INTERVIEW SPECIAL .............How to ace your job interview

How to ace your job interview



Make a good impression on your prospective employer by following this 10-day preparation regimen.

The biggest mistake you can make in your career is to go under prepared for job interviews.

Here's the countdown to a state of readiness for the interaction.

DAY 10: Planning & resourcing

Speak to the person scheduling your interview and find out about the selection process.Will there be written tests, psychometric profiling, group discussions, etc? What type of interviews should you expect--technical, behavioural, leadership or case study questions? Will it be in person, telephonic or via a video conference? Will it be with an individual or a panel? Get a copy of the job description or requirements for the position. Then rework your schedule for the next nine days to block time for your preparation. If you need to borrow technical books, or buy a suit or formal shoes, do it now.

DAY 9: Studying & experiencing

Research the company. Use multiple information channels--company website, LinkedIn Facebook Twitter profiles, news articles, trade journals, company blog, even employee reviews on platforms such as GlassDoor. If interviewing for a managerial role in a public firm, read up on its financials. Next, try and get a first-hand experience of the service or product that the company provides.

DAY 8: Meetings & homework

Reach out to people associated with your prospective employer to learn about the company, its culture, the team you would be working for, and the interview and selection process. Based on the information gathered so far, make a list of deliverables that the firm expects from its new employees. This list will direct your preparation efforts.

DAY 7: References & achievements

Call up people in the industry and get their perspectives on the company. Call up your referees and prepare them for a possible reference check by your prospective employer. Next, based on the role deliverables list, write down your achievements that signal your suitability to the firm.

DAY 6: Resume & story scripting

Refer to the resume you have shared with the firm. Formulate questions pertaining to each line and prepare a 30-minute or an hour-long conversation around it. Write down career highlights relevant to each line and prepare for at least two levels of questioning. Use numbers for a clear picture.

DAY 5: Preparation & practice

Prepare crisp responses for standard interview questions: Tell me about yourself? Why do you want to leave your current job? Why should we hire you? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Rehearse your answers in front of a mirror. This will help you master non-verbal aspects of communication. Prepare questions you want to ask the interviewer on job role, team, expectations.

DAY 4: More preparation & mocks

Most interviewers ask behavioural questions: Tell me about a time when you had to deal with conflict in your team? Use situation, action and result technique to structure your answer. Your responses should show growth in key areas of interest for your employer. Enlist your friends or family members to conduct mock interviews for you.

DAY 3: Consolidate & sleep

Organise and revise your notes from the past seven days. Work on areas where you are not confident. Get a good night's sleep to shrug off the stress and strain of your daily job.

DAY 2: Checklist & chill

Prepare a checklist for the next day. What are you going to wear? What do you need to carry? Where do you need to go? What time will you leave? With 24 hours to go, avoid any heavy lifting at your current job. You should be fully rested. Take the evening off for your favourite activity and re-energise.

D-DAY: Perform & follow up

Enjoy your interview. A well-prepared candidate actually conducts the interview, while the interviewer follows the lead. After the interview, send a thank you e-mail to the interviewer and the person who coordinated. Follow up with the coordinator and seek feedback in two days' time, and again within a week. If the feedback is delayed, drop a reminder e-mail in the second week and move on to other opportunities.

Devashish Chakravarty ET25JAN15