o Notes - Making Interviews work

People who are confident about themselves can face any interview to achieve success. If some awareness and homework is added to this confidence, there is nothing that can stop you from winning Practice makes you perfect. Let it become a cake walk for you! You will be flooded with offers that will make it difficult for you to choose one of them! Why did I say that? - But the damage is already done. The job opportunity goes to someone whose resume wasnt as impressive as yours but that person had polished job interview skills more than you. YOU are the only person who can help YOURSELF!

o Research the job

Read their annual report Read any news item that has appeared in newspapers and magazines Talk to some of its employees

o Find out everything you can about the company

What business are they in? Size of organization, number of employees History how long have they been operating do they have any affiliated organizations or belong to an umbrella group General information about their services/products/ aims etc Major competitors or other organizations operating in the same field Job description: understand the skills required for the position How do you see the organization developing over the next year/three years?

Background of the company executives who will be conducting the interview

o Before the Interview

Do make a visit to the location where you are having the interview Reach the interview venue well before scheduled time Makes you feel comfortable & relaxed Helps you acclimatize yourself with the environment Do bring extra resumes to the interview Prepare and practice for the interview, but dont memorize or over- rehearse your answers

o While waiting
Try to compose yourself Think about your career goals, personal attributes, hobbies etc. that you would like to emphasize Re-read your application, think about the questions that they might ask you Carry a book with you that you like

o Knock at the door as you enter 2 knocks, and then enter with a pleasant smile

o As you enter the interview room

Relax Smile Say good morning Do shake hands firmly. Dont have a limp or clammy handshake! Women? - handshake Let your body show enthusiasm Dont fidget or slouch Do make good eye contact with your interviewers

o Take a seat after being told so Sit straight without leaning on the table Look up at the interviewers and have a smile on your face o Occolisics look at people, find a guy who likes you o Carry a diary and pen o Dont smoke, even if the interviewer does and offers you a cigarette. And dont smoke beforehand so that you smell like smoke o Do avoid using poor language, slang, and pause words such as like, uh, and um o Dont be soft-spoken. A firm voice projects confidence 2

o Do have a high confidence and energy level, but dont be overly aggressive o Dont act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment o Listen carefully, be alert o Think over the answer, ask for clarification politely if required o Use simple and short sentences o Be clear, focused and dont speak fast o Dont think about your language concentrate on the contents of answer o If you do not know the answer, acknowledge o Dont argue with the interviewers o Be sure that your answers are truthful, sincere and positive o Dont rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you. No matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself to the interviewer o Dont ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly - dont over-answer questions o Do stress your achievements - dont offer any negative information about yourself o Dont answer questions with a simple yes or no. Explain whenever possible describe those things about yourself that showcase your talents, skills, and determination, give examples o Do show off the research that you have done on the company and industry when responding to questions o Dont bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems o Do remember that the interview is also an important time for you to evaluate the interviewer and the company he represents o Dont respond to an unexpected question with an extended pause or by saying something like, Oh, thats a good question. o A short pause before responding is okay o Do always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing 3

o Do turn off your cell phone o Do show what you can do for the company rather than what the company can do for you o Dont inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses or other benefits until after youve received an offer. Be prepared for a question about your salary requirements, but do try and delay salary talk until you have an offer o Do ask intelligent questions about the job, company, or industry. Dont ever not ask any questions it shows a lack of interest o Do close the interview by telling the interviewers that you want the job and asking about the next step in the process o Do immediately take down notes after the interview concludes so you dont forget crucial details o End the interview courteously Thank you for interviewing me and for your time o Dressing for success in an interview Do brush your teeth, use mouthwash, or have a breath mint before the interview Wear comfortable clothes, avoid wearing brand new clothes

o Just a few years ago, the standard interview uniform was suit and tie for men for higher level positions, a formal trouser with tucked in full shirt for all other posts A saree or salwaar for women rules are changing now o Wear something somewhat dressier and more formal than what the employees wear to work o Casual wear shows your casual attitude o If not a suit, then what? Never wear jeans and a T-shirt A trouser and shirt is always a safe bet for men A tie seems to pull the outfit together and can give an impression of seriousness to the task

Do not wear a tie in hot summer, particularly if you are not a regular wearer The tie is required for some professions. Sales people, for example, prefer the tie-look, also other professionals such as MBAs, CAs, Lawyers and bankers Whatever you decide to wear, make sure it fits properly and is of the best quality you can afford

o Women wearing pants to the Interview? This question is still somewhat controversial Some observers say women should always wear a saree or salwaar But the rules are changing. If the job is of a high-flying nature try out pants In the Indian context though saree or salwaar is the most accepted norm for interview attire, with globalization has come the trend of trousers and shirt in MNC set-ups

o Youre giving the interviewer a picture of yourself, so make sure it reflects well on you

o Assess what will be asked in the interview?

o In an interview what are they trying to find out. Your skill set, subject knowledge Your personality Your character Your ability to learn, adapt and change Your confidence Ability to work in a team Leadership potential Analytical and problem-solving skills Effective communication skills

o Potential questions and answers

o Please introduce yourself 5

It is not what you say, but why and how you say it

Tell us about yourselforTells us something about your background A very important question Allows a candidate to highlight his strong points Gives you a chance to chart the direction of the interview!! Be brief and focused. Drop in some important points that may lead the interviewer to ask you questions in those areas. Never mention your personal situation o What is your Hobby? How do you spend your free time?orwhat do you do other than studying? The interviewer wants to know if you have some creative passion like painting, photography, collecting things or any such interest, which can throw light on your nature Any other hobby That you can present in an effective manner, like traveling, social work, community service, etc.

o Why do you want this job? Emphasize on the positive aspects - what have attracted you to apply for this position Say things like I would love to work for a reputed organization like yours I have heard that this Company gives the right scope and opportunity for an individuals growth Advertisement for the job may help. You should also think of the qualities that may be required. These may include leadership ability, communication skills, interpersonal skills, problem solving, analytical skills, etc. Whatever you say as an answer to this question, say it confidently and positively Do not talk about irrelevant strengths. You may be a good sales person, but if you have applied for a technical position, there is no point in saying I am confident. I can sell anything to anybody.

o Why do you want to work for this company? Emphasize on the positive reasons why you want to join this company Avoid aspects such as more money or shorter hours or close to your residence/home town

Talk about pride of working in such a reputed company or if they are a small company tell them that you can gain some invaluable experience that others cant offer The interviewer may put a probing question on one of the points that you had earlier mentioned in your answer in order to verify your truthfulness. Be ready with that answer as well For example, the question could be: What information did you gather about our company?, Or, How much do you know about us?

o What can you contribute? This is your chance to shine. Tell them about your achievements, your positive characteristics / personality traits that may be of relevance to the job Talk in concrete terms

o What do you know about this company? This is your chance to impress the interviewer with your knowledge of their company Give them a run down of their products/services, sales figures, news, company figures, customers, etc from any published source and please remember them right Tell them about the working environment in their company being very conducive to growth etc. Every employer or owner prides himself in the different culture they have established. A formal working environment could be termed Professional while an informal one could be said to be Friendly. Take inputs if you know someone in the company.

o Why should we employ you? Add all details that you think highlights a good fit between you and the job. I am an extrovert and hence in sales I will do well I have a very curious bent of mind so I am sure I will fit into this job very well. I have a research bent of mind right from my young age and hence handling this R&D assignment will be close to my heart Dig out all personal positives - your integrity, your calm nature, your upbringing etc. a company always looks for certain personal traits that will fit the culture of the organization Sometimes the person who is interviewing will look for someone who can supplement his/her skill set or complement the skill set. Make a judgment of the individual before you answer. 7

o Some Tricky Interview Questions You May Be Asked

o Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company? Remember where you are! If the company interviewing you is a small to medium sized company say that you enjoy a close atmosphere with a good team spirit where contribution from you can be maximum At a large company say that you enjoy the stability of working for a large and well-established company where learning can be maximum Your answer should be with a lot of presence of mind focused on satisfying the interviewer

o What would your ideal job be? Again, remember where you are! Describe the job in terms of the criteria they have already used to describe the job An ideal job might include things like challenging work nice colleagues good career prospects good team atmosphere opportunity to learn new skills

o How ambitious are you? Expand on your ambition Talk in terms of shot-term and long-term goals o What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing? Likes stress things such as a new challenges or the opportunity to bring fresh experience to the company The kind of job profile Dislikes Imply there is nothing to dislike about the job, which is why you are so interested

o Are you considering any other positions at the moment? If you are, say so, but do not give too many details away it will weaken your negotiating position later 8

Even though you do not have any other job offer at the moment just say that you have a few offer in the pipeline

o What level of salary are you looking for now? You should not appear to be greedy I think my qualification/performance would place me at the top end of your salary scale If it asked fairly early the interview you could delay answering by saying It is hard to discuss salary without first knowing a little bit more about the job and the responsibilities.

