Got a job interview coming up soon with your dream company? You might be excited about it and at the same time nervous, wondering if you will be able to crack the interview or not? To help you face the job interview confidently and without freezing up we have complied together a quick checklist which would help you ace a job interview successfully. Before we get started, remember a great job interview arises from careful ground work. That includes everything right from checking out the company to sending out thank you note post interview and much more. These tips are no rocket science but they are definitely great timely reminders of the basics, before appearing for the final interview.

1-      Know the company: If you really want to put your best foot forward for an interview, it is absolutely crucial that you take time to prepare yourself. Learn about the company, look at their website, and understand what their mission statement is. Get answers to questions like, who are their competitors? What is their history? If the company has been in news recently, know the reason why. Knowing about the company will help you be more confident and will surely make the interviewer realize that you have done your ground work, before coming for the interview.

2-      Amend your Resume as per the job description: Read the job description thoroughly and then review your resume. Try figuring out which of your skill sets, made them approach you. Carefully determine which of your skill sets and experience you want to emphasize on during the course of your interview.

3-      Mock Interview: Ask any of your friend or family members to take a mock interview. You can give him a list of questions, which you think could be asked during the interview. Plus ask him to put up questions which he thinks could be asked. Then answer those questions in the best possible way. You can even jot down all your answers for future reference. Remember practising is the key to success here.

4-      Small things Do Matter: Sometimes in the haste and nervousness of attending the interview we miss out on some very basic things.

Firstly, dressing up appropriately for the interview is most crucial. Men should wear a business suit and women should wear either a pant suit or may be a conservative skirt. Please avoid sneakers, jeans, T-shirts and strong perfumes.

1. Secondly, arrive for the interview 15 minutes well in advance, so that you can go to the restroom and take a quick look at yourself in the mirror to make sure everything looks fine.
2. Lastly, carry a pen and a notebook with you. If possible carry 4 to 5 copies of your resume, you never know if there is a whole panel sitting to take your interview and they might ask for a copy of your resume. Make sure that you have neatly arranged all your important documents in a file. Double check and make sure that all your documents are neatly arranged and you have not missed any important document.

5-      Be ready with answers to common questions: Generally the interviewer gets started with the interview process by asking common interview questions. Read more on Top 3 interview questions and answers.

6-      Be Honest:  Being honest during the interview is very important, because dishonesty is one thing that almost kills all your chances of getting the job. If the interviewer ask a question and you are unable to answer it simply say, I am sorry I don’t have an answer to your question. Do not bluff or try spinning the answer, if you are caught nothing could be worse then that. On the other hand you should prepare yourself well in advance on how you will spin answers to questions related to employment gaps or weakness in your education or skill sets.

7-      Do not hesitate to ask questions: During the interview, asking right questions is as important as answering the questions in the right way. Here all the research you did about the company initially comes in handy. Ask questions related to the company growth and how would it impact your career growth. Ask details about the job profile and whom you will be reporting. Asking right questions certainly impress the interviewer and give an impression that you are excited about the job.

8-      Don’t Discuss the Salary: All of us at the end of the interview want to know about the remuneration part. Don’t be over excited. Keep this question on hold, until you are offered the position. Be prepared to answer questions like what salary do you expect? They might even ask questions about your salary history. Try to avoid the question as much as you can if the offer is yet to be made. Possibly try to bring back the conversation to your job and qualification. You certainly don’t want to give these details until the company makes their final call.

9-      Follow Up/Send Thank You Note: The follow-up process should begin immediately after the interview is over. Do not forget to ask for business card or contact information of the people who took your interview. Before you leave the room, make sure that you ask how is the hiring process going to proceed.

Latter on consider sending out a thank you not to the interviewer saying that you are thankful, that he took time to take your interview and it was a pleasure meeting him. Don’t forget to mention a line indicating your interest in the job. Generally a personal hand written not is the best, but in case you hesitate in doing that, then dropping an email would be a good idea.

For an interview, the most crucial thing is to look confident and composed. These pointers will help you feel  less anxious and by doing your homework and preparing yourself well in advance you are increasing your chances of getting the job. Also, remember that the interviewer has also been through the same phase so he/she can certainly empathize with you.

Good luck!!

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