Questions to ask the interviewer Even if you don't ask any questions during an interview, many employers will

ask you if you have any. How you respond will affect their evaluation of you. So be prepared to ask insightful questions about the organisation. Good topics to touch on include: the competitive environment in which the organisation operates executive management styles what obstacles the organisation anticipates in meeting its goals how the organisation's goals have changed over the past three to five years. Generally, it is most unwise to ask about pay or benefits or other similar areas. The reason is that it tends to make you seem more interested in what the organisation can do for you. It is also not a good idea to simply have no questions at all. Doing so makes you appear passive rather than curious and interested. Quick Tip Q: I've been on several interviews lately, and invariably the interviewer invites me to ask questions about the position or the company. What kinds of questions would be most appropriate to show genuine interest? I know what not to ask, e.g. "How much am I gonna make at this place?" Still, I think it is possible that I have done less than my best in this regard. A: I would ask the following questions: What are the main objectives and responsibilities of the position? How does the company expect these objectives to be met? What obstacles are commonly encountered in reaching these objectives? What is the desired time frame for reaching the objectives? What resources are available from the company and what must be found elsewhere to reach the objectives? From the book titled, "The Quick Interview and Salary Negotiation Book," by J. Michael Farr. Copyright 1995, published by JIST Works, Inc., Indianapolis, IN. Used with permission of the publisher. Additional photocopies strictly prohibited. Interview planner Purchase correspondence paper stock (stationery and matching envelopes). Keep enough paper stock on hand to print your resumes, cover letters and other correspondence on matching stationery and envelopes. Know the standards for writing cover letters, thank you letters, and when to phone. Keep stamps on hand at all times! Keep track of all career related written and verbal correspondence.

Identify your basic interview wardrobe: select one or two outfits or suits that are considered fairly conservative for your field. Locate your local overnight or one-hour dry cleaner. Polish your business shoes. Always have extra, clean copies of your resume with you. Keep on file an interview folder to bring with you on interviews. It should contain: a few resumes in a plastic sleeve, some reminders for yourself about your skills and your goals, and a pen and some paper to make notes before and after the interview. Bring to the interview: your interview folder, the names of the people you are meeting and the address with directions. You may also want: a comb, tissues, breath mints. Know where you're going in advance. Leave yourself plenty of time to get there. You want to arrive a little bit early, not just on time and never late. Follow up with thank you letters immediately. Make sure you can be reached, whether by phone, fax or email. Research, rehearse and relax No matter how well qualified you are for a job or how articulate you are about your strengths and experience, there is nothing that can replace preparation. Once you have practiced asking and answering questions, the next step is to relax and remind yourself that: There is no question you cannot answer, You are well suited to the position, and You would be an asset to the company. Visualise yourself sitting in the interview feeling serene and confident. Get a good night's sleep before the interview, arrive a few minutes early, take a few deep breaths and seize the day. Research the Company Rehearse Your Presentation Relax and Project Self-Confidence Research Before the Interview Presented by Don Monaco of The Strickland Group Perform "due diligence". Do your homework before interviews by researching the interviewing individual(s), the company and the industry. There are a variety of ways to research: Library (books, periodicals, magazines, etc.) Literature from company's public relations department Annual reports Electronic sources of information (Internet etc.) You should become familiar with the organisation's products, structure, services, financial status, competitors, reputation and any recent major changes.

In addition, try to discover information about the person who you will meet background, style, education, and their "hot button" issues. Preparation for the Interview Presented by Don Monaco of The Strickland Group To fully prepare for any interview you should be able to identify these things in yourself: Transferable skills Key accomplishments Management style Unique selling or promotional features Personal and professional strengths You must be able to articulate key aspects of yourself in the interview. An inability to express yourself clearly is often more of a deficiency than the lack of required experience for a specific opportunity. One of the best ways to prepare for interviewing is by "scripting" of your lines in answer to key interview questions. Career counsellors and outplacement specialists alike, remind transitioning executives and professionals of the necessity to look and act the part of a self-confident and successful person even if one does not particularly feel it. With a friend or colleagues, organise and review your answers to both tough and basic questions. Examples of Tough Interview Questions: How has your personal background (upbringing, schooling) influenced what you are today, your career progression, and your management/people style? How do you define success? How "successful" have you been? What mistakes have you made during your career? What is the most adverse situation with which you have had to deal with in your personal or professional life? How did you deal with it? What was the outcome? What is the difference between a good position and an excellent one? Examples of Basic Interview Questions: Tell me something about yourself. Why are you looking for a new job or why did you leave your old one? What are your goals, where would you like to be in five years? (Are your goals compatible with our needs?) Why should we hire you, what is unique about you? What are your salary requirements? In preparing your answers to these questions, think of yourself as a candidate in a political campaign. A skilful candidate is focused on the message he or she wants to communicate. Rather than being led by the interviewer's questions, candidates stay in control with responses that articulate what they want the listener to remember. Ask yourself, "What is my goal in the interview?"

