Personal Interview Tips
Personal interviews are the best tools that help the interviewers scrutinize a candidate thoroughly on one-on-one basis. Personal interview is detailed interview sessions where more emphasis is laid on the candidate's suitability for a job or for the institute.
Your aim is to secure the job in the company or admission in the institute that you have applied to. Follow these tips to help you to achieve your objective.
Personal Interview Tips
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- Since the spotlight will be on you, it is important that you present yourself in a pleasing manner. Your first impression will be your physical appearance. Dress carefully for the interview. Formal dress is generally preferred. Avoid wearing striking colors or patterns. Similarly, do not use too much deodorants or perfumes. Stay simple yet professional.
- Go prepared for the interview. Carry a neat portfolio that includes all the necessary documents like copies of resume, certificates, references, project reports, writing samples etc.
- A firm handshake, eye contact and correct body language are tried and tested formulas that win over an interviewer.
- Prepare your answers for the probable questions. Do not rehearse them. You should have a faint idea of the answer that you would like to give for such questions.
- Know your goals and objectives. Personal interviews are all about knowing you personally at the professional level. Thus, it is imperative that you have a clear idea about what you want to achieve and how you plan to take steps for it. Unique answers score over common and repetitive replies. Listen carefully. Each question the interviewer asks or every statement that he makes should be attended to with full attention. Nonetheless, feel free to seek clarifications in case you are unclear about something.
- Refrain from offering unsolicited information. You should answer as concisely as possible. Replying to a question in two or three lines should suffice.
- Prepare your own list of questions to be asked. The interviewers gladly provide all the information that you would want to know about their company or institute. Avoid asking obvious questions to which the answers are readily available on their website or brochure. This will only reduce your chance of being selected.
- Line your every question with natural curiosity and thus present your keenness to be a part of their team.
- To leave the last and final impression, end your interview on an optimistic note and be grateful for their time and consideration.
