Job interviews are short, crisp, and very important parts of your career. A good interview can make your career, and a bad interview can either offer you progress at best or seriously hamper your progress at worst.
Therefore, it is very important to be completely ready and know what to say when you attend an interview.
In addition, whatever the post may be or whatever the job position may be, you should clearly know what not to say in an interview.
What to Say in a Job Interview to Impress the Interviewer
1. The art of listening
One of the first skills of a conversation, let alone an interview, is the art of listening. There is a major difference between hearing and listening.
We hear music, an action in which we may miss some lyrics or some part of the music, but we hear what is important to us and what we should pay attention to.
During an interview, one should remind oneself to hear, understand, and keep in mind what the interviewer is saying.
2. When to speak
Also, during an interview, one should keep in mind when to speak and when not to.
People who speak when not required stand a high risk of being branded a talkative person or a person who does not think properly before he or she speaks out.
Therefore, take the time to keep silent and listen to what the interviewers have to say.
This is doubly important when you are facing more than one interviewer.
3. The information you provide
During an interview, how much information you give out is as important as how much information you retain. Also, try to remain as calm and confident as possible.
Make sure that you do not fidget while answering any of the questions. Fidgeting will only make the interviewer think that you are bluffing the interview.
Concentration and focus are quite important in a job interview.
4. Provide Facts
Make sure that you have a short fact to share about whatever you tell the interviewer.
This will only be added to your resume later. However, the fact should not be too long and boring. Remember, the interview is for a very short time span.
Give such facts only if the interviewer asks you about it.
5. Relevancy
Additionally, make sure that your job interview focuses on relevancy.
You should share any information relevant to your career, or the job profile in general, or even relevant to the interview.
If the job requires certain abilities that you possess, make sure that your interview concentrates on those.
6. A team player
Make sure that you give the interviewers an idea that you are a team player.
Being a team player means a lot in today’s corporate world. Also, once you have proven that you are a team player, you should try to put across the idea that you like to interact with your team members as well as other individuals on a general basis.
7. Motivation
Another important aspect to put across is that you like to know more about the companies that you work for so that you better understand the workings of the company and hence contribute to the values of the company.
8. Future plans
Also, make sure that you tell them about any concrete ambition that you have.
9. Honest answers
Lastly, remember that an interview is just the beginning of the job and hiring process.
There are several steps along the way where anything that you say will be checked and cross-checked. Therefore, make sure that you are completely honest about your answers.
Additionally, you might be thinking of some tricky questions asked during your job interview and how to handle these questions.
How to Answer Tough Interview Questions Confidently:
Handling Unexpected Questions in a Job Interview
During a job interview, it’s not uncommon for interviewers to ask unexpected or challenging questions to assess your ability to think on your feet and handle unexpected situations.
Here are some tips for handling unexpected questions effectively:
1. Pause and gather your thoughts: When faced with a question that catches you off guard, take a moment to compose yourself. It’s perfectly acceptable to pause and gather your thoughts before responding.
This shows that you are thoughtful and not rushing into an answer.
2. Clarify the question if needed: If the question is unclear or you need more information to provide a relevant response, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.
It demonstrates your attentiveness and ensures that you understand the question correctly before answering.
3. Stay calm and confident: Even if you don’t immediately have a perfect answer, remain calm and confident.
Remember that interviewers are not necessarily looking for a specific answer but are interested in your thought process and problem-solving skills.
4. Connect to related experiences: If you’re struggling to answer an unexpected question directly, try to connect it to related experiences or skills you possess.
Draw on past projects, accomplishments, or challenges you’ve overcome to demonstrate your abilities and provide a relevant response.
5. Be honest and authentic: It’s important to be genuine in your responses, even when faced with unexpected questions. If you don’t have a specific answer or experience related to the question, be honest about it.
Emphasize your willingness to learn, adapt, and grow in new situations.
6. Showcase your problem-solving skills: Unexpected questions often require critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Walk the interviewer through your thought process, explaining how you would approach the situation and the factors you would consider in finding a solution. This demonstrates your ability to think analytically and make informed decisions.
7. Use the STAR method: When answering unexpected questions, consider using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Start by describing the situation or challenge, outline the task or goal, explain the actions you took, and conclude with the results or outcomes. This structured approach helps you provide a clear and concise response.
8. Maintain a positive attitude: Even if you stumble upon an unexpected question, maintain a positive attitude throughout the interview.
Don’t let one challenging question affect your overall performance. Stay engaged, enthusiastic, and showcase your passion for the role and the company.
Remember, unexpected questions are opportunities to showcase your adaptability, problem-solving skills, and ability to handle pressure.
Approach them with confidence, stay composed, and provide thoughtful responses that highlight your strengths and qualifications for the position.
What NOT to Say in a Job Interview: 10 Things to Avoid
Here are some of the ‘don’ts about appearing for an interview:
1. Private information – One of the biggest mistakes that people make in an interview is giving out private information when it is not needed, or even when it is simply not asked.
2. Your weaknesses – Do not confess to any weaknesses that may put you in a bad light. If it were so bad, the interviewer would have already noticed it and not called you for an interview.
3. Past problems – Another major problem is created when people speak about the problems that they encountered while they were in their previous jobs. Also, do not try to tell them about any personal likes or dislikes that you may have.
Make sure that you do not talk to them about your past disappointments or anything negative that you have to talk about your previous organization you worked with.
4. The salary – Never discuss the salary unless and until you are asked about it. Salary negotiations are always carried out after receiving a job offer.
Therefore, saying the wrong things during the interview might cost you the job, while saying the right things might get you the job.