High Pressure Job Interview??? Nail it!!!

High Pressure Job Interview??? Nail it!!!

 

Job interviews have a tendency of taking a toll on nerves. While some interviews are more like friendly conversations, others may be more of a grilling that could very well make you loosen that carefully knotted tie and gulp that entire pitcher of water on the table. Here’s help at hand. Read on the tips to handle a high-pressure job interview:

1. Do NOT Rush

Rushing to an interview just adds unnecessary stress. You want to be calm and collected. Create a good impression, and acclimatize yourself to the environment, by arriving 10 to 15 minutes early.

2. Relax!

Regardless of how you feel inside, you must exude confidence. Sit straight without crossing your arms or legs. Don’t clench your jaw while talking and maintain eye contact with your interviewer. Take three deep calming breaths. Doing this will give your brain the right amount of oxygen and will help you think clearly.

3. Modulate Your Tone—Don’t Rush Your Words

In a hurry to make the right impression, you may rush your words. When posed with a question, think about what is really being asked. Focus on the question, gather your thoughts, organize the information and articulate it clearly.

4. Keep Your Cool

The interviewers will have a few tough questions up their sleeves. They may want to know how you respond under pressure and what qualities you have that differentiate you from others. So, some tricky questions may come your way which might throw you off guard.

If you don’t know the answer, be honest. It’s ok to say “I don’t know”. Remember, your interviewers do this for a living. They can tell when a candidate is faking their way through an answer.

5. Be Well-informed

Thorough research always does the trick. If you’re well-informed about the company, you’ll make the interview more of a two-way conversation rather than an interrogation. Before the interview, Google the company, try and read industry reviews on it, follow informal grapevines and discuss the company with your knowledgeable friends.

This way, you’ll have an arsenal of information from which you’ll be able to ask educated questions regarding the goals and future objectives of the company and how you’ll play your part in seeing them through.

6. Stick to the Questions Asked

Going into unchartered waters won’t do you good. In your haste, you might start talking about irrelevant things. Keep it short. Remember to KISS: Keep It Simple and Sequential.

7. Focus on Keywords in the Question

Always remember that there are three different types of questions: ‘what, how and why.” Think about which of these three key questions is being targeted. If they ask you why something happened and you answer them with how it happened, it just won’t work out.

8. Avoid Interrupting

If you think you have a valid point, it can be tempting to blurt it out. Resist all urges of interruption. Interrupting your interviewer is considered impolite and can create a bad impression overall.

9. Observe How the Interviewer Reacts to your Body Language

Be a chameleon. Adjust your body language and style to that of your interviewer. If he or she speaks in low measured tones, do so yourself. If he uses hand gestures to explain things, follow his example. As long as you don’t take it too far, this is a great way to show that you’re engaged.

10. Be sure to thank the Interviewer

When the interview is over, remember to formally thank all interviewers for taking the time to see you. If they prefer a hand shake, do so warmly and firmly and with a confident smile. Many times, interviewees mumble a thank you and move on. Follow up your interview with a polite thank you note as well.