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10 things you must do to ace job interviews
Admitting your ignorance and saying 'Thank You' can help you leave a mark on the interviewer.
These few tips are mostly for those, who are entering the corporate world for the first time.
You would have applied for various jobs and would be expecting an interview call.
These are some tips, over and above what you would already know about how to ace the interview.
Illustration: Dominic Xavier
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1. Resume + photograph
Carry a couple of hard copies of your resume and a few photographs.
Proactively offer one copy, with your photograph pasted on it to the interviewer.
Many times, the interviewers meet many candidates and therefore miss out remembering all the faces at the end of the day, when they compile their remarks.
A photo would help them remember you distinctly over others.
Illustration: Dominic Xavier
2. Be organised
Organise the contents of your resume well.
Do not try to hide facts.
Avoid some of the high sounding words in the summary section.
Mention all personal details in the end, including your place of stay, some amount of family details, references etc.
Take time and put in effort to update your CV regularly.
Avoid using the standard templates as some of them are not suited for our environment.
At no cost should there be spelling mistakes. Please understand the spell checkers do not distinguish between words "Career" and "Carrier".
Please understand that the former is the correct word and not the latter.
Most resumes have the latter!
Illustration: Dominic Xavier
3. References matter
Carry copies of all your certificates and reference letters.
It is advisable to carry all these in a zipped folder, and organised in flaps or dockets.
Many times, candidates fumble and drop papers on the interview table.
Illustration: Dominic Xavier
4. Be on time
Find out the directions to the venue at least a day in advance and never be late for the interview.
Reaching about five to ten minutes earlier is perfect. However, reaching too early is not good.
Illustration: Dominic Xavier
5. Do your homework
Research about the prospective employer (go through their Web site) and run a search to see if they have been in the news recently.
Try to know what the company mainly does.
If the company has a Web site, check out their career openings.
This will give you an idea of the type of hirings the company does.
Check out who makes the top management, read about their achievements etc.
Illustration: Dominic Xavier
6. Avoid conventional answers
If you are asked questions on your career plans, or where you see yourself after, say 10 years, don't say standard things like -- you would like to be a manager etc.
Be creative and say that you would like to master and do well in your first two years and then realistically evaluate your strengths vis-a-vis the organisational need.
This reply will impress upon the interviewer, about how mature you are and that you do not day dream.
Illustration: Dominic Xavier
7. Admit your ignorance
If you have a subject question, for which you do not have any clue of the answer, admit frankly your ignorance.
Do not bluff or beat around the bush and expose your ignorance in other areas as well!
Ask the interviewer for guidance on where you can learn more about the topic, thus showing your curiosity.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh
8. Leave a mark
After the interview, if you are given a chance to ask questions, ask intelligent questions, like your role and learning opportunity.
Show inquisitiveness, and enthusiasm.
Do not ask stupid questions like compensation, travel allowances, leave etc.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh
9. Say 'Thank You'
After the interview, send a simple "Thank you" note to the interviewer, if you can manage to get their e-mail ID.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh
10. Be patient
DO NOT pester to know the outcome of the interview, but ask, if they want to share any feedback with you.
If you do not receive any reply within a couple of days, you can conclude that the result is not positive.
If the employer is considering you even in the shortlist, they will keep you engaged.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh