Job Interview—Ten Commandments You Should Follow

Most of us harbor a healthy fear of facing an interview. It is a natural fear, born of facing the unknown. A few butterflies in the stomach are perfectly okay; in fact, it helps to keep you alert to the task at hand. Yet, a lot of people are overcome with this fear, and fail to perform to their best potential.

So, how do you overcome this fear? By preparing well, and following the Ten Commandments of the interview process. Follow them, and you will not go wrong—


1st Commandment

Do a SWOT analysis of yourself. SWOT means strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Align your strengths and opportunities to the job description, and analyze how you will overcome your weaknesses and threats.

2nd Commandment

Research the company. Look up at its official website, check its annual reports to learn of expansion and diversification plans and talk to present employees. Rehearse the interview with a friend, colleague or family members.

3rd Commandment

Prepare a list of common questions and their answers. The questions should include both what the interviewer will ask you, and what you will ask the interviewer at the end of the interview.

4th Commandment

Dress conservatively. Reach the venue 15 minutes early. Mind you body language. And smile!

5th Commandment

Answer precisely and crisply. Give practical examples of your skills and strengths. Be honest in your answers; if you don’t understand a question, say so. If you don’t know an answer, admit it.

6th Commandment

Be calm and composed during the interview. If you feel that the interview is not going well, don’t get frustrated; sometimes the interviewer may attempt to put you under pressure to gauge your reactions to pressure situations. Don’t get disappointed if expected salary is not discussed or a definite offer is not made.

7th Commandment

In the end, the interviewer will typically ask you to put up any questions on your part. Use the chance to ask the questions that you had prepared beforehand. This will reiterate your interest in the job. It is okay to ask the interviewer as to when the final decision regarding the hiring will be made.

8th Commandment

Immediately after the interview is over, make a written evaluation of your performance. Note down the questions asked and your responses. Note down any further areas of possible improvement.

9th Commandment

Do follow up. Send a brief and professional thank you letter to the interviewers within 24 hours of the interview (you can send this over e—mail). Thank them for the opportunity and giving their time, and reiterate your interest in the position.

10th Commandment

If an offer is made, make your decision and convey it within the time frame mentioned in the offer letter. If no such time frame is mentioned, one to two weeks is a reasonable time. Send a reply even if you don’t accept the offer. In case of a negative response, do not lose heart. Keep trying. Learn from your experience and improve the next time.

An interview is the most crucial part of the selection process, and you can succeed in it by following the strategy of the Ten Commandments. So, go ahead, prepare yourself well for the D-Day, follow the Ten Commandments, and nothing can stop you from achieving success in the interview. Be yourself, and enjoy the experience. Wish you all the best

4 Brutally Effective Interview Preparation Techniques

Most of us harbor a healthy fear of facing an interview. While it is OK to have a few butterflies in the stomach, in fact, it actually helps; it is irrational to be afraid of facing an interview. Probably that fear stems from our fear of failure. It is possible to succeed in an interview by preparing beforehand.

These simple but effective techniques will go a long way in helping you prepare better for your interview—

Do a SWOT analysis of Yourself

SWOT means strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. List them down. Align your strengths and opportunities to the job description. List down specific examples how you used your skills and strengths to achieve results. Analyze how you will overcome your weaknesses and threats.

Research the Company

Go through the official website of the company. Read up about the company and its business, growth trends, expansion and diversification plans, industry analysis etc. Talk to present employees to learn about their experiences and challenges.

Rehearse the Interview

Make a full dress rehearsal. Get your friends, colleagues or family members to act as the panel. Practice your answers before a mirror—this will help to program your hand movements while answering. Take this rehearsal seriously; use it to iron out any difficulties and to improve your responses.

Prepare and Practice Common Questions and their Answers

Most of the questions that the interviewers ask are usually common for every interview. These include questions like—“Where do you see yourself 5/10 years from now”, “Why do you want to leave your present job” and “Tell me 5 reasons why I should I hire you”. At the end of the interview, you may be given a chance to ask any questions. Prepare these questions beforehand too.

If you prepare yourself well beforehand on these lines, it will be indeed hard for the interviewer to reject your application. So go ahead, prepare, prepare and prepare. All the best!