Skills that a student must develop to ace an interview

Akhil Shahani

Are you giving numerous interviews and still failing to ace your dream job? We all know cracking an interview is an uphill climb, but you can ride high with appropriate skills.

Always remember, you must never go to an interview unprepared. It is advisable to be thorough with the job description of the job that you are applying for, the basic information of the firm, have an updated resume and be ready with answers for some common interview questions. Apart from the common questions that one must be prepared for an interview, there are a few skills that every student must develop to ace any interview.

Let us emphasize every single skill which is pivotal for acing an interview.

1. Listening skills

You must understand that there is a difference between hearing and listening. While hearing is a physical ability, listening is a skill that must be developed. Before you start speaking, it is important to listen to what the other person is saying. Avoid interrupting the interviewer, let them complete their question and then proceed to answer. Even though you may be eager to answer, interrupting your interviewer shows that you are not actively listening to them. Also, once the speaker is done communicating, summarize the question or the information in your own words to demonstrate your understanding to them.

2. Communication skills

Effective communication skills play a vital role too. Interviewers pay keen attention to how a candidate is communicating. Both verbal as well nonverbal communication matters. Lack of communication leads to a lack of understanding.  Articulating your thoughts well gives you an edge in an interview. Employers prefer to hire candidates who have the skills to interact with others and maintain cordial relations with all team members. Remember, good communication is specific, concise, used correct mediums and lacks passive aggression.

3. Problem-solving skills

Problem-solving skills help to identify the root cause of an issue. During an interview, the interviewer might conduct an activity with you. They’ll give you problems to which you have to find the solution. They will scrutinise how quick-witted you are and also what kind of solutions you are providing to the problems. Through such activities, the interviewer wants to know how proactive you are to deal with emergencies and failures. Problem-solving skills help an individual identify the issue, finding the cause of the issue, coming up with a solution and implementing the solution. Brainstorming activities, online, as well as classroom simulations, will help you develop problem-solving skills.

4. Decision-making skills

Similar to, problem-solving skills decision-making skills play an essential role too. For instance, in an interview, if an interviewer gives you a scenario where you have piles of tasks pending and the priority project is coming on the way, what decision you will make? Will you be able to answer such questions promptly? Strong decision-making skills will help you to make mindful choices that will have a favorable result. Decision-making skills help to save time, increase productivity and make optimum utilisation of available resources. The better decision-making skills you possess, the better are your chances to reach the peak of your professional life.

5. Time-management skills

You should be aware of how to manage your time. Time management is not only about being punctual but also completing tasks in the given time. You must be able to plan and prioritize your tasks properly. Remember, procrastination is the thief of time. So, use your time efficiently prioritize, delegate and schedule all your tasks well in advance.

6. Project management skills

Project management skills are necessary to manage any project efficiently and effectively. Project management mainly includes planning about the project, defining timelines and executing the plan. Your project management skills include your time management and decision-making skills as well. Your efficiency depends on how well you handle a project right from its conceptualisation till its final release

7. Strategic thinking skills

Making a clear picture for completing the tasks is always beneficial. The right strategy and planning will lead to the right execution and execution is the fundamental thing in every organization. The result is purely based on the execution, ideas can be innumerable, the right implementation of it will give an excellent result and outcomes.

 Remember to develop and polish all the above skills to ace an interview and proceed with your career journey.

The writer is Managing Director, Thadomal Shahani Centre for Management, Shahani Group and CEO, ask.Careers.