When it comes to acing an interview, a little research and preparation goes a long way. You also need to understand the perspective of the interviewer, that is, what will impress the recruiter. Whether you get selected through an interview or not has got a lot to do with how you answer the questions thrown at you during the course of the interview.

So do yourself a favor and be well-prepared before appearing for an interview. Here are some tips that will help you get a nod from the interviewer:

Understanding the Interviewer’s Perspective

One question that is asked in nearly all interviews is – “Why do you want to work here?”

For most people, a truthful answer will be something like – “You have an opening, and I’m looking for a job and have the required skills needed for this job.”

The above answer is straightforward and truthful, but in most cases, this is not what an interviewer wants to hear. Unless your skills, credentials, or education level is extraordinary, you are unlikely to get selected if your answer to the question, “Why do you want to work here?” is similar to one listed above.

When answering the above question, you need to show that this company is the only place where you want to work, and not one of many places where you think you could work.

Your answer to the above question should demonstrate:

• Your enthusiasm and interest for the organization and the reasons why you like the organization
• How your core values are in keeping with what the organization stands for
• How you can contribute to the organization

Giving an answer that demonstrates all the above does not require a lot of effort. In fact, all you need to do is conduct some research on the company in which you have applied for a position.

Most companies today, at least the big ones, have corporate websites. Use the company’s website to gather information about it. You should be aware of the company’s:

• Mission statements
• Product and service information
• Background

All research and no practice is not the mantra for acing interviews. The purpose of research is to enable you to frame the right answers. To ensure that your answer comes out exactly as you want it to during the interview, write down the questions that you think you may be asked and rehearse the script with a friend.

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