Interview Taboos: Sins you do not want to commit during a job interview because being jobless equals to a living hell.

There is only one day left before your interview. You go through your list of things to bring and start ticking it out. Formal attire checked, documents needed checked, transportation checked. You think you already have everything on your finger tips. But how about during interview? What are the things you should avoid doing? Especially during intense situation where you are bombarded with tough questions and expected to give the right answers. What are the right answers then? With these thoughts in mind, I bet a lot of you out there have a hard time sleeping at night before your job interview. But fret not, I have listed some of the most important taboos that should be avoided during a job interview.


A) Say the wrong things.

i. Say something different from what is written in your CV (in simple words, lying).
ii. Tell them your weaknesses that will cost you losing the chance of getting the job.
iii. Talk bad about your previous employer.
iv. Over share.

Since the recruiter or HR personnel already have your CV, you should not lie to them by saying something that contradicts what you have written in your CV just to impress them. But if you are honest enough in your CV this is something you should not be worried about.

Usually the interviewers will ask you about your weaknesses or things you would want to improve about yourself. Do not tell them something that you are not good at when it is an essential in the job nature that you are applying for. For example you are applying for a sales position but you tell the interviewer you are a very shy person. You have got to be kidding me! You should not be applying for the job in the first place!

Even when you have had a bad experience in your previous employment NEVER EVER do boss, co-workers or employers bashing. Your experience may be terrible but telling it to anyone is not a good idea. Your interviewers are most likely to see you as the problem not your boss.

Sometimes you will come across very comfortable interviews where you feel very connected to the interviewers. This is good, but remember not to spoil it by thinking both of you are closer than you really are. Do not share about a hot date you had the night before or about recent difficulties in your life (We are HR people not shrinks mind you). Unless it is really necessary to share the difficulties as evidence of your ability to deal with hardship. You can give example of the difficulties you have faced and how you have overcome them.


B) Fashionably late is not the 'in-trend'.

i. Arrive late for the job interview.

When you are late, not only do you waste your interviewers’ time but it also shows your lack of discipline. The interviewer will assume you are not serious enough in getting the job and that will leave a very bad impression of yourself to the organization. If you are stuck in a jam or have a transportation problem, let the HR people know about it so they can probably proceed with other candidates first. To avoid this you must plan your journey to the interview right after you have confirmed the interview session. You should not agree with the time and date of the interview in the first place if you know you will face difficulties getting there on time.


C) Hurt the interviewers eyes.

i. Wear inappropriate clothes.
ii. Chewing gum.

Jeans, too revealing clothes, satin shirt for guys, round neck t-shirts and sandals are definitely not allowed for job interview. Please, please, please stick to suits and formal clothes. Remember to look classy and conservative. Still clueless on how formal attire looks like? Easy, just Google it and you can find many examples of formal wear on the Internet OR you can always refer to Rule 6 in our famous 10 Rules to Nail Your Dream Job.

First, it will be hard for you to speak clearly when you chew a gum. Secondly it will be a distraction for the interviewer, and third it is just very rude. So save the gum for the football game!


By following the tips above I hope it will lead you to the 'right light' and keep you away from the 'fire'. But remember to be yourself and DO NOT lie your way through. Good luck hunters and stay out of trouble!

Creating Magic (Part 2)

Basic etiquette is essential in creating a great, lasting impression. Time management is one of the top items on the list the interviewers look at. Punctuality is a MUST! What an impression you make if you are at least 10 minutes early to the interview, all dressed up and ready with a smile on your face.

Acknowledging the people around you goes a long way. Ignoring people is one of the major taboos. You never know who the people you encounter on your way could be. Be courteous and greet whoever it is that comes your way. Regardless of the kind of response you receive, know that such effort will be remembered. If you find it a task to greet, then a simple genuine smile will do. The idea is just to show that you acknowledge their presence. A stranger today could be an important friend tomorrow.

Another major taboo is bad body odor or bad breath. Candidates who enter the room with either or both leave a bad aftertaste. People will not be able to concentrate, and such odor taints not only the interview room, but the interviewer’s mood as well. Your inconsideration is a turn-off and automatically removes you from the list.

Language is a major interview issue in Malaysia. Candidates tend to speak Manglish or make grammatical errors that become an earsore. Learn to adjust to situations. Leave Manglish at the door when you attend an interview. If you are struggling with the English language, be humble enough to acknowledge it and do something about it. Do not allow your prideful ego get in the way. Reading out loud is a simple way to master the language. Speaking proper English will give you an added advantage on top of your good first impression.

