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5 Important Tips For A Great Job Interview
5 Important Tips For A Great Job Interview
5 Important Tips For A Great Job Interview
interview
You may be the most skilled employee the world has ever seen, but if you cant
communicate well during a job interview, you wont make the cut. Keep these tips in
mind
Jonathan Yabut
Ahhh, job interviews. Its the one thing that always sets a corporate warrior into fright
mode. Every year, millions of workers looking for greener pastures send out resumes to
employers a quarter of which will be eligible for a chance to pass the dreaded job
interview.
You can hide and sugarcoat information in your resume, but you cant do the same for a
job interview. Job interviews will always be tough. They will make or break you. You
may be the most skilled employee the world has ever seen, but if you cant communicate
well during one, you wont make the cut.
More from Jonathan Yabut:
READ:
So whats keeping you from nailing down that job interview? Could it be your lack of
confidence? Your knowledge about the company youre applying for? The arrogant
impression you make to the interviewer?
Whatever it is, here are 5 key interview tips on how to transform yourself from grit to
great. We also asked yuppies from Southeast Asia about their own personal tips. Catch
them at the end of the article!
1. Do your research
Most applicants overestimate their knowledge about the organization theyre aiming to
join. If youre applying for a company, being a loyalist of its products or services is not
good enough thats like saying youre qualified to join Facebook just because you use
Facebook every day.
It takes deeper understanding of an organizations vision, scope of operations, culture,
and management style to truly appreciate it.
So where should you start? Checking the companys website is always a good first step.
The About Ussection summarizes everything you need to know about the company
from an outsiders point of view.
Read online news articles too: what have been the companys success points and
challenges recently? Is it performing well in the market? Who are its competitors and
what is its strategy in the next 5 years?
Your variety of knowledge will surely impress the recruiter as it sends the message that
you are serious about this application.
Finally, dont just end with the homework link it back to you. Is the companys reason
for being aligned with your career roadmap? If your answer is yes, share this with the
interviewer as it will surely drive home the message sweeter (e.g. say it like, I live and
breathe art, and working in a prestigious advertising agency that can further hone my
graphics design skills is the reason why Id like to join your organization).
Why are you leaving your current job and seeking opportunities elsewhere?
Why choose us as your next potential employer? Why this industry?
What is your ultimate career vision? How do you see yourself 3, 5, and 10 years
from now?
What do you think are your weaknesses as an employee and how do you manage
them?
Tell us a story about a challenge you encountered with a colleague at work and
how you overcame it.
Practicing what and how to answer these FAQs will not only increase your confidence
but also help you anticipate other questions that may be asked later.
I personally believe this is the part of the preparation process that must not be skipped at
all costs. Benjamin Franklin painfully reminds us all: By failing to prepare, you prepare
to fail. Remember that preparation breeds familiarity, and familiarity breeds confidence.
And when youre confident, you become an unstoppable force who knows nothing but
winning. (RELATED: How to be awesome at job interviews)
3. Dress to impress
There are many jobs out there that are advertised with beautiful adjectives but arent
really what they promise to be. This is your golden opportunity to find out its
authenticity. Consider asking the following questions:
You might get indirect answers, but it is your duty to get clues about the position youre
taking. Will your working style match with the people? Is this a newly created position
that the company is experimenting on? Did someone resign perhaps because there was
just too much on her plate? Or did she leave a bad boss thats just waiting for his next
victim like you? Is this really a marketing job or a sales job disguised as marketing?
How much time will I be spending in the office or in the field?
Remember that this is your only window of opportunity to know your employer and your
job intimately before you say yes, so milk it!
When youre done with the interview
After youve sweat it out, dont forget to ask the interviewer for the next steps: will
someone contact you to give feedback, or should you follow-up in a weeks time
otherwise? There will be polite recruiters who generously inform you via e-mail about the
results and there will be some who expect you to understand that silence means Im
sorry. The key is to understand that everyones time is important, and making someone
wait (for nothing) is simply rude.
Finally, it is never the end of the world if you fail an interview. Just like love, there are
many factors to consider why both of you were never meant to be. As long as youve
done your best to prepare, use the defeat as a means to fuel your hunger to ace the next
one.
The worst thing to do is to lose hope immediately on Day 1 even if there are plenty of
fish in the sea. And when youre all primed and ready, say it with me: Im a gladiator. A
gladiator in a suit. Good luck!
****
I asked some folks from Southeast Asia to share their tips on how to prepare for an
interview. Heres what they had to say:
Reserve time to compose
yourself
There was one time when I was slightly late for an interview and this diminished my
confidence all throughout. I felt so guilty I couldnt concentrate on the questions. I
learned my lesson well: buffer at least an hour before the interview. This time is crucial
because it allows you to imagine yourself in the interview and doing everything right.
Mental preparation is always the key!
