Learning how to answer interview questions is quite an easy process if you follow a few tips here and there. The most important thing for you to understand though is that to answer interview questions wisely you don’t only need to go over basic interview questions and answers, but you also need to prepare a lot of things beforehand.
What to do before the interview?
- Have a strong CV – Make sure your CV is strong and exaggerated. Exaggeration doesn’t mean lying. It simply means that you need to ensure every single relevant thing you’ve done in your life is present on it. Often the basic interview questions and answers are based on your CV.
- Background Research – The most important trick to learning how to answer interview questions is doing your research about the company you’re giving the job interview for. The more you know about the company, the better the chance that you’ll answer interview questions wisely.
- Prepare for basic interview questions and answers – Some questions like “what values define you” are always asked by default in an interview. Prepare for such questions beforehand, it gives you a head start and shows that you’re confident.
- Prepare questions for the interviewer – Conversation is important for clearing an interview. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, don’t be completely blank. Asking questions makes you engage in further conversation and shows your interest and seriousness in the interview.
What to do on the day of the interview?
- Be on time – Punctuality is the best thing you can possess during an interview. Nobody likes it if you reach late for your interview or have a neglecting attitude towards it. Keep time in hand and reach the interview location at least half an hour before, so that no last-minute mess ups will affect you reaching on time.
- Dress appropriately – How you are dressed is a huge statement. Dress professionally, make sure your posture is straight and don’t under any circumstance walk into an interview unable to own what you’re wearing.
How to answer interview questions?
- Introduction – Introduce yourself with utmost confidence. Prepare what you want to say, including key points and what hobbies you want to reflect. Your two minutes of introduction about yourself is what defines you and your interview. This is the best chance for you to enlighten your interviewer with what qualities you possess and how you could be the person for the interview.
- Posture – Have a straight posture, smile every time you’re answering, be natural and relaxed.
- Eye Contact – You have nothing to lose when you’re getting interviewed. Be confident even if you’re not beaming of it, and maintain eye contact every time with your interviewer. This portrays that you have nothing to hide or be ashamed of.
- Make your answers on point and informative – Make sure your answers are not coming out as if you have nothing to speak. Don’t use words like “and” and “like” too many times, because it shows that you need to think in between sentences. Say what you know and be assured.
- Think – It’s okay to think for ten seconds before answering if you don’t know something. It’s better than giving answers while trying to think and messing up the answer.
- Own up to your achievements – Employers are constantly looking for people who can bring something innovative and out of the box on the table. If you’ve done your background research about the company, you can use your achievements and pitch ideas about infrastructure, innovation etc. and show your value and why you should be hired.
- Make a conversation with the interviewer – Involve yourself as much as possible in the interview and try to engage yourself in a dialogue. Ask about the culture of the company, your role and try to make a joke or two.
- Honesty is the best policy – Be honest and open about everything. Don’t take the risk of lying and waiting to find out if they’ll ever find out. If you’re honest, you have nothing to lose.
- Don’t share too much personal information – Don’t get too personal during your interview, make sure you’re sharing professional information and only what is asked of you. If you’re not comfortable talking about a sensitive topic, say so during your interview!
- Shake hands –Shake hands with your interviewer before leaving, that leaves a professional impression at the end of your interview.
So as you can see, it’s quite easy a solution if you’re trying to learn how to answer interview questions.
