By Syasya Maisarah
GOMBAK, 17 April 2022: An interview is a crucial step in securing a job, and it often hinges on the ability to do self-marketing, a webinar on “Interview Techniques for Fresh Graduates” was told last Friday (15 April).
Two speakers, Mohammad Nordinie, the HR Manager at Robert Walters, and Aziq Kamarudzaman, the Consultant for HR Space at Robert Walters, shared their knowledge and experiences on interview preparation with Communication graduating students.
They both agreed that interviews are vital since they connect both employers and candidates to assist employers to select the right candidate for the right position.
The webinar offered tips for three phases during the job interview, starting with techniques before, during, and after the interview.
Mohammad asserted that those attending interviews should do some research about the company, study the job description, and have enough rest before attending the interview session. Physical appearance and personal hygiene, he said, are important to build a pleasant first impression on the interviewee.
He also stressed that being authentic about oneself and having a personal brand statement is an advantage as it shows the acknowledgement of one’s own strength in performing a particular job.
“University co-curricular activities can help in finding who you really are,” claimed Aziq.
Aziq said performing various co-curricular activities can assist students in discovering their own self-interest, motivations and goals. “Stories can be moulded with students’ experience in co-curricular activities and sell those stories to potential employers during the interview,” he highlighted.
Both speakers mentioned on the appropriate ways to ask and answer questions during an interview session. They said candidates should therefore be more creative in asking questions and should be able to ask good and right ones when opportunities are given.
They shared that it is significant for the interview session to appear more engaging and interactive for both interviewer and the interviewee themselves.
Mohammad also emphasised on gestures, body language and non-verbal cues as equally crucial during an interview session to show that candidates are interested in the job offer and the company.
“It is even more evident and prominent during virtual interviews for people to perceive our gestures and body language negatively, so candidates should maintain a good composure and keep a good eye contact with the interviewer,” Aziq further said.
The webinar was held through Zoom Meeting with some 40 participants joining the session. ***
(Five students from internship class had put their effort together to produce the webinar series and came up with the write-up. They are Syasya Maisarah, Maya Jandali, Muhammad Helmy, Nur Syuhadah and Emilda Elrina)