First Impression

The first impression you make during an interview sets the foundation for successfully passing the interview and evaluation process. The following tips will help you feel confident during the interview and showcase your abilities to the fullest:

• Arrive on time for the interview. If there’s a risk of delays due to transportation or getting lost, leave early.
• Turn off your mobile phone.
• Be polite to everyone, including those not directly involved in the interview process; remember: you’re under observation from the moment you arrive at the interview location.
• During the interview, demonstrate confidence and enthusiasm for the job by making eye contact with the interviewer (but avoid staring) and don’t hesitate to smile.
• If the interview is conducted by a panel and some panel members are not asking questions, still make eye contact and address all panel members.
• Each panel member has a role: one of them could be your future manager.
• A firm handshake is the most appropriate way to greet the interviewer.
• Walk confidently with purposeful steps and wait to be offered a seat to avoid sitting in someone else’s place. Sit upright, leaning slightly forward.
• Observe how the interviewers are seated and mimic their posture. Slouching may be perceived as arrogance.
• Try not to speak too quickly (which can happen when nervous) and maintain a moderate tone. Deep breathing can help with this. Avoid using jargon or frequent pauses.

Interview Questions

Common questions asked by employers include:

Education:

• Where and in what field did you study? Tell us about it. Why did you choose this field? What do you know about…?
• How do you continue to enhance your knowledge?
• Do you plan to continue your education? Where? In what direction? When? Why?

Professional Experience:

• Tell us about your previous job. What position did you hold?
• What tasks did you perform? What responsibilities did you have?
• Describe a typical workday.
• Tell us about your achievements at your workplace.
• What experience from your previous job can you apply to this position?

Reasons for Changing Jobs:

• Why did you leave your previous job?

Sometimes, questions about personal or future plans may also be asked:

• What type of work are you interested in?
• Have you been offered other jobs?
• What salary are you aiming for?
• What criteria do you use to choose a new job?

Organizational Skills

• Planning ability. Have you ever had to plan an event? What measures did you take? What were the results?
• Ability to prioritize tasks. Tell us about a time when you were extremely busy with studies, work, or other obligations. How did you manage? What actions did you take?
• Task delegation ability. Have you ever managed or organized a task where others assisted you? How did you delegate tasks? What results did you achieve?

Interpersonal Skills

• Client relations. If you’ve worked directly with people or provided customer service, tell us about it. How did you feel in this role? How did they respond?
• Being a team member. Have you worked in a group with others and encountered any issues? What caused the issue? How did you address it? How was it resolved?
• Ability to interact with people at different levels.
• Tell us about a time when you worked closely with someone of higher or lower rank. Describe the situation. What was the outcome?

Technical Skills

• Problem-solving. What was the most challenging work or school problem you faced? Describe it. How did you approach it? What were the results?
• Ability to apply knowledge. Tell us about a time when you had to apply newly acquired knowledge or skills in practice. What knowledge or skills were they? What was the result?

Professional Growth

• Initiative/Leadership skills. Tell us about a situation where you took the initiative to do something different from the group. What did you do? What was the outcome?

Communication Skills

• Communication ability. Have you ever been misunderstood? Tell us about it. How did you clarify your words? What was the outcome?
• Listening skills. Has a friend ever confided a secret in you? What skills did you use in that situation? How would you apply those skills in the workplace?

Dedication

• Responsibility for tasks. Tell us about a situation where you continued a task with determination despite others giving up. Why did you continue? What was the result?
• Service responsibility. Have you worked in organizations providing services to customers or the community? What did you do? What were the results?

Tips for Interviewees

Before the Interview

Prepare for the interview once you’ve scheduled the date!

First, reflect deeply on what you expect from your career: clearly define why this job is or isn’t suitable for you. Above all, your enthusiasm (or hesitation) will be evident.

Ensure your best suit is clean and your shoes are polished! Even if the job doesn’t require formal attire, avoid attending the interview without a suit and tie; women should opt for formal business attire.

There’s a wealth of information online about what to do before, during, and after a job interview. You can find such information through your preferred search engines.

Visit the organization’s website. Are you working in a computer-related field? Write down any information or questions you need to ask the interviewers.

Make copies of your references, education details, and salary information. You may need to fill out employment contracts or other necessary documents.

Bring at least five copies of your most recent resume.

Be prepared for common questions like:

1. What do you consider your strengths and weaknesses?
2. Clearly explain your skills, strengths, and weaknesses. Know yourself.
3. What do you like and dislike?
4. Tell us about where you studied and worked in 5 minutes.

Be ready for unexpected and complex questions like:

1. Can you teach me a specific task you’re capable of doing?
2. How do you approach solving technical problems?
3. How have you handled challenging situations with internal or external clients? Provide two examples. What results did you achieve?

During the Interview

• Don’t try to mimic others. Be natural. There’s no point in saying everything that comes to mind or memorizing answers.
• Make effective use of the interview! The interview is designed to give the employer an accurate impression of you. They want to ensure you can contribute to the organization’s growth, possess the necessary skills, and show enthusiasm for the job. At the same time, the interview allows you to learn about the organization’s activities.
• The interview is a two-way process, so don’t hesitate to ask questions that interest you.
• Show enthusiasm during the interview and capture the interviewers’ attention.
• Don’t rush to answer questions. A brief but well-thought-out answer is better than a hasty, illogical one.
• Interview answers aren’t judged as right or wrong. Your responses should be honest and realistic. Provide answers that reflect your worldview and life experience.
• Interview questions are often based on real-life experiences, so try to give honest examples from real life. Reflect broadly on the tasks you’ve performed, your responsibilities, and your achievements in social, educational, professional, or community settings.
• Try to better understand the organization’s field and the area that interests you.
• Despite the interview being a crucial part of the hiring process, try not to be overly nervous and remember to smile!

Questions for Interviewers

“Do you have any questions for us?”

The answer should never be “No.” If you haven’t received answers to questions that interest you, politely mention it. Don’t sit passively during the interview.

When thinking about questions, consider the following:

• Show interest in additional information about the organization, such as workplace culture, social activities, charity, community work, work-life balance, finished products, industry directions, future strategies, etc.
• Inquire about opportunities for professional development, such as the performance evaluation process, mentorship programs, or the possibility of moving to another position or department within the organization.
• If you’re unsure about the next steps, ask: When can I expect to hear from you? What happens next?
• Avoid asking about company-provided cars or bonuses at this stage; it’s not appropriate. Salary discussions typically occur after a job offer or during the interview if the timing feels right. Wait for the appropriate moment.

In conclusion, stay calm! You were invited to the interview because they’re interested in meeting you. Good luck!