Having the right education and skills might get you an interview, but it’s what happens during the interview process that gets you hired. Take a look at these key traits and make sure you portray them at your next interview.
- Enthusiasm: Everyone loves a candidate full of enthusiasm and good energy – it’s contagious and will leave the interviewer energized. Smile. Show energy and vary your tone of voice.
- Manners matter: Remember to dress the part and show positive body language by sitting up straight, making eye contact and smiling.
- Good judgement: An employer tests your judgement by asking you questions that start with “tell me about a situation or a time when…”
- Are you loyal? If you show your employers that you can be loyal to something, whether it’s a cause, a company or a sport, this creates a more favorable impression. This is why job-hoppers are not favored by employers. It costs a company a lot to replace staff who leave and to train up new staff so loyalty is a very important quality.
- Positive and vibrant. A positive employee is always more welcomed than one who is always feeling down. Positive employees are also more approachable and easier to get along with.
- Do you do more than what is required? If you can demonstrate to the interviewer that you can and want to do more than what is expected of you, you’re on the right track. If you can show evidence or examples of where you have gone the extra mile or volunteered, you will stand out.
- Can you graciously handle criticism? The typical question that tests this is, “What are your weaknesses?” As a professional you have to be able to recognise the areas that need work and identify what you could do to change your weakness into strengths. Everyone has weaknesses. It shows a lot of self-awareness if you are able to accurately identify your weak areas.
- Are you a team player? Interviewers want to know that you’re a good fit for the team and are a team player. Give examples of where you have stepped up for the team.
- How smart are you? A successful candidate answers questions clearly, in full sentences and with good grammar and pronunciation.
- Time is important. Are you punctual? If not, you should polish up these skills; punctuality matters in the working world. Always arrive slightly early to your interview.
- Resilience. Do you break down or persevere through tough times? Interviewers ask questions that demonstrate you can work under pressure, so think of a few examples before the big day.
- It’s in the detail. Before sending off your CV, check it once, twice and a third time just to be sure there are no spelling or grammar errors. Interviewers pay attention to this. Errors on your cv can lead to the interviewer believing that you are careless, not smart or lying.
