How to Clear an Interview: Essential Job Interview Tips and Tricks

Let’s admit it —interviews are stressful no matter what stage you are at in your career. Imagine the nervousness while waiting for your name to be called by the interviewers. At this moment, hundreds of questions run through your head. “What if I freeze?”, “What if I don’t know the answers?” etc. Luckily, you are not alone, and it’s very common to have cold feet before a job interview. In this blog, we discuss in detail job interview strategies to answer the question as to how to clear an Interview. With the right preparation and practice, you can control your jitters and give your best performance.

Common Types Of Job Interviews

Job interviews are a way for employers to find the right candidate and for employees to show their talent and skills. While there are many types of job interviews, some of the most common are:

In-person Interview: In this interview, a single interviewer asks you questions about your skills and experience. Based on the interaction, the interviewer weighs your suitability for the job.
Behavioral Interviews: They have become quite regular in job interviews as they assess how you will handle specific work-related situations. Data suggests behavioral interviews are 45 percent more effective in predicting future job behaviors compared to traditional interviews.
Case Interviews: Case interviews are a special type of interview where you’re given a real or imaginary business problem to solve. You’re expected to explain how you would handle the situation step by step.
Competency-Based Interviews: Competency-based interviews test how you handle real-life situations. In these interviews, you will be asked to talk about a time when you faced a challenge and how you solved it. The goal is to understand your personality and see what kind of person you are by hearing how you reacted in the past.
Group Interviews: In group interviews, several candidates are interviewed simultaneously. This type of interview is suitable for screening several candidates.
Panel Interviews: In panel interviews, you meet more than one interviewer. This interview is extremely professional and tricky as well as you have to answer a question asked by one interviewer while making eye contact with everyone.
Video & Remote Interviews: Virtual interviews are quite common these days. It not only saves time and resources but also helps break physical barriers. Using video call tools like Zoom and Google Meet, it is quite easy for both the interviewer and interviewee to meet.
Also Read: Do’s and Don’ts of Video Interview

Phone Interviews: Companies may conduct pre-interview telephone screenings before scheduling face-to-face meetings. So, it’s important that you’re well-prepared for phone interviews.

How To Clear an Interview?

Staying confident is important no matter the type of job interview. And, confidence comes from practice. Here are important tips for job interviews to help you get through the interview process.

Gather Knowledge About The Company

Be informed about the company, its members, revenue, profit, long-term vision, current and upcoming projects, etc., before going on the interview. Data reveals that 47% of hiring managers reject candidates who haven’t learned about the company. So, start by exploring the company’s website and social media profiles, news articles, or blog posts. Learn about their products, services, values, and long-term goals. This knowledge will help you align your skills with the company’s requirements.

Get Ready For The Interview

Give a few hours every day to prepare for the interview, as it will enhance your confidence.

To start, thoroughly read the job description to learn about the skills and experience that the business wants.
Consider the top skills required for the job and how those skills match your experience. This will help you share examples of the projects and work that used those skills.
Understand the responsibilities associated with the job role so you are prepared to explain how you have handled a similar role in the past.

Prepare Answers To The Most Asked Interview Questions.

You must practice answers to the most commonly asked questions to prevent any blunders while speaking to the interviewer. Also, it will show your preparedness to the interviewer.

Here are common interview questions you must practice before your next interview:

Tell me about yourself. Give a brief outline of your professional background, with emphasis on relevant skills and expertise.
Why are you interested in this position? Discuss your interest in the position and match it with your abilities and skills to show yourself as the right fit.
What are your strengths? Highlight your strengths and relate them to the job’s requirements.
What are your weaknesses? Acknowledge your weaknesses, but don’t talk negatively about them. Give an example of how you have worked on your weaknesses and the lessons you’ve learned.
Share an example from work where you did well. Describe an incident at work, like telling about a problem, how you handled it, and what the result was.
Talk about an occasion when you made a mistake at work. Talking about a mistake tells a lot about your self-motivation and positive attitude. You can add details about what you learned and how you managed the situation.
Tell about a time when you did more than what was expected of you at work. Share a situation where you took extra steps or used your own ideas to help out, solve a problem, or improve something, even though it wasn’t part of your regular job duties.
Why are you leaving your current job? When you’re asked why you want to leave your current job, don’t talk badly about your boss or workplace. Instead, explain how the new role gives you a better chance of learning new things, taking on more responsibility, and reaching your career goals.
What are your long-term career goals? When asked this question, share where you hope to reach in your career and how the job you’re applying for is a great opportunity to reach that goal.
Do you have any questions? Prepare thoughtful questions about the company, team, or position to show your interest in knowing what it’s like to work there.

