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An interview can be a stressful process for the interviewer and the interviewee. It is important that the interviewee is well prepared for the interview. They should approach the interview as if it is an exam and prepare accordingly. Some of the questions will be tough. It is important that the interviewee appear calm under pressure.
Employers use the interview process to evaluate candidates for a potential role within the company. Interviews are used to determine how good a fit the interviewee might be. It is rare that a job is offered without the candidate first going through a formal interview process. The interview process begins with the employer pre-screening candidates by going over their resumes and making sure they are at least minimally qualified.
The interview process is inherently flawed. It is impossible to truly gauge a person’s ability by a simple face-to-face interview. The interviewer is trying to determine if a candidate will be a good overall fit for the company. The interview process is highly dependent on the insight of the interviewer, making it a flawed process. HR managers are often overworked and do not have the time to fully invest themselves in the interview process.
It is important for the interviewee to remember that the interview is less about their qualifications. They have already been pre-qualified so the interview is more about the overall feel the interviewer gets from the candidate. The interviewee should do their best to establish a rapport with the interviewer. Some of the questions that are asked will have little bearing on the actual job, but should be answered thoroughly and in a calm concise manner. Hypothetical situations could be posed which there is often no correct answer. What is more important is the process of how the candidate arrives at their answer.
Job interviews are difficult, but more important than having the right answers are the manner in which the questions are answered. An attitude of calm relaxed competence is more important than rehearsing the exact right answer.
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