A JOB interview is among the more significant moments in one’s life, particularly for the family breadwinner. But the massive scale of aspirants for a particular job opening leaves people scared and demoralised about their future prospects. In addition, the calibre of an interview panel is often questionable, and can be prone to bias, which is a mockery of the process. Corporations now expect a ‘fit’ for a position. In fact, in the US, enterprises have included personality tests whereby applicants for senior positions have to take online personality assessments. The day is not far when these techniques will make an appearance in the recruitment processes of prominent companies in Pakistan.

With increasingly fewer employment opportunities and hundreds vying for each one of them, the selection process adopted by various enterprises is becoming tougher. Hence, the following suggestions for interview procedures should be considered to improve the candidates’ chances of securing a job:

1) The candidates should be suitably dressed; it is recommended that their attire be little more formal than regular work-wear — if the company requires business casuals then it is best to opt for a suit or a jacket.

2) If the company’s personnel dress casually then the applicants should choose a collared shirt with trousers.

3) Preparation is key — the more prepared they are, the more confident they will feel during an interview. For example, for human resources departments, employers will require experience in teamwork and skills such as communication, training and people management. All applicants should know the recruitment process, salary negotiation, problem-solving, evaluation and promotion, and be aware of labour laws. Similarly, for information technology, knowledge of basic AI concepts, generative adversarial networks, and AI ethics is mandatory, along with neural networks, language processing and robotics.

The selection process adopted by enterprises is becoming tougher.

4) A positive impression and trust are formed with effective communication and composure. It is crucial to prepare, manage stress, and be mindful of body language, with a focus on brevity and clarity of thought. As overcoming stress and nervousness may seem difficult to some, they should do research on the company, its team and the position they have applied for. It is also helpful to seek support from various trainers on the internet and consult relevant literature to alleviate anxiety and improve presentation skills.

Besides, for any organisation, candidates who appear to be a natural ‘fit’ for its culture are preferred choices. By this, one means aspirants who have comprehensive knowledge regarding the various functions, services and structure of the company as well as about the specific requirements for the post they have applied for. And they should also be eloquent, as opposed to animated, when communicating about their strengths, experience, aspirations, interests and suitability for the company in question, showing the interviewer that their cognisance of the business, its administrative measures, management, products and acquisitions, and strengthened skillset makes them a perfect fit for the firm.

5) The importance of efficiently highlighting career achievements and accomplishments in current jobs cannot be underestimated. Candidates must show genuine enthusiasm for the role and groom themselves for it through research about introducing innovative and progressive ideas and goals for its products and services. They should also be able to discuss their work ex­­perience, skills and qualifications, substantiating these with their feats. They should connect their training and experience to the prospective job effectively — exp­laining how their skills, practices, and attributes make them the best fit for the company, supported by concrete information, paperwork, and certificates.

A large majority of interviewers are interested in the candidates’ reasons for leaving their last job, or seeking new opportunities. Being truthful and presenting the facts accurately before them is the best way to nip doubts in the bud as it makes it easier for managers to carry out background checks, which are necessary for prospective employers, including reaching out to previous proprietors to evaluate performance potential.

It is also advisable for candidates to show an interest in the company they wish to join by asking the recruitment panel for information. In all likelihood, such gestures will be appreciated. However, interviewees should ensure that their questions are well-thought-out and relevant to the position for which they are being interviewed.

The writer is a consultant in human resources at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2025