Interviews are crucial to any job or organization that you want to be a part of. From the moment that you walk into the room, the interview starts. There are many aspects of interviews that you may be unaware of that can improve your interview process. Employers and interviewers look for confident and poised individuals, so I am going to tell you some tips that will help you perfect your future interview endeavors.
1. Eye Contact
Interviewers love to see that you can maintain strong eye contact throughout the interview. Maintaining eye contact shows that you are fully engaged in the conversion that you are having and that you understand what he or she is talking about. With that said, do not maintain too much eye contact by keeping your eyes as wide open as possible without hardly blinking. Eye contact is normal, and it shouldn’t look forced. It is also a strong part of any conversation, formal or otherwise.
2. Keep good posture
More than likely, you won’t be asked to stand during the interview; if so, good luck with that. For sitting interviews, having good posture demonstrates poise. Correct posture should resemble a straight, yet relaxed back with your shoulders dropped down your back. For ladies, crossing your legs at the knees strays away from good posture, so, instead, cross your legs at your ankles. For guys, don’t spread your legs open too far. Interviews are set a professional space, and it is crucial to show an understanding of what is and is not appropriate in terms of physical confidence.
3. Hand gestures are good, but don’t use too many
Hand gestures often help us get across what we are trying to talk about, but using them too much isn’t good. If the gestures become too repetitive, too large or too spastic, then it could disinterest the interviewer. Minimal gestures help get your point across without becoming too much for your potential boss.
4. Know and understand what you are interviewing for
This pointer is very vital to the interviewing process. When applying for any job or position, you want to know exactly what you are interviewing for. If you are going for a leadership position, you might want to think about any generic questions that are associated with leadership because more than likely you will be asked those questions. You might want to think about your strengths and weaknesses, what qualities you could bring to the workplace or how you handle working with a team or overcoming conflict. Thinking beforehand about what you might be asked is a strong way to prepare because generic interview questions are often widely used.
5. Don’t forget to smile
This point goes along well with eye contact in that you should smile when necessary, and focus on not doing too much of it. Walking into a room with a smile shows that you are excited about the interview, and the possibilities that that interview may bring for you in the future. Maintaining a gentle and at ease smile helps to keep yourself calm, and shows the interviewer that you feel comfortable in that particular environment. Confidence radiates from your smile and attitude.
6. Don’t be afraid to take a second to think
Some questions you might be asked might catch you off guard. My advice is to just take a few seconds to think. Saying the first thing off the top of your head could hurt you if what you say is inappropriate for the question asked. Interviewers also want to hear new and original ideas, so taking a small bit of time to think allows for you to have the best answer possible. On that note, don’t be afraid to admit that you don’t know an answer to a certain question. Sometimes there are just things that you absolutely don’t know, and being honest with your interviewer is better than making up an answer.
7. Speak calmly, slowly, and eloquently
Speaking fast is a sign that you are nervous. Slowing down your speech and thinking about what you are saying is a sign of understanding and comprehension. It also helps the interviewer to understand what you are saying. Fast speech is hard to understand, especially if they need to write down your answers. Also, your words don’t need to sound as though you are reading from a dictionary; however, using advanced diction where applicable help elevate you in their minds.
Regardless of what type of interview you will experience if you keep these tips in mind, your interview will go swimmingly. Each interview is different, but showing professionalism is a huge part of any interview. Have confidence in yourself and prove to the interviewer the incredible person you are, and why you deserve the position over someone else. I wish you all the best with your interviews, whenever and wherever they may be!