Making a great, lasting impression is not tough if you take note of the common, simple mistakes people make in interviews. Learn whatever that is good, and leave the bad habits behind. Confidence and moderation, with a touch of humility will sail you through the first of many hurdles: making a good first impression.

Creating magic is all about common sense. It is putting effort in what you already know. Make the extra mile for the interview and whatever it is in life and expect wonderful, satisfying results. Extra thought and preparation will hone your intuitive style and make every first impression lastingly magical.

Creating Magic (Part 1)

“A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.” Henrik Ibsen, the “godfather” of modern theathre must have forseen the blunders of first impressions, especially during interviews. Even in days of old, first impressions was a major aspect of interviews. Back then you just had to make a good first impression once, and within half an hour, you would know the results. Today, the interview process has evolved so much that it causes confusion and anxiety. You need to create a good first impression each visit you make (at least twice), and it will be at least two weeks before you know the results. What a wait!

Unfortunately, bad impressions are almost impossible to undo, and good impressions are easily overridden by bad ones. Do not expect the interview to go well if you have soured the first impression. The first impression is THE most important aspect you take care of when attending an interview. It sets the tone, and the key to kick start a good relationship. Who would want to make an effort to meet someone who has not given a good first impression?

Creating the first impression is the first of many hurdles to cross, one that will determine your career path. It is rare for the employer to hire a candidate they do not like or have chemistry with. It does not matter if you have the best technical knowledge,or grasp of vocabulary and communication skills, the matter of the fact is, if you fail to make a good impression, know that you have jeapardised your chances of getting that job. Joseph Le Conte once said, “The essential thing is not knowledge, but character.”

So, is creating a good first impression tough? Or putting it in another way, is creating a great lasting first impression tough?

It is a simple answer. NO IT IS NOT! Honestly, it is all about common sense, and basic etiquette. This does not only apply to the interviews you attend, but the people you meet along the way. The first 3 to10 seconds of meeting is the most crucial part of the interview. Always bear in mind that wherever you are, whether in an interview or meeting, judgement is passed the moment you step through the door, from your posture to the way you walk, your smile, and the form of handshake you give.

The distance you walk from the door to the chair, which we shall dub “The Magic Walk”, gives way to the person you are. It is the switch to the interviewer's interest. Your job is to make sure it is switched on and KEPT on. When you enter the room, go in with a purposeful stride. A good self-esteem generates positive attitude that will in turn become confidence.. A genuine smile is the hightlight of the walk. A common saying goes, “Smile and the world smiles too.” It is a contagious habit that humans have, and one that is very useful in creating a great, lasting first impression.

“The Magic Walk” is not complete if you do not have the right look. Imagine walking in confidently with a smile on your face, but wearing a shabby outfit. People may think you are a little off mentally. Dressing to impact should be on top of your preparation list, regardless of where you are heading. “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Dress appropriately according to the industry you are going into. Your effort to dress adds merit to the impression you give, and it will be duly noted by the interviewer.

Rule 10

Write a thank you note to your potential employer and recruiter

Please make sure you send a thank you note to the interviewers and recruiters within the next 48 hours after the interview and keep your fingers crossed!

Your thank you note can be something like this:

Dear Mr. A,

It was a pleasure meeting you and Mr. B yesterday. I enjoyed talking with you about the Analyst position. I am more convinced now that Company A is the right place for me to start my career and develop myself. I'm willing to learn and learn fast enough to keep up with the fast growing pace of the IT industry.

Thank you for taking your time to meet me yesterday. I look forward to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Signature
(Your full name)

Rule 9

Interview the Inteviewer.

Most of the time at the end of your interview you will be given an opportunity to ask question. Use the opportunity to get to know more about the actual job scope of the position and career progression plan. Maybe a little bit of corporate strategy questions. It is only appropriate to ask about the compensation and benefits package for this position and salary package negotiation when they have SHORTLISTED you. When the interview ends, make sure you shake their hands and thank them for their time.

Rule 8

The panel interview. The mother of all interview.

When you enter the interview room greet your interviewer(s) with a big sunny smile. Give a warm and firm handshake and sit only when the interviewers ask you to. Sit up straight, do not hunch, and do not sit TOO comfortably.

