Being invited to an interview is an extremely good opportunity to finally get that job, and it is usually the last step, before you receive either good or bad news. Days before the interview, we are under a lot of stress, there is no denying that, but in the end, even that is not important, if you can manage to stay cool when the interview starts.

However, many people fail to do that, and they end up making a lot of mistakes that could have been, with good preparation, avoided. Let’s clear one thing up, there is no ideal way to prepare for nailing that interview, but there are some dos and some don’ts, and with a bit of luck, you’ll avoid some mistakes that can cost you a lot.

Being over-prepared

Don’t get me wrong, knowing about the company and the position you’re applying for is crucial, and it might just be the thing that will help you get that job, but you do not want to be a know-it-all, and this is especially important if the interviewer wants to tell you something. Just listen, and nod, there is no need to show that you’ve read everything there is about the history, and the future goals of that company. If they ask you – great, but otherwise, try and relax, or at least try and seem calm. 

Thinking you are in charge

Most of these mistakes are made because people took some advice too seriously. You need to be confident, but do not go overboard with it, as you want to be interesting to the interviewer. You do not want to appear like you own the world, and that every word you utter is specifically designed to make you look like the best candidate there is. You do want them to think that you are perfect for that job, but you also want to appear modest, and capable. There is a fine balance, and that is what the perfect interview is all about. Do not over exaggerate anything - being too confident is one of those things.

Telling them what they want to hear

There is no ideal person for any job, and the interviewers already know that. What they want to see is an individual who is capable, qualified, ready to learn, who is aware of its many flaws, but is ready to overcome them. Being honest can be the thing that will win them. But once again, do not be too honest, and do not reveal every major flaw of your character. It would be much more advisable to find the job that will fit you, your wishes and your needs and then, you wouldn’t need to pretend you’re something you’re not. However, most often, this is not the case, and you will need to adjust your interview to emphasize your flaws, while negating or diminishing your flaws. 

Do not let them speak more than you

In a normal conversation, both sides should have equal time to speak, but when it comes to the interview, you want to be the one that will speak most of the time. This does not mean that you should talk about anything, it just means that everything you say must have its purpose, it must be concise, and to the point. Try and answer some question before they are asked, but let them engage once in a while, as you do not want to bore them. Try and get informed about a lot of things before coming in, and don’t be afraid to ask things that are not clear to you, such as the question of salary, working hours, etc.

Try to be funny, or not

There is a time and place for everything, but humor is not something that is expected at a formal interview, or in your resume. Try and make all your statements as honest as possible, but try and maintain a sense of formality, and even if you think that it is a good time for a joke, skip it. If it is an extremely informal meeting, then you might say something for a laugh or two, but just make sure that you do not touch any sensitive topic.



Source: Ivan Dimitrijevic

1. A good Resume and a cover letter may have possibly given you that chance to give an interview. But once you’re in there, you have less than probably half an hour to make your mark and set yourself apart from other qualified candidates for the job. So, preparing for the pre-interview, interview and post –interview stage is imperative. Here are a few basics you need to keep in mind.

2. Good appearance: Remember, first impression is the last impression. You definitely want to leave a lasting impression on your potential employer. You can begin by appearing good. Whatever your gender, you might want to stick to formal clothing. Yes, while you’re at it, make sure they are comfortable, clean and well pressed. Guys can opt for a tie. Go with neutral or monochrome colors. Ditch the bright oranges, neon blues and the bright purples for another event!!! You might also want to do away with any body piercings you have. Girls, please tone down on the makeup! Always remember-Less is more!!! 

3. Be punctual: Punctuality is one of the main pre-requisites for many hiring managers. Arriving punctually also reduces a great deal of stress. Don’t be late, but then don’t be too early either. Make sure you reach your interview at least 10-15 mins in advance. To do this, you need to make sure you have the correct address a day in advance of the interview. If you’re driving, figure out the parking lot and the time it takes you to walk it to the nearest elevator. It could save you a good 10 minutes. If you are using the public transportation, make sure you keep record of the bus routes and train timings a day or two in advance. 

4. Sell yourself: Believe it or not-“SELLING YOURSELF” is the part which will set you apart from all those other candidates. This means you carry your credentials with you-a copy of your resume to begin with. It’s also a
good idea to carry your work from the previous employment which includes appreciation emails from clients,
thank you notes from customers, awards you’ve bagged, etc. It shows that you’ve taken the extra effort to make that mark. Show them how your skills will make your job easier for you. 

