You Are Hired!

Very few things in life could frustrate one as a seemingly unending job hunt (yes, hunt not search!). Is it any wonder then that an invitation to interview is often welcomed like a job offer itself. Before now, you have always applied without any invite. So you worked on your CV and now you are here... INVITED. Yipeee! You feel like popping a bottle of champagne in celebration.

But this is not 'it' yet. The euphoria is short-lived and unceremoniously upstaged by little, progressively growing jitters that will not go, no matter how much or how hard you try to relax. Don't worry. In this post, I am going to walk you through all you need to know and do before, during, and after the interview. This step-to-step guide will help you ace that interview and nick the job with a bang! Trust me, this is no fluke or mere boast. After digesting and following these ensuing steps, you will personally write to thank me for this life-changing piece. And guess what? It is totally free!

Let me warn before we shoot that this is going to be a long, but insightful piece; it will equally be more than worth the time and effort. So strap your seat belt and let's go on this journey. 

Understand Your Situation
You are not alone in this. Check out the facts: 

• There are over 29 million unemployed Nigerians who are fighting for a job today
• More than half of these fall within the age bracket of 18 to 35 years
• 705, 352 applications were received for 10,000 job openings in the Nigerian police in 2016 while over 80,000 job seekers jostled for 1,112 NIS vacancies in 2017
• On a conservative level, a job opening in Nigeria receives between fifty to hundred applications within a week window

Do you now understand what you are in? This is a competition. Welcome to the jungle where it is a survival-of-the-fittest, winner-takes-all contest. If you have attended several interviews before now without success, you need to ask yourself, "Who took my job?!" You might not be the smartest of the lot or the most qualified one for the job. Obviously, you do not even have "a tight connection" that can secure you the job (else you will be working somewhere at the National Assembly as the personal assistant to a Senator's personal assistant). So, understand this is serious business. As a job seeker, you are an not unemployed. You are engaged full time and your job is to get a job. It is one you only get paid when you actually get the job done. So strap your boots and be prepared for the challenge. Which takes us to the next point.

Stay Prepared, Stay Sharp
Here is a secret: 90 percent of your preparation will have to be psychological. I mean with all the jitters and fear occasioned by uncertainty, it is highly probable that you will mess it all up (in your head) even before you take a step in the interview room. What to do? Get rid of all negative junks that have been running in your thoughts. Eat well, sleep well, worry less.

Do Your Research
That is your home work. Take time to do it very well. XYZ Limited invited you for an interview; so what do you know about them? Probably a little, not much. You may never have even heard that name before, talk less of knowing it exists. Do a diligent search to ensure they are legitimate. You don't want to fall into a scam trap. After establishing they are legit, try to know what exactly they are into, their history and operations. You will most of these information from the web (google is your friend). Most of these organization have an online presence. A visit to their website will answer most of your questions and get you acquainted with them. The 'About Us' page is a valuable minefield (expo) that lets you know what they are all about. Know their core values, their vision and mission statement; read up on names and brief biographies of their senior officials (if provided), you might get one or two ideas that can help you associate/bond with the organization during the interview. Read industry-related journals. 

Know what is the current trend in the market, industry and world. A candidate was once asked to mention five things (events) that are currently happening on the global scene. Be up to date.

IMPORTANT: If the vacancy was advertised (as it is likely to be), go back and read the job description for the role. This will serve as the base on which you should build your answers. Address the needs of the company vis-a-vis the requirements for the role. If you score an A here, you are more than halfway gone in securing the job for yourself.

Memorize your Resume 
Well, maybe not verbatim, but please do not go off not knowing what you have on your resume. Nothing is worse than going on an interview and not knowing answers to the most common questions. An interviewer can ask you ANYTHING on your resume - make sure you know your resume in and out. 

Also, be sure to be as honest as possible in writing your resume. I have seen candidates who are very 'proficient' in MS Excel, but cannot carry out simple addition of numbers using the required formula. So much for proficiency!

Practice! Practice!! Practice!!! 
One sure way you will work through that door very high on confidence is to have done 'your interview' at home. Practice makes perfect. The more you prepare yourself for the big day, the more you will get better at it.  Do mock sessions with a family member or friend. It is having someone play the role of an interviewer and you play the role of the candidate. Let them ask you any question that comes to mind. Do it over and over again. 

Some questions are unavoidable (situational ones where you have to show how you dealt with a challenging task, handled a difficult boss/irate customer, took an initiative etc.). Have these answers ready and practice them over and over again. Speak to yourself in front of a mirror. Watch your posture, facial expressions and demeanour as you speak. Listen to your voice. Does it drag? Is it audible enough? Get the right pitch that makes communication easier for you. You may not yet understand the import of all these until you really begin to practice and note the difference.

