Top five best practices to follow during an interview

During an interview, it's essential to present yourself in the best possible light and make a positive impression on the interviewer. Here are the top five best practices to follow during an interview:

Thorough Preparation:

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. According to this quote, it is essential that you invest a lot of time on preparation for the interview.

• Research the company: Familiarize yourself with the company's history, mission, values, products/services, and recent news. This knowledge demonstrates your interest in the organization.
• Understand the job requirements: Review the job description and identify the key skills and qualifications required for the role. Prepare specific examples from your experiences that align with these requirements. If you are not clear with the job requirements or job description, you may ask the recruiter to send you the necessary details.
• Practice interview questions: Rehearse responses to common interview questions and behavioural scenarios. Practice will help you articulate your answers confidently during the actual interview. You can study through YouTube or any other articles available to understand what kind of questions that will be asked during the interview and how you need to answer them. In other words, you will be able to understand the Dos and Don'ts as well.

Professionalism:

• Dress appropriately: Choose professional attire that aligns with the company culture and industry standards. Dressing well shows respect for the interview process and reflects your professionalism. Do not compromise on your attire if the interview is taken place online.
• Punctuality: Aim to arrive on time for the interview. Plan your travel route in advance, considering possible delays, and factor in extra time for unforeseen circumstances. If it is an in-person interview, try your level best to be at the place at least 15 minutes before. If it is an online interview, it will be great if you can check your audio and video with the online platform well before you login. Also, login to the meeting link at least 5 minutes before the scheduled time.
• Polite and respectful behavior: Greet everyone you encounter during the interview process with courtesy, from receptionists to interviewers. Be mindful of your body language and maintain eye contact during conversations.

Highlighting Your Skills and Accomplishments:

• Focus on your strengths: Tailor your responses to emphasize your most relevant skills and experiences. Provide concrete examples of how you've contributed to past projects or employers.
• Use the STAR method: When answering behavioral questions, structure your responses using the Situation, Task, Action, and Result (STAR) method. This framework provides a clear and organized way to present your experiences. In other words, when you are asked to share your previous experience, do not just say that you have 2 years of experience in software testing. Give your answer like a story. Go deeper. "I have two years of experience in software testing where I have worked on manual testing. During these two years, I have worked with banking domain and I was involved from the requirement gathering, test designing and test execution. I have used the tool Jira for defect management. I do take part in all the agile ceremonies that includes scrum planning, daily scrum meetings, retrospective sessions and review meetings." This is just an example on how you can structure your answers accordingly.
• Be confident but humble: Showcase your achievements without sounding arrogant. Employers appreciate candidates who are self-assured but also collaborative team players.
• Do not just read on what is mentioned on the resume. Explain them using your communication skills.

Active Listening and Engaging:

“We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we say.”?

• Listen attentively: Pay close attention to the interviewer's questions and ensure you fully understand them before responding. Active listening demonstrates your communication skills and eagerness to engage in meaningful conversations.
• Ask clarifying questions: If you need more information to provide a thorough response, don't hesitate to ask for clarification. It shows your commitment to providing relevant answers. For an instance, if you are not too sure about the question, you can mention that in a polite way that "Sorry, I did not get your question", or you can say "Could you please come again?".

Follow-Up and Gratitude:

• Express appreciation: At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer(s) for their time and the opportunity to meet with them. A simple "thank you" goes a long way in leaving a positive impression.
• Follow up with a thank-you note: Send a personalized thank-you email within 24 hours of the interview. Reiterate your interest in the position and briefly summarize why you believe you'd be a great fit for the role.

The bonus point on this article is to "Practice impromptu skills". You might be going to the interview prepared with the questions that you have researched. However, there could be instances that the interviewer would be asking different questions in different ways. Practicing impromptu skills to think on your feet and respond will help you during the job interviews.

By incorporating these five best practices into your interview approach, you'll enhance your chances of making a strong impression and increase your likelihood of securing the job.

I wish you all the best with your next job interview!