JOBS: How to Appear During An Interview
An interview is one of the key sections that an individual attends before being hired by a company or an organization. When going for an interview it is essential to know how to conduct yourself before the interview, during the interview, and after the interview.
Leah Mukangai 
In our previous article, we looked at how to prepare well for an interview. From that, you should be able to know what is required before you go for the interview.
Your appearance during an interview is something very crucial. How you dress and how you carry out yourself is going to influence how your recruiter will interact with you.
In a job interview, projecting confidence is just as important as demonstrating your skills and qualifications. It is critical to practice how you communicate confidence and professionalism, as this can help you perform better in the room and calm your nerves.
Confidence is the act of believing in oneself. Showing that you trust yourself during a job interview is critical because it can lead your interviewer to trust you as well. Make it clear to your interviewer that you are confident in your ability to do the job well.
Here are some tips to help you when you appear during an interview.
First, you should ensure that you arrive early enough to avoid any confusion. This also allows you to have some time to settle and arrange yourself for the interview. It also helps you to familiarize yourself with the place and also get to know your surrounding.
When you've entered the interview room, you need to do the following:
1. Maintain good posture
First and foremost, when you enter an interview room, it is courteous to wait a few seconds to be given directions. Don't be too jumpy. Ensure that you listen attentively and ask for permission to have a sit if there's one in the room.
Body language is an important part of expressing confidence during an interview. Begin by sitting with your arms unfolded in your lap to project an open, friendly demeanor. Maintain a straight back, shoulders back, and chest and chin raised.
2. Make eye contact
Begin by making eye contact to demonstrate confidence. Maintaining natural and consistent eye contact throughout your interview is a great way to project confidence. Instead of making intense or prolonged eye contact, try to maintain natural eye contact.
Before returning your attention to the hiring manager, try looking at your resume or other materials you brought with you to the interview.
3. Practice breathing techniques
When you are nervous, blood flows away from your brain and into your muscles in preparation for fight or flight. The lack of blood in the brain can have an effect on cognitive functions.
When you take slow, deep breaths, you return oxygen to your brain, which helps you think.
4. Think before you answer
When answering a question, you should take a few seconds before answering, and if you have not heard the question well, you should ask the person to repeat it again.
When you walk into an interview knowing you are prepared, it can relieve stress and make you feel more confident. Consider sitting down with a friend or family member to discuss your responses.
They do not have to be memorized, but you should prepare enough so that you can give responses that you are proud of.
Do not be afraid to ask the interviewer for clarification of the question.
5. Think positively
Finally, think positively to calm your nerves and boost your confidence. One step you can take to think positively is to concentrate on areas where you lack confidence and work on improving them.
6. Speak clearly
You should speak more clearly and eloquently during an interview. This also helps the interviewer to know that you are confident and bold enough in what you are saying.
7. Be courteous
Ensure that you use the words such as 'thank you', 'please', or 'pardon'. These words might look small but they create a big impact on your interviewer. They also show that you are responsible and have some sense of good manners.
Here are some job samples in Nairobi that you can look at.
JOB 1: Enrollment Officer at The Nairobi Women’s Hospital
About The Nairobi Women’s Hospital
The Nairobi Women's Hospital is a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. The hospital was founded in 2001 by Dr. Sam Thenya and is the first of its kind in the East and Central Africa region. Even if it specialized in Obstetrics and Gynecology services, the hospital is equipped and staffed to handle all general medical and surgical conditions.
Job Description:
Reporting to the Dean of Academics, the Enrolment Officer will be responsible for determining the admissibility, classification, and placement of students to the appropriate academic programs. In addition, this position will be responsible for advising potential students on admission requirements and options as per program guidelines.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or equivalent and at least 2 years experience in a similar position.
Key Competencies:
- Customer Focus
- Team Work
- Managing performance
- Results Oriented,
- Reliability with demonstrated interpersonal skills and a high degree of professionalism and ethics
Method of Application
Job Description:
Reporting to the Dean of Academics, the Exams Officer will be responsible for the management of the examination processes including liaising with the external examination bodies and ensuring the implementation of the examination policies to deliver exam integrity and credibility
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree preferably in Health Sciences with training in pedagogy and at least 3 years experience in a similar position.
Key Competencies:
- Customer Focus
- Team Work
- Managing performance
- Results Oriented,
- Reliability with demonstrated interpersonal skills and a high degree of professionalism and ethics
Method of Application
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of major medical office equipment and ability to use them in emergency situations; Knowledge of basic diagnostic equipment and ability to use them; Knowledge of modern medical information technology and solid computer skill. Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.
COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others, and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style, and format to match audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with a final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Education
- A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
- Bachelor of Nursing degree OR Diploma in nursing - Kenya Registered Nurse (KRN) Or Kenya Registered Community Health Nurse(KRCHN) diploma is desirable.
Job-Specific Qualification
- Current registration and license with the Nursing Council of Kenya allowing unrestricted nursing practice in Kenya are required.
- Formal certification in CPR in either BCLS, PHTLS, ETB, ACLS, ATLS or equivalent emergency medical certification is required.
- Training in infectious disease is desirable.
Work Experience
- A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible work experience in Nursing or a related field is required.
- At least two (2) years of experience in emergency medical services and infectious disease management is required.
- Experience working in an occupational health setting is desirable.
- Experience in pandemic preparedness, outbreak field surveillance, and contact tracing is desirable.
- Experience in travel health nursing is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working knowledge of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English and Kiswahili or Swahili is required. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