So today is the D-day!!!

Relax 

It is nothing but just one person talking to another. That's it. Nothing more and nothing else. The interviewer may be someone higher up the ladder in the industry, but (s)he is neither a ghost, a masquerade, nor a terrorist. So chillax buddy. As an introvert, I am used to feeling tensed when meeting someone for the first time. However, a trick I use is to condition my mind to think that I am just gisting with a childhood friend I have lost touch with for a while and just got re-united with. It is called mind conditioning and it ALWAYS works. 

What To Wear

Possibly even more stressful than the questions you are going to have to answer, you are going to have to find the perfect outfit to wear to a job interview.  You want to look professional and like you are going to fit in with the company.  A good rule of thumb for men is that you can’t overdress for the interview – shirt and tie or a suit is always a safe choice.  For women, picking the clothes is more challenging. For both men and women, pick an outfit that you feel comfortable in and that fits you properly.  You don’t want pants that are too tight or a shirt that is too snug across the chest.  It will be a distraction for both you and your interviewer.  Along the same vein, pick colours that suit you but aren’t too bright or patterns that are overly bold.  You want the focus to be on your answers, not what you are wearing. A good idea is to wear the 'company colour' which you can easily deduce from their logo.

Remember too that your overall appearance is going to be judged, and this includes more than the clothes you are wearing. Be clean, neat and tidy.  It is probably best not to wear a strong scent – chances are you will be in a small room and it could make others uncomfortable.  Your finger nails should be short and clean, your hair clean and tidy, and have mints with you or brush your teeth immediately before leaving for the interview.

You may wonder what all of these details has to do with your qualifications and getting the job.  It has to do a lot with it, especially if you are going to be dealing with the company’s customers face-to-face.  The company will want to hire employees who are going to represent the company in the best possible light.

Don’t Be Late

This may seem obvious, but it happens way too often.  No matter the reason, there is no excuse for it (besides an injury or family emergency and then kudos to you for showing up). 

Getting lost, bad traffic, or losing track of time doesn’t matter to an interviewer. They are taking time away from their primary duties to sit down with you to try and give you a job.  It is rude and disrespectful to not show up on time. Here are a few tips to ensure this doesn’t happen:

Do a dry run:  If you are going to an office in a city or a part of the city you are not familiar with, drive there a few days before.  Ideally you will do it during a weekday at a similar time to your interview time to gauge the amount of time it takes to get there.

Leave early:  Not just 15 minutes early, you can plan to arrive 30-60 minutes before your interview time.  Don’t go into the building though.  Get into the area, find a cool spot you can relax while reading the paper or reviewing your resume. Not only will this ensure that you are on time it also gives you time to relax and calm yourself before walking into the building.

If you are running late (but really, you shouldn’t be), make sure you call.  The interviewer may not have time to complete the interview if you are running late and you will save both of you the time if you let them know.  You can try and salvage the faux pas by trying to book another appointment right away.  And if you are lucky enough to get a second chance, follow the tips above to arrive not only on time, but early.

Observe Simple Manners 

During an interview you need to mind your manners and follow an unspoken code of etiquette. This is more than your mom’s “Keep your elbows off the table.”  Business manners are going to be key. An interview is so much more than what you have to say – it is how you present (or sell) yourself.  If part of the job you are applying for is dealing with clients or executives from other companies, you can be guaranteed how you act is part of the decision making process.

You have to be able to maintain eye contact without being uncomfortable. There are some acceptable ways to do this.  If you are answering a question, it is okay to glance away when gathering your thoughts but if you are listening to someone keep your attention focused on them (even if their eyes are wandering).  This shows good manners and that you care about what they have to say.

Do not under any circumstance have gum or a mint in your mouth during the interview.  If you want to be sure that you have fresh breath, chew gum or suck on the mint before arriving at your destination but discard or finish them before you enter the building.  It is distracting and rude to have them in your mouth when answering questions.

Use your interviewer’s name, ideally you found out who you would be interviewed by when the meeting was arranged.  If it isn’t provided to you, be sure to ask who you will be meeting with and their position.  When you arrive, shake hands and greet the person by name.  If you are just learning their name, repeat it and remember it.  You want to be sure to get it right and thank them for their time when you are leaving.

Be Confident

Who isn’t nervous during a job interview?  Even the most self-assured candidate is going to have a moment of tension.  But the trick is to keep this to yourself and portray an image of confidence.  This is what a potential employer wants to see -  if you are not confident in your own abilities why should they be?  Here are a few ways to exude confidence.

