Open Interview 101:
Also known as a hiring event and a walk-in interview, an open interview is a group event where a company organise a period of time to accept job applications. Anyone interested in the jobs can simply attend, apply, and participate in on-site one-on-one or group interviews.
These hiring events are a great opportunity for employers to conduct mass hiring, as well as for job seekers to meet potential employers face to face. This gives each other chances to gauge whether they are suitable for one another.
If you are interested in attending open interviews for jobs in Malaysia, we have prepared some of the best open interview tips to help you prepare and stand out amongst hundreds of candidates.
Open Interview Tips You Should Be Aware Of
1. Understand the event
First of all, you should have a clear understanding and objective of attending the walk-in hiring event. You should look out for these particulars:
- Which industries and companies will be present?
- What is the description of the event?
- Will employers interview and hire on the spot, or will they contact you later?
- Any necessary certifications you need to prepare?
- Any dress code to attend the event?
The last thing you’d want to do is arrive at the event and feel out of place. Standing out is good, but not in this way. You should be extra-prepared and keep reading to find out how.
2. Research extensively
Standing out from the crowd is crucial as these events typically have employers interviewing multiple candidates at a time, or single candidates for a long period of time. The best way to prepare is by researching all about the job and company.
You should have a good understanding of:
- The job scope for the role you’re applying for
- The skills and traits that the role requires
- The company’s business and products
- The environment that the company is situated in
- The company’s culture and goals
- Bonus: The interviewer’s profile
Knowing is half the battle. By having this information at your disposal, you’d be able to customise and adjust your interview answers to provide the best points that the interviewers are looking for in their ideal candidate.
3. Update (and polish) your resume
Once you have done your brainstorming and research, the next step is to review and update your resume to ensure that it is highly relevant to the role and company that you’re applying for during the open interview.
Here are some of our resume section guides:
Important tip – Prepare multiple copies of your resume when attending open interviews as there may be multiple interviews in one company. Interviewers may also request to keep your resume after the interview for reference and consideration.
4. Dress appropriately
When attending a hiring event (or any interview), you should know that first impression really matters. You only have 7 seconds to provide a pleasant first impression before the interviewers form negative assumptions that could jeopardise your chances.
Upon understanding the nature of the open interview, you should dress up accordingly to “look the part”. Not only that, you’d have to appear professional and well-groomed.
For example, if it is a walk-in interview event to hire Banking and Finance professionals, you should come in business attire to show that you are serious about the job opportunity.
5. Be on time/early
Open interview events are usually on a first-come-first-serve basis. You should not be late as you could be missing out on the interview windows if the event is crowded.
Also, showing up near the end of the event will not be advantageous as hiring managers and recruiters would typically be exhausted at this point – or they may already have the best candidate in mind.
Final Remarks
Before you attend open interviews for the best jobs in Malaysia, here are some tips to further guarantee your success:
- Be comfortable with being around your competition
- Wait patiently for your turn with good body posture (and smile!)
- Understand that there are multiple eyes watching you – the real test starts once you enter the venue
- Bring along your pen, notepad, reference list, and a bottle of water
- Carry an appropriate bag and organise your items properly
That’s all you should know when preparing to attend open interviews and we hope that you will succeed in your job application! Register as a job seeker at Job Majestic and receive the best career tips to have a majestic career.
