SWEATY PALMS, DRY AND RASPY THROAT AND butterflies in the stomach. If that’s how you usually feel before an interview, take heart in the fact that you’re not alone. Although there are no statistics, HR professionals estimate that almost six out of 10 candidates who appear for a job interview, are nervous and tense. But here’s a little secret — a candidate who appears nervous, dramatically reduces his or her chances to make it to the final list. So take a deep breath, pull yourself together and let Writankar Mukherjee tell you the golden rules to overcome interview fears and bag your dream job
Do your homework
Do ample research on your role, the company and the industry. HR heads say an unprepared candidate starts to fumble and stutter, and appears anxious when asked questions about the industry and how the company is performing. You can get the latest news from the company’s annual report, its website, press releases, and of course the internet. “An applicant who has done his or her research well, is more confident and gives out the positive vibe to interviewers that s/he is serious about the job. This automatically also reduces the candidate’s anxiety,” says Elango R, head of HR at MphasiS.
Rehearse your answers
Rehearse answers to the possible questions you may be asked. There are always some stock questions applicants face during interviews — Tell us something about yourself; Why do you want to change your job; how do you see yourself growing in this organisation; what are your strengths and weaknesses and such. It pays to rehearse the answers either in front of the mirror, or with someone else. “The IQ portion is on the CV anyway, so during the short duration of an interview, a candidate must offer interviewers a peek into his or her emotional intelligence and softer skills, like teamwork, which could be a differentiator,” says Future Group business head (private brands) Devendra Chawla.
The first 5-7 minutes are crucial
First impressions matter. Be extremely careful, in the first five to seven minutes of the interview, about what you say, how you conduct yourself and what impression you allow the interviewer to form of yourself. A candidate should be careful about his way of speaking, posture, attitude and the way he carries himself. HDFC Standard Life Insurance executive VP (HR) Rajendra Ghag says a candidate should pitch himself in the best way in the first few minutes, by talking about his experiences in the current job and the factors that attract him to the organisation he is applying to. “If one can handle this carefully, the battle is half-won. A candidate should avoid giving the impression that he is leaving his present job because of problems,” says Ghag.
Don’t appear desperate
When you want something too much, you get more nervous. HR heads say interviews should be seen as an opportunity to meet and interact with new people, and not as a do-or-die situation. This will dramatically reduce stress. Asking a question or two in return at the end of an interview, also gives the impression that s/he is not scared or desperate for the job.
Follow interview hygiene
Follow some basic interview hygiene rules. Dress neatly and don’t look tired and sweaty. This will boost your confidence. Never look sleepy or stare at the interviewer. Elango says when he encounters candidates wearing weird hairdos, jeans and a casual attitude, he rejects them right away. And definitely be on time — or even a little early, so you don’t stress yourself out looking for the office. Ghag of HDFC Standard Life says candidates should wear comfortable clothes, but not be overly fussy with their attire. “There are several instances when the clothes become a distraction, and this gets in the way of a better quality of interaction,” he says.
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