Excel in Job Interviews:

Go BIG or Go Home!By Mr Chuah Kee Man www.chuahkeeman.com

Ogranised by BRC UNIMAS

Do you really want

a job?

Before you even accept an interview

offer/invitation…

Do a “self-test”Be sure what the company wants really fits your skills, career track, beliefs and

experiences.

Ready to go BIGand excel in job interviews?

Be fully prepared.Do necessary check on the company and also

prepare your “weapons” (attire, resumes/cv, portfolios)

Be there earlierQuite a lot of candidates failed job interviews because they were late. Most of them were

merely 5 minutes late.

Breathe DeeplyRelax your mind by breathing deeply. Treat the

interview like a normal conversation.

Be ConfidentFrom the moment you walk into the room, until the last word you said. But how? Be prepared

and be honest!

Body Language

o Be aware of your body language-don’t keep looking down or up. Maintain good eye contact.

o Sit up straight, avoid unnecessary movements (e.g. shaking your legs)

Be Honest

o Don’t attempt to cheat. Cheating usually makes you feel “uneasy” and it can lead you to show that you are not confident.

o Be in control of what you plan to say and say it sincerely. (Watch “Will Smith as Chris” in Pursuit of Happiness – Interview Scene) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHXKitKAT1E

o Despite being late and didn’t manage to dress up properly, Chris was honest and showcased his confidence in front of the panel.

Be careful of your intonation when answering

questions.

o Be more slightly authoritative in answering. Don’t repeat the questions or end your answer with a rising tone (like asking a question or unsure)

o Don’t turn all answers to sound like you are not confident.

Be in good termsThe best way to get what we want is to meet

the needs of the interviewer. Follow the “flow”.

Be FocusedListen attentively to the questions asked. If you

are not clear, say it, don’t pretend to understand. Stay focused on your qualities when answering.

Be careful of these questions during interviews

o “Tell me more about yourself”

o “Are you willing to be relocated?”

o “Tell me your biggest weakness”

o “Why should we hire you?”

o “Why do you want this job?”

o “If we offer you lower pay, will you accept this post?”

They are “trick” questions to test your passion and sincerity.

Be Goal-OrientedWhere do you see yourself in the next 1, 5 and

10 years? Chart your goals clearly and in a realistic way.

Be The Best You Can BeBelieve in yourself. You have nothing to lose, so

give your very best.

LANGUAGE TIPS

For Interviews

Use action verbs when explaining your skills

and experiences. Avoid “clichés” or overused

words.

Worst Words (Overused) Best Words

1. Best of breed2. Go-getter3. Think outside of the box4. Dynamic5. Synergy6. Thought leadership7. Value add8. Results-driven9. Team player10. Bottom-line

1. Achieved2. Improved3. Trained/mentored4. Managed5. Created6. Resolved7. Volunteered8. Influenced9. Increased/decreased10. Won

Language Focus during Interview

o Use active voice more instead of passive voice. (e.g. I conducted the project…NOT the project was conducted by me…)

o Use more first-person pronoun (e.g. I, we)

o Avoid using run-on sentences. Pause at the right time to highlight keywords.

Top KeywordsProblem solving

Leadership

Oral/ Written Communication

Team building

Productivity

Adaptable

Avoid These Statements

o I’m a team player

o I’m a perfect fit for this job

o I’m a perfectionist

o I’m a workaholic

o I have good leadership skills(Be specific, in fact get ready the facts)

E.g. If you are a team player, say “I led my teams during undergraduate years in two important projects namely….”

Extra!

Clean up your social profile!

So, are you ready to Go Big Or Go Home?

Get in touch..

@keemanxp

fb.com/chuahkeeman

kmchuah@cans.unimas.my

www.chuahkeeman.com