Julia Ho, 24, government analyst from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Say it in numbers, not just words
When talking about
achievements from your past
company, dont just say what
you did in words (e.g. I
successfully launched a new
product). Say it in numbers (ex. I
launched a new product that increased the companys annual sales by +20%). Recruiters
want to hear statistics and figures because it gives a more accurate measure of your
success.
Nica Marquez, 26, brand manager from Manila, Philippines
Turn the Tables Around
The best people to ask if the
company has great culture are its
own employees. I bravely ask
my interviewer about his
personal experiences in the
company: what he likes about it,
and how he has grown through the years. I check his body language and facial gestures
when he answers this question. Youll be amazed to get some clues if the company is
worth aspiring for.
Xuan Le, 25, travel guide from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Jonathan Yabut is the winner of
the hit reality business TV show,
The Apprentice Asia, and was
popularly known in the show for
his people skills, leadership and
passionate speeches in the
boardroom. He is currently
based in Kuala Lumpur as the Chief of Staff of AirAsia reporting to Malaysian business
mogul, Tony Fernandes. Apart from work, he engages in motivational talks about youth,
leadership and entrepreneurship across Southeast Asia and is represented by the London
Speaker Bureau. He recently launched his book about his journey to becoming the first
Asian Apprentice, From Grit to Great. Visit his website at jonathanyabut.com
Filed under:career advicejob interview questionsjob interview tipswork
advicejob interview
Wyatt Ong
@wyattcaraway
Published 9:39 PM, March 30, 2015
Updated 10:25 PM, March 30, 2015
Lets start off nice and easy with this seemingly innocuous question. Its tricky be too
general and youll appear vague or safe, be too detailed and you might throw the
interview off-track.
With a question like this, your best bet is to be fully prepared with your answer way
before the interview, since you know theres a good chance itll be on the roster of
questions. Highlight your strengths and leadership attributes and value you can bring to
the company, says Coach LA.
Key tips:
Prepare your elevator pitch: In about 30 seconds, who you are, what youre
passionate about, what kind of role youre seeking. This should be about you and
highlights of your career or student life and interests, says Coach LA. And it
shouldn't be about how old you are and who your parents are, please!
Don't stray. HR practitioner John Bondoc says its important to keep your answer
to that focused on the role. Discuss info about you that matches the post you are
being considered, he suggests.
Heres an example from Jonathan to consider. "Im a passionate go-getter who
wants to make a dent on the universe. I hope to achieve that through this
company, and I do (state your role).
Key tips:
Do not allow questions like these to throw you off thats what theyre
designed to do. Here are two strategies to attack this question:
o
Answer the question. Coach LA says you can bring up a few things that
might cause employers to think twice, like lack of experience then
countering that with a good quality, like being willing to learn. OR:
Challenge and counter. I would challenge him and say I prefer to talk
about positive things such as my strengths and how they can add value to
the company, says Jonathan. Said nicely, this might express that you
arent easily intimidated and are focused and engaged.
Key tips:
Stick to observations. Instead of going for adjectives, opt for objective things
that you observed instead. Talk about impressions on confidence, choice of
words of the boss, writes Jonathan on Twitter. Be constructive and not
judgmental in tone.
Take a moment. Caught off guard by this or any other question? Resist the urge
to speak first, thinking as you talk. Take a few seconds to compose yourself you
may come up with a passable answer in that time.
Dont be pressured into giving an exact time period. You arent getting any assurances or
signed deals immediately in this interview its very nature is exploratory! So dont feel
like you need to commit a hard answer.
Heres a great answer from Jonathan, tweeted during the conversation: I intend to stay as
long as Im engaged and productive with my job, boss and company.
Short and sweet. Direct, confident, and thorough.
Reapply. What were your key successes back when you were in school? Did you
pull off a big event, use social media to raise money, run an organization? Soft
skills learned here hold water in the working world. Its up to you to draw those
parallels and show the interviewer what you might be able to do for the company.
Specificity is key. When discussing projects youve done in the past, make sure
you discuss concrete results pesos earned, followers gained, pageviews racked
up. the more specific you are, the more convincing the argument.
8. Why did you leave your last job? or Why are you
looking for another job?
#ScaryInterviewQuestions @rapplerdotcom What is the best way to justify/explain job
hopping?
Heres one of them: I knew that I was ready for a change, but I didnt
want to take my focus off the job if I were going to keep working there. So
I did what I believe was the right thing and left the job, to allow them to
get someone who was in it for the long haul and to allow myself some
time to ponder my next steps.
The key is for it to sound real and personal not canned. A textbook answer might be
expected, but it won't make much of an impact. So practice, but make sure the answer is
authentic.
"What are the things that would actually make you leave the company?" @rapplerdotcom
#ScaryInterviewQuestions
Goldie Manalili (@goldiemiers) March 29, 2015
Just say it straight, without the bells and whistles. Its intimidating to talk about things
that will make you leave when youre interviewing for a job you really want. But being
able to do so eloquently shows a company what you really value and its also good for
you to know about these dealbreakers yourself. (READ: 4 undeniable signs that it's time
to quit your job)
Just a few examples from Jonathan: A bad boss, a company that doesnt value talent
development, and a culture of inciting fear versus rewards to make people work hard.
