Never gone for a job interview, going for one can be a little scary, especially if you hear all the bad stories regarding the interviewers and bad situations encountered. But here are some things that usually happen during interviews to help you prepare for your next one ahead of time.
There are many types of interviews and sometimes, it really doesn’t matter which it is, what happens in each is the same.
Types of interviews
Face to face interviews; just like the name suggests, face to face interviews take place when you face your interviewer face to face. These can be a little tricky because your every reaction is recorded, every word analysed and your personality assessed.
Phone interviews; unlike face to face interviews, this kind is more like a voice interview, you do not see your interviewer but you are heard loud and clear. These require two main things, a quiet or conducive environment in terms of sound and your readiness to attend the interview.
Video interviews; these combine both the face and phone aspects but without physical presence of face interviews. This simply means that you will see your interviewer or interviewers but on a computer or phone screen. These interviews tend to be complicated because you need both a professional background and physical look, but as well as good quality sound with little or no background noise filtering through. Therefore your main focus goes beyond just the answers and physical appearance during the interview, and goes through the technology, place and presence.
What happens during interviews
Just before the actual interview, you might have to wait to be called to enter the board room, or the room where it is going to take place. Sometimes, companies call several people to be interviewed in a single day and to have to wait, together with other interviewees until you are called to take the interview. What this means is that you have ample time to calm your nerves, go through the different answers, read more about the company you are interviewing for as well as get comfortable in your own skin.
You can as well use this time to know more about your competition, and maybe cut your losses or boost your confidence. Some companies go a step further and watch you as you wait, how you sit, how you conquer your fears, how you calm your nerves says a lot about how you can handle situations when you are under pressure. So be ready for anything that might be thrown your way.
During the interview, you will definitely be asked questions, therefore be ready to answer as precisely and clearly as possible. You will be asked many questions too, so don’t think what you have read off the internet is exactly what you will be asked, some will be changed, others will be asked different ways, remember, each company has a way of dealing with interviews, be ready for any eventuality.
Common interview questions
- Who are you/Tell us about yourself
- Why do you want to leave your current job?
- What is your greatest weakness?
- What is your greatest strength?
- Why should we hire you?
- What are your salary expectations?
After carrying out the interview, be sure to thank the interviewers for the opportunity to be considered for the job. This is a great way to end the interview.
Many people do not know what to do after all is said and done. You should think about the job and see if you want the job after all. If you were given a chance to contact the company, then you can call them and ask about the progress to see if you were hired or not.
We hope this will help you prepare appropriately, if not, do not hesitate to ask questions in the comment section. Thank you.