Answer Questions Using The STAR Method.

The STAR(Situation, Task, Action, Result) method is considered one of the best techniques for structuring answers. This method is great for improving recall and enhancing confidence by up to 50%.

S – Situation: Describe a challenging project in which you had to showcase a certain ability. This will make your example more relatable.
T – Task: Explain the task and goal you had to achieve in that situation. What was your goal?
A – Action: Describe the steps you took to resolve the problem or complete the work. Make sure to highlight how you did things differently.
R – Result: Share the outcomes or consequences. What did you accomplish, and how did it influence the circumstance or goal?

Remember these tips when using the STAR method:

Provide examples from work, projects, or volunteering.
Use brief and concise examples.
Present your views in a conversational tone to avoid being robotic.
Be ready to elaborate on the examples you present.

Keep Practicing

Practice is important, whether it’s for the face-to-face interview or technical or behavioral tests. Remember these points.

Be ready for written tests, presentations, or practical tasks.
Review and practice the topics/questions that are relevant to the job.
Rehearse your responses before the interview to ensure you sound confident and articulate.
Practice with friends so that they can provide valuable feedback.
Practice speaking to enhance your communication skills and confidence.
Take mock tests to improve your score and feel confident.

Dress Appropriately:

Dress appropriately as per the company’s culture and dress code. This will leave a good impression of you and your professionalism. Here are some more tips.

Dress for the Job You Want: Follow the saying “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” Formal dressing is always better, whether there is a dress code or not.
Avoid distracting clothes: As they say, the first impression is the last impression. So, dress professionally and avoid wearing anything too revealing or attention-grabbing. Your clothing should complement your personality and not divert interviewers’ attention from you.

On The Day Of The Interview

Be On Time: Reaching a few minutes early is always good. This will give you time to settle down and do any paperwork. Also, it shows the interviewer that you’re serious about getting the job. People who arrive late leave a bad impression and are less likely to make it.
Bring Essential Documents: Take a few extra copies of your resume to give to the interviewers. Also, keep a list of people like your teachers or past employers handy so they can validate your skills and talk about them. Don’t forget to have a notebook and a pen for taking notes.
Use Positive Body Language: Sit up straight but stay relaxed, look into the eye but don’t stare, and use your hands naturally when you talk. Try not to cross your arms or fidget, as that can make you seem nervous or closed off.
Also Read: Common Body Language Mistakes to Avoid During a Job Interview
Conclude positively: At the end of the interview, ask questions like, “What are the next steps?” or “When will I hear back?” This shows you’re excited about the job. Lastly, thank the interviewer for their time.

Negotiating Salary

Salary negotiation in a job interview happens after you’re selected, but it’s just as important as the interview itself. 44% of hiring managers expect candidates to negotiate their salary, and it’s not viewed negatively. In fact, it’s seen as a sign of confidence and professionalism.

Don’t give a number: Interviewers do ask about salary expectations and expect a number. But try not to give a specific number at first. Instead, you can tell that you want to hear the offer first. However, if they insist, give them a range as per the market standards.
Give a valid reason for why you expect the salary and how you are worth the pay you are demanding.

Conclusion

Job interviews can be intimidating, but the positive aspect is that each interview provides a great learning experience. You can use this experience to give a better response next time. As you go through more interviews, you’ll get better at understanding the common questions and using the right approach to answer them. The more interviews you do, the more confident and skilled you’ll become at handling them.

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