Coach LA says, Limited to no career growth/learning will be factors for me to consider
leaving the company. This shows your hunger to continuously grow and develop as a
professional."
How big is the team / Who do I report to? This gives you an idea of your boss's
work scope and resources.
If I succeed in this role, what is the career path I can take (managerial role,
assignment to a different country for international exposure, etc)?
What is expected of me in my first 90 days?
Aside from all this, you should be ready to describe situations in your working or student
life, including your proudest achievement, a time you disagreed with your teammates, the
biggest challenge you encountered in a project, et cetera. In these cases, establish the
necessary backstory, briefly say what you did, and most importantly (linger here)
discuss the results.
Keep the energy up the interviewer will sense tension and nerves (a wet handshake, a
too-soft voice, for example) and that might set the tone.
The conversation should flow between two people, so embrace spontaneous moments
the bits where humor and lightness peek through.
The company is sizing you up but you are also sizing them up. Twitter user Goldie
Manalili (@goldiemiers) puts it succinctly: Just talk with full sincerity and don't be
overconfident.
So does user Adrienne (@aidz03): Remember that an interview is still a conversation.
It's an opportunity for you to get to know your potential employer.
Keep this as a guide, but ultimately, your answers to these questions should come from
you. Anything else might sound artificial. Your dream job, or even your first job, deserves
better, and so do you. Rappler.com
"You survived at least one review cycle reviews are presumed to be annual, and people
arent reviewed until 6 months old; thats where the 18-month derivation comes from
and had to achieve something to be retained for that long," he wrote.
It's a matter of balancing your own needs against the company's. In your mind, you come
first. But if you're counting on leaving the job very soon, you may not end up being the
best option for the company. (READ: 4 undeniable signs that it's time to quit your job)
2. "Poor communication skills"
Illustration by Nico
Villarete/Rappler
Employers feel that
our fresh grads are not
articulate enough, or
they dont have that basic communication skill to express themselves properly, said
Camarillo.
Ironing out a conflict, clarifying the technicalities of a project, asking a question about a
point you aren't sure about these are all situations you'll encounter at work, and these
are all situations requiring good communication skills.
These may not be as developed yet as a fresh grad a point of concern and sometimes a
source of conflict between a company and its new hires. Pay attention to workplace
dynamics as you move forward, and read up on ways to approach tricky situations at
work. (READ: I hate my boss: 5 tips to deal)
3. High expectations
HIGH
EXPECTATIONS.
Illustration by Nico
Villarete/Rappler
They have high
expectations, usually. Unrealistic ang expectations sa salary at sa [job] position, said
Camarillo.
(They [fresh grads] have high expectations, usually. The expectations for salary and job
positions are unrealistic.)
It's not that you shouldn't learn how to negotiate, but know also that as you acquire
functional-technical skills at work, your value in the job market increases, and you'll be
better equipped to ask for a raise next time.
4. Flexibility issues
MR. WORKPLACE
ROBOTO. Illustration
by Nico
Villarete/Rappler
Parang kung ano
lang ang job responsibility nila na sinasabi sa ating mga employers, yun lang ang
gagawin ng fresh grads, explained Camarillo, saying that many fresh grads rarely go the
extra mile.
(Whatever job responsibility the employers give, that is only what these fresh grads do,
and nothing more.)
In an Inc article called "5 ways to motivate yourself to work harder," Jessica Stillman
writes that instead of motivation, view work as an investment in good habits:
"Start with small habits that help you be more productive and make you feel good. For
example, you could aim to walk 15 minutes a day or work in short bursts of intense focus.
[...]whichever term you use, the effect is the same automating a behavior by integrating
it into your routine means you rely less on willpower."
Remember that the employees are not meant to become robots, but are aiming to develop
and grow. It might not be about just doing more work it could be about finding new
ways to do old routines or spotting more cost-efficient alternatives to whatthe company's
spending on. Often, these are discovered via someone's fresh perspective. Why can't it be
yours?
5. Lack of professionalism
Many employers feel that fresh grads have no regard for rules in the workplace
examples of this are tardiness, improper dress code, and constant absences.
In a Business Insider article called "6 things everyone needs to stop doing at work,"
Emmie Martin suggested some things to stop doing during work hours, which includes
constantly unnecessarily checking social media.
"Scrolling through Instagram or catching up on your Facebook newsfeed only distracts
you during the workday," she writes.
There are other opportunities to display professionalism at work at meetings, with other
colleagues, even via your work wardrobe. Seize them all and let nothing slip through the
cracks. (READ: 23 looks to update your office wardrobe)
Good luck! Find the best way to showcase your best qualities at work. Cheers to you this
2015! Rappler.com