ung.edu/career-services/online-career-resources/interview-well/tips-for-a-successf

ul-interview.php

https://skillroads.com/blog/tips-to-pass-interview

By: Carlson Nwawuru