Physical Interviews 101
As the name suggests, physical interviews are interviews that are conducted physically, either in a one-on-one or group interview during hiring events.
A physical interview is THE classic way of interviewing for any job position. The face-to-face interview format has been the norm for centuries ago. It’s especially effective when it comes to evaluating first impressions, and gauging the job seeker’s interest, qualities and “vibe”.
Since it is the direct opposite of a video conferencing interview, the preparation would naturally be different. If you are about to attend a physical interview for the best jobs in Malaysia, allow us to provide some physical interview tips for you to land your dream job.
Physical Interview Tips To Succeed
1. Physical Interview: Dos
Need a quick checklist on what to do before, during, and after your physical interview? Take note of the items below:
Before:
- Research the job that you’re applying for – job scope, business model, environment, competition, values – essentially to understand WHO they are looking for
- Update your resume using relevant keywords found in the job advertisement and through your research
- Prepare yourself to answer the interview questions – how can you demonstrate the skills, expertise, and value that you can bring to the company?
- Practice the interview answers with your friend or in front of a mirror
- Think about the relevant and thoughtful questions you’d like to ask HR
- Plan your journey and do a dry-run if needed – there are Google Maps and other tools that are extremely accurate and will help you to plan your journey efficiently
- Prepare the must-have interview documents
- Rest early, and rest well
- Dress up according to the type of job you’re applying for
During:
- Arrive on time, or slightly early
- Show up with confidence, good body posture and a smile
- Shake your hand firmly and make eye contact
- Introduce yourself properly
- Be aware of your nervous habits and body language
- Speak with enthusiasm and a friendly tone
- Listen attentively to the interviewer’s questions and concerns
- Take your time to think when answering interview questions
- Ask questions that are thoughtful and intelligent
- Be genuine and honest
After:
- End the interview on a good note
- Shake hands and smile before departing
- Create a follow-up email to express your gratitude for the opportunity given by the company within 24hrs
- Include a summary to enforce why you are the best candidate for the role and address any concerns the interviewer may have earlier
- Understand that every experience is a good learning opportunity – the more practice you have, the more you’ll feel confident for the upcoming interviews and it reduces the stress you may experience
2. Physical Interview: Don’ts
Conversely, what are the things that you shouldn’t be doing in all physical interviews? We’ve listed them here:
Before:
- Have large/unhealthy meals – they could affect your productivity and mood before the interview starts
- Forget to prepare a few copies of your resume and reference list
- Leave your phone at home – it’ll be useful in case there’s a change in schedule or during emergencies while heading to the venue
- Forget to inform your recruiter and interviewer during an emergency, instead keeping quiet and ultimately being late/absent
During:
- Arrive late
- Forget to shake hands
- Have a soft handshake/keep the handshake for over 2 seconds – that’s creepy!
- Be overconfident/aggressive
- Make too much/avoid eye contact
- Slouch or lean your body back
- Fidget, chew anything, pick nose
- Forget to silence your phone
- Speaking too fast and unclearly
- Lie about your skills, traits, and work experience
- Forget to ask any questions
- Ask irrelevant/obvious questions
- Forget to ask any questions at all
After:
- Leave without shaking hands and smiling
- Wander around the company without permission
Final Remarks
One final piece of advice – You can consider a career coaching session if you are interested and have the budget to do so.
The career coaching session is particularly useful if you need professional HR personnel to guide you in your physical interview, or even just as counselling for career issues such as emotional pain, mental trauma, loneliness, lack of direction, unhappiness, dissatisfaction, and sometimes even personal growth and direction.
Congratulations on completing this physical interview 101 mini-course! We hope that you’d be more confident and prepared to ace any physical interviews that may come your way.
If you need more guidance on resume writing and general interview tips for jobs in Malaysia, feel free to visit our Job Majestic blog today.
