Going for interview? Remember, body language and behaviour has more weightage.

I would like to end the series of ‘Interview skills’ by this write up. In my previous three write ups, I shared my views about interview process, some preparation required before appearing for an interview and some questions generally asked by an interviewer from the candidate. This time, I am going to share some guidelines required to adhere with during an interview. How a candidate performs in an interview depends on attitude, behavior and appearance of the candidate. Sometimes, despite good knowledge, a candidate is rejected to casual approach. So, let us understand how a candidate should behave and appear during the interview.

Personal appearance – Very important factor which include personal grooming, hygiene and dressing sense of the candidate. Before going for interview, select apparels and accessories you are going to wear. Go for formals and well cleaned and ironed attires. Take shower and apply mild talcum powder and body deodorant. Take a primp at the rest room before entering interview room. Personal hygiene reflects your energy and freshness, so, take it very important. Be well groomed, males go with shaved or well manicured beard and mustache. Females go with tied hair and with least ornaments and accessories.

Communicate energetically – Your very first spoken word will make an impact. Greet the interviewer and talk naturally. Speak with enthusiasm, this will show your preparation and assertiveness. Your rate of speech and know the content of your resume. Sometimes a candidate add some information in CV which he is not aware, this should not happen else interviewer will consider this CV copied from somewhere.

Behaviour and attitude – Sometimes a won game is lost due to offensive behaviour and poor etiquettes. Politeness, decent manners and etiquettes act as added advantages in addition to occupational skills. While waiting for interview just remember, candidate’s behaviour and manners are observed by the employer. Wait for the turn and sit relaxed. Follow the instructions and do not look uneasy or restless while waiting. Interviewers do not want to make candidates unnecessarily but sometimes process might stretch due to some reasons. Be flexible and face the interview with a fresh look. You might get grilled and might get asked questions out of the box, but never loose patience and temper. Create a harmonic environment and be open for any volunteer responsibility if required.

Body Language – It observed and has more weightage than spoken language skills. Enter the interview room by getting polite permission of the interviewer. Do not sit unless asked to sit. Sit with erect posture, do not incline towards interviewer and keep hands on laps. Maintain your eye contact with social gaze. Use hand movements as per the conversation. Maintain gentle smile throughout the interview, it reflects your happiness while talking to the interviewer. Thank the interviewer at the end of the process and have a gentle handshake if hand extended by interviewer. Arrange the chair and move out with smile.

Maintain an interview file – Just imagine this situation, a candidate steps in for interview and a form is given to him to fill basic details. Candidate asks the receptionist or someone, “Do you have a pen?” Hope you understood what I want to tell. Maintain an interview file and carry all merchandise like working pen, 4-5 copies of recent CV in clear print, latest well groomed coloured passport photographs, small glue stick and other stationary which might be required.

So these are some factors which make a candidate presentable in an interview. A technically weak candidate might be acceptable to a company but candidate with poor etiquettes and casual behaviour is definitely unacceptable to any company. Despite good technical skills, some candidates are rejected in the interview only due to these factors, so do not take this lightly and behave with decent behaviour and manners at the interview, success will be increasing.