Well, this post is all about my personal experience sharing on preparation for job hunt or before interview. It might not be applicable to all fields, but generally it is summarized from all the tests and interviews I had gone through in these few weeks (almost 2 months). I would say these are something you cannot get from Jobstreet tutorial or any career fair booklet. Most of the online tips for what to do before interview are quite the same. I admit that it is important for you to read through all these interview tips to know what they usually ask in the interview. However, there are also things that they did not share. It is probably due to different culture or way of practice.

1 – Never memorize the company profile, history and bla bla bla. It’s normal that you will always come across with the tips asking you to do some research on the company background. Well, I would say the most important is that you know what the company does. (I assume everyone would have known this at the moment they decided to apply for that company. So, that’s enough basically!) Spend more time in preparing answers that can help to market you instead. As from the 5 interviews I attended, none ask about the company profile, history, structure, product line or what so ever. If there is a chance they really ask about it, you can answer smartly that you will get to know more after you successfully enter the company.

2 – Prepare 100% or more for the most popular question – “Please briefly intro yourself”. This is a confirm question for all interview. Maybe they will ask in a different manner, but there will definitely be introduction section. Grab this opportunity as this is what you can actually prepare earlier. Draft a brief but impressive introduction for yourself and you will find it useful for all interviews you attend. Since this is a start, it is very important for you to create good impression in term of communication and personality. (With the assumption that you have successful make a good score in outlook) Try to say something different or something that the panel(s) wanted to know more. Keep those routine introduction (eg: name, degree, age, etc) short and simple. Keep more time for those parts that portray you uniquely. Remember “first impression counts”. So if you did well for this question, even you answer plainly for the subsequent questions, there is still a chance. But if you screw this part and manage to bluff like super canon at the back, I would say you didn’t make a good start.

3 – Please keep the habit of bringing along a pen with you. Most of the time, you will be required to filled in another form once you arrive at the company. For me, I would feel that it is very unprofessional to borrow a pen from the receptionist or even your competitors (other interviewees). Even when you have entered the interview room, there is still a possibility of using a pen. I had come across with one interview whereby before they started questioning, I was required to answer 2 simple questions pre-printed on a paper. Imagine how embarrass if you have to borrow a pen from the interviewer. It really happens.

4 – Try to arrange your document holder systematically before you attend any interview. From there they can see whether you are an organized person. The most recommended arrangement would be according to chronological. First would be the resume for sure. Then it should be followed by academic achievements before you show all you silat or kungfu certificates. Like I had mentioned, do it in chronological arrangement, those PMR or UPSR please kindly put at the back. (eg: university academic achievements, university coco, secondary academic achievements , secondary coco, and so on) Keep those certificates that would not impress them much. Example? Kindergarten graduation certificate. Don’t laugh, sometimes it had been in your holder for times, then you forgot to remove it.

5 – Things that you supposed to bring along in your beg: relevant documents, bottle of water, snack (bread or biscuits), reading material. I don’t have to mention more about the documents part. Usually the company will give a very clear instruction on what to bring in term of documents. But other than that, water is necessary. Usually our mouth and lips get dry pretty fast especially when we are nervous. Snack is for those unpredictable interview schedules. (most of the time, interviews that are attended by many candidates) One of my friend shared that he encountered a situation whereby his interview was pre-scheduled at 2pm but end up that he entered the interview room only at 6pm and the session ended at 730pm. You could be a walking zombie by the time you enter the room if nothing fill you empty stomach. Of course, before you eat, it always more appropriate for you to ask first. (Whoever in charge of the waiting room) Reading material is to kill time. At the same time, it portrays you as a person who makes full use of your time. Doesn’t matter because they will not see all these? There are actually a lot of chances that the interviewer will observe you. (When they go for toilet, they might see what’s happening in the waiting room. Or when they call you themselves from the waiting room, they will see what you are doing while waiting) It’s all impression marks.

6 – Don’t be a recluse when you are in the waiting room. Try to talk with other candidates. But you have to evaluate their personality yourselves. I had encountered some candidates who are very selfish and not willing to share much. But when you come across with friendly candidates, sometimes you might get something from him/her. Be humble. Sometimes, they know more about the company. (Probably they have relatives or seniors working inside) So, it would be good for you to know more about these information, either to help you answer better (eg: when being asked about your expectation salary, you might get to know the current rate through info given by other candidates) or to help you make better decision. (In the situation that you have multiple offers)

7 – Always be honest! Don’t afraid to admit something that you don’t know. I would say that the damage cause by saying “I don’t know but I’m willing to learn. Please forgive me.” is only around 40-60%. But if you insist of answering those questions that you do not know, then the damage could be 100%. Nobody likes “keh kiang” people. Same thing if you had forgotten something. Just say that you forgot. When you are not sure but still answer with a lot of “erm” and guessing, then your confidence mark will definitely drop to nil.

8 – Prepare some stunning questions in the end of interview. The interviewers will usually open the opportunity to the candidates to clear their doubts. Prepare some analytical question instead of general questions. Common questions would be “when I can know the result?”, “how long is the probation period?”, etc. General questions would be “how many staffs are there in this company?”, “does the company plan to expand its empire to other country?”, etc. All these wouldn’t impress me much if I’m interviewer. Do some studies on the company and come out with some analytical questions. Ask something relating to your field. For accounting, perhaps you need to study on their financial performance and ask question relating to that. For engineer or other fields, you should know better if you are in that field.

9 – Don’t agree too soon if they offer you a job. Always request for a day to think properly as this is an important decision to make. A day could make a difference if you had attended a few interviews before this one. You might get call from them anytime. Who knows you might get better offer! However, if they insist you to give the answer on the spot, then you have to choose. No choice.

10 – If possible create a whole new email account purposely for your job hunt quest. This makes you easier to check any updates on job applications. Select a mature email address so that the interviewer feels that they are hiring a man/woman rather than a boy/girl. Please abandon those silly email addresses like vanilla_sweet_cute_always_me@yahoo.com, or fcukmecrazy@hotmail.com, or others that you think are inappropriate. Construction of image starts here.

End of sharing. Again, knowledge is nothing without sharing.
I hope my other friends who are graduating or already graduated can share more by leaving comments.
I believe everyone has different experience and encounters.
To juniors, all the best in your future undertakings!

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