5. Body Gestures: Now that you’ve finally arrived, you want to appear professional. I don’t mean by what you wear, but how you conduct yourself. Your body gestures play a big part here. No matter what your attire is-when you enter, you must always wear a nice, BIG smile. Your handshake must be firm-not extra strong or weak and clammy. Always make eye contact-which shows that you are an honest person and you’re one that accepts feedback. Make sure you don’t turn your eye contact into an ugly glare which borders on threat. But then, don’t completely look away from your interviewer which actually shows low self-esteem. Your sitting posture is very important-sit with your back erect-No body wants to hire a slouch. While speaking, make sure you have open hand movements or gestures which show that you’re a person who is easily approachable. Don’t folds your arms which give you a closed and reserved look.

6. Ask questions: Asking the right questions is very important. These questions mainly help you clear your doubts or apprehensions about starting a new job. It could be questions related to the company (its policies, corporate ethics, pay structure, etc) or the job itself so that you’re aware of the specific skills involved. This shows your interest in being a part of the organization. Questions relating to the job also show that you want to make sure you’re an asset to the company by bringing in your skills-technical or communicative to do a good job while you’re on board!

7. Follow up-No matter how the interview goes-always follow up! You can do this a week after the interview. Always thank your interviewer for the opportunity they gave you-no matter what the outcome is. The feedback
they give you will always help you discern your strengths and weaknesses.

It’s everybody’s worst nightmare when they are asked the question: Why is there a gap on your CV? I have spoken to many people who are going for interviews and absolutely dread being asked about periods of time when they weren’t in work.

However people may have a gap on their CV for a variety of reasons. This can be due to travelling, poor health, family reasons or perhaps you were made redundant. Admittedly there can be a tendency amongst some employers to overlook candidates that have noticeable periods of time without work.

Personally, I am always more interested in the abilities and characteristics of an individual – if they haven’t been in work for a while but have the quality my company needs, I will hire them.

However as a candidate you do need to be prepared to answer questions on any gaps in your CV. It is essential to be honest and up front. Trying to lie or bluff your way through isn’t the way to do things and to be perfectly honest, most good hiring managers will see straight through you. Explain whatever circumstances there were – in the video below I discuss one of the answers I was given to this question. Although it caught me off guard a little, it was clearly an honest one.

I have spoken before about the need to do your research going into an interview, and this is especially important if you have been unemployed for a while. By showing off your knowledge of both the company and the industry, you are essentially telling the interviewer that you are still up to date with what is happening. As somebody who has interviewed thousands of people over  the years, I can tell you that a candidate who knows the latest news and trends in their industry gets a big tick next to their name.

If you are struggling to get through to the interview stage because of the gaps on your CV, think outside of the box. A short period of voluntary work always looks good and it will give you something recent
to put on there. Consider taking relevant courses as well – this shows you are an ambitious individual who is always looking to improve their skill set.

Explain the skills you did pick up while you have been out of employment. Many people think that offices and classrooms are the only place where you learn things but this simply isn’t true. For example if you have spent time away looking after your children, focus on the strengths you needed such as discipline, organisation and the ability to multi-task. If you have travelled, you may have picked up international knowledge which would be useful for a business looking to increase their global presence.

You may have decided to change careers and sometimes people try and airbrush what they have done in another industry. But every sector has transferable skills – what you need to is explain exactly what yours are and how they will help in the job you are applying for.

All the signs in the recruitment industry are currently pointing to an increase in talent attraction. The opportunities for candidates are now there, but it also means they need to work a lot harder to stand out. Being out of work for a while may seem like a hindrance to some people, but if you are positive, proactive and willing to put the effort in, this shouldn’t be the case.

If you think just the most impressive resume wins the job offer, think again.

While resumes may help you to the door, it’s the purposeful story you will tell that often gets you through the door and into a new office with your name on it.

Executive search gurus say that lack of preparation in order to tell a purposeful and compelling story about themselves is the number one reason why candidates fail to win over prospective employers in job interviews. 

"If these folk haven’t prepared to get themselves hired, how will they be prepared to effectively lead organizations, persuade customers, manage employees, and sell products? According to Simon it’s because arrogance and self-righteousness can mislead potential candidates into thinking they don’t need to prepare. Doing the advance work helps shine the light on their attitude which every employer looks for. Aptitude is on the written word on the resume. Attitude is in the story and how they tell it to persuade others of their passion, purpose, and capability."

Failing to realize that the emotional resonance of the conversation is what HR execs, recruiters, managers, and every other decision-maker who you need to convince to hire you remembers, rather than the facts, data, and information on your resume will be the fatal flaw in your interview. It’s not that the facts, information and data aren’t important. They are critically important. But they’re already on the page and now you’re on the stage. When you tell a purposeful story demonstrating your attitude and passion, suddenly the data, facts and figures of your resume become memorable, resonant and actionable because your story has given your listeners  something they can hold onto, remember, and tell forward.

