No job is acquired these days without an interview, which is part of a recruitment process. Some companies invest a lot into that in order to attract the best talent. The interview is a crucial step before deciding whether you and your potential employer are a match.
Many people are scared about going to an interview. Did you ever feel anxiety or discomfort about the idea of going to an interview? Maybe this is your first job or you want the job so badly. It could be also a fear of the unknown or simply you are an emotive person.
Regardless of the reason, this article will provide some steps for you to apply while job hunting. Personally, I was never scared of going to an interview. It’s because I know the techniques I’m going to provide in this article. By applying them, you’ll notice better results after going to an interview.
1. Treat it like an open discussion
I must admit that I don’t like the word “interview” because I consider it more brutal than a whetstone. When I hear this word, I imagine myself in a court room in front of two judges who will decide my future. Just be cool an treat it like an open discussion or an opportunity of knowing your possible collaborator better. Some of the recruiters don’t use this word nowadays which makes the process less formal.
2. Be sharp with your technical skills
The technical skills are the ones which show up on the CV and will help you get past initial screening process. Nevertheless, be prepared to be asked technical questions when you meet your potential collaborator. I was often invited for “discussions” at the company’s location and I was pretty surprised that I was also interviewed by a technical person as well. Also remember that these questions will vary from company to company so it’s always a good idea to guess what they’ll probably ask by looking on their job description.
3. Love at first sight exists in case of an interview
Strong technical skills will not be enough though. A good vibe must exist between you and your collaborator in this process. It’s tremendously important that they like you and that you like them beforehand. We are all different and we attract the like; when we find a good company that matches our principles, we will instinctively know that. The same goes for a company looking to get someone with a specific profile onboard. They want you to fit in their team, adhere to their values and principles and of course bring your expertise on the table.
4. Don’t be disappointed by a rejection
Getting rejected is not the end of the world. This is how I see rejection: if they reject you, you most likely don’t fit in their team. Supposing you will still be accepted and you start working there, you’ll soon realize your place isn’t there. It’s painful to go there and not feel at ease with your colleagues. I’m sure no one wants a bitter workplace experience. To me it happened at least once, even recently, to not be a good fit in the team and I assure you that it’s better to be unemployed than to go somewhere you don’t like!
5. Getting rejected all the time? Read this
Now, on the other hand, if you get rejected all the time means you need to work yourself out a bit. Do you lack skills? Do you lack experience? Are you a difficult person to work with? You need to find what are the gaps that need filling. From my personal experience, I noticed that if you don’t currently have a job or you didn’t work for some time, you can be seriously dragged down. It’s like in dating: when you have a partner, everyone will want you.
Being already employed gives you more self-esteem and more power to negotiate. You can ask for a higher wage, you can be more picky with what kind of company you choose. It’s an empowering experience to play hard to get but don’t overdose it because you’ll come across as arrogant.
Conclusion
Because I like to draw conclusions, let’s see what we can learn from this post. These topics help you to get most out of an interview, but they can be expanded. The key is to be ambitious, aim high and be aware of the gaps you need to fill in terms of both hard and soft skills. Also, don’t panic if you get rejected, because:
- If you really want a job, you’ll find it
- You can be successful elsewhere
- It’s their loss for not hiring you
So keep your chin up and go win as many interviews as possible! 🤩
