How to do your best in an interview

Before the interview

•  Preparation before an interview is a must. Before stepping into the interview room, you should be documented in detail about the program you are applying to, the kind of question you expect to be asked, how much the interview will last, etc.
•  While an interview is clearly a testing situation, and you should be prepared accordingly. The goal of a Western style interview is to put you in the best possible light. The interviewer wants to get an impression about what kind of person you are, to complete the image s/he has from the application documents with things that cannot be put on paper. Therefore, you should expect a formal, but relaxed atmosphere, in which you will do most of the talking.
•  First, try to read as much as possible about the company/scholarship program you have applied to. If you haven't done this yet, this is a proper time. If it's a company, find out exactly what they do, how successful they are, what is their market position, what they and others think about their corporate culture, what somebody with your job does there, how a usual day looks like. If it's a scholarship, look at what subjects you'll study, how many will they be, how much freedom you have in choosing the subjects, how your work will be assessed, professors, the size of the department, student/faculty ratio, accommodation, extracurricular activities, cultural life. Write down whatever is of interest to you, what is not clear, or what you'd like to find out more about. During the actual interview, there's almost always a time when it's your turn to ask question and you'll want to have some useful questions to ask.
•  Second, re-read the announcement. Examine the requirements, think of reasons and examples that prove you can meet those requirements. Very probably, you'll be asked questions about that during the interview. Attention: don't exaggerate, you'll seem overqualified. Look at the job/scholarship description: what recommends you for that thing? That's another probable question. In some interviews, the question will be even more direct: why are you the best for that place? You'd better have some answer here. And be convinced you are the best: it will show during the interview, and help increase your chances.
•  Third, try to find out how much the interview will last, who's going to be your interviewer, even, if possible, what topics are of most interest to him/her and will show up during the discussion. Of course, that is easier to do if you get the invitation by phone, but there's always a second option: do some digging in their website, some useful material may show up, or get in contact with persons who have been through the interview before you.
•  Fourth, there are a few common questions which show up in almost any interview. Here are some examples:
  •  Why are you good for... what recommends you for...?
  •  Mention 1 or 3 personal qualities/downsides.
  •  Why this program/job?
  •  Where do you see yourself in five years' time/ what are your career plans?
  •  Tell us about a situation where you have proven to be a leader/innovator/person with initiative.
  •  Don't you think you are too young/too old for...?
  •  How are your studies/your background fit for...?
  •  How will you use what you learn later?
  •  How does this scholarship/job meet your future plans?
•  Here are some hints on how to answer the questions above:
  •  Link the requirements of the position to your background, showing how your previous experience and knowledge will help you manage this task successfully. Interviewers look for a clear progress from one task to the other, in your past, in order to show growth potential. Be sure you can prove that with examples.
  •  Enumerate those of your qualities relevant for the job/scholarship you want to get.
  •  While the downsides have to look like downsides, show they have some kind of potential of turning into something positive that can become and advantage in some sense. Here's an example: stubbornness is something bad, perseverance is something good, but can you tell the exact difference? Guerrilla troops on the side of war winners are partisans, those on the side of the losers are terrorists. This kind of game should you play with your minuses and their potential of turning into something positive. I know it's hard but you must look at your best.
  •  In general, what make you good are your background and particular interests and knowledge, all of which match exactly the requirements of the job/program. Even more, your personal characteristics and your pleasant way of being make you a more valuable candidate. This is the message you have to get across.

During the interview

•  Be punctual. One of the worst things you can do at an interview is to be late.
•  On the day of the interview, bring with you a copy of all your application documents (not recommendations, of course), and an updated CV. You never know when an extra copy is needed during the discussion.
•  Dress formal. Try to wear a suit during the interview, or at least matching trousers and blazer, and of course, a shirt and a tie.
•  The discussion will usually start with some informal chit-chat, meant to warm the atmosphere and to make you look less stressed. Smile when you enter and while saluting. Enter the game of chit-chat, while remaining polite and relaxed. The serious questions will start arriving soon. Towards the end of the interview, you will probably be asked if you have any questions of yourself. Remember, you have those prepared already. At the very end, as the last question you have, ask for feedback on your performance.
•  Here are some dos and don'ts during an interview:
  •  Try not to dominate the discussion by speaking too much or too loud. Let the interviewer have the initiative.
  •  Don't criticize colleagues, friends, competitors for the same thing, current university/workplace, etc.
  •  Don't bring financial aspects into discussion yourself.
  •  Unless there's a scholarship for minorities or disabled persons, don't bring personal aspects into discussion.

•  If you have the e-mail or mail contact of the interviewer, write a "thank you" note. That's a good occasion to:
  •  Thank the interviewer for his/her time and the interesting discussion you had.
  •  Make him/her remember you better than the other 20 people s/he met that day.
  •  Remember the most important elements that make your application so valuable.

Good luck!