Interviewing like a Pro: A Fresher’s Guide

As soon as a company gets in touch with you regarding your candidacy, it would help if you started preparing for the interview in advance. Placement interviews that kickstart their professional career might cause stress and anxiety among students appearing in an interview for the first time. However, with the proper preparation and mindset, you can increase your chances of impressing the interviewer and landing the job.

Interview preparation for freshers should be taken seriously, as it can make a big difference in the outcome of the interview. Here are a few tips to help you answer placement interview questions and ace your interviews. 

Read More:

• Steps to Prepare for Placement Interviews
• 10 Common Interview Questions for Freshers 
• Confidence and Practice: Keys to Success
• Have a Framework
• What to Bring to an Interview
• Frequently Asked Questions 

Steps to Prepare for Placement Interviews

Work on your resume to make it foolproof and impressive. Highlight your internship experience and the projects you have worked on that might interest the employer. Prepare a cover letter highlighting your unique skills, qualifications, and interests. Practice aptitude tests using online sources and practice books. You can also attend some mock interviews to rectify mistakes, if any. 

10 Common Interview Questions for Freshers 

Remember that you will be up against many other candidates who are asked the same basic questions. Some questions you might face in the interview are:

1. What are your short-term and long-term goals?
2. What would you bring to the position?
3. Why should we hire you?
4. Are you willing to relocate and travel for work?
5. Talk to us about your strengths and weaknesses
6. Are you a team player?
7. Tell us about yourself 
8. Tell us about your biggest challenge and how you have overcome it.
9. Why do you want to work with us?
10. What do you know about this organization and its vision?

Research the company and practice (not memorize) the responses to these questions and seek the help of your peer group to review them. You can also think of thoughtful questions to ask the employer.

Confidence and Practice: Keys to Success

Confidence is the game-changer in interviews. Employers are looking for candidates who are confident and can handle pressure. Confidence, presence of mind, and constant practice of articulating answers play a crucial role in succeeding in interviews. Prior training will help you improve recall and clarity of responses you give.

Have a Framework

Having an answering framework helps you respond to the questions with more clarity. The STAR technique – Situation — Task — Approach — Results technique is a practical framework in such scenarios. For example, if you are asked about your willingness to work hard, you can share a story of how during the peak season in the company you interned with, you managed to complete the targets by working overtime. 

What to Bring to an Interview

Irrespective of the interview type – virtual or physical – it is always better to create a checklist of things you need while attending an interview. A hard copy of your resume, a notepad, a bottle of water, directions, and contacts should be readily accessible. Arrive on time and never lose confidence. If it is a virtual interview, establish a workspace, and ensure that your devices have adequate charge and the Wi-Fi connection is proper. There shouldn’t be any issues with communication or technology. 

Be mindful of the way you carry yourself in front of the interviewers. Maintain a positive attitude and good body language. Make eye contact and communicate clearly; smile, nod and have interest and confidence in your tone. Structure your answers, use appropriate hand gestures and ask relevant questions. Look focused. If it is a virtual interview, make sure you are looking at the camera. 

BONUS TIP: Keep your phone in silent mode. 

Preparation for interview questions and answers is an important aspect of the job interview process for freshers. Performing well in interviews as a fresher requires preparation and the right mindset. Researching the company and position, practicing answering common interview questions, and dressing professionally are key steps in preparing for an interview. Additionally, being punctual, confident, and friendly during the interview, highlighting your relevant skills and qualifications, asking questions and being honest will also help you make a great impression. With these tips in mind, you can increase your chances of impressing the interviewer and landing the job. Remember to stay calm, be yourself, and show enthusiasm for the opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What are some common questions I can ask the interviewer during the interview? 

Towards the end of the interview, you can ask relevant and appropriate questions to the employer, which will leave an impression that you have done your research about the company and you are a serious candidate. For instance, ask some questions related to the role you gave an interview for or the resources available for a particular project. You can ask the employer whether you need to travel as part of the work. 

2. What sources can I rely on as I research the company? 

To begin with, visit the company website and learn about the services and products they offer, its mission, history, significant milestones, and vision. Find the company on social media – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Do a Google search, and look for recent news, if any. Look for customer and employee reviews online. Collect as much information as possible and let your knowledge about the company reflect in your answers. 

3. What should I do after the interview? How should I follow up with the company?

Assess your performance, identify your mistakes and strengths and work on them. You might have to wait a few days before you know the final decision regarding the job. However, you can ask the employer after finishing the interview when you can expect a response. Generally, employers tell the candidates when to expect the results.