Andhra Pradesh   

Ace it with the first impression

T. Muralidharan

The fifth golden rule for acing the interview: know your domain area very well. Today employers want specialists and not generalists. They want to know if the candidate has an in-depth knowledge of his chosen field. This is expected even from freshers. If you are going to tell the interviewer that you are passionate about branding, make sure you can analyse the latest Pepsi advertisement, for instance. I am reminded of an interview of a chartered accountant who cited cricket as his passion. When the interviewer asked him what was the highest score of Sachin Tendulkar in Test cricket, the candidate was stumped.

Give concrete examples of your creativity and skills. Like the time you handled a disgruntled team of disparate personalities while doing a college project. All these things apart, the most important thing is how you walk in and out of the room. The first few minutes are the most important when the interviewer is assessing you and making his judgment. If you look slovenly or unkempt, your chances of employment are dim. Neat, conservative dressing is a must, which includes a smile.

A pleasant disposition will work in your favour and remember to make eye contact with every member of the panel. Work on the process, prepare well ahead. I have a thumb rule for preparation time: it should be 10 times the interview time.

So, jack up that self-esteem and infuse some energy into those leaden veins. Remember every interview is a learning experience.

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