Interviewing Manners
Appearance
The first thing the interviewer sees is your appearance. From the moment the interview begins, the
interviewer is already evaluating you on your manners and posture. The basis of making a good
impression
with your appearance is cleanliness. As a professional, let's be conscious of your hairstyle,
clothes,
nails, and feet. Unclean and sloppy appearance not only makes those around you uncomfortable, but
also
gives an impression that you are not serious about working. Please also remember to turn off your
cell
phone before you go in for an interview.
Since the interview is a place to sell yourself, you will leave a better impression if have a good
appearance.
Posture/greeting
As with appearance, your posture will catch an interviewer’s attention. The way you stand will say a
lot
about the type of person you are. Be especially careful about the way you are standing when you
enter
the interview room. Your back should be straight, shoulders relaxed, and feet together. Before the
interview begins, greet the interviewer and bow. When sitting up, do so slowly.
Always greet and introduce yourself first. Say the first greeting enthusiastically and clearly.
State
your name and thank them for allowing you to have this opportunity. When sitting, try not to lean
onto
the chair, but leave some space between your back and the backrest. Also, if you have any habits
(shaking your legs, twirling pens, messing with hair, etc.), try to make extra effort to prevent it
from
happening. You may not be aware of your own habits so it’s a good idea to ask your friends and
family
about it.
Some companies at the Career Forum do not bow as a greeting, but sometimes shakes hands. If the
company
representative extends their hand, shake their hand instead of bowing.
Expression
It is good to be relaxed but a little nervous too. It is natural to get nervous in front of others,
but
whether you can control it or not is considered an important business skill. Be careful not to make
the
other person think that your attitude is insincere, you may give them a negative image of you.
Smiling
and properly greeting the company representatives at the booth will make your first impression much
better.
Eye contact
Eye contact is a very important communication tool. Always remember to make eye contact whenever you are
speaking as well as when you are listening to the speaker. Wandering eyes gives the impression that you
are not focused or that you are not interested in what the other person is saying. If you find it
difficult to make eye contact, try to look a little below the person’s eyes or even their nose. On the
other hand, staring can make the other person feel uncomfortable, so it’s also important to sometimes
look away.
Speaking
Speak clearly and concisely.
Speaking softly or mumbling doesn’t leave a great impression. When speaking, don’t stop halfway and
finish what you have to say. Stopping halfway gives the impression that you are not confident in
what
you are saying. Some people start talking fast when they are nervous. Try not to rush, take your
time,
and speak with confidence.
Listening
Listen to what the other person is saying until they are finished talking, and think over the question
being asked before answering. The interviewer has a purpose of asking the question and is expecting the
candidate to answer it a certain way. Instead of thinking about what the correct answer is, think more
about what the interviewer is trying to learn from your answer. Not listening until the end and jumping
to conclusions or disregarding the question can give the impression that you lack comprehension skills
or that you can only think of yourself and not the other person.
How to receive a business card
If you are a student, unless you are a MBA student, the case of receiving a business card is rare.
However, when given a business card, always do so standing. If there are several representatives, make
sure to receive the business card first from the highest positioned representative. When given a
business card, stand up and take it with both hands. After you have received the business card, place it
on the table. You can look at the business card(s) then. If there are several representatives, line up
the cards in the order they are seated to make sure you address them with the right name. For many
students, your resume will be your business card. Have your resume ready so you can hand it to them
quickly when asked.
After the interview
After the interview, get up from your seat, stand next to the chair, and thank them for their time. When
leaving the room, open the door and bow without holding the doorknob, and then close the door while
thanking them. Also, we recommend you to check what the next step in the interview process is before the
end of the interview.
The interviews at the Career Forums are held in booths or the interview rooms so when the interview is
over, stand up, thank them and bow, then leave the booth.
Difference between company booths and interview rooms
Depending on the company, we recommend you to assume that interviews at the company booths are typically
shorter and are about 10 to 15 minutes. The interview could last 30 minutes if the conversation is going
well, but what you are able to say in a short amount of time during the interview and how you are going
to make it through to the next interview process is key. Also, there are interviews happening next to
you, so make sure you don’t get distracted. Many first interviews are held at the booth.
If you have a second and third interview, or if you have prior appointments already set up, you will
typically have those interviews in a separate area called the interview room. Since the interview room
is private, your interview will be held in a more quiet setting unlike the booths. At this time, in
addition to the hiring manager, you may interview senior managers, senior executives, and other
higher-ups of the company. There is a possibility that they may ask more in-depth, technical questions,
so we recommend you practice and prepare by thinking of what kinds of questions they may ask.