The most important question is "Why should we hire you?" Answering this will require research and preparation. You must first identify and understand the needs of the company and the problems that the ideal candidate must be prepared to solve. Information sources include networking contacts, search firms, vendors, the press, the Internet, news outlets. Be prepared to convince the interviewer that you are uniquely qualified to make a contribution. Additional Interview Tips: List five adjectives that describe you and then list five adjectives that would describe the ideal candidate for the position. Is it a good match? Where are the gaps? Read the company's annual report, and make note of adjectives used to describe the leadership and the employees. Is the culture one in which you will be happy and do your best work? Be prepared with brief anecdotes about your work that illustrate the qualities that the company values. The more you practice your answers, the more your confidence will grow. Rehearse until you can easily answer questions with clarity, spontaneity and crispness. Our experience has been that everyone can use interview practice. You might be surprised to know a secret, that is, even the most extroverted, self-confident, verbal, "sales-person type" needs help in thinking through, organising the answers to and rehearsing the interview questions. Relax and Project Self-Confidence Presented by Don Monaco of The Strickland Group Relax -- you are ready and confident. Arrive about 10-15 minutes ahead of time so that you can make sure that your appearance is intact. Act like a consultant not an applicant. Think of yourself in problem-solving mode, in partnership with your interviewer. Engage in a dialogue, don't put yourself in a question/answer mode. Let silence occur. Present your value, and always protect your dignity and self worth. Be engaging and enthusiastic. Always leave the interview with a knowledge of the next step and with a sense of how your candidacy will be evaluated. Ask: "How would you like to proceed? Have I provided you with the information you need? Where are you in the process? What will happen next? When should I plan to follow up?" Don't sweat the interview Find tips to help you before, during and after the interview. Remember: the more you prepare up front, the more relaxed you will feel during the interview; the more relaxed you feel, the better you will perform; the better you perform, the more likely you will be to get the job! Makes sense, yes?

So, what's the big deal? OK, you're revving up for the big interview. What important details do you need to know? First of all, you need to understand what the interview is all about. Your winning resume, cover letter and good use of your networking contacts have won you entree into Potential Employer's office. The interviewer will already have reviewed your resume, which basically provides the hard facts of your employment history and skills. The interview is a subtle, more subjective aspect of the job-hunting process. Frequently, an interviewer (sometimes without even realising it) will form an opinion of you based on the nuances of your interaction. You're trying to make a good impression here. You need to portray sincerely, politely and enthusiastically that you are knowledgeable about the organisation and have something to offer it. Your resume may well have shown examples of your skills as a team player, but now you need to convince them that you fit their team. In order to make the best impression you can, you need to be prepared, know what you can expect, and know how to handle it if things don't go quite as you had planned. Preparation Know how to keep yourself calm. The best way to do this is to be prepared! Research the company. Research the interviewer, if possible. Know what kind of interview to expect - a screening interview, a stress interview.... Have you done any informational interviews about this industry? Know why you want the job. Identify your wants and your needs - and know the difference! Be able to express, specifically, the marketable skills you have to offer the organisation. Be prepared for the standard interview questions and know your answers to them - try taking the virtual interview. Be prepared to answer that killer question. Know how to deal with illegal questions tactfully during the interview. Prepare questions you wish to ask - only ask questions you can't find answers to yourself. Line up your references in advance and verify that they will be good ones. Presentation Find out the standard dress