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This article was adapted from News Straits Times, authored by Dr Michael Heah. He is the Malaysia’s first Certified Professional Coach and Licences Master Coach Trainer.

There is no age limit in attending interviews. Many people have been going through job interviews at some points of their lives whether in their past or recently and/or may be going for another one soon. Even retirees may one day consider getting out of their retirement to attend interviews because they are bored with not doing anything.

Many new comers enter into the job market everyday. They are either school leavers of fresh graduates who for the first time going for job interviews face an entirely new experience altogether. The common remarks are they do not know how to speak, they have no confidence, they are totally lost and can not carry themselves well.

In the same vein, there are also many working people who have not attended any job interview for ages. I had one expatriate-client, who had not attended a job interview for 20 years and wanted me to coach him on how to handle job interviews. He wanted to be prepared for the kinds of questions that could be asked and how he could answer them impressively to increase his success rate.

Since the 80s, job interviews have taken a new meaning and significance. It was once used to be a one-sided affair with job seekers selling themselves to prospective employers; now it is a high stake affair when it is equally important for the employers to sell themselves to the job seekers. The onus now is for both parties to ensure their interview success through evaluating each other’s value and benefits to find a commit fit for them to enter into an employer-employee partnership.

The demand for good people has never been greater now than in the past. With organizations on the look out for talents to sharpen their competitive edge and increase their organizational capabilities, good people are increasing becoming a non-negotiable asset for organization success. It is therefore worthwhile to pay important attention to interviews to increase your chances of success against your competitors, be it another fellow candidate or your trade competitor next door.

Now with this definition and perspective cleared, we move on to the understand the “mechanics” of a modern day job interview.

Typically, whenever you are called for an interview, you are likely to have been short-listed or highly recommended by someone based on your background or your resume. Here are some guidelines on how to win at your interview:

            Look Good: First impressions count. Make an impression even before you respond to any question. Ensure that your appearance is smart with appropriate attire, pay careful attention to finer body points like your hair, nails and shoes and avoid extreme colour or pattern in clothes.

            Prepare Yourself Positively For Success: You are on a race with other competitors and you must have the mindset you are going to win. Tell yourself: “I know I can make a difference on others”. At the same time, learn to relax mentally and physically before and during the interview so you do not draw blanks under stress.

            Behave Rightly During Interview: There are certain important things to take note such as: arriving at least ½ hour before schedule, smile and use good eye contact when meeting the interviewers, sit upright and lean slightly forward to convey an impression of interest, confidence and alertness, refrain from fidgeting with your hands or crossing and uncrossing your legs.

            Answer Questions Properly: Remember you are also interviewing the employer as well. When replying to their questions you should keep to the point, structure your answers so it is logical and easily understood, speak out with confidence and ensure you can be heard clearly, be prepared and have appropriate information to hand out, show interest in the organization and job, be proud (but do not exaggerate) of your achievements while being honest with your limitations.

            Prepare Your Own Questions: At the end of the interview, you may be asked if you have any questions. Prepare some smart ones in advance, especially those relating to the job and organization. Keep money matter to the end.

            Deal Positively With The Closing Moments Of The Interview: Last impressions are important too. Thank the interviewers for their time, reaffirm your interest in the position and state that you look forward to hearing from them in the near future.

The bottom line is job interviews cannot be taken lightly and special skills are needed for success. For the job seekers, they could be missing out a great opportunity to work for a great employer. For the employer, you could be losing a “gem” of a highly qualified and competent person who can make an impact on your organization. So, we need the “how to” of interviews to win BIG!