How to succeed in interviews?

Attending interviews is definitely not an experience that everyone relishes but there's no escape from it either, at least when it is a matter of professional growth. For most, the prospect of being in an interview sends a chill down the spine every single time and leaves the person nervous and confused. If you happen to be the one who dreads being in an interview, then it's time to change the way you approach the process of appearing in the interview.

Succeding in interviews is about mindset and approach. For many, attending interviews is quite overwhelming and an experience they may prefer to forget. The best interviews happen when one is balanced and in control of oneself during the conversation/ interaction that happens during the interview process.

There's plenty that goes in the head right before the interview. Being mindful of what we carry in our head into the interview (and what we leave behind) goes a long way in defining the outcome of the interview).

Here's what you need to ensure before any interview

• ATTITUDE (NEGATIVE) - You cannot afford to enter into an interview with negativity of any kind. You are there in the interview to make it happen and do whatever is in your control. Don't let any earlier bad experiences ruin this opportunity. Being negative will only make you critical of everything and that will not help in your conversation.
• EGO - Your sense of self sets the tone for the interview. Remember, every interview is a new beginning to make an impression. Give yourself only as important as need be and as can help you be in balance during the interview. Keep your ego in check and work on creating alignment with the job role you are being interviewed for.
• EXPECTATIONS - You may be left disappointed with the outcome of the interview if you presume things, solely based on your perception. Enter the interview with zero expectations because you do not know what POV (Point of View) or perception the interviewer may be holding. Give yourself time during the interview to figure out what the interviewer expects from you and then accordingly work on matching yourself (to the extent possible) to those expectations.
• PESSIMISM - Just because the times are bad, just because you did not do well in the earlier interviews, just because your friends have not provided positive feedback about the company, just because there's so much talent pool available...No excuse is good enough to stop you from being optimistic about things. Here's an opportunity (interview) that has come your way and now it's upto you to make the most of it. You may not clear every interview you appear for but there's always something you can learn from each one of them (interviews).
• CONFUSION - A cluttered mind is never good for any interaction. Carrying too much in your head will derail you from focusing on the interview. Stop yourself from overthinking. The best way to deal with the confusion of any sort - 1. know what you are confused about and then either gather facts and evidence to rationally address it or make peace with the fact that you do not have the answer for it right now. Avoid letting confusion about an aspect of your life trickle down to other aspects as well.

• ATTITUDE (POSITIVE) - Be upbeat about the opportunity and applaud yourself for making the cut. Bringing positive attitude to the interactions opens up possibilities. Go with the positive intent of giving your best and being receptive to whatever comes up during the conversation. A candidate carrying a positive attitude is definitely preferred over someone with a negative attitude. There's every possibility that your positive attitude may become your key differentiator as well.
• CLARITY - Before you enter into the interview, be clear about the following - 1. your pitch, 2. your personal brand, 3. organisation you are applying to, and 4. the role you are applying for. A thorough research before the interview will help you be better prepared for the discussion during the interview.
• CONFIDENCE - If you are unemployed for a while and have been exploring multiple opportunities but with no success, then there's a high probability that you will find yourself low on confidence. This is not helpful at all because a confident candidate is always a preferred choice over others. Trust yourself and have faith in your abilities. The easiest way to build up confidence is to think about your past victories, accomplishments or success. This will act as a good booster to get you back in the right frame of mind.
• CONTEXT - Whether it's before the interview, or during the interview, get the context right before replying or responding. Be specific and direct in your responses and speak only as much as would help deliver the point across. Pay attention to what is being asked and then gather your pointers that align with that. When you respond in the context, you come across as someone who is focused and attentive.
• CONTENT - It's always a good practice to go through your resume/ profile thoroughly before the interview. Justifying your pitch becomes easy and effective when you quote numbers or impact value. Nothing can beat a response that talks about how you impacted the bottom line and what value you delivered through your strengths and skills. Ensure you create the desired impact on the interviewer, whether its talking about your pitch, accomplishments, strengths, alignment with the job role, and like.

Choose the right ingredients to make the right impact during the interview because certain opportunities come your way only once!

I coach, train, mentor and consult in various areas of personal and professional development. Few of my niche areas include career transition, career development, personal branding, productivity, time management, emotional wellness, bias at the workplace, design thinking and leadership development. You can follow me at @narbhatia on Twitter and Instagram. You may visit my website at www.coaching4betterlife.com and my personal blog at www.createyourbest.in