Mastering the Interview: Tips for Job Seekers and Employers

Interview is although a tense process in which there is an exchange of questions and answers. But through this both parties try to understand each other and give a chance to impress. This fear is for both job seekers and employers. But there is no need to be worried about because with preparation and clearly understanding other party's perspective you can impress easily. In this article all the important points are discussed keeping in mind both employer and job seeker. Here are following tips to be followed:

Interview Tips for Job Seekers

1) Know Yourself and Know the Job.

Usually, it is said that research is the key. So, whenever you are preparing for an interview you should do research about the company's norms and culture. Also know about the role, requirements and job responsibilities. A recent survey conducted by LinkedIn shows that mostly managers hire those candidates who have knowledge about the company and have some statistical data to prove their points.

2) Practice Makes Perfect

You should prepare your answers and try to rehearse these answers on daily basis. So that you can confidently prove your point of view. For this STAR method is perfect which is basically Situation, Task, Action and Result. This is used for structuring your response during the interview. A study by Harvard Business Review found that almost 60% of candidates don't prepare interview answers before going for an interview. This results in failure during interview.

3) Dress to Impress

It is said that first impression matters and also first impression is the last impression. So, it is recommended that you should dress professionally. Try to dress in such a way that you have idea about the culture of company. This thing will reflect your professionalism for the company. A recent survey conducted by CareerBuilder shows that almost 75% employers or hiring managers judge candidates by their dress.

4) Mind Your Manners

Whenever going for interview, always be punctual, polite and respectful. Try to maintain eye contact and there should be smile on your face while having interview. Also try to use appropriate body language. All these things reflect your confidence. Recent survey conducted by The Muse reflects that 85% of employers hire those candidates who have good communication skills and mind their manners.

5) Be A Storyteller

Don't just list your skills while be interviewed, you should showcase your skills in the form of story. This storytelling should be enriched with facts and figures to help your skills. You can also give examples while telling about your skills. A recent study shows that hiring managers hire those individuals who showcase their skills in the form of story.

Interview Tips for Employers

1) Craft the Perfect Interview

The employer should craft interview questions carefully. While designing interview questions, you should not just include questions related to skills but their should be also open-ended questions. Open-ended questions make it easy for employers to judge the candidates. Because with such kind of questions there will be more elaborative answers from candidates. With the help of these answers employers can realize whether the candidate is suitable for the role or not. Answers of candidates will reflect whether they can adjust in company's culture or not.

2) Be the Welcoming Host

The interview should be conducted in a comfortable and positive environment. It is always recommended that you should introduce yourself and the team. It is suggested that you should clearly explain your expectations. Try to actively listen while candidate is telling about his/her qualification, skills and experience. According to a survey by Glassdoor, 70% of job seekers say a positive interview experience improves their impression of the company.

3) Go Beyond the Resume

Employers should not just rely on resumes to find the eligibility of a candidate for a specific job. They must look for the soft skills like communication and critical thinking ability of candidates. Because these skills are also important for the role. A study by Forbes found that 77% of employers believe soft skills are more important than technical skills for long-term success.

4) Always Give Feedback

It is recommended that you must give feedback to the candidates whether it is positive or constructive. It shows the candidate you value their time and effort. A study by TalentLyft revealed that 75% of candidates want feedback after an interview, regardless of the outcome.

Conclusion:

Remember, the interview is a two-way process. Although the process of interview is hectic but both parties involved in this process can make it easy. Both job seekers and employers have a role to play so that this journey can be successful. Whether you are a job seeker or an employer, by following these tips, making preparation, adopting respect manners and with an open mind you can be successful in this journey.