Make eye contact, nothing is more of a dead give-away of poor self-confidence than a person that will not look someone in the eye.  Walk up to your interviewer, extend your hand and look them in the eye when you greet them and express your pleasure of meeting them.  And don’t beat around the bush when you are talking.  Saying things like, “Well, I kind of helped with a project but I didn’t run it myself,” screams I do not think I am worthy of this position.  Instead, say this, “I assisted in a very successful project and played a key role in bringing it to completion.”  Your role in the project may not have changed the perception the interviewer has of you has.

If you haven’t been on very many interviews or it has been some time since you last attended one, it is understandable to be nervous.  The more interviews you complete, the more confidence you will gain in your abilities to sell yourself.  And you have to remember that if you were not qualified you would not have gotten the interview in the first place.  Use that knowledge to your advantage and instill confidence in yourself.  As a back-up measure, get some friends or family members to remind you of all of your great traits and what makes you special – an ego boost before an interview can certainly boost your confidence level. More importantly, stay calm and remind yourself you are just conversing with a friend, not a terrorist.

Answering The Tough Ones

Every question has an answer or (at least) a logic behind it. Each interview has at least a question that you really don’t know the best way to answer.  It is the one that you agonize over for days and keep going over it and over it in your head and you ask others how they would have answered.

Trust me, there are some weird, crazy interview questions out there you may never expect to be asked in an interview, but you will be! There is no way to avoid this type of questions but you can answer them with confidence to give yourself peace of mind until you get a call back.

Do not feel that you have to answer immediately after you have been asked a question.  You are not on a game show where the fastest contestant to answer wins.  Your interviewers will appreciate that you have taken time to formulate your answer.  If you are concerned by a prolonged silence – don’t be, it is normal.  If you have been asked a question that you do not know exactly what to say, ask for a moment to think of an appropriate answer.  This is preferable to taking a long time to answer without explaining what you are doing.

If you really can’t think of an answer off of the top of your head, ask if you can come back to the question in a moment – keep trying to think of an answer.  Don’t think that if you get to the end of the interview and you haven’t answered the question that you are off the hook.  Even if your interviewer doesn’t ask again, it has not gone unnoticed that you didn’t respond to a question.  The best case scenario is for you to bring the topic back to the question and answer it accordingly.  Thank your interviewer for giving you the extra time to come up with the right answer. If it is a lengthy question that is broken into parts, break it down into, don’t try and answer it all at once – you can always ask for parts of the question to be repeated.

No Assumptions, Be Sure

This is a good piece of advice to follow in life, but it also has a special place in an interview setting.  You want to be viewed as someone who understands what is necessary and can deliver the expected results – more than just in the interview room – and making assumptions will not guarantee you will be viewed like this. The easiest and best way to avoid assumptions is to ask for clarification.  

If a question is asked that is ambiguous or you really aren’t sure what they mean, ask them to explain it to you.  Sometimes, without meaning to, an interviewer will use company jargon or acronyms in a question or in conversation.  You can respond by saying, “I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with that term, could you explain it to me please?”  Not only will this show that you are paying attention but it will also demonstrate that you have an interest in the company and what they are about.

When you are answering a question and you need to include company specific terminology, be sure to explain what you mean.  In addition, you cannot assume that your interviewer will know what you are talking about either.  Take a moment to either set up your answer with the required information to understand what you are talking about or pause and explain certain phrases or words.  Better yet, if you can use common terms in the place of company specific ones, it is the preferable way to go.

Lastly, don’t assume that the job is in the bag.  No matter how confident you are that you are the most qualified person for the position – it isn’t yours until you have received a job offer.  Make the best impression you have and keep the mindset that you are still competing for the job and sell yourself accordingly.

Be Thorough But To The Point

If you love to talk and when you are nervous can go on and on, or if you are the opposite and clam up when you are in a stressful situation – you need to be conscious of this and not do either in an interview.  When asked a question, interviewers want enough information that will help them understand what you are talking about, but not extraneous irrelevant information.

If you are answering a question using an example from your previous or current job and there is a lot of jargon or acronyms – try to use more common place term that more people are familiar with or explain what you mean in the beginning.  If you are asked to describe a time when you lead a project – explain what the project was about, how many people you managed and any key points that demonstrate what a great job you did.  What you don’t want to do is get side-tracked and give details that aren’t relevant to the question. The interviewer is not going to be interested in a play by play of the entire project – they want to know your role in it. 

