You might be very skilled in your career, aced exams, and perform exceptionally at your job, but you might not be able to chase better positions at larger firms if you are not good at presenting yourself at interviews and creating a first impression that simply wows your recruiters and human resource managers. Working on your interview skills is just as important as learning the technical skills that your potential job requires. Otherwise, this can be the only thing holding you back in your career.

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When entering an interview, make sure you drink lots of water and try to hide your nervousness. Everything you have achieved in life is there to back you up in interviews, and no achievement is a small achievement. Be sure to be proud of everything you have done and explain how they have helped shape you into the man you are today. It would be very helpful if you prepare the general questions like introduction, strengths, weaknesses, family background, etc. beforehand. You don’t need to memorize the answers. Simply prepare a few pointers in your head so you are not taken aback when the question is asked. Next, you would want to work on your body language. Make sure you maintain eye contact with your interviewer. If you are faced with a panel of interviewers, then look at each of them individually while answering every question, regardless of who asked the question.

Also, make sure that you are not showing clear signs of nervousness by fiddling with something or shivering in your legs. Some interviewers do not penalize this by understanding that interviews can be daunting, but others may not be that lenient. The next thing to focus on would be your appearance. How you are dressed can leave a lasting impact on recruiters so make sure you are dressed for the job you want. An all-black suit can never go wrong but make sure it is clean and your shoes are polished and shined. These small tips can greatly determine the outcome of your interview so make sure you keep them in mind.