The interviewers will usually start by asking you to tell about yourself. Start with your education background, what you have done so far in terms of academic and co-curricular, and what you would like to do. NEVER go into an interview for position A and tell your interviewer(s) you would like to do something else. This will blow your chances in getting the job.

Make sure you know what you are talking about. Listen attentively to the interviewers, understand the question, if you can't give a straight answer take a few seconds to think then only answer the question.

To ease your interview process what you can do is to jot down your 5 year career plan (Career progression, academic progression, and interesting things you would like to do in life). This is one of the most important and common question that interviewers will usually ask during interview.

If the interviewers ask you about your weaknesses tell them honestly about it and your action plan to rectify them. As for your positive attributes you can elaborate more on how you can still improve on them. Be showy but not too much.

Rule 7

Be actively involved. Play your cards right!

Interview process has evolved a lot from what it used to be ten years ago. The conservative panel interview session will not be enough to know whether the candidate is the right person for the job. The purpose of having an interview is to observe certain competencies required by specific position. Interview process can include written test, case study presentation, group discussion, aptitude test, and in depth interview session. Different competencies are observed in different processes.

First and foremost before the interview start you are required to fill up an interview form. Before you start filling it up, you must go through the whole form first and understand the informations needed to avoid mistakes and waste of time. Don't forget to bring your own pen. The best is to invest on a nice stainless steel pen that will suit the whole corporate look.

Written test can be in many form; letter, report, proposal, or a case study. Make sure you know which is which. Understand the case study given. Then start drafting out your points. Get your points flow right and start writing. You can use SWOT analysis method to help you answer your case study questions. A case study will always have a follow up Q&A session. The questions given will be based on your writing so ALWAYS REMEMBER what you have written.

If you are required to do a presentation, understand the case study given first. Draft out your arguments. be careful with your voice volume and body language during the presentation. High pitched voice and repeating gestures can be annoying and distracting. You can improve on this by practicing in front of the mirror. That way you will be able to observe your body movement and make necessary improvements. Make sure whatever facts you are using are valid; NEVER EVER create your own facts.

When you are nervous and run out of words, the best thing to do is smile and take some time to catch your breath. It will help to ease the tense situation and give you time to think and gather your thoughts.

Fidgeting is a sign that you are nervous. It is OK to be nervous but you must know how to control it. Be aware of all your body parts. Do not shake your legs, rub your nose repeatedly, and play with your hair; it shows how uncomfortable you are. You hands should be on your lap, sit straight up, and try to be relax but not too relax that you treat the interview like a 'mamak session' with your friends.

It is the interviewers job to put you in a very uncomfortable situation just to see how you can handle the stress. Whatever it is REMEMBER not to engage in a fierce battle with the interviewers or be in a defensive mode. Stay calm and listen to what the interviewers have to say. Tell them that you understand where they are coming from but you have your reasons and stand firm with your opinions. Again SWOT analysis will be a good method to use to draft out your points for the presentation.

Different people act differently when they are nervous, some talk really fast, some shake their legs vigorously, and some constantly clicking their pen. Whatever it is that you are doing, STOP! Catch your breathe, gather your thoughts and start speaking again.

Your presentation should be clear and simple. You can use visual aid such as graph, flow chart, timeline, and mind mapping to help make your presentation easier to understand. Make sure your handwriting is clear and big enough for the interviewers to read. You can use different coloured markers but not too many (4 max) to help you differentiate your points.

In a group discussion it will be best if you act like a diplomat. REMEMBER true leaders will never dominate the team for the sake of getting sole credit or to shine. Be an idea contributor but give chance to other people to share their ideas as well. Stand firm on your opinions while respecting other people's opinions.

As for aptitude test. If it requires accuracy and speed, give accuracy and speed. If it requires speed give speed, if it requires accuracy give accuracy.

Rule 6

Create a good first impression: Power Dressing, DRESS TO KILL, What does it mean?

The first thing the interviewer will judge when meeting candidates is of course their physical appearance. That is why it is important for you to pick your outfit for the job interview carefully. Physical appearance includes dressing and personal grooming. Different positions may require you to dress differently from one another. It depends on the industry you are going for. If it is the banking industry, suit will be the best choice but it won't work for advertising or entertainment industry. The key is to dress appropriately, REMEMBER not to over do it. So how to dress appropriately? Below are some tips you can follow to help you to get your outfit right for your job interview.

