A classic way of interviewing for any job position, the face to face interview format has been the norm for centuries ago. It’s effective when it comes to establishing first impressions, gauging the job seeker’s interest, qualities and “vibe”.
As the world is recovering a sense of normalcy from the Covid-19 pandemic, face to face interviews are regaining their popularity once more. If you need more tips on ace-ing your upcoming face-to-face interview, you’re at the right place.
Best Face To Face Interview Tips
1. It’s Never Bad To Be Prepared
Job interviews are as important, if not more important than all the job application documents. The more preparation you have, it’s more likely you’ll be able to have a smoother and even more enjoyable interview session.
Start with researching the job scopes and companies you’ve applied for. It’s important to showcase your knowledge of the job, industry, and the overall business landscape. These preparations could also be useful for you to prepare critical questions for employers.
The biggest benefit would be feeling more prepared and confident while trying to understand the role better – and whether it’s the right fit for you.
2. Dress To Impress
Dressing up for the occasion can’t possibly hurt you, especially in a face to face interview. No matter what kind of job you’re applying for, first impressions matter. In the first 7 seconds, you’ll need to convey the message that this job application matters to you.
If you are applying for an office job, for example, the bare minimum would be smart casual. Interviewing to be a doctor or lawyer? Suit up. In general, you should pay attention to your grooming and personal hygiene such as your nails, hairdo, body odour, etc.
3. Be Extremely Punctual
What do we mean by “extremely”? Meaning right on time – not too early, and never be late. Here are some of our tips to ensure punctuality for a face to face interview:
- Plan your journey and route using map applications
- Do a practice driving run to familiarise yourself with the surroundings
- Set early alarms and prepare early
- Make sure you have a functional phone for emergencies
If you are facing any emergencies, remember to inform your recruiter and interviewer beforehand instead of keeping quiet and being late. A functioning phone is also crucial for you to use e-hailing if there are traffic-related incidents.
If you arrive much earlier than expected, do NOT enter the venue – use the time to prepare your documents, revise the job scopes and gather your thoughts. Finally, remember to silence your devices before you start the interview!
4. Shake Hands The Right Way
The handshake is the first test when it comes to face to face interviews. In general, the way you shake hands tells a bunch about your personality and confidence – the best tip is that handshakes have to be firm.
DO have a firm and tight handshake, but not too tight until it hurts the interviewer(s). DON’T have a soft/limp handshake, and most importantly DON’T keep the handshake for more than 2 seconds – that’s creepy!
5. Stay Positive
The challenging part of a face to face interview is to keep the session enjoyable (or bearable) for both you and the interviewer(s).
Always take their body language into consideration. If they are starting to seem uninterested, it’s time to try and bring their attention back A good tip to help is to smile as much as possible, but only when it’s appropriate. When you smile, you’ll notice that your tone will sound more positive and friendly.
Maintaining a good posture will also help with keeping up the positive momentum. Remember to not slouch or lean your body back. Instead, lean towards the interviewer and try to convey energy and interest when speaking to show that you’re fully attentive.
6. Clear Communication
Most people get nervous during an interview and speak really fast. It’s understandable that you’d like to convey as much information as possible, but speaking unclearly may jeopardise the interviewers’ ability to understand you, or you saying things without consideration.
It’s always good to take a few seconds to breathe and gather your thoughts, then respond with easy-to-understand sentences concisely. It’s better to speak at a slower pace to ensure that interviewers can fully comprehend your words and thought process.
Final Advice
We hope that you had a great reading session about ways to ace face to face interviews, no matter for what job position and seniority you applied.
One final tip – remember to stay honest when answering all interview questions. If you lack experience and technical knowledge, impress them with your skills, strengths, and overall potential instead of lying about your knowledge and qualifications.
Bonus article: Read about the importance of preparing for an interview here
