Students’ Speak: Make that first impression right in placement interviews

The saying, “first impression is the last”, goes well in placement interviews. So, I will share with you some tips that will help you give the first impression right to the interviewer.

Prepared well for your placement interviews? It is now time to ensure that you are ready to make that first defining impression on the recruiter.

Look sharp: Select what to wear to the interview. Depending on the industry and position, get out your best formal/corporate wear and check them over for spots and wrinkles. You don’t want to look like you slept in your outfit. Above all dress for confidence. If you feel good, others will respond to you accordingly.

Focus on basics: Your resume is a like window to present yourself briefly. A resume with all the necessary details about your professional experience till date is very effective. A resume entails all necessary details including key academic achievements, fine point of the internship if any and highlights of your extracurricular activities. Frame a crisp resume with an interesting introduction and keep your short CV short preferably lasting for one-two pages. Invest time and effort in perfecting your resume.

Research about organisations: Every basic knowledge about organisation, conduct detailed research on the firm through its website, related new articles, its hiring record for the previous year, and nature of interviews its conduct. Speak to the employees of the firm, especially the alumni who were hired the previous year.

Prepping up: All placement interview questions can be asked into this category like education, work experience, problem-solving skills, technical skills, personal goals, and behaviour. Problem-solving entails case interviews or application-oriented questions for which you need to prepare beforehand. And they can be asked open-ended questions that showcases you as a complete individual, reflecting on your value system, maturity and emotional stability, which are key components of successful professionals.

Communication skills (professional): If you are unable to answer the question then effective communication is one of the most important aspects that determine the success of an interview. Practice speaking clearly, slowly with a neutral accent. Rehearse and perfect your delivery by conducting mock interviews with family or friends. Learn the importance of listing as well, as it is essential for effective communication. While you focus on verbal skills, equal emphasis must be given to non-verbal communication. This contributes significantly to the overall impact of your words.

About the Author:

Rishabh Mishra is a student at Tapmi School of Business, Jaipur, pursuing MBA. He has completed his graduation from Microtek College of Management & Technology, Varanasi. He has aimed to become a businessman after completing his MBA.