So you’ve landed an interview and now you’re over the moon. However, there are a few things that you should do so as not to ruin your chances of landing the job:
1. Know The Company, Know Your Interviewer – Show Your Interest: Research the company, read through their website, know about their competitors, the sector, the recent trends and news but don’t stop there. Who is interviewing you? Find out more about who you’ll be working with, what is their area of specialization and interests.
2. Ask Questions: Remember that the interview is not an interrogation but a conversation. It’s the chance that both you and the interviewer have to get to know one another. Your questions should focus on things like your job description (if the company doesn’t have one, this is a potential problem) and on other function-related topics. Don’t ask about holidays and working hours yet.
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3. Don’t give positive criticism of the company or flatter the interviewer: neither tactics impress in fact they both show that you’re trying too hard.
4. Use humor sparingly: Don’t try to be funny, sarcastic or give tongue-in-cheek answers.
5. Don’t arrive hot, angry and sweaty: It is hard to find parking spot in Dubai and driving in the city can test even the calmest nerves. Try to arrive 10 minutes before your interview, freshen up in the bathroom and suppress your road rage feelings.
6. Don’t reveal too much: If you hate your current boss/colleagues/office and it’s the reason why you’re switching jobs. Keep that to yourself. Find another reason, down the lines of “I need to a challenging position to grow in.”
7. Seems like common sense but - read through your CV: You might have written it years ago. Just familiarize yourself with what’s on it, things that you’ve mentioned (which should all be true, needless to say) just so that you’re prepared for any question.
8. Say thank you: It’s always a nice gesture that is much appreciated by employers, to send a thank-you-for-your-time note with a line that says that you’ll be waiting for their feedback and should they have any more questions or clarifications they should be in touch.
Finally, if you’re a fresh graduate and your CV looks scarce, don’t panic. They must have seen something promising in you if you’ve landed the interview. Just be confident and talk about things you’ve done at university and what you’re hoping to learn.
