Interview Questions invading personal space

While most candidates walk into an interview expecting to be asked to ask questions like "give a brief description of yourself", "tell me about your weak and strong points", or "why do you think you should be hired for this position", but most of the time an interview is more about that.

Interviewer might ask awkward questions during the interview that could have made interviewees uncomfortable. These questions mostly revolve around one's personal life and could be seemed as unrelated to the position that they are applying for.

Candidates often feels discomfort when being asked these questions due to the tone that the interviewer might have sound offensive or they are being caught off guard thinking that these questions are irrelevant to the interview.

Companies are now hiring employees not only based on their education level, they are looking for someone to join their company and is able to commit and perform together with the company on a long-term basis. By asking about questions that are out of the norm would allow the interviewer to understand where the candidate is coming from and whether they are fit for the position even better.

Questions like these can range from those related to your family status, religion, lifestyle to even personal habits.

Studies show that most candidates (40%) choose to answer the questions in a sensitive and tactful way. About 30 percent choose not to answer such questions, 20 percent gave their honest respond towards the questions, and the remaining 10 percent just walked out of the interview without responding. 

Candidates are encouraged to respond in a polite way indirectly, for example if being asked about whether there are plans of expanding your family, you can reply politely by saying "not anytime soon".

So, for candidates who are preparing to go for an interview, they should not resist answering questions that might be awkward to them. There is always a reason to the questions that is being asked by the HR, instead of being caught off guard when being question, take some time to prepare yourself for these questions on top of the norms.

Things that Makes You Look Unprofessional As Interviewer

As you enter the working society, the thing you have to get through a job is to attend the interview. There are somethings that you could have done and tried to portray the best image of you, and… the interviewer doesn’t seem to reciprocate the same. You are meeting the interviewer for the first time and yes, first impression counts.

During the process of your job search, you’d have probably encountered several things that you felt that the interviewers should not have done. Here’s a few to name and you may notice that interviewers may portray unprofessional ways that you felt that you are not valued during the interview process.

Long Waiting Despite Being on Time

Anyone at work could be tied up or stuck in a meeting for a few minutes when you turn up for the scheduled interview. Yes, it’s a scheduled interview but unforeseen situations may arise. However, if you are left in the meeting room waiting for more than 15 to 20 minutes, yet have no idea why the wait was taking so long… What is the next thought on your mind? – “Is the interviewer serious about my application?”, “Is she testing my patience?”.

Interviewer should feel apologetic for making applicant wait for them too. Always remember that you are not obliged to wait, just because you are the applicant.

Unprepared for the interview

You’ve been invited by the Human Resource personnel for an interview and the interviewer or hiring manager should have already understood your resume and employment background before coming into the room. Don’t be surprised, you’ll encounter interviewer flipping and reading through your details while you are talking to them.

There are interviewers who will come into the room and after you telling them about your background, they will tell you that they are NOT sure what they are looking for exactly. They will ask questions that may not be related to the role that you are applying for. You get all puzzled in the interview and at the end of it, you are still unaware if the role suits you, you are shortlisted.

Interviewers Speak Like They Know All

I always thought that the worst interviewers are those who talk to you like you’re interrogating your employment histories with the whys and later input your personal comments. The interview may take an hour long and you ended the interview not knowing what had went on with the interview session. Was that a lecture session or a job interview?

Don’t be surprised that interviewers of certain seniority do come with such traits which got applicants really confused. Will you think that you’d work for interviewers this way?

No idea what to expect after the first interview

Even before you attend the interview, understand how the recruitment process is. There are some companies that may end up with two or even three interview sessions. You have to get yourself prepared so you can expect that the process will take a longer time.

Some interviewers do not tell you what to expect and only end the interview with – “We will inform if you are shortlisted”. No one likes to wait for no reason or even indefinitely. If the interviewer does not breathe a word about the next cause of action, ask. You are obliged to know how the outcome of the interview is and you’ll know how to move forward from there.

All of the above are small things that you should take note during the interview. Else, you’ll probably end up accepting a job and later regret to it. Job acceptance process should be assessed all together and not just by the job scopes.

