A couple of weeks ago, I had an interview for a volunteer position. It was my very first time, so I was pretty nervous. Although I am a beginner and don’t know much about interviews, I can tell you a few tricks I used in order to succeed.
1. Appearance
Before an interview, try to make sure you look your best, smell good, and remember to brush your teeth. You don’t want someone who is smelly and has bad breath. In terms of looks, try to wear a dress shirt and dress pants. The interviewers want people who genuinely care about their appearance. Although these factors aren’t part of the interview, they still matter because the interviewers will always take this into consideration.
2. Speak with confidence
When you are asked questions, smile and try to be enthusiastic. You don’t want to be boring. Try to be excited and outgoing. Remember to talk loudly, and clearly. Make sure the interviewers understand what you are saying. At the same time, try not to be too formal. Adding examples from personal experience when answering questions is also great. Be confident. Sit up straight, and speak with confidence. Try not to stutter or leave big gaps between what you’re trying to say. This is one thing they look for too.
3. Act professional
Remember to act professional, be mature, and act your age. The interviewers look for someone who is responsible and professional. Try to show this through your words, appearance, and the way in which you answer questions.
4. If you can’t come up with an answer, stall.
In some cases, you might encounter difficult questions that you may not be able to answer quickly. I had come across one of these, so I decided to stall. If you have a water bottle, take a quick sip of water after they ask the difficult question and try to quickly come up with an answer. Another way is to talk really slowly. If they ask a question, you can simply say, “Well, from personal experience,” and say this really slowly. During this time, try to come up with an answer. The one strategy I used is re-asking the question. In this time, you can also try to come up with an answer.
5. Be friendly
The interviewers are looking for someone who is smart, but someone is also able to work with different types of people, and someone who is personable. Try to make eye contact, shake their hand, and thank them for their time.
Overall, these are a few tips you can use during an interview. They might not be the best, but I assure you that they will definitely help.