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No matter the industry or area (sports, economics, marketing, you name it!), at some point in our lives, we will sit in front of someone who will evaluate our skills and personality. And, depending on their criteria, that person is going to decide whether we are fit or not for a certain place or position. And believe me, it can be TERRIFYING. But, calm down, we have brought some tips for you to improve your performance at an interview that will help you get prepared.
Before the interview, prepare yourself by doing some research on the institution you are aiming to enter. Be prepared to answer awkward questions and anticipate them by providing complete answers. A good first impression is not vital but will be of help throughout the rest of the process.
When we talk about interviews, we do not only refer to a job position. Some universities may want to have an idea of your background before admission. If you are willing to enter a team or club, your social skills and ability to solve common life situations are as important as your good performance in that discipline. So, if you are about to have an interview and feel a bit nervous, keep on reading this article to learn a few tips you can apply and score some extra points.
You may also want to read: How to Complement and Improve Your English Lessons?
Imagine you are about to enter a company, club, or institution that wants to know more about you before actually accepting you as a new member. Before they informed you about their interest, they did some research and saw some things they liked about you. Show you appreciate the time they spent learning about you by doing the same. Learn about that entity, and show you are also interested in them!
What are the goals of this institution? What are they looking for to get them? What did they like about you before telling you so? What is their position as opposed to their competitors? These questions, and many more that you may find of interest, are key to knowing what to talk about, and what to mention during your interview. We are not telling you to lie while trying to say what they want to hear, but to relate your strengths to what they are interested in getting from you.
Taking this to the sports industry, a team’s position during a particular season may be a good example. If the team is in an inferior league, they may be looking for someone who can help them move upwards. If they are in a major league, getting to a certain position by the end of the season may be their goal. What do you think you can do to help them achieve those goals?
Some questions may put us in a position where we don’t know exactly what to answer during all interviews. Hesitation is a sign of weakness. So be prepared for this type of question. Of course, you will never know exactly what they may ask. However, you can easily think of two or three possible scenarios beforehand.
What are your weaknesses? Why do you want to work/play for us? What do you think is the best thing about this place? These are examples of those complex inquiries that may come up during an interview. If you are not well-prepared for them, they may result in an awkward moment. Save yourself (and your interview!) from them by having something prepared in advance. It is important to always tell the truth, but it’s of vital importance to know how to use it on your behalf!
Whenever you’re asked about something, your answers are cautiously evaluated to decide whether you are cut off for the position or not. Good answers fully cover the questions and provide as much information as possible regarding the topic of interest. Use complete sentences, and add whatever information you think might be of use about yourself when doing so.
There is something, however, that you need to bear in mind while tackling this item. There is a very thin line between providing complete information and simply beating around the bush with non-relevant data about yourself. The secret? Be assertive. Leave no doubts about that particular topic without yabbering about things that are not even related to it. Nerves can act against you here, so stay calm and be sure that you are the best person for them. You just need to show that to the person in front of you!
First impressions are of great importance when being interviewed. Why is that? Because the person in charge of evaluating you is nothing less than that: a human person. During the first moments of your interview, your job is to keep (and strengthen) the interest that has driven them to call you in the first place. You may feel you have nailed it during the rest of the interview, but the first 5 minutes are of vital importance for the interviewer to remember what came next.
Show yourself as a proactive person. Use the knowledge you got about them while researching to make a difference between you and the rest of the applicants. Do and say something positive about yourself that will stay in their minds after your time is over. Create a reference about yourself, and make sure they will use it when talking about you and the rest. Gaining that interest during the interview will help you have a better impact on further questions!
We told you this article was going to be about improving your performance at an interview in English. This tip focuses primarily on that: the use of the English language. Show you know. Be sure to use words, phrases, and expressions that clearly express what you want to say. Showing you have a wide vocabulary adds up to your results, but misuse of it will have a negative impact, too!
By this, we want you to be sure of what you say during your interview. It’s not necessary to be simple as long as you are certain of complex constructions. English is a flexible language and many words can be used to refer to the same thing. Use that as a tool, and show you are a good English speaker without telling them so! Let language be your ally during the process, instead of your foe.
Have you ever been in an interview? How did it go? What do you think were your good things, and what aspects would you like to improve for the following one? Share your thoughts and experiences! Remember to subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive tips, news, and updates on English related to sports! Thank you for being part of our community! See you next time!
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