Participating in a selection process requires a series of preparation steps so that you can perform at your best when interviewing. This includes rereading the resume, remembering great achievements, reviewing dates, researching the company, reading the job description in detail, and doing training to assess your attitude and responses. But do you know how to train for a job interview?
This step is often neglected by candidates, who can benefit greatly from the practice of rehearsing the interview dynamics in advance. After all, have you ever heard that practice makes perfect? As much as it is an exaggeration to talk about a perfect interview, it is possible to organize yourself to train and adjust some points that you have not yet mastered. In this way, you guarantee your best performance, get used to the dynamics and classic questions, reducing nervousness for the actual moment, test your answers and realize where you need to develop, whether in interviews or in professional life as a whole. However, how can you do this? To help you, we put some options in the list below. Check it out now.
Practice with a friend.
The ideal is to have another person do this. Thus, you would have a friend to play the role of the recruiter, and you would be the interviewed candidate. In this situation, you would be able to have a more realistic and rich experience, with a person to ask unusual questions, press you, and guarantee quality training. That friend will also be able to give you feedback, showing your strengths and items to improve, in addition to assessing your posture, speech, and nervousness, details that make the difference and, often, the candidate himself does not notice.
Use mirrors and cell phones to your advantage.
However, we know that it is not always possible to have a second person for this test. If you have an interview the next day, for example, use other training tools, remembering that the important thing is to do this simulation. You can, for example, use a mirror to gauge how well you do answering classic interview questions. This exercise also helps you visualize how your body reacts to situations, identifying signs of nervousness and anxiety, fuzzy looks, and movements that distract the recruiter. Better than the mirror is your cell phone, you know? You can set up a script and practice responses while recording a video with your device. So, after finishing the practice, you can watch the material and do a complete analysis, with the opportunity to pause the video and review the content as many times as you need. This ensures that no detail goes unnoticed, so you can catch every move on camera.
Evaluate if you are talking.
Regardless of the form of training, you will need to evaluate some factors, which will be fundamental for the actual interview. One of them is the volume of your speech. Pay attention to whether you're talking a lot or a little during the tests because the ideal is to find a middle ground. Neither speak much, to the point of disturbing the recruiter's organization and giving a centralized and self-centered impression nor speak little, demonstrating shyness, lack of interest, and unpreparedness.
Pay attention to the tone and pace of responses.
Another highlight is the cadence of your speech. Ideally, you should be able to maintain the same tone, calm and contained, throughout the entire dynamic, as well as avoiding variations in speed, and not speaking too loudly or too softly. After all, the way you speak demonstrates your emotional state, and you want to show Human Resources professionals that you are calm, centered, confident, and committed to that opportunity.
Pay attention to yes or no answers.
A very common error in selection processes, which is easily identified in training, is the excessive use in the answers. As much as it is not forbidden to use them, it is good to avoid or always complement your speech, demonstrating resourcefulness, interest, and comfort with the situation. On the other hand, also be careful with very long answers, with rambling and little objectivity. While it's great to have a more in-depth and comprehensive conversation, remember that recruiters' time is limited, as they have to interview many different candidates.
Make sure your answers are natural
As much as the test is fundamental, it cannot have the opposite effect and harm you in the interview. This risk occurs when you train too hard, to the point where your responses seem contrived and rehearsed. The purpose of the simulation is to make you improve some points and get used to the answers, but be careful and don't memorize your lines. You need to be ready for anything, including going off scripts, improvising, adding details that fit the interview, and including your corporate stories.