Keep on topic; take a moment before answering a question to organize the details in your mind.  You don’t want to start answering, get sidetracked and forget the point you were trying to make.  If you stay on topic and know what you are going to say, you are going to be able to keep the interviewer’s attention.

If you are a person of few words, practice with a friend or family member before your interview.  Learn how to expand your answers so you give thorough information without leaving the interviewer wanting more.  But if you are in doubt, less is better – an interviewer will ask follow-up questions if necessary.

A slip?

So you made one or two mistakes during the interview? Do not beat yourself up on the spot and lose it. Collect yourself and try to get back on track again. Truth is, perfect interviews rarely come. But as far as it is not grossly bad, you will be fine. The remaining part of the interview left still gives you enough time to make a far better impression. Do not kill yourself over it.

Show Enthusiasm

Are you excited about the prospect of getting the job and are you are thrilled that you were called in for an interview?  Well then, show it when you are being interviewed!  Bring an energy and attitude to the interview that will make the company take notice.  The process of interviewing is usually a long and boring one for those on the other side of the table.  Do your part to make it easier for them to choose you as the best candidate. Just think of all the people before and after you that are also going to be interviewed for the same position.  If all other things were equal – qualifications and the answers to the interview questions – what is going to set you apart from the rest?  You can be enthusiastic and smile when answering (when appropriate) and still maintain an aura of professionalism.  You want to exude charisma and keep the interviewer’s attention.  They have heard a lot of the answers already, but you can get the message across with more than words.

Someone who is excited to get a job and lets that excitement be known is going to have a better chance than someone who talks in a monotone and with little to no emotion.  Don’t be afraid to smile and use phrases as “that’s great” or “wonderful” when you are told about the company.  Be the type of person that the company wants to represent them and you will increase the chances of a job offer. 

A few words of caution: don’t go overboard.  Be genuine in your enthusiasm and be yourself.  Sincerity is key or your enthusiasm could work against you instead of for you.  If you are naturally bubbly by nature, tone it down a bit for the interview so you do not overwhelm your hosts.

Ask Your Own Questions Too

Okay, you have made it to the end of your interview and the interviewer says it is now your turn.  They want to know if you have any questions for them.  And most likely you do:  “How did I do” and “Are you going to hire me” – unfortunately you can’t ask either one.  But there are questions that you can ask to glean some information on how you performed and to determine if the company is a right fit for you.

Although it is not acceptable to ask how you did in an interview, it is okay and encouraged to ask what the next steps are and the timeline for them.  Depending on how this is answered, you may be able to figure out their reaction to you.  But this is not full-proof and is not a guarantee.  If they take the time to explain all the checks they need to go through, how many people they have left to interview and so on, they are probably interested and want you to understand that there is still steps left in the process.  If they only tell you that you will hear from them within a certain period of time via letter, well it isn’t as promising.

Look at the opportunity to ask your own questions as your chance to interview the company.  Of course you have done your research prior to attending and have made up a list that you wrote down before attending.  Show your preparedness and pull out the list to ask your questions.  Things like company direction and expansion show an interest in the business.  Feel free to take notes; it can earn you brownie points.  Ask questions that are important to you as well, if vacation time and benefits are a deal breaker for you, find out now what the company has to offer.

No 'Hangovers'

The interview is over and you can’t help but sigh with relief. You made it through and it wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be (or maybe it was, but hey it was a good experience).  Now, you might think you are in the clear and all you have to do is to wait.  While it is true that waiting is the next step, it is not that easy.  Some even find it more difficult between the time the interview has been completed to the time they hear back from the company on whether or not they have gotten the position.

Unless you discover that you have given the interviewer misinformation, don’t continue to go over your answers again and again.  If you look for flaws you will find them.  It is unnecessary torture.  Keep yourself busy and if you are on a serious job hunt, continue with your search and put the interview on the back burner until you hear back. 

Always take the time to send a thank-you mail to the interviewer. It puts you back in the picture and fresh in the interviewer's mind when making a shortlist. Keep it short and simple. Use the opportunity to also tell them why you think working together will be perfect especially as you have had privilege to meet with them and see first-hand the company culture and friendly work environment. Do not stalk the interviewer or bombard him (her) with calls/messages on why you should get the job. Obviously, you are making a case for yourself as a loser who should not be given any consideration  for the position whatsoever.

Keep yourself busy as you wait for an answer from your interview.  And if it happens that you didn’t get the job use it as a learning experience.  If there were questions you wished you would have answered differently at least you know that now for the next interview you attend. I doubt there will be a 'next time', though!