Are you looking for work but don’t know how to handle an interview? Job interviews may be nerve-racking, especially if you don’t have much experience or dislike being in the limelight.
This could become more complex when you finally go through all this hassle and land a job offer successfully, but the salary offer is not your type.
Below are 6 tips to ensure you’re prepared for an in-person or online interview and get your desired salary.
1. 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞
What you wear to a job interview creates a significant first impression. Just make sure you’re dressed neatly and professionally.
In-person: We utilise all of our senses in real life, so in addition to appearing decent, consider how you smell (avoid too strong perfumes) and keep your palms open before shaking hands.
Online: Your interviewer can only see you from the shoulders, dressed as if it were a face-to-face interview.
2. 𝐁𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞
Arriving late to an interview means that you will be late to work. Thus, it is essential to appear on time.
In-person: Locate the interview venue, plan your route using Google Maps and arrive 15 minutes early.
Online: Before your interview, download and practice utilizing the online platform. On the interview day, ensure your technology (including a laptop charger), internet connection, and area are set up at least 30 minutes beforehand.
3. 𝐁𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝
Prepare to answer questions about yourself, your job experience, and your unique skills. Remember to mention Your past career or volunteer experience and how it relates to the job criteria.
For example, you may tell them that you’re not particularly good at spelling but that you constantly double-check your work for errors.
4. 𝐁𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞
Interviews are like a two-way street: on one side, the interviewer is looking to see if you’re the perfect match for the position and organization, and you’re looking to see if this company aligns with your values and work style.
So, make sure you pay the required attention.
5. 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭
In-person: Fake it if you’re not feeling confident! Maintain proper posture, smile, and maintain eye contact.
How you portray yourself demonstrates that you will be at ease talking to your potential coworkers and clients. Remember not to speak too quickly.
Online: Prepare your interview environment by bringing everything you’ll need (water, pen, and paper) and removing anything that will be a distraction (your phone, pets, and other household members).
6. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞
Practice answering questions and talking about yourself to feel calmer and more confident. So, now you have the job offer, let’s see how you can negotiate the offer you got:
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 Salary
The company has most likely provided you with a proposed beginning pay as part of your preliminary verbal job offer. Consider this an opening to begin bargaining on whatever they have offered, not the last word on what you’ll make.
Given that the employer has most likely given a deliberately low amount in anticipation of negotiating, you may reply something like:
“I’m quite excited about the opportunity and believe I’d be a good match for the team. I’m also quite pleased about your offer and confident I’ll add great value to it.”
Don’t worry about the offer being withdrawn merely because you’re bargaining; the worst that can happen if you negotiate appropriately is if the company says no.
In fact, throughout the discussion, the recruiting manager may push back a bit. You may overhear anything like:
“I’m pleased you’re interested in the role, and the rest of the team is looking forward to working with you. The post, however, is budgeted at 65,000/-.”
Many applicants would collapse at this point, happy for any offer. Continue your quest for the income you know you deserve. You could say:
“I understand budgetary constraints and want to be as adaptable as possible while working with your staff. I’m still interested in joining your team, and I want to see whether 90,000 is attainable given my unique experience and skill set.”
It may be unpleasant to wait to see what occurs next. If the manager brings the hammer down and says, “I apologise, but this is our final offer,” at least you know you tried.
However, you are more likely to hear anything along the lines of:
“OK, I’m not sure whether this would work within our budget but let me check into it. We’ll get back to you soon.”
Remember that the primary reason employees are underpaid isn’t because they don’t deserve it. It’s because they don’t negotiate it correctly! So, give in your best!
If this seems too much to absorb or action on, 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩. You can contact me via LinkedIn Messaging tab, InMail, or email me at 𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐪5@𝐠𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦
