To be successful during interview never an easy task as it requires not just technical skills but lot of other factors which you need to work well before interview. This blog helps every QA understand best strategies / tips that need to be worked at well before you set yourself for any interview whether Domestic or Overseas.
#1. Knowledge about Company Business
Always do your homework well before walking into an interview. Make sure you have complete knowledge about the company and the role.
Collect the basic facts about the company. This includes what kind of business they do, in what all areas they operate, how old are they, etc.
Read the job description very carefully and check if you fit into the role. You should apply for the job only if the job description matches your profile.
Get to know about the company culture. To do this, you can check reviews of the company over glassdoor website or you can visit ‘About us’ section on the company’s website.
Also, identify some the major competitors of the company and figure out what sets this company apart from its competitors.
#2. Know yourself
Remember the first impression is the last impression. Demonstrate your capabilities and qualities and how well you can serve them. Don't be overconfident and aggressive. Research yourself, ask yourself what your objectives are, what short-term & long-term goals you have, know your CV and prepare your answers.
#3. Competency and Transferable skills Knowledge
You should know your competency and transferable skills. Competency skills are the skills matching your job profile and transferable skills are the ones which you have acquired through other jobs and personal activities.
Employers typically use some of the following as their key competencies:
Top Technical Skills
Teamwork
Responsibility
Commitment to career
Commercial awareness
Career motivation
Decision-making
Communication
Leadership
Trustworthiness & Ethics
Results orientation
Problem-solving
Organisation
#4. Be Clear
Be clear about what you want to achieve in life and about your career objective. It will keep you focused and perform better during interview.
Never bluff, include all your relevant skills and experience to give you a competitive edge.
#5. Technical Preparation
Prepare well for an interview. You can make notes of interview questions which are most likely to be asked. Practice your answers. This will boost your confidence.
You can refer Next Generation Automation Interview Section Blog and other blog sections to help you get prepared for interview.
URL: https://www.nextgenerationautomation.com/blog
#6. Communication Skills
Work on your communication skills. Remember having a good technical knowledge without effective interpersonal skills will not take you anywhere. Be expressive and a good conversationalist. Dazzle the interviewers with eloquent speech.
Top 10 communication skills for workplace success are:
Listening
Nonverbal communication
Clarity and concision
Friendliness
Confidence
Empathy
Open-mindedness
Respect
Feedback
Picking the right medium
#7. Marketing Strengths
Make sure you can support your strengths by giving examples. You can prepare before but don't falter while talking. It will not create a good impression.
#8. Accept Weaknesses
When asked about your weaknesses, acknowledge them. If you are not able to describe your weaknesses, then it signifies that you lack self-awareness. You can’t be perfect in everything. Your weakness should be in such manner that it not going to impact Employer business at any cost.
#9. Look Nice
Always be presentable while dressing for the interview. Your attire should be per the role, culture and yourself. Please, no tacky and brash clothing and accessories. You don't need to be glammed up.
#10. Self Moral Boost
Spend time on personal grooming. This will keep you calm. You don't have to present yourself as a person full of nervous energy and fidgets.
#11. Be relax, Its just interview
On the interview day, relax. Be comfortable and wear a smile. You will definitely crack the interview.
#12. Maintain Strong body language
Your body language is very important.Your facial expressions, hand movements, posture, voice, and pace should be in sync and send the same message that you want to convey.
#13. Maintain Eye Contact with interviewer when answer
Don't forget to make an eye contact. Your voice should be enthusiastic and do not stammer. Lack of enthusiasm will put off the interviewers.
#14. Reach 15 minutes before time for F2F and 5 minutes before telephonic / skype calls
Be on time, preferably 15 minutes before so you get time to settle down and calm your nerves.
#15. Show your best manners
Interview manners are very important. Mind your manners, when it comes to interviews. Bad manners will definitely be a turn-off. Don't bang the door, shake handily firmly, ask if you can take a seat, sit up straight and do not slouch.
#16. Never chase bigger asks for salary even if asked by employer
When asked about remuneration, you don't have to be blunt. Instead, you can say that you expect a fair raise in terms of qualifications and experience proportionate with peers.
Now that you have some good interview tips. Be confident, gear up and don't let yourself down. Remember this is not the end of life if you don't get through to the process. It’s just an interview.
Next Generation Automation Team wish every QA Good luck for interview success.
Building better QA for tomorrow