ARE YOU “INTERVIEW READY?”

In the last couple of years, there has been so much talk about the high rate of unemployment. Graduates are not getting jobs again like it used to be in the good old days of our fathers and mothers.

A big reason why a lot of people are not getting the few available jobs is that they show up for interviews in the most unprepared ways ever.

The first step to getting a job is applying. Let’s assume you made it through application stage (correct CV and all: a story for another day), the next stage is the interview stage. The question is, “are you interview ready?”  Truth is, a lot of job seekers are not! So how do you secure the job? No you won’t. From Interview to interviews;  parents and friends can’t seem to understand why you have no job yet.

A colleague recently interviewed a candidate over the phone and her comment was that the candidate seemed so indifferent and like she was disturbing him. I have interviewed candidates who have burst into tears during intense questioning. Nobody wants a cry baby you know. Sometimes we want to see how you will do under pressure. Get your emotions together.

Candidates show up to interviews and cannot sell themselves. If you don’t believe in yourself enough to project “you,” how do expect the interviewer to. I have met with candidates who could not even tell me their strengths. If you cannot state what advantage you have over the next candidate then why should an organization be interested in you?

These days a lot of employers do not want candidates with the “Que Sera Sera (Whatever will be, will be)” mentality. What are your goals? How driven are you? Employers are looking for candidates with zeal, who will bring in new ideas and help change/improve their processes.

You should not turn up to an interview at an organization company you did not bother to look up. Enough of the lame excuses.  A standard company will have a website, so there is available information on them.

You may not know and have it all but you have a better shot at getting the job when prepared.

TIPS FOR GETTING “INTERVIEW READY”

1. Search for likely interview questions on the internet. The internet has so much to teach you. There is no excuse for being unprepared.
2. Read examples of answers to those questions as a guide.
3. Deeply reflect on what your answers will be, practice the questions and your answers.
4. Read up on the organization and its services (you should know where your salary will be paid from).
5. If it’s a technical interview, take time out to update your technical knowledge.
6. Take time to reflect on YOU. What are your strengths, weaknesses, goals, driving force, shortcomings, lessons learnt, successes and so on.
7. Plan to get there early.
8. Running late? Call in to explain why. It had better be a very valid reason. Traffic should not be reason enough because you should be prepared for that.
9. Can’t make the interview at the scheduled time or date?  Call/email beforehand to inform the organization, apoloize and ask to be rescheduled.
10. Not every organization needs you in a suit at an interview but be well dressed and tidy.
11. Maintain proper hygiene and use a deodorant. This seems funny but some candidates come in smelling of thick sweat. It is a major turn off for an interviewer. Also please avoid very strong perfumes. I for example am allergic to strong perfumes. I once had a candidate I had to put off the AC and open the windows  to interview. My colleague who passed him on the stairs said, who is that candidate that used "Sosorobia?" Not Nice.