Things You Need to Know Before Your Interview in Nigeria
Things You Need to Know Before Your Interview in Nigeria
First and foremost, you must understand that the job market is a highly competitive marketplace. Lately, the graduates are higher than the available jobs. Sadly, most big firms engage in large-scale downsizing.
The difference in the number of job seekers and vacant positions is alarming, and the idea of self-employment has reached a complete throttle in the seminars held these days as well as public discussions.
Nevertheless, there are still available jobs for those who know how to get these positions. Bear in mind that the connection mentally still filters the Nigerian job climate, and it has an effect on all stratosphere, of which employment is not an exception.
In Nigeria, it feels like, for every fifty percent of job opportunities, more than twenty-five percent have been overtaken by these connections. The remaining job seekers will have to struggle for the remaining percentage.
Now that the struggle seems more than real, there are things you need to know before you embark on that interview you were asked to attend.
Things You Need to Know Before Your Interview
Some of the things you need to know before the big day of your interview in Nigeria are;
- The basic preparations
This is the beginning of your interview preparation. The first thing you are to do is to photocopy or possibly reprint your Resume or CV. This is because you will need to take a copy or more with you for the interview.
Just as you do not go to the farm without your hoe, you should never attend an interview without your Curriculum Vitae. While this is not a requirement, handing your CV to the recruiter in a case where they do not have it with them will signify seriousness.
You will be asked general questions without your CV, but with your CV, you will be asked questions about what is inside the CV. With your CV in hand, you have started your interview on a good note.
Asides from your CV, you should search for any other thing you will need days before the interview. If you need a suit, do not wait until the night before the interview to prepare one.
- Research for background information on the company
There is a high probability that you did not know much about the specific company until you stumbled on their job vacancy. And, even if you know the company by name, there is nothing else you know.
Before your interview, you are to research the company. You can make good use of Google, ask friends or even ask your neighbors. Interestingly, you can visit the company and ask people you meet there.
If they have a customer care unit, you can make your inquiries there. However, if the company is a big one, Google can help you with all you need to know, including information on the company’s founders.
Some companies may publish their account; you can skim through them, and if you do not understand some of their terms, ask someone questions. This will help you have an overview of the company’s financial stand.
Recruiters may ask you questions about the company, and if you can answer correctly, you will easily fit in. As you research the company, you can conduct in-depth research on their operation mode, their competitors, customers, and everything you need to know about the company.
For those who may have friends working in a company they got an interview for, you may ask them personal questions about the company’s structure and clues on how best to scale through the interview process.
- Your body language
If you never knew, humans say more with their body language than with verbal words. It is only normal for the human resources officers to know all about body language, thus making use of your body gesture to their advantage.
You must know the basics of what your body gesture entails to avoid giving out the wrong impression when at an interview. When you are interviewing for a job, try your best to keep eye contact with the interviewers.
Keeping eye contact with the interviewers signifies honesty and shows that you are a confident person and know all you are saying. When you smile, it also signifies confidence as it makes you look calm and less nervous.
As you answer a question that pertains to your area of expertise, you should utilize hand gestures. When you express yourself with your hands, it will not portray you as an expert with in-depth knowledge and control of the atmosphere.
How you sit is also vital as sitting with your back leaned on the chair will make you look relaxed and overconfident. You should try your best to sit up straight.
Things You Need to Know Before Your Interview in Nigeria
- Your verbal expression
When you are interviewing for a job, you should try your best to avoid verbal mannerisms such as hmmm and errrm when speaking. It is highly unprofessional and may hinder you from properly expressing yourself.
Note that your voice pitch is vital as you are not to talk too loud, but you should be audible enough for the interviewers to hear you.
- The way you listen
If there is one thing you should know before your big interview in Nigeria, it is that there is a crystal clear difference between listening to respond and listening to understand. You must ensure that you listen to understand at your job interview because you can only respond reasonably with the correct answers if you understand the question asked.
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- Ensure you are sincere
If you are asked a question that you have no clue about, it is better to politely let the interviewers know that you have no clue to the answer than to stutter and give the incorrect answer.
People make the mistake of giving generic answers to some popular interview questions. When asked about your weakness, you should avoid giving the generic answer of being a perfectionist or answering that you work super hard.
Tell them your weakness in a manner that glorifies your strengths. Since they already know about the generic perfectionist answer, you can stand out and say something different.
- You can ask questions
When you can ask vital questions during your interview, it shows that you are a confident person. Once the panel is done asking you questions, they often ask if you have any questions for them.
Ensure that you use this opportunity to show that you are not nervous about the entire interview process. You are not to hurriedly say no to leave the room. You can ask them questions about their mode of operation.
Since you have conducted your research on the company, you can ask them how they handle some of their biggest challenges. This may be a shining opportunity for you to suggest some possible solutions.
Conclusion
On a general note, getting the dream job as a Nigerian graduate is not rocket science, as you will need to follow the ideal steps and do your best when the interview stage comes up.
Always have it in mind that the people interviewing you will either be your colleagues or your superiors if you get the job. This is why you must make an impression that you will be an amazing person to work with.
As you answer the questions, be polite and always have a smile on your face. Once the interview is finished, thank them for the opportunity and make your leave.
