If you’ve landed yourself a job interview, be it in a company that works from a traditional office or a serviced office kl – CONGRATULATIONS! It’s a big achievement, especially for a fresh graduate and during these turbulent times as well.
That said, you’re one step closer to securing your dream job. And while that feels like the best thing yet, it’s important to not rest on your laurels and prepare for your interview. Read on to learn some job interview tips and the steps you can take to stand out as a fresh graduate.
Before the interview:
You’ll never get a second chance to make that first impression with your job interviewer, so it’s key to prepare for your interview well in advance.
(i) Do your research
In preparation for your job interview, the first thing you should do is do some research on the company you’ve applied for. And while you would’ve already done surface-level research (otherwise, why would you have applied in the first place?) it’s important to understand the industry that the company is in, their values, and even their products and services. Aside from reading up on them from their website, check out their social media pages as well or press coverages that have popped up in recent times.
(ii) Know the unique qualities that you have to offer
If you’ve landed yourself a job interview, chances are your interviewer wants to see how your current skill set matches the requirements of the job. Identify your strengths and what you can offer the company. Showcase them your previous achievements and back them up with case studies that can emphasize your skillsets.
(iii) Prepare a list of questions to ask your interviewer
At the end of the interview, it’s likely that your interviewer will ask if you have any questions for them. Rather than saying “no” and risk sounding like you’re not interested or didn’t do enough preparation, prepare some questions beforehand! For starters, ask about the roles and responsibilities of the position you’ve applied for, or something as broad as what a typical day in the company looks like.
If you’re worried about the current COVID-19 situation, you can also ask them how they’ve handled the crisis, how it’s impacted their business and the type of support that they offer their employees during these uncertain times.
During the interview:
Once you’ve done all you need to do to prepare for the interview, it’s time to shine during the interview itself!
(i) Don’t give generic answers
You’ll be asked plenty of questions throughout the interview but stay calm and remember that you were selected because they saw something in you. Focus on who you are and what you can contribute to the company.
Most of all, avoid giving generic answers. Craft your responses based on your experiences and potential that speak of your strengths in a genuine way. After all, this is your moment to shine!
(ii) Be prepared for anything
Life sometimes may throw you curveballs, and this is no different from an interview. Sometimes your interviewer wants to gauge how a potential employee responds in certain situations and asks you things you’ve never thought to prepare for, such as an assessment or creative writing test. But whatever they throw your way, don’t panic. Be quick on your feet and stay calm; trust yourself and your skills.
After the interview:
You’re not out of the woods just yet! After your interview is done, there’s one last thing you need to do to leave a lasting impression.
(i) Follow up
A simple task that’s usually easily overlooked by candidates is following up with the interviewer. Within 24 hours of the interview happening, drop an email to the interviewer thanking them for their time. Take the opportunity to also reiterate how you can contribute to the company and let them know that you’re available to answer any further questions they may have.
At Colony, our mission has always been to elevate your experience at work and that means making sure that we provide a safe environment for our customers. For more information about our on-going efforts on how we’re tackling COVID-19, follow our Twitter account at @ColonyUpdate for assistance and live updates, or check out our COVID-19 Safety Measure and Guidelines.
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