There are two questions that scare most students, after they have appeared for their exams. The first is: Will I pass the exam with sufficient marks? The second is: Once I pass it, how do I ace the interview round? Often, students fret for hours on end, and while there’s not much that can be done about the first after the exam is over, there are a number of ways to prepare for the second in a timely manner, so that you can give yourself the best chance of cracking it.
Here are a few ways in which you can do that:
1. Suit Up
You may not be an Avenger, but you should totally suit up for your interview. That old adage, ‘First impression is the last impression,’ often holds true in these situations. Especially when there are a lot of equally qualified individuals – at that moment, these small things can be the difference between success and failure.
Personal grooming and good hygiene goes a long way towards impressing the interviewer. After all, if you are unable to take care of yourself, how will you be able to take care of the duties and responsibilities which fill fall on your shoulders in college or in the workplace?
To get the position, you need to look the part. And no, you can’t give the example of Einstein and the likes not caring for their appearances, unless you are a super genius at their level.
2. Study
This may sound obvious, right? But there are a lot of people who believe that they will be able to ‘wing it’ on the day of the interview. Sadly, this does not usually work out. Practice. Know as much as you can about the course you want to get into, then prepare for questions like:
- Why do you want to do this course?
- What will you do after you have done this course?
- How will you contribute to society/the world afterwards?
- Why do you think you should be selected?
- What makes you stand out from other candidates?
- Tell us something about yourself.
Not all of these will show up on the interview – perhaps none will – but the practice they give you will prepare you for any other questions that you face in the interview.
· What are your strengths and weaknesses (Make sure to show a positive side to your weaknesses as well).
3. Practice Speaking
Remember, practice makes perfect. Practice your interview questions and speaking skills in front of a mirror. Eliminate the stutters from your speech, or the sudden pauses. If you do have to pause, either make it seem deliberate, or cover it with a harmless sentence or question.
4. Be Confident
Speak confidently, even if you aren’t sure of yourself, don’t let it show. Fake it till you make it, remember this. Self-belief is important, after all, if you don’t believe in yourself, then how will others? Be sure, but don’t be arrogant.
5. Have a ‘Can Do’ Attitude
There will be questions which will stump you, hypothetical scenarios which you aren’t able to answer. But don’t leave it unanswered, at least try to provide a solution, even if it isn’t the right one. A ‘Can Do’ attitude is always preffered over a negative one. You don’t want to appear as a Quitter.
