Dated May 04, 2005
I get very nervous during interviews. As the interview begins, I start stammering and mess up with my language. How do I overcome this debilitating problem?
Siraj
Vijayawada
This is the case with most of those who attend interviews. One way to overcome this is to try and look beyond the problem. Concentrating hard on this setback will only worsen it, which will then become even more obvious during interviews. Relax, and try to think of the correct answer to the question asked.
Confidence alone does not make someone a good speaker. Polished speaking skills come from knowing what your subject matter is, preparing and organising the material and practicing your delivery.
The way to recover from a mistake is to observe it dispassionately, take whatever corrective action is appropriate, regain your composure, focus on what to say next and get on with it. Dwelling on an error and feeling bad about it only adds to your confusion.
You can't please everyone in your audience. Sure, some listeners may think you are a moron for making a mistake. Some won't even notice it. Others may admire the way you recover so easily. Some may be relieved to know you are human. Some won't care one way or the other.
Mistakes can provide excellent feedback for improvement. Mistakes often promote single-trial learning, so it's almost certain you will never make the same mistake twice. Making a mistake does not carry a death sentence.
Take your time and try some simple relaxation techniques to overcome your tension and nervousness during interviews. Stammering can be overcome if you seek professional guidance and are ready to work towards achieving speech fluency through regular practice and therapy.
What should be the attitude of candidates attending interviews?
Vamshi
Hyderabad
It's not simply what you say that brings you success in an interview; it is your manner and presence that count more than your words.
You need to be confident, energetic and enthusiastic. It is good to have a casual attitude but you should not go overboard thinking that the offer is going to knock at your doors. However, an enthusiastic person who demonstrates that he/she wants to shine in the profession will do a lot to convince an employer that he or she is worth the investment. A candidate who can 'engage' the interviewer has a good chance of getting the job offer.
While grades and subjects studied are important, there is not much a candidate can do at the interview stage to change them.
Attitude is always the best seller. An applicant with a positive attitude will be rated higher than others. In general, the résumé gets the candidate to the interview and briefs the employer that he is able to carry out the job. After the interview, employers do not base their decision only on the candidates' qualifications, but on their suitability to the position and department.
How do I respond if the interviewer asks me: "What are your future plans?"
Arjun
Bhimavaram
The interviewer might want to know how ambitious you are, or do you plan ahead and set goals for yourself and might want to see if your plans are compatible with those of the company. The interviewer is trying to find out whether you are serious about staying with this company or whether you are using this job only as a temporary stopover, or will be dissatisfied after a while.
He might also want to figure out if you are likely to stay with the company for a significant period of time or whether you are just using the job as a stopgap arrangement till you land a better one. Talk about your desire to learn more and improve your performance, and be as specific as possible about how you will meet the goals you have set for yourself.
So, you should try to assure him/her of your intention to stay with the company and to grow in your career within the company, which, of course, you probably want to do if the job proves to be satisfying one.
The FAQ column deals with career concerns addressed to The C&K Management LTD. PO Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com
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