Maximise your best potential during Interview

Be it if it’s your first time attending interview or have been a seasoned professional, you will have to brush up your interview skills and keep them updated. You are given just one chance to present and maximize your potential during an interview – this has not changed. What are some ways that will help you grab the employment opportunity and get the job offer!

PUNCTUALITY!        

Arrive early for interview. It is advisable 10 to 15 minutes before the interview so you have time to cool and keep yourself steady. You want to keep your mind calm. On the flip note, you do not want to arrive late or get panicky searching for the location. You may use excuses such as getting trapped in a traffic jam and unable to find the location, but this does not deter the interviewer from forming bad first impression on your punctuality.

PRESENTATION! 

Present yourself coherently and professionally. Speak up coherently and enthusiastically about your experiences and skills. Make sure that you present yourself professionally and let your personality fill the vibe in the interview room. Keep yourself calm and have the small pauses to formulate your answer.

RESEARCH!

Research on the Company. Go through the Company’s website and understand its information that. It is also good that you understand the industry and its competitors well. This research will mean that you are sincere and serious about knowing what the Company performs financially & its daily operational activities and how you can value add into the business.

REHEARSE!

Rehearse. If need be, or you are entering an interview with too many timelines and details to share with the interviewers. If you messed up your timelines and details of information, you may get yourself and the interviewers confused.

ASK! 

Ask questions. Remember that interview is never a one-way assessment of the job and its organisation. It’s a good opportunity for you to learn about the environment and workplace culture are a good fit to your career search. You may also ask on the career progression or path that entails in your new career. Don’t be afraid to speak up; and never sound like you are demanding a particular environment. Be soft in your reactions when you hear some negativity in the answers. Interviewers, at times, also test your reactions to the worst situation or environment.

FOLLOW UP!

Follow-up with gratitude note. Gratitude note these days are still mandatory to show that you are appreciative of the interviewers taking time off to assess your ability on the role. Do not burn the bridge but eliminating the opportunity by showing disinterest in the role after the interview. Always indicate your interest on the position.

10 tips to note for a job interview.

Research before anything.

Find out as much as possible about the company's services, products and competition. Doing so will allow you to understand and address the business's needs, to better sell yourself in the interview. Understanding the company's culture will also enable you to gauge if you will be happy at your job.

Look Your Best

First impressions matter but dressing for an interview is not a one-size-suits-all matter. Depending on the company's environment, choose the best clothes suitable for it, and check for wrinkles and stains. After all, even if the company's filled with people in beach wear, you don't want to look like you've just climbed out of bed. Most importantly, you should feel good about what you wear. Because if you feel good, others will respond accordingly.

Be Prepared

Bring a folder containing extra copies of your resume, references and any other documents you may need. You should also have questions to ask at the end of the interview, and finally, have a paper at hand to take notes.

Be punctual

Never arrive late for an interview. Factor in extra time to find your way around the vicinity. It would be best to enter the building 10 to 15 minutes before the interview. 

Listen

Listening is one of the most neglected interview skills. Additionally, don't just listen, but reading between the lines. Sometimes what is not said is just as important as what is said. 

Answer the Question Asked

Make sure you understand the question before answering. If you are unsure, get clarification before answering. Sometimes, candidates don't think about whether they are answering the questions their interviewers ask. 

Give Specific Examples

Prepare stories about your past experience before the interview. Give examples that highlight your successes. Your past behavioud can indicate your future performance.

Ask Questions

Many interviewees don't ask questions and miss the opportunity to find out valuable information. The questions you ask can indicate your interest in the company or job. 

Follow Up

The follow up email is one more chance to market yourself and remind your potential employer about your best traits. Take it as an avenue to reiterate what you bring to the job and the company as well.

Show Enthusiasm and Confidence

Most importantly, be confident, give a firm handshake and plenty of eye contact. One way to show confidence is to be prepared to the best of your ability. There is no way to predict what an interview holds, but by following these important rules you will feel less anxious and will be ready to positively present yourself.