Job Interview: How to Impress the Recruiter?

“If you had ten billion VND in hand, what would you do?”. This seems like a question to test a person’s investment knowledge, but no, this is actually a CEO’s job interview question when meeting a candidate applying for a job at a company.

When faced with unexpected situations, the ability to solve problems and think quickly is what the employer wants to test. At the same time, your calmness, spirit and attitude when facing psychological and time pressure in "difficult" situations also partly show your personality and ability to withstand pressure.

So how to still be confident enough to think and give the most “different” answer, how to impress the Recruiter in the first meeting. Please read on to see…

Careful preparation

Being well prepared is 50% of your interview success. It’s not just about appearance, it’s also about knowledge, information, and tools for the interview process.

Depending on your job position and company status, you will have to choose appropriate clothing and ensure it is "neat, polite, neat, and appropriate for the situation".

Find out information about the company, industry, products/services, job position… everything related, it shows that you are really interested in this job. Then who will interview you? At least it helps you not to be confused when not knowing how to address each other during the interview; quickly identify the personality and expectations of the employer, also helps you adjust your communication skills accordingly.

Your resume, CV and other personal documents are neatly prepared in a clear bag, showing that you are a careful and meticulous person. A pen and a small notebook to record the employer's evaluations and comments show that you are a progressive and eager to learn person.

Be exact about the time and place of the appointment

Being on time is extremely important to any employer. It is best to go to the interview location before the appointment date to check the expected travel time and the location you need to go to. Don't let the opportunity slip away just because of a 5-minute delay due to traffic jams, or 10 minutes of struggling in the parking garage.

First Impressions

The first impression you leave on the employer will be “pinned” unless you have enough time to work to erase those impressions. So remember the following “Rule No. 7”.

Seven inches from the shoulders up means preparation of appearance, face, hair & you can completely wear light makeup.

The first seven steps leave an impression of your confidence, composure, demeanor and professional image.

The first seven sentences show something about your personality and communication skills.

You should also control your body language. It is like an extra tongue, it will reveal your personality and psychology in the most authentic way. So actions such as shaking your legs, flicking a pen, using your eyes and hands… need to be adjusted and used skillfully.

Some common interview questions

There is no set answer for interviews, but if you encounter common interview questions, it's better to at least prepare in advance what you plan to say, right?

“Tell me about yourself?” – Don’t list everything, emphasize and focus on the experiences that are OUTSTANDING and RELEVANT to the job you are applying for.

“What are your strengths?” – List your strengths that demonstrate that you would be a great fit for the job. Skills (communication, sales, persuasion, internet, foreign languages…), personal qualities (perseverance, initiative, creativity…) needed for the position you are applying for. Include specific examples to prove it.

“What are your weaknesses?” – Don’t list weaknesses that would immediately disqualify you (irresponsible, poor time management…), list your weaknesses and show how you are working on them.

“Why did you leave your last job?” – Be tactful, try to turn your answer into how you are suitable for the new job, and show the employer that your last job no longer meets your career goals.

“Do you have any questions?” – Asking nothing or asking innocuous questions is a waste of opportunity. Try asking questions that show your interest and desire to improve: Who are the best salespeople and their qualities? What do you like most about the company? What are the challenges of this position? What metrics and criteria are used to evaluate this job?...

In general, answer questions briefly and concisely, focus on the issue and do not ramble; do not “talk long, talk long, talk nonsense” because it will reveal your limitations.

With unexpected situational questions that require your thinking and reflexes; you need to be calm, think clearly and “find the most unique answer”. Don’t let yourself get lost in the crowd.

The impressions left when leaving

As with first impressions, a smile at the end of an interview not only shows that you are confident but also positive and friendly.

A proactive handshake along with a thank you… will greatly impact the entire interview and influence the employer’s decision. Small actions such as cleaning up your seat, closing the door when leaving will reinforce the employer’s decision about you. Good luck!

MSc. Vu Ngoc Thang – Lecturer of Business Administration Faculty