Job Interview Guide: A Comprehensive Beginner's Guide to Answering Common Interview Questions, Preparation Tips, and Question Answering Techniques

By Blaine Robertson

An interview is key part of a job search, and an applicant skilled in dealing with interviews is the most likely candidate to receive the job offer. While the resume and the cover letter are the basic components of a job application, the interview is the final stage of screening and offers you a chance to show employers

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blaine Robertson
• Release date: Jul 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088225035

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Introduction

Applying for a job is often a very lengthy process. From sending in your cover letter and resume to going in and sitting down for a face-to-face interview, the process can sometimes take up to several months. And while every step is important, there is one step that is perhaps the most important: the interview.

The concept behind an interview is simple: In its simplest form, it is just a conversation or interaction between a person looking for a job and a person looking to hire someone for a job. But an interview is so much more than a simple conversation between two people. An interview provides an opportunity for the candidate to meet and impress his potential employer. Moreover, it often determines whether or not the applicant will be offered the job.

An interview is useful for both the employer and the candidate. For the employer, it is a chance to meet the candidate and determine if he is a good fit for the position. For the candidate, it is an opportunity to observe the work environment and decide if the job is what he is looking for.

There is a lot riding on a successful interview, and many people often become intimidated when faced with an upcoming interview. But handling an interview does not have to be frightening. There are simple steps anyone can take to help them ace an interview and hopefully secure their desired job. The key to success is simple: prepare. If you take the time to prepare for the interview, you will walk in miles ahead of most of the other candidates. And the first step to preparing? Understanding what an interview is and why it is so important.

The Purpose of an Interview

There are four chief purposes of an interview.

An interview gives the employer a chance to meet the prospective employee and discuss his qualifications and level of experience. It allows the employer to decide if the candidate is the best person for the job.

It allows the person seeking a job to learn more about the company and the position he is interested in. He can learn more about the position and discuss with the employer why he is the best fit for the job.

It serves as a tool for screening candidates for forthcoming interviews.

It functions as a point where hiring decisions are made.

The Phases of an Interview

The interviewing process can be quite intimidating if you are not familiar with the process. While most interviews differ from each other in certain aspects, they all involve the following three phases.

Before an Interview

Preparation is key for all important tasks, and an interview is no exception. It is essential to prepare for the interview if you want to be hired. Many people, however, often overlook this and fail to achieve their goal. You can follow these tips to make sure you are as prepared as possible.

Know yourself: Consider how well your skills, interests, values, experience, and education match the type of position and organization you are interviewing with.

Know the employer: Research and find out all of the details about the organization, the position and the interviewer. Familiarize yourself with the organization’s work, the salary range, the job position, and the workplace conditions.  You should know the mission and goals of the firm and the title and full name of the interviewer. All of this will enable you to ask well-informed questions during the interview.

There are plenty of resources to help you with this research. You can make use of the literature published by employers such as annual reports, fact sheets, and brochures. You can also visit their website where you can find a description of their organizations and a list of job opportunities.

Gathering all of this information will not only help you prepare for the interview; it will also help reduce your anxiety.

Present a clean appearance: Make sure that you sleep well the night before the interview. See to it that your appearance is neat and clean on the day of the interview. Your hair should be neat, nails and teeth should be clean, and breath must be fresh. There should be no wrinkles on your clothes, and your shoes should be polished. Avoid wearing bold colors, short skirts, deep cut blouses, noisy jewelry, strong cologne, and heavy makeup.

Arrive on time: Punctuality is very important. Make it a point to find out the exact location and time of the interview. Decide the route that you will take beforehand and know how much time it will take to reach the destination. To make sure you do not get lost, you can practice going to the location a few days before the scheduled interview. If you take public transportation, you should still practice going there a few days before.

Arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview. This will give you enough time to freshen up before meeting the interviewer.

Other things to keep in mind: You should always go alone to interviews. Do not take children, spouses, or friends with you. Carry a notepad and a couple of ink pens or pencils. Keep some money for lunch and parking. Be sure to bring copies of reference letters, military records, your resume, and a form of identification.

During an Interview

An interview usually lasts 45 minutes, but it can be shorter or longer. Most interviews include an opening or greeting, followed by small talk, questions and answers, and then a closing.

Opening or greeting: A typical interview begins even before you enter the room. Therefore, it is necessary to be courteous and pleasant to anyone you meet. Remember to be relaxed when you are waiting for the interviewer to come meet you. Take some time to go through your resume and review your notes. Take a look at the company's literature. Do not smoke, chew gum, slouch in the seat, or fidget with your clothes, tie, hair, nails, or lipstick.

Small talk: You are evaluated as soon as you meet the interviewer. When you are introduced to the interviewer, it is expected that you shake hands with him. Do not hesitate to be the first one to put your hand forward. This will display your assertiveness. You must refer to your interviewer by his name, give him a smile, and greet him. For example, you can say, Hello Mr. James, I am David Smith. At this juncture, you will be facing the interviewer directly and he will notice your dress and posture. He may notice if you are nervous or have some annoying mannerisms, so try to remain calm. Clasp your hands in front of you to keep yourself from fidgeting.

Keep standing until you are asked to take a seat and told where to hang your coat. Maintain a straight posture while sitting, and keep your feet steadily on the ground. Do not shake your leg or constantly move your feet because it will make you appear nervous. Try your best to maintain a confident appearance. Keep your notepad with you and put any other things on the ground beside your chair.

Most interviewers start the interview by talking about some general topics like weather or sports. Although these have nothing to do with your skills, you are evaluated at that time, too. Interviewers assess your ability to communicate in an informal way. Therefore, it is necessary to respond verbally instead of just a nod and a smile. Remember: This needs to be a conversation. Don’t sit silently while the interviewer makes small talk.

Question and answer: The main portion of the interview begins when the interviewer starts to discuss the organization. You need to be ready to answer and maintain a conversation for nearly 15 to 30 minutes while he asks questions about your qualifications. The interviewer leads the conversation; therefore, you should pay attention to what is said and give a brief and precise answer.

Your answers should be related to the job and your skills. You can mention some examples from your past work. Speak in proper English and stay away from using slang. Try not to use fillers such as you know, uh, um, or like. Your speech should be clear, so do not mumble. Do not speak too fast or too slow.

Be ready with some questions to ask the interviewer after he has asked you questions. Make sure you ask questions that will elicit a positive response from your employer and show your knowledge of and interest in the position.

Do not shy away from asking questions. Asking questions shows you paid attention during the first part of the interview. Your well-informed queries will impress the employer and show that you are sincerely interested in the organization.

Closing: The concluding part lasts for about five minutes but is still very important. During this time, the interviewer assesses your entire performance. Continue to be courteous and enthusiastic. You can tell that the interview is ending when the interviewer rustles the papers, glances at his watch, packs his belongings, stands, or says that