GENTS

• Neat hair
• Long sleeve cotton shirt / cuff shirt
• Never roll your sleeves
• Button up and wear a matching tie
• Front part of your tie should reach the waist of your pants
• Black or dark coloured pants
• Black & shiny, belt and shoes
• Dark coloured socks
• Have a handkerchief
• Press everything
• No sport's watch
  

LADIES

• Neat hair / hair scarves Three piece suite is the best
• Neutral coloured finger nails
• Neutral make up
• Covered pumps or heels
• Matching coloured shoes and handbag
• No excessive accessories
• Press everything
  

EVERYONE

• Nobody odour
• Lightly scented
• Fresh breath
• Firm handshake always
• Big bright smile
• ALWAYS 10 minutes early
• Find out how the interview is going to be
  
  

Have your portfolio ready!

Your portfolio will be the most important tool in your search of getting a job. Portfolio includes cover letter, CV, and certificates. It is part of creating a good first impression. Your CV is your representative before you meet the interviewers. This sheets of paper will determine whether you will get that call or not. So make it as pleasant to look at as possible. Bind your cover letter, CV, and all certificates together. Arrange your CV followed by highest qualification to the lowest. For example your if your highest qualification is Bachelor's Degree that should be the first page, followed by your foundation or matriculation certificate, then SPM so on and so fourth. Remember to bring your original certificates and out them in clear folder to ease viewing.

Rule 5

Do your homework!

What the organization is all about? Who are their main competitors? What are the current happenings in the organization? These are the important questions you have to ask yourself about your prospective employers. Dig as much information as you can about the organization and industry. Go to the company's website and learn about the company's nature, structure, board of directors, and current happenings. Do get yourself updated with current issues by reading business magazines or newspaper that gives you an inside scoop on what is happening in the industries and current economy situation. REMEMBER these extra effort will help you sail through your interview and prepare you to answer questions that will require you to give opinions on the industry or current issues.

Rule 4

Practice makes perfect.

As cliche as it may sound you can't deny its truthfulness. To be able to speak confidently in English YOU HAVE TO PRACTISE using it. English language skill and communication skill are two very important skills required by most employers nowadays. In a survey conducted by University Putra Malaysia (UPM) spearheaded by UPM's alumni centre, they discovered most employers emphasis on English language in hiring fresh graduates. Communication skill includes speaking, writing, listening, and reading.

But what if your English sucks and your communication skills are bad? What else?! Start practising using the language. You may find difficulties using it at the beginning but as time goes by and the more you use the language the better you will be at it. Be open to criticism, even better if you ask for it. Get help from your family members and friends who are good at speaking. Practise conversing in English with people who are close to you then slowly you can use the language with other people. You can invest some money and take English or communication classes. It will help you in a long term basis for your career.

The simplest thing to do is to buy English newspaper everyday and read it out loud. You can kill two birds with one stone. You will improve your English as well get yourself updated with current happenings in the world. You can always use websites such as:

http://www.forvo.com/
http://www.cooldictionary.com/
http://www.howjsay.com/

to check on the proper pronunciation and meaning of the words you are not so sure of.

Organize a mock interview with your friends. You can easily get samples of interview questions from the Internet and practise answering them. You can get HR people from companies or your lecturer to be the interview panel. You can also collaborate with your university to organize such workshop for students. It will be easier for you to get the companies to collaborate with university's approval.

Rule 3

Initial contact (pre-interview qualification)

When you have applied for a position in an organization, logically the next step would be expecting a phone call from the HR people or recruiter. But you won't know when the call will come. Will you miss it? Will you answer it too casually? Will you decide to ignore it that day? What you can do is to get a cheap phone and a number just for your job hunting purposes. This way you will always be prepared to answer any calls from potential employers.

When you receive a phone call from the organizations you have applied to, always remember to answer the call in a very positive tone. HR people or recruiters are the gatekeepers, and have the power to decide if you qualify for the next round of interview. Smiling on the phone will also help in giving a positive vibe to the person you're talking to on the phone.

3 important details to know about the interview are the date, time, and exact location. Learn on how to get to the location, especially when you're not familiar with the area. You should make a trip to the area and be sure of directions days before the interview date. This is to ensure a smoother journey for you to the interview. It will also help you to keep calm and maintain your composure.

Always remember to keep the HR people or recruiters posted. If you can't make it, call them. If you fall sick, call them. The gist of it is CALL THEM! Don't waste their time waiting and preparing for an interview that will never happen. The wait will kill any chances of you rescheduling your appointment, or any possible future in that organization.