5 Interview Tips You Can't Ignore

Having a great resume and cover letter got you an interview with a prospective employer. With dozens of candidates lining up for the same position, the kind of impression you leave the interviewer with determines whether you get the job... or not.

Yet, many candidates neglect the basics of preparing for an interview – fail to plan, and you plan to fail. Whether you're a fresh graduate, experienced candidate or simply seeking an internship, here are 5 tips you should follow when interviewing for a new job.

1. ALWAYS Do Your Research

You’d study for an exam – an interview should be no different.

Do your research and do not rely on your prospective employer to tell you about their company during the interview. Familiarising with the company and its business demonstrates a genuine and sincere interested in working there.

Look up their website and get to know their company profile, products, services, clients and competitors. Understand how the role and department you’ve applied for contributes to the company.

Update yourself with the latest developments in the industry so you can converse intelligently and address any technical questions which might pop up.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

You will not know exactly what your interviewer will ask, but there are some common questions you should expect:
- Tell me about yourself
- Why do you think you are the right candidate for the job?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Why did you leave your previous job?
Practise in your own room or with a friend. It will help to put your thoughts together so you won’t be scrambling to find the right words during the interview.

Also, take time to prepare questions you might have about the company and the position to demonstrate your interest. For example, find out about the company culture, goals of the company and for your role, and reporting structure for your position.

3. Be Punctual

Sounds like a no brainer, but it actually matters that you get to your interview location on time. Aim to reach 10-15 minutes before your scheduled interview, at your interviewers’ office (not the building!)

- Plan your travel time well in advance for:
- traffic jams - being stuck in KL traffic is no excuse, you should already have expected it
- the time it takes from parking your car to the office – you either will have to park in the office’s multi-storey car park, or outside the building. Plan how long it would take to find a parking spot and go up the lift.
- going to the toilet - if you think you need to go before the interview, plan ahead.

4. Dress The Part

Just like a picture, appearances speak a thousand words. Make a good first impression by being mindful of the appropriate attire for your interview and role.

For corporate positions, wear professional attire - men should always wear a tie, and ladies, no short skirts, tight dresses and cleavage please. And both genders should avoid open-toed shoes.

Check your hygiene, remove facial piercings and no chewing gum.

5. Follow Up

Sending a ‘thank you’ email or handwritten note speaks highly of your character and initiative. Do this within 24 hours of the interview - address the interviewer by name, thank them for his/her time and remind the employer that you’re excited about the opportunity and how you are the right candidate for the job.

Source: http://www.officeparrots.com/#!5-Inter...cf219f1771ef473

There's this website that I used when looking for a job few months back. I found it quite useful because it shared a lot of real interview reviews from multiple companies. It was very helpful because real people were sharing their examples, it wasn't just tips from an article. Hopefully this helps someone else too: www.officeparrots.com