Before your next interview, go armed! Not with resume bullets, but with the belief and conviction that the story you tell will hit your listeners’ hearts and stay top of mind long after you’ve left and the plethora of other candidates attempt to sell themselves on the backs of their resumes alone.

Talent management is a core pillar of any company strategy and one of the most important responsibilities for an Human Resources professional. I have reviewed thousands of resumes  over my career and built a system to categorize them into yes, no and the dreaded maybe buckets. The resumes that go into either the yes or the no piles are usually very easy to identify. But I often think about the maybes. These resumes get saved as a backup but in reality, never get a chance to be in the field of play.

With many resumes on job portals like Naukri, it will be harder and harder for a maybe to become a yes which is the first step in landing a new job. Great candidates with fantastic backgrounds can get condemned to the maybe pile because the resume didn’t represent them well and didn’t make an impression in the 30 seconds an average hiring manager spends on filtering a resume.

I find there are three big mistakes that usually cause an otherwise great resume to be filtered out in a screening process:

1) Focusing on the wrong thing: I often see candidates explain their responsibilities and list them in great detail, but forget to highlight their results. The unique things they did that their predecessors had not. What were their specific accomplishments and what sets them apart? The more quantitative, the easier for a screener or hiring manager to understand and select them for the next discussion. Numbers and metrics speak louder than words. Vague generalities are the kryptonite of a resume.

2) Writing a thesis when a synopsis is needed: Mark Twain once said, “if only I had more time, I would write thee a shorter letter”. When writing a resume, it is important to heed these words and take the time to really write succinctly and precisely. The longer and more dense a resume, the harder it is for a recruiter to get to the heart of your achievements and contributions. Precise, clear, factual, numbers driven resumes will always get more traction.

3) Leaving unanswered red flags: Candidates will often wait for the interview process to explain any red flags or gaps that may be on their resume, but by that time it may be too late. In most cases, they won’t make it that far if the issues are not explained on the resume, cover letter or LinkedIn profile itself. Candidates should put on the hiring manager’s hat and look at their own resumes with this filter and then proactively address any of these
issues in a clear and unambiguous way. A couple of examples of what I mean:

Let’s say someone has moved around a lot in their career. A screener may see this as an inability finish things they start or an indication that they aren’t a committed candidate. It behooves you to explain the reasons for the movement where possible. Was it a corporate change, like an acquisition, that caused the moves? Or is it an indication that you were looking for more of a challenge?

It is worth the extra effort to make your online profile rock solid. That’s the only way to convert the page views into clicks on your resume.

Oh and one other thing, in this day and age, there is no excuse for typos and grammar mistakes in a resume. Those types of errors demonstrate a lack of detail orientation and commitment, and may result in your resume going into the no bucket.

1. Get rid of the objective: If you applied, it's already obvious you want the job.

2. Cut out all the irrelevant work experiences.
If you're still listing that prized shift leader position from your high school days, it's time to move on.
Yes, you might've been the "king of making milkshakes," but unless you're planning on redeeming that title, it's time to get rid of all that clutter.

3. Take a pass on the personal stuff: marital status and religious preference.
This might've been the standard in the past, but all of this information is now illegal for your employer to ask you so there's no need to include it. It will likely only hurt your chances of getting the position more than it would help you, says Catherine Jewell, author of the book “New Résumé, New Career.” Another piece of personal information you should never include on your resume is your social security number, Sara Player, client support specialist for CareerBuilder.com, told us. Player isn't actually sure why people decide to include their social security numbers, but she knows she sees it all too often and it's unnecessary, not to mention, a little risky.

Most of the recruiters and employers have quit traditional methods of searching for a perfect candidate. No longer do they spend all their time going through job portals but they also search for interesting candidates on social media sites, blogs, forums and professional networking sites.

LinkedIn is one great way of letting recruiters know about your talents, testimonials, profession, friends, business networks and much more. LinkedIn has over 35 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the world. A new member joins LinkedIn approximately every second, and about half of LinkedIn members are outside the U.S. Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members and have listed their entire profile including roles, responsibilities, previous experiences, education and their business network details. 

Although we may never know why we didn't get chosen for a job interview, a recent study is shedding some light on recruiters' decision-making behavior. According to TheLadders research, recruiters spend an average of "six seconds before they make the initial 'fit or no fit' decision" on candidates. 

The study used a scientific technique called “eye tracking” on 30 professional recruiters and examined their eye movements during a 10-week period to "record and analyze where and how long someone focuses when digesting a piece of information or completing a task."