In the first part of this article, I shared five qualities many interviewers look out for when assessing candidates. Now, let’s dive deeper into five more qualities that can set you apart, along with common red flags you must avoid if you want to leave a lasting, positive impression.

6. Personal Grooming

That’s the way you look and dress. Your appearance is very key. People say the way you dress is the way you will be addressed. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Wear cool and conservative colours. You can’t go wrong with white.
• Wear light cologne or perfume.
• Men should always put on a jacket or wear a suit. A good dress is suitable for women.
• Use fresh mint to avoid mouth odour.
• Men, put on socks if you’re wearing a suit or jacket.
• The colours in your dressing must match. For men, use a black belt with black shoes and a brown belt with brown shoes.
• Good shoes, which should be polished,

Your appearance is your first message. Make sure it speaks of confidence and professionalism. Share on X

7. Skills

There are three major skills I look for when interviewing. 

A. Employability skills: These are essential skills, values and personal qualities that help you thrive in the workplace. You can call them general skills that everybody should have. 

• Good communication
• Motivation and Initiative
• Leadership
• Reliability
• Following instructions
• Teamwork
• Patience
• Resilience
• Emotional control

B. Transferable skills: Skills and expertise that are useful across various jobs and industries. 

• Research and analytical skills
• Problem solving skills
• Critical thinking
• Multi-tasking
• Time management
• Numeracy 
• Written communication

C. Technical skills: Ability and knowledge that is needed to perform very specific tasks. They are very practical skills and they relate to IT (Information Technology), mechanical and scientific tasks. For instance,

• Knowledge of programming languages
• Software proficiency
• Project management
• Data analysis

8. Career Goals and Aspirations.

A lot of interviewers want to know how your goals fit in with the organization’s aspirations. They want to find out if you see yourself developing and rising and growing together with the organization. So interviewers would ask questions like, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

You need to be able to sit down and define your career goals and aspirations.

Aligning your goals and aspirations with the company’s vision positions you as a long-term asset. Share on X

9. Leadership Abilities

Interviewers tend to ask questions around leadership qualities. If you are a student, you should join student organizations as they help you with your leadership skills.

• People who can take initiative and have self-drive
• People who take or assume responsibility
• People who have led a group
• People who have volunteered to handle a task
• People who are problem solvers
• The value you are bringing to the table

10. Your Personality

Sometimes employers will use personality interview tests to evaluate your personality traits. They may ask certain questions like:

• Tell me about a time you almost missed a deadline?
• Do you prefer working alone or in a team?
• Tell me if you have ever experienced a situation where someone asked you to compromise your values, and what did you do?

Speaking ill of past employers tells interviewers more about you than about them. Share on X

Furthermore, there are five red flags that you must avoid in any interview. These red flags are things you must never do in an interview.

1. Don’t speak ill of your former employer. This applies not just during the interview but also online. 
2. Don’t use cuss words or inappropriate language/slang during an interview. And do not text/call on your phone. Your phone must always be on silent during the interview. 
3. Never arrive late. Arrive early enough to take a bathroom break to freshen up and settle down.
4. Never broach the issue of salary unless asked specifically or during salary negotiation.
5. Never come unprepared.

Take every interview as more than just a session for answering questions. It is a chance to display your skills, your confidence, and sell yourself to the interviewer. By building on the qualities we have discussed and avoiding the highlighted mistakes, you can better position yourself for a successful outcome in your next job interview.

I covered more practical strategies for the entire job search process in my book, How to Stand Out and Get Hired. You can get your copy from Roving Heights Bookstore and Amazon.