things to Say in interviewHow do you ace an interview? The truth is nobody really knows. There’s a small body of research on the subject that basically says that there is no way to judge a candidate completely within 10-15 minutes, no matter what questions are asked. The candidate could be nervous, introverted, awkward, tired or all of the above and not get a chance to shine. Or the opposite could occur; someone completely unqualified for the job may just talk circles around the interviewers and land the position.

In this situation, the best you can do is to just adopt a no nonsense attitude, be pleasant and talk honestly about what you’ve learnt and what you hope to do with the job. Even so, there are some things that you can do to make a good impression in the job interview. Here are a few of those key things.

Show that you’re a Team Player

Companies not only love people that can take on big projects by themselves, but those that can work great with a group. If you show them that you’re a team player and that you can get along famously with your colleagues, you can expect good things after you’re done with the interview.

Inter office politics and the race to get ahead of everyone is something that plagues companies, however, it’s the company that benefits as a whole when people work together. This is a valuable trait in an employee, and one that merits promotions to leadership roles and managerial positions.

To show that you’re a team player you can quote examples of how you worked well in group projects and drag in references of your collaboration with strangers in competitions at fairs or carnivals etc. If you also keep referencing team work in your conversation, the recruiters will zone in on your desire to take along the entire team in every project that you’re in.

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Talk about your Experience

You’re not there to be modest. In an interview, humility is in fact the worst of policies. The recruiters and employers want to know what your skills and achievements are; they don’t want to know if you’re just OK. They’re looking to hire the best people they can; they simply don’t want time wasters and B players.

So talk about the successful projects you’ve participated in and the skills that you’ve honed throughout the years. Talk about the compliments you’ve received from older bosses and the commendations you’ve received from people on your work.

Also, don’t forget to highlight what you consider to be personally fulfilling victories in your professional life. It not only highlights that you’re passionate about your work, but adds a personal touch to your work history, that many consider to be purely cold and calculated.

Talk about Constantly Learning

A famous man once said that the only constant is change. How right he was. In today’s world, change is THE constant. Apps and programs are constantly being updated, the stock market rises and falls at the drop of a hat and people shift their attention to the latest fad and meme at a moment’s notice. In this environment, being static and settled simply doesn’t work anymore.

If you want to create a good impression in your interview, talk about your thirst to constantly evolve and learn new things. If you’re an engineer, talk about researching and looking for new ways to better your knowledge of machinery and innovative techniques. If you’re an IT graduate, talk about your interest in learning new programming languages and coding methods. If you’re an artist, talk about experimenting with different styles and illustration programs.

Overall, just talk about your willingness to evolve and learn. It’s the sort of humility that works in a job interview. Don’t come across as someone so cocky and overconfident that they seem like they have everything in the bag. Everyone hates that person in the office.

Appear motivated

It’s very important to appear enthusiastic in front of your future employers. If they feel that you’re not motivated by the job itself or that you’re simply answering questions as if this is just one in a long line of interviews for positions in different companies, they may be less inclined to take you in.

There is something about a candidate that needs to stand out other than credentials and academics. Enthusiasm and motivation for a field or a position, or for a company can be it.

You could include in the interview your commitment to taking the company to new heights, but if you do so, do include a plan or appear to have thought about it deeply. Otherwise, this would just come across as a cheap gimmick.

Show that you will do more than Punch the Clock

Enthusiasm and motivation will show your employers that you are not just an employee who will punch the clock and leave at 5 pm, but will go the extra mile.

It is good to also mention that you are an employee who weighs accomplishments in work done and not hours worked in an office. That’ll hammer home the point that punching the clock isn’t the only thing on your mind.

Prove that you can Help

You can show the company that you can help them in ways that may not be apparent in your CV or Resume. You can tell them about certain times in your life where you were of a lot of help to the situation or to your team. For instance:

-Describe previous encounters with problems that you managed to solve

-Use examples from your past to show that you often bring a situation under control

-Describe different things you’ve learned through the years that have helped you become more organized

-Explain that you consume information not just for its sake, but to implement it in your life.

Show that all of the above outweighs your imperfections

You can end your interview with a little bit of humility. You can state that you aren’t perfect, no human being is. But that because of everything you have described, you can be a great asset to the company. Very few people in organizations are looking for an all rounder; they’re looking for someone who can work smart and work hard and learn and adapt when the time comes.

Tell the interviewers that you’re determined and motivated enough to sweep your imperfections aside and rise to the challenge.

Conclusion

Remember that an interview is basically an exhibition of your talent and your worth as a professional. It may go well or not at all, but understand that all of that is under your control. If you prepare and work on yourself, it can only get better with time.

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