Interview Tips for Freshers
Interview Tips for Freshers
1. So you are a Fresher
If you are a fresher, first thing to be kept in mind is to understand that an interview is just another phase of a career. Even if rejection comes to you, it is not the end of the road. For a fresher, there are always better avenues, and therefore, there should be no place for disappointment. An interview can make or break the confidence, hence it is of utter importance that you prepare well in advance and give it your best shot.
1.1 Cheer Up – You are in Demand
Just when you receive an interview call, the first thing to do is sit back and smile, because the time is right. There are more than 25 million people seeking jobs at all times in the India. What is better than the feeling of hearing a voice from other side of the phone, that “you have been selected for an interview.”?
Receiving an interview call from a company may give goosebumps to you. The feeling is absolutely delightful. The nostalgic feeling that comes after putting down the phone is that of a flag bearer.
The sole idea that stays in mind amidst all college fun, group hang outs, exams, practicals, and even lectures is that of “acquiring a good job” after college is over. Students apply in number of companies offering suitable openings to them.
Just when you are waiting in anticipation to get lucky, the phone call for an interview makes the day. Success in the first round energizes our body and soul, and we get wholly charged up to face ‘n’ number of people on the interview day.
The feeling of getting shortlisted, the nostalgia associated with it, the nervousness should be enjoyed. It shows that you are in demand.
1.2 Brush Up Your Academics
You have got a chance to prove yourself. You have got that call. You have made merry. And now you have only a few days left to prepare for the interview. Since a call does not qualify you for the post, now it is the time to prepare for facing a panel. Before you start making a list of all dos and don’ts, something that every fresher does out of nervousness, It is always better to start brushing up your academics skills right way.
1.3 Grow you Personality
Even when some of you don’t believe in “first impression is the last impression”, job seekers preparing for that dream interview will have to agree that panelists do not know the candidates and assess them according to their first appearance only.
To make sure you do not fault in the appearance section, read the following:
2 Prepare and Yes Prepare Again
So you now that you have lined up an interview for your self, its time that you start preparing, and then prepare again. Your interviewers won’t be looking to spend much time on you. What you need to do, convince them of your prowess, your abilities and make them see why they should hire you, in a short span of time. Apart from the traditional requisites for preparing for an interview, you would need to prepare your self for any question or query
your interviewers will throw at you, and they definitely will. Before showing up for the interview, you would need to brush up your knowledge about the company you are going to. Be aware of the fact that your interviewers would expect you to know everything there is to know about the company and the key skills they are looking for in a future employee.
2.1 Know Where you are going and Why you are going
Before you march up at the doorstep of a company, with your resume in hand and a smile on your face, you need to have some knowledge about the company in which you are about to appear for an interview. Brush up some key points about the company so that you don’t seem lost when they ask you about some of the company’s products and operations. A thorough knowledge about the company and the job you are so desperately trying to get, will tell the employer how motivated you are towards the interview and your ability to under take initiatives. It also demonstrates your thirst for knowledge and the ability to learn new things. However, it does not mean that you lap-up the company’s product portfolio or dig-up its operational manifesto. Just making yourself aware of what is going on with the company would suffice. You would do good by getting some info about the job are have applied for. The job will not only define your role in the organisation, but would also define your carrier, Be sure to highlight your key skills that would make the job more suited for you. You need to convince your employers that you are a perfect fit for the job and your knowledge about the job would make them see how aware your about your responsibilities.
2.2 Understand the profile and the skills needs
During an interview, employers try to determine whether you have the required set of skills that they looking for in a future employee. In order to convince them of your abilities, you would first need to get a complete understanding of the profile that you have applied for. You should not only fit the desired profile, but should also posses the necessary skills that go with the profile. To test your skills, the employers might ask you situational questions or throw some general questions at you so that they can determine what your core skills are. They might also test how well you understand the profile which you are interviewing for. In order to highlight your key skills, make sure that you answer the questions in perspective of the skills that you posses. Skill sets comprise of various factors like personality, capabilities, attitude and temperament. Be prepared to be tested for all of these, as employers will be looking for a person who can easily fit into the profile and the company without any disturbance. Employers would measure on a certain skill scale and would be looking for people that have what it takes to do their job and contribute to the growth of the company.
2.3 Be Sharp
One of the most important things that would determine your acceptance into the company is how you present yourself before your interviewers. Most of the employers believe that the way you dress, reflects how you perceive yourself to be. So, avoid wearing those baggy jeans or tank tops for your interview and try to look as professional as possible without going overboard. Dressing smartly will not make a good first impression but would also convey the message that you like things clean and organised in an orderly fashion. Decide what you are going to wear on the day of interview a day before, so that you won’t have to make hurried decisions at the last moment. Choose your clothes according to the environment you are going into. A formal attire is suitable for all environments. Your clothes should not to be too loud for the occasion. They should be stylish, you don’t want your interviewers to feel that you live in a cave or something. Next, your should be well groomed and should be shabby. Guys with beards should get them trimmed neatly before going for the interview as well. Your make, clothes and jewellery should be conservative. You should not dress for a party, but for an interview. Keep that in mind.
3.Facing the Interview Panel
It is true that even smartest people tend to feel wet palms on their interview day. But the fact well prepared people mostly score above candidate’s who are brimming with over confidence. You have waited for this day all through your college life. Prepare yourself well in advance to avoid any last minute mistake.
And lastly check and re-check if everything is in order.
3.1 So the music starts – enjoy
The real time starts with the moment your name is called for interview. Shun all nervousness and knock the door in full confidence.
3.2 Prove your merit
In order to convince your interviewers into hiring you, you need to be first be aware of your own skills and abilities. You would need to figure out what qualities and skills you have that would not only impress your interviewers but make them hire you. The interviewers would be looking for some that actually fits into the profile they need in a future employee. In order to do this, you need to evaluate your own set of skills against the ones specified by the company you have applied for a job in. You should have a clear image of yourself in your mind before you go for an interview. All these years of studying and honing your personal and communication skills come down to this moment when you would need to prove your merit to the interviewers. Rise up to their expectations from a fresher and strive to go beyond. Be sure of what you want from this job and what you can contribute to the organization. When you go for the interview, use every ounce of knowledge you have gathered from your time in school and college and endless lessons you had to endure from your teachers to prove to your employer that you are the right person for the job you have applied for.
3.3 Shine through and succeed
After days or even weeks of preparing for the big interview, when the D-day finally arrives, remember that it is up to you to clear the interview and get the job and no one else. The interviewers are going to test you hard before making their choice and would be required to give test by fire to win their approval. One thing not to do moments before the interview is not to loose your confidence and nerves. The people which will be interviewing you will be human just like you and not cyborgs sent from the future to kill you. Remain calm and answer every question clearly and to the point. Remember, you have been preparing for this interview for a long time and you won’t be doing justice to yourself if you don’t give it your best shot. Impress them out of their minds and leave them no choice but to hire you. But this does not mean that you start acting over smart in front of the people that decided whether you get the job or not. Highly inadvisable. Remain confident about yourself. Shine through and succeed!!
1. So you are a Fresher
If you are a fresher, first thing to be kept in mind is to understand that an interview is just another phase of a career. Even if rejection comes to you, it is not the end of the road. For a fresher, there are always better avenues, and therefore, there should be no place for disappointment. An interview can make or break the confidence, hence it is of utter importance that you prepare well in advance and give it your best shot.
1.1 Cheer Up – You are in Demand
Just when you receive an interview call, the first thing to do is sit back and smile, because the time is right. There are more than 25 million people seeking jobs at all times in the India. What is better than the feeling of hearing a voice from other side of the phone, that “you have been selected for an interview.”?
Receiving an interview call from a company may give goosebumps to you. The feeling is absolutely delightful. The nostalgic feeling that comes after putting down the phone is that of a flag bearer.
