9 Tips for a Smooth Initial Interview

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Job interviews are stressful for both the applicant and interviewer alike. It’s in everyone’s interest to keep things running smoothly, not only to improve the applicant’s chances of getting the job but to avoid any bad impressions later on.


Here are 9 tips to keep that initial interview running smooth and (mostly) stress-free.

1.) Look up the most common interview questions

Regardless of the position you’re interviewing for, make sure to look up the most common job interview questions and the usual answers to them. Chances are, the interviewer will ask at least a couple of them and you want to be ready with something in case they do.

2.) Practice

Ask a friend or family member to help you practice being interviewed. This can help a lot more than you might expect by allowing you to be in the right mindset ahead of time. You’ll also be able to look for gaps in your preparation and fix them before the real interview begins.

3.) Research your target companies extensively

Check out the organization’s website and social media pages as well as third party sites to get a good idea about the company’s current and future projects as well as the general culture within the company. This will come in handy later in the interview, as the interviewer will likely expect that you have questions.

4.) Dress appropriately

“Appropriate” doesn’t necessarily mean you will have to wear formal attire, though that might be a must in a few companies. More often, it means dressing up close to or slightly above the standard employee dress code. If in doubt, though, it’s always better to be overdressed rather than underdressed for your job interview.

5.) Eat a nutritious breakfast

You might have to wait a long time for your turn to be interviewed. Make sure you have enough energy to get through the day. Bringing a light snack might not be a bad idea either, so long as you observe proper etiquette.

6.) Avoid being too passive

Many Filipinos tend to be passive in professional settings. Unfortunately, in the context of many multinational organizations, this passivity is often misread as a lack of interest or understanding. Try to make it clear that you are interested in the job and that you are prepared with good questions during the interview.

7.) Take control over your responsibilities as an applicant

Applicants should be on time, be prepared with the right questions, have a pen and notebook on hand, and be prepared to own up to any mistakes they make. If you follow through with all the things you are responsible for, chances are the interviewer or hiring manager will notice. Even if they don’t, they will certainly notice it (for all the wrong reasons) if you show a lack of responsibility during the interview.


8.) Don’t lie

Many interviewers expect applicants to lie to them, which can often lead to an adversarial, though short, relationship. Be as truthful and as forward as you need to be without giving away any personal details. This will help both you and the interviewer stay positive, which can mean a better chance for a second or final interview.


9.) Be on your best behavior

It’s too bad it has to be said, but many HR professionals have noted that many applicants often exhibit all types of inappropriate behavior, ranging from making sexual comments about employees to failing to throw away their trash properly. Rudeness will probably cause your interview to fail, quite spectacularly.

With your amped-up interviewing skills, it’s time to find your perfect job with Mynimo. Mynimo’s localization makes it simple to find the right job close to home, wherever you are in the Philippines.