Job Interviews Simplified (Entry Level/Freshers)

This a quick post dedicated to those who are starting their professional journey (or have recently started) and are usually demotivated for not being able to give their best in an interview...

Though cracking a #job interview at any level is somewhat challenging, the need of being able to express yourself right, culturally, and professionally in '30 mins - 1-hour' time is just not enough.

Being a Project Manager for the longest time, and post interviewing 100s '#freshers/early-in #corporate' candidates for different domains, I have observed that these candidates are the most vulnerable, and nervous in this cycle. Hence, they either end up not cracking the interview/s or making the mistake of bribing people to get into a #job.

Of course, experience is one thing here that leads to these mistakes, however, I believe (on behalf of those candidates) that these interviews can be the easiest to tackle with a slight change in the approach/mindset.

The below tips are coming out of pure experience and should be enough to crack an interview. If you still don't make it, it could either be that you actually do not have the right skill for this job, or the interviewer itself doesn't know what she/he is looking for (which happens in most cases).

Easy yet helpful #tipsforinterview:

• Be On Time: Reaching just on time, adds to the nervousness. Reaching a bit early at least 10 mins before (for online) or 20 mins before (for offline), helps you get into the zone. You need to be comfortable with the environment before you face a stranger and hear the magical words, "tell me something about yourself". This a question that will remain relevant even after 10-20 years :). Utilize those 10/20 minutes in reading the job description and bring that knowledge out during the interview, the most relevant thing to do.

• Be Comfortable: Most probably the interviewer already knows your position, as a fresher/less experienced candidate. She/he is only willing to know you, and your attitude, and isn't looking for all your life learnings to be expressed. Also, this interview is not your life. So the best way to deal with it is, to stay comfortable. Take time to listen to the question completely, pause if needed (shouldn't be a dead-air), and then answer.

• Keep Your Smile On: The best way to stay comfortable is to keep your smile on (don't laugh at the interviewer ;)). Smiling is the most valuable asset in an interview after your IQ. Keep it on.

• Don't Explain Your "Past-Present-Future": Neither you are required to, nor the interviewer is interested in knowing everything that has happened in your life (personally/professionally). The answer to "tell me something about yourself" should be concluded with: Your name, current state/city, your studies (talk about the highest education and its discipline/field), work experience so far (internship, social activities, participation in an event, etc. counts), any career breaks (don't explain unless asked for), and what you understood from JD that excited you to apply for it. In a nutshell, this covers everything relevant in that scenario, everything else should either come out as an answer to a question or should not come out.

• Now, Go With The Flow: Go with the flow is the best mantra in any interview. Mostly we fail in interviews when we talk too much, and then questions start coming from our over-explanation of certain topics because we confused ourselves and the interviewer. Listen, understand, and try to be to the point.

• Open Communication: Answer to "why are you leaving? what excites you about the new company? are you comfortable in relocating? what you liked least about your last company?", etc. should be as honest and straightforward as they could be. Don't disrespect your previous company/job - it was also your choice.

• Closing: Request the interviewer to explain the job description in detail, his interest in explaining the role will tell you if you are selected or not. Also request feedback towards the end, if possible for the interviewer, don't push for this.

The requirement for entry-level employees/freshers is mostly demand-driven, a new client onboarded, a new project launched, etc. usually demands for fresh blood. Mostly when the demand is there and you've managed to reach that interview round, your interviewer makes more effort than you to bring the best out of you, and if the demand is fairly OK and the company can manage with/without hiring you, interviewers keep looking for "the best" resources and keep rejecting.

You should know that you have reached that interview room itself means that you have most of it that is required for that or similar jobs, your CV has those skills on it, you cracked some or the other telephonic round/s, & you have so far managed to sell yourself. So, if not this, we will crack the next job, but no chance of getting demotivated.

A fresher should always remember that what they bring with them to the company can never be achieved/added by the veterans/someone who keeps juggling the jobs, "fresh blood", "new thought-process", "tendency to challenge status-quo", and "trust & loyalty". Hiring you is only the company's gain (or loss), you just gained experience from this interview also, if not the joining letter.