The sole idea that stays in mind amidst all college fun, group hang outs, exams, practicals, and even lectures is that of “acquiring a good job” after college is over. Students apply in number of companies offering suitable openings to them.
Just when you are waiting in anticipation to get lucky, the phone call for an interview makes the day. Success in the first round energizes our body and soul, and we get wholly charged up to face ‘n’ number of people on the interview day.
The feeling of getting shortlisted, the nostalgia associated with it, the nervousness should be enjoyed. It shows that you are in demand.
1.2 Brush Up Your Academics
You have got a chance to prove yourself. You have got that call. You have made merry. And now you have only a few days left to prepare for the interview. Since a call does not qualify you for the post, now it is the time to prepare for facing a panel. Before you start making a list of all dos and don’ts, something that every fresher does out of nervousness, It is always better to start brushing up your academics skills right way.
- Look out for the job profile you have applied for. Is it in line with your academic curriculum or solely depends upon your interest?
- If the job profile is according to your academics, take a turn and move back to your study table. Pile out all those books you scrapped over years to give space to newer ones. Rub off that dust, and start going through the syllabus once again. You never know, when the panelist inquires about your subject knowledge.
- Just in case you felt disappointed with your choice of degree and realized your actual interest after completing it, rush to your desktop or the laptop and start online search about your chosen field.
1.3 Grow you Personality
Even when some of you don’t believe in “first impression is the last impression”, job seekers preparing for that dream interview will have to agree that panelists do not know the candidates and assess them according to their first appearance only.
To make sure you do not fault in the appearance section, read the following:
- Wear sober, classy and sophisticated clothes for an interview. Try to avoid flashy and strappy stuff and zero in on light colours.
- Wear minimal accessories like a watch, a pen, hand cuffs for men and simple jewellery for woman.
- Avoid strong perfumes.
- Make sure shoes you wear are properly polished and clean.
2 Prepare and Yes Prepare Again
So you now that you have lined up an interview for your self, its time that you start preparing, and then prepare again. Your interviewers won’t be looking to spend much time on you. What you need to do, convince them of your prowess, your abilities and make them see why they should hire you, in a short span of time. Apart from the traditional requisites for preparing for an interview, you would need to prepare your self for any question or query
your interviewers will throw at you, and they definitely will. Before showing up for the interview, you would need to brush up your knowledge about the company you are going to. Be aware of the fact that your interviewers would expect you to know everything there is to know about the company and the key skills they are looking for in a future employee.
2.1 Know Where you are going and Why you are going
Before you march up at the doorstep of a company, with your resume in hand and a smile on your face, you need to have some knowledge about the company in which you are about to appear for an interview. Brush up some key points about the company so that you don’t seem lost when they ask you about some of the company’s products and operations. A thorough knowledge about the company and the job you are so desperately trying to get, will tell the employer how motivated you are towards the interview and your ability to under take initiatives. It also demonstrates your thirst for knowledge and the ability to learn new things. However, it does not mean that you lap-up the company’s product portfolio or dig-up its operational manifesto. Just making yourself aware of what is going on with the company would suffice. You would do good by getting some info about the job are have applied for. The job will not only define your role in the organisation, but would also define your carrier, Be sure to highlight your key skills that would make the job more suited for you. You need to convince your employers that you are a perfect fit for the job and your knowledge about the job would make them see how aware your about your responsibilities.
2.2 Understand the profile and the skills needs
During an interview, employers try to determine whether you have the required set of skills that they looking for in a future employee. In order to convince them of your abilities, you would first need to get a complete understanding of the profile that you have applied for. You should not only fit the desired profile, but should also posses the necessary skills that go with the profile. To test your skills, the employers might ask you situational questions or throw some general questions at you so that they can determine what your core skills are. They might also test how well you understand the profile which you are interviewing for. In order to highlight your key skills, make sure that you answer the questions in perspective of the skills that you posses. Skill sets comprise of various factors like personality, capabilities, attitude and temperament. Be prepared to be tested for all of these, as employers will be looking for a person who can easily fit into the profile and the company without any disturbance. Employers would measure on a certain skill scale and would be looking for people that have what it takes to do their job and contribute to the growth of the company.
2.3 Be Sharp
One of the most important things that would determine your acceptance into the company is how you present yourself before your interviewers. Most of the employers believe that the way you dress, reflects how you perceive yourself to be. So, avoid wearing those baggy jeans or tank tops for your interview and try to look as professional as possible without going overboard. Dressing smartly will not make a good first impression but would also convey the message that you like things clean and organised in an orderly fashion. Decide what you are going to wear on the day of interview a day before, so that you won’t have to make hurried decisions at the last moment. Choose your clothes according to the environment you are going into. A formal attire is suitable for all environments. Your clothes should not to be too loud for the occasion. They should be stylish, you don’t want your interviewers to feel that you live in a cave or something. Next, your should be well groomed and should be shabby. Guys with beards should get them trimmed neatly before going for the interview as well. Your make, clothes and jewellery should be conservative. You should not dress for a party, but for an interview. Keep that in mind.
3.Facing the Interview Panel
It is true that even smartest people tend to feel wet palms on their interview day. But the fact well prepared people mostly score above candidate’s who are brimming with over confidence. You have waited for this day all through your college life. Prepare yourself well in advance to avoid any last minute mistake.
- The interview may vary from five minutes to even 30 minutes subject to your field and job profile you have applied for.
- It is important to put all your documents in chronological order as it makes assessing the career record easily.
- Always prefer display folder to arrange all the documents. It will save time and effort on interviewer’s part to know about you.
- Never miss out on any certificate or testimonial you have won in your student life. This is the time to bank upon your past glories.
And lastly check and re-check if everything is in order.
3.1 So the music starts – enjoy
The real time starts with the moment your name is called for interview. Shun all nervousness and knock the door in full confidence.
- Ask for permission to come in and greet the panelists with warmth and a gentle smile. Shake hands if necessary.
- Wait for their permission to sit down.
- Sit straight and establish friendly eye contact with the panel.
- Answer the question with all honesty and sincerity. In case you do not know the answer politely acknowledge it.
- Do not refuse any refreshment offered by them.
- In case your views about a certain topic do not match with those of the panelist, clearly put your point forward and avoid any argument.
3.2 Prove your merit
In order to convince your interviewers into hiring you, you need to be first be aware of your own skills and abilities. You would need to figure out what qualities and skills you have that would not only impress your interviewers but make them hire you. The interviewers would be looking for some that actually fits into the profile they need in a future employee. In order to do this, you need to evaluate your own set of skills against the ones specified by the company you have applied for a job in. You should have a clear image of yourself in your mind before you go for an interview. All these years of studying and honing your personal and communication skills come down to this moment when you would need to prove your merit to the interviewers. Rise up to their expectations from a fresher and strive to go beyond. Be sure of what you want from this job and what you can contribute to the organization. When you go for the interview, use every ounce of knowledge you have gathered from your time in school and college and endless lessons you had to endure from your teachers to prove to your employer that you are the right person for the job you have applied for.
3.3 Shine through and succeed
After days or even weeks of preparing for the big interview, when the D-day finally arrives, remember that it is up to you to clear the interview and get the job and no one else. The interviewers are going to test you hard before making their choice and would be required to give test by fire to win their approval. One thing not to do moments before the interview is not to loose your confidence and nerves. The people which will be interviewing you will be human just like you and not cyborgs sent from the future to kill you. Remain calm and answer every question clearly and to the point. Remember, you have been preparing for this interview for a long time and you won’t be doing justice to yourself if you don’t give it your best shot. Impress them out of their minds and leave them no choice but to hire you. But this does not mean that you start acting over smart in front of the people that decided whether you get the job or not. Highly inadvisable. Remain confident about yourself. Shine through and succeed!!