The call to come in for an interview is a moment of excitement for any jobseeker and this feeling at times is so overwhelming that we may forget to prepare for the actual interview itself. Once you have crafted a good CV and successfully placed your candidature for the job in question, the interview becomes the next gateway to getting the job you have been aspiring to.

Equip yourself with knowledge of current market trends and about the company you are going to for the interview. Keep in mind that you are pitching yourself to a potential employer and therefore you need to effectively convince him that he is making a worthwhile investment by hiring you.

Prepare yourself for the quintessential 'Tell me about yourself' and the 'Why do you want to work with this company' questions, by effectively matching your skills with those required by the company. Establish the reasons you chose to apply for the particular job and why you think you will be an asset for the company. Employers like this approach as it shows them that you have done your research before applying for the job. It is important to maintain an aura of confidence. Learn to pronounce your interviewer's name and title correctly, and address them correctly at the meeting. A firm handshake and unwavering eye contact is the start of a good interview.

Pitch your skills and capabilities effectively. Simply listing them on your CV careertunity.com is not enough. Learn the art of listening effectively. Do not interrupt, but at the same time don't hesitate to clarify should a doubt arise. Standard interview questions include past and future based questions. These interviews are 'behaviour based' and are intended to test your personality. These questions include – Where do you see yourself in five years time? What approach did you choose to tackle a particular problem in the past?

Do not include expected salary details or previous pay details on your resume and avoid talking about the same during the interview. If you are cornered with a tricky salary question, you may dodge the question by stating that 'we can talk about this when the appropriate time comes' or by saying that you 'prefer that the employer/interviewers share what they think has been budgeted for'. If pushed further, you may share your salary history if that's the basis on which you have formed your expectation.

Another potential sticky question is 'what are your faults and weaknesses'. Use it to your advantage by preparing an answer that is honest and package it with an implication that these supposed weaknesses can actually benefit the company. However, avoid the clichés like 'I am a perfectionist and expect the same from others or I am so cooperative that I can't say No and land up with extra work', because these sound staged and rehearsed. To elaborate, stress how you can get completely involved in the work assigned to you, rather than focus on your faulty record of multitasking. When answering questions about your previous place of employment, be either neutral or complimentary. Do not complain, and be careful about answering why you left your old job. Be honest and brief. Prepare to elaborate on your previous work experience. Keep in mind that achievements and accomplishments are more credible if they are in the form of tangible facts and solid figures. If you're asked for an opinion on a current scenario/news trend, choose an objective stance.

In the event of an unusual question being posed, organize your thoughts and answer carefully. It is alright to pause and think before answering a question. But when you answer be sure to be precise. Answers that are to the point are preferred to those that are long drawn-out and inconclusive.

When asked by the employer if you have any questions, be prepared. Have a few questions either about your role, or the company's direction/ goal/ objective, or expectations of the job role in the larger context of the organisation. This shows the employer that you have researched the company and that you are switched on and interested in the role. You may also enquire about your possible career progression in this role.

Emotional intelligence is critical. A jobseeker needs to establish himself/herself as a stable, capable individual who can carry out the tasks assigned to them with ease and who does not succumb to pressure.

Don't miss out on the essentials of carrying extra copies of your resume, keeping your mobile phone on silent and ensuring that your overall grooming and presentation is professional. Be 10 minutes early to the interview, freshen up and get the confidence meter on a high.

All the Best.

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