Interview Preparation – Why it is important ?

Would you step into the ring with Mike Tyson without practicing your boxing skills? Would you show up at an examination without preparation? Most people would say “no!” and yet, many people step into an interview without adequate preparation, forgetting that the interview is also an important part of the selection process that needs to be carefully prepared and strategized for.

Luckily, there are techniques and tools which can be learned and practiced to help you ace any interview. iRikai’s online interview preparation course prepares candidates with the skills required to ace an interview. Here, we talk about our 3 mantras for success in an interview:

1. It is not enough to just want a job or admission – you have to show that you want it!

You must know about the position you are applying for and be passionate about getting it. This is done through background research and interacting with people who have knowledge about the company or institution. It is equally important to be able to demonstrate that passion to the interviewer. This is done through your words and also through your body language during the interview.

For example, leaning forward and nodding while an interviewer is speaking signals interest and keenness. Leaning back shows a lack of willingness to engage and slouching shows disinterest. Cracking your knuckles and shaking your knees signals nervousness. You must be aware of such signals that often creep out without your knowing.

2. You must be prepared – don’t leave your future to chance!

There are a standard set of questions that almost every interview will have, for example, most interviews begin with “Tell me about yourself”. Now, you can either ramble on for as long as the interviewer has the patience to listen or you can break your introduction down into logical parts. One approach is to break down your introduction into 3 parts – (1) your educational background, (2) your professional achievements and (3) your interests. You may end your introduction on a note on which you want the interviewer to pursue. For example, you may choose to talk about an interesting hobby as the last sentence (“I am an athlete and recently completed an 80 km bike-swim-run race”). This gives the interviewer a lead into asking a question about your hobby, which is a great way to break the ice and move to the rest of the interview in a friendly manner. Remember – the intent is not to mislead the interviewer with made-up interests. The intent is to bring out a facet of your personality which might be interesting to the other person and which can help establish a rapport.

3. Build your confidence!

The best way to build your confidence is to be prepared and to practice, and this is typically done for weeks or even months before the interview. However, even just before the interview, there are certain exercises you can do that will help raise your levels of confidence. One of our favorite exercises before an interview is to raise the arms high and look side to side, as if you had just won a major championship (Go on, try it!). Research shows that doing this before a major meeting or interview can boost your confidence levels significantly (just be sure to do this discreetly and away from the receptionist’s or other candidates’ eyes :-)).

If you have an important interview coming up, iRikai’s online interview preparation course can equip you with the tools and techniques you need to succeed. 

Please visit http://irikai.com/Interview-Preparation-Classes-Online.php, email us at learning@irikai.com or call us on +91 9873 873 006 for more details!