Dated March 28, 2007
(Questions answered on career concerns)
How can one impress an interviewer?
Nitin Munjal
Bhopal
First things first- focus on the basics. Probably one of the most important things to remember is to dress appropriately. The interviewer's first impression of you will rely heavily on your appearance no matter how much you wish to deny it. For instance, if you are applying for a retail store position, wear clothing consistent with the style of their clothes. It may be even more to your advantage to wear a thing or two from their store. On the other hand, if you are applying for an office position, make sure to dress conservatively and professionally. However, in both cases, make sure you don't go overboard because you do not want the interviewer to think you are trying to suck up. Once you get there, the next thing is to keep your head up, feel confident and smile occasionally.
To continue a successful interview, you must be able to surpass the introduction by knowing the little details that will make you look great and help impress the interviewer. Most people know that giving a firm handshake is important, but it is also important to have eye contact.
Show your knowledge, intelligence and confidence by speaking clearly and occasionally add your own comments and suggestions to possible ideas that the interviewer may discuss.
There are some additional tips to remember such as answering questions directly by getting straight to the point. Avoid phrases like "I don't know." In case you really don't know the answer to one of the questions, try to give an answer that will not make you look ineffectual even if wrong. All through the interview maintain good eye contact.
The last step to successfully completing an interview is to leave with dignity and respect.
Make sure to thank the interviewer and try to throw in a casual comment on how you look forward to seeing them soon. With these steps you should successfully land the job!
How can one handle tactfully disagreements if any, during interviews?
Iftar Muneer
Thiruvananthapuram
Be honest when answering the question or any other question during the interview. By organising your thoughts make your response concise, truthful, and prove your skills.
Never argue with the interviewer even though there may be genuine points of contention. There are some effective tactics for approaching disagreements and getting your point across without provoking an argument.
Generally speaking, interviewers tend to believe that people behave in interviews the same way as they do at work. Whilst this is evidently not true, because the interview is an unusual and highly charged environment, it does confirm that you should never become confrontational with the interviewer. The golden rule in an interview is to never argue.
If you disagree with something that your interviewer says, check your understanding first. Ask a question or questions to clarify their meaning as this demonstrates that you are keen to clarify the precise facts, ahead of making your point.
Whilst the interviewer is in control during an interview, this does not mean that you should agree with everything they say. Some questions may be asked to see how you handle disagreement and you do not want to appear a wimp.
When you are stating your opinion, do so in a way that is polite and gracious. This demonstrates that you do not see any major issue between you and the interviewer; you simply have different views. Remember, this is how the interviewer will picture you behaving in a work environment.
[The FAQ column deals with career concerns addressed to the C&K Management Ltd. P.O. Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com]
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