Students look forward to the placement season with eagerness as well as anxiety. It is the culmination of their journey at college and everyone wants to crack their dream companies. The processes can be intense due to competition from peers and the pressure builds up once the placement season progresses. Here are a few tips to help you clear your interviews with flying colours.
Work on the basics : Prepare your resumes in accordance with the job role you have applied for. Remember, the first impression lasts for a long time. Your resume is the first mode of communication through which you can impress the interviewer. Ensure that it is not just a summary of activities but something that communicates how you are best suited for the specific role. Relevant competencies and past achievement can help. Make sure there are no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.
Take suggestions from seniors and faculty. If possible, get some written references from previous employers. Employers also look at social media accounts for background check; make sure your Facebook or LinkedIn account does not have any objectionable content.
Be confident: If you are confident and maintain your composure, you will be able to address most of the questions with zeal. Interviewers generally try to cross-question to check the confidence level and self-belief and how you maintain your temperament when grilled or cornered. So, learn to keep yourself calm in any situation and not getting perplexed easily.
Be knowledgeable : Students are expected to juggle between lectures, projects and even extra-curricular activities. So, selectors would want to know how you have managed to stay on top of everything,
Strategise your interview: The interview process is not merely about the interviewer asking questions and the interviewee answering. The interview can also be strategised in a way where the focus is more on your strengths. But this can only happen with a lot of practice and mock interviews.
Work on presentation: Work on your body language, dress sharply and be neatly groomed. Your body language and the way you carry yourself speaks louder than words. Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake and a light smile. Maintain eye contact, and even if you are feeling nervous, do not let it reflect in your body language. What you feel gets depicted by your gestures, and, hence, positive thinking will help.
Ask questions: At the end of the interview, the interviewer usually gives the interviewee a chance to ask questions. Do not be blank at this time; always use the opportunity to gather knowledge about the job role, company profile and company processes. This will allow you to understand whether the company suits your requirements and gives the impression that you are interested in the employer. It is advisable to prepare a few questions in advance, and, depending on the flow of the conversation, you can ask appropriate questions.
The author is director, marketing and admissions, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai and Gurgaon.
