5 Important Things Employer Expect in Any Job Interview

So, the wait is over and you are all set to appear for the interview after you are shortlisted. Though you may feel that the challenge is over, yet you may be heading for a bigger one. As per the routine interview preparation, what all do you have to prepare for? Researching about the company, to be prepared for a background check, some frequently asked questions so that you may answer them well to the HR. You can also collate those events when you achieved something overwhelming, those efforts you made out of the way and some examples of those proud moments you earned for the company you worked with or may be during your college days, if you are a fresher.

Now, this is something that we are all supposed to do as a prerequisite to be well-prepared to answer whatever questions are asked by the manager. However, the job is yet not done. What is more important to understand is why a particular question is being asked during an interview. The major purpose for conducting an interview is to understand more clearly the things that are listed in your CV and if you can actually be a good fit for the job.

Besides this there are certain other more important things that employers are looking for in a candidate while conducting an interview:

Cultural Fit: The employer basically wants to understand if the candidate sitting across the table is going to be a cultural fit in the organisation. Apart from being a job fit, cultural fit is an extremely sought for requisite. They want to know if the values of a candidate actually align with the value system of the organisation. Hence, they ask questions to understand how much you know about the company and its purpose. They will ask you about the work environment you are most comfortable in or may be how a supportive manager should be, etc. Reading more about the company, its past and present businesses and what are the reviews of its ex-employers, will help you understand how well you fit into the culture of the organisation.

Your real intentions: Employers are interested in understanding if you are interested in changing your current job or you are really interested in doing this job. They will cleverly find out digging down your internal drive to understand if you want to change your company or you want to join this company. Hence, it is important to think clearly about your personal and professional goals and how they can be aligned with the company goals. Learn as much as you can about the company and how you can justify the role and the goals of the organisation. Your reasons for joining their organisation should be convincing and justified.

How are you better than others? We all know that to hire and onboard a new employee an organisation has to invest a lot of effort, time and money. They do not want to hire someone who is not the best suited candidate as they can’t afford to keep changing employees, as this affects their productivity tremendously. Others may be as qualified as you are and may also hold similar experiences. So, what can be that extra thing that you may have and others may not? You have to seriously figure out and state the same to them with complete confidence and conviction. Discuss your strengths and support them with proper convincing instances. Talk about how proactive and progressive attitude you carry by exhibiting confidence and your eagerness to learn new things.

Look for things other than words: It is not always about what you speak. It is mostly about things that you don’t speak. The interviewers are observing your body language and what you don’t speak more than what you actually speak. They notice the way you enter the room, the way you greet, meet and respond and also the way you carry yourself. It is said that in first 30 seconds mostly interviewers decide whether they would consider a candidate or not. It is important to carry yourself with high levels of confidence, even while you are interacting with the fellow-interviewees. Maintaining proper eye contact, giving firm handshakes, taking proper position to place yourself in the right way to interact with the interviewer will place you in a better position to clear the interview. Keeping check on basic body language like crossing your legs and hands and leaning back on the chair can make them dubious about considering your candidature.

Whether you are attentive and interested: Interviewers are more likely to find out if you are attentive during the conversations happening in the room. Hence, it is a good strategy to ask some well-researched questions to your employers during or after the interview. This shows that you have keen interest in understanding the business and will largely be interested in working with dedication when on the job. Also, it gives an impression that you are well prepared for the job and have considered it seriously.