Five Tips For A Top Interview

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•Be prepared

Learn as much as you can about the company, who we are, our services and our strategic direction. Make sure you can articulate how your strengths and career goals align with ours, and why you think you’ll succeed in our organization.

•Be proactive

Prepare a list of questions to ask your interviewer(s) so you can assess whether that company is the right place to launch your career. Ask us questions about our organization, our clients, the opportunities we can offer you and what you can expect from us.

•Be yourself

Try to relax and remember that we’re interested in the real you. When preparing, it’s helpful to think about how you’d like to communicate certain points but avoid over-rehearsing, as it may come across as impersonal.

•Be professional

Take pride in your presentation. We will be looking for professionalism in how you dress, how you speak and what you tell us about yourself.

•Be punctual

Arrive at least five minutes early and if – for reasons out of your control– you’re running late, call your interviewer and explain why.

Summary – 5 uncommon interview tips:

If you Google the keywords “interview skills”, you will be presented with all the basic, which generally includes:

•Dress sharp

•Speak confidently

•Research the company

•Be polite

•Others

Can I suggest another few tips that may also help?

1) Talk to stranger.

Try this, get on a bus. It can be any bus. And immediately say hi to the stranger besides you. Please don’t just pick seats to flirt. The idea is not for you to flirt. It’s for you to practice your interview skill.

Expected results:

•You are no longer afraid to speak.

•You can generate question on the spot.

2) Redo a sketch of your favorite sitcom.

You will need the help of another fan for this. For example, you love “Friends” the sitcom. Pick one scene about 1 -2 minutes long and memorize the dialogue.

Now redo the whole scene without looking at the script. I’m very sure you will forget most of the line, so improvise. Make up your own line. It can become another story.

Expected results:

•You should be more confident in improvising your interview script whenever necessary.

•You will learn how to be witty with your words and make you memorable to the interviewer.

3) Go for a “mock” real interview.

Spend some time to go to a shopping mall and apply for a job there. Practice everything you have learned to get the job. You can try being very funny or very aggressive. It shouldn’t matter if you were accepted or not, this is just for you to practice. So go crazy

Expected results:

•You will get used to the whole interview scenario, it no longer terrifies you.

•You can actually ask the interviewer how you can actually improve yourself.

4) Help a friend to haggle.

You have a friend, and this friend wants to buy a laptop. You should follow him and do the haggling part for him. Haggle the price until you can get what you want. After all, you have the buying power. Why not get the most out of it.

Expected results:

•You will have more confident in discussing your salary or benefit.

•You will learn a few tips on how to haggle.

5) Monitor people being interviewed.

Assuming you has a friend of a friend who interview people. Why not ask him to let you in one of the interview session. You are not interviewing people; you are just going to watch how people are interviewed. Take note on what works and what’s not.

Expected results:

•You will have an updated and real version of interview skills.

•You will see that the interviewer is actually not that scary.

Conclusion :

Being interviewed is actually not that difficult. They are not going to ask you why you fail English, or make fun of the weird society you joined. They already have all the details in your resume. What they want to see is how you behave, what’s your attitude and motivation, and most importantly how you portray yourself.

The best part is they can only see all these via the way you express yourself (listening and speaking). Concentrate on those as suggested by the 5 items above. You will do fine. Insya Allah.

- I wonder -

Any other interview tips you would like to add?

Personal Note:

I still remember my first successful interview. To tell you the truth, I was not that prepared. I didn’t research the company, I have no idea what my job scope is, and I think I was very hungry at the time. It’s a difficult time then. I needed a job ASAP.

However I believe they accepted me to the company simply because of the following conversation that happened in the interview (written from memory)

Interviewer : So banji, do you have a girlfriend?

Banji: Yes, I do

Interviewer : I must inform you that this job will require you to be sent to Sabah and maybe Indonesia. Most girlfriends will not understand this. What would you do if you were sent there and your girlfriend doesn’t approve?

Banji : Hm I can always find a new girlfriend there

Interviewer :(Laughing out loud. Both of them)

That's all. Thank You. See you again.

Wassalamualaikum w.b.t.