o What are your career goals? Or How would you like to see yourself five or ten years from now? o The interviewer wants to know if you have a direction in life or if you are aimless. o Without a goal, one cannot effectively work towards any accomplishment. o There could be so many possible answers: I am an ambitious and hardworking person. My goal today is to become the Chief Executive of a company and to be known for my professional competence and ethical practices. My career goal, as of today, is to become an entrepreneur. I would love to create an organization, which will be respected by my peers in the industry. However, my short term goal is to work for an upcoming company, where I will have the chance to work in a creative and learning environment. This would be my first step, and the rest would depend on how things change in the future.

o Personality Related Questions

o How would you describe yourself? / How would others describe you? Pick your best attributes and achievements that are related for a career. Talk about things like your confidence level or your superior knowledge in a subject Be modest but do not leave this opportunity to highlight your strengths In fact this question helps you to list out your strengths as though others say these things about you.

o What are your Strengths and Weaknesses?

Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Think how the strengths can be best utilized in a career and how weaknesses can be improved upon or their impact minimized. Remember that all human beings have their strengths and weaknesses; only the degree differs. Therefore, one need not feel embarrassed to admit his weakness. The important thing is to reply that he or she is aware of this weakness and is trying to get over it and improve. The possible answer to this question could be: My strength is my team spirit and aptitude for practical work. I believe that teamwork produces the best results. Practically applying my knowledge to my work motivates me the most. I have a weakness, and that is my emotion. I do sometimes get emotionally attached to people and places, which affects my judgment. At times, I find this standing in my way as it diverts my efforts and attention. I am trying to overcome this by being more analytical in my thinking and approach.

o Put across your weakness softly and positively. Never cite health, habit, attitude or your personal circumstances as your weakness. This does not go well with the interviewer. o Do you consider yourself successful? Yes, you do. Pick some achievements that are in line with the position that you are discussing Or you can always discuss the complete life you have lead wherein you could blend personal, student and social life in the right mix

o What was your greatest success? How did you achieve it? You should pick an achievement that is related to their needs. Dig out something from your academics, or sports that highlight success. o What has been your biggest failure? This is really very, very tricky. The interviewer is out to nail you if you quote any weakness that will reflect on your ability on the job front Try to pick a failure that you were later able to correct Or something that is not really important in the context of the new job. For example, if the position does not demand physical activity, mention something like you have failed in sports

o Are you a leader?

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State how you have successfully acted as a leader, giving examples of your successes. from your school or college from sports or academic related activities o How do you handle criticism? Say immediately that you handle it positively I always think that it is important to get feedback on how I am performing so that I can improve in those areas o Do you work well with others? Or are you a loner? Some jobs mean that you have to work very closely with other people whilst other jobs mean that you are largely working on your own, so you need to say that you are happy in both situations Make an assessment of the position you have applied for and frame your answer

o Do you need other people around to stimulate you or are you self motivated? You need to say that you are self motivated Say that motivation comes from the challenges and love of the job and not from people It comes from career growth, opportunity to learn new skills, etc. Motivation comes from within and not from external sources.

o What are the two best things that you have learnt in college? Take care to say something that will imply your value system or a desirable personal quality. The possible answer could be: The value of friendship and teamwork The value of hard work and sincerity The ability to be analytical and to put knowledge into practice through laboratory work

It would be desirable if you could add a sentence about why you consider them as your best learning points The answer should make an impact on the interviewer. It is likely to show the interviewer your value system or what you consider important in life.

o Would you like to ask a question?

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Your answer will indicate the way you think and seek information It will not go down well if you say no, or if you show your inclination about the monetary part of the job by asking about the salary The best thing is to ask for some additional information about the company and its business interests. The possible answer (in the form of your question) could be: I would like to know about the on-going projects of your company? What are the new areas in which the company is planning to expand? What are the future market-trends for development in this industry? If you were to select me for the job, which are the areas you are likely to place me in, in your company?

o Certain quick tips to handle interviews

o What is the employer looking for? Confirm that an applicant has the required knowledge, skills and willingness to contribute and fit into the organization's culture Are your career goals in line with opportunities available with their organization Potential in prospective employees to become valued, trusted, productive team members of their organization

o Take the Initiative Youre nearing the interviews close, and you had wanted to share your experience in sales or marketing of a particular product or a situation where you think you excelled I your performance If the topic was never brought up, it is your responsibility to introduce it into the conversation Before we end, Id like to share one more thing with you that I think is important to the position and my fit within your organization.

o Thank the interviewers with a SMILE (even if you have goofed up big time!)

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