If you are about to attend your first interview in Singapore, you are probably clueless of how it might go. Like any other interviews with any company, make sure you prepare ahead of time and you keep yourself informed about the company you are applying for. You are advised to read about the profile of your potential employer as well as the nature and culture inside the company. This will equip you in meeting initial standards that might be expected of candidates and may even set you to a calm on your big day. Below are other tips for your interview.

Tip 1: It was mentioned that corporate dressing in Singapore is less formal than other countries. However, dressing for your interview day is an exception. Since you may not have an idea on  the culture of the company when it comes to corporate attire, it's best that you appear pleasing on the day of the interview. Men are suggested to be in coat and tie over formal trousers and leather shoes while females are advised to wear conservative dresses or long-sleeves over formal skirts that extend up to below the knee. Make sure your hair is well kept and you do not wear to much fragrance that may irritate your interviewer

Tip 2: Punctuality is very important for Singaporeans. Although it can be noted that they prefer to arrive a few minutes late for appointments they host, it is recommended that you come minutes in advance to not keep your interview waiting. Making your interviewer wait is a very bad impression, but should this happen, make sure to apologize. Bring copies of your CV and be ready for questions that may start by asking a few questions that focus on describing yourself.

Tip 3: Be ready to answer the who, what, when, and where about the company. Your employers would make sure you aren’t just throwing an application by chance, and that you are really interested to work for them. Make sure you can connect your skills and abilities and you are the answer to what they are looking for. When being asked about what you can offer for the institution, do not brag, but be able to highlight technical or hard skills that may post as your unique advantage in being assigned for the job.

Tip 4: When you present a skill that you possess, be ready to share a scenario where you were able to use those skills. Employers know the possibility of overpromising applicants, so make sure you can back up your skill with facts and previous experiences. If it is your first time in the job, site previous projects you’ve worked on instead or the institution where you conducted your training for the said skill.

If you’re a good candidate, chances are the HR personnel will give you a call within a week or two. However, if you think you’re already waiting for a long time to get a call, it won’t hurt to ask your interviewer in the end if you can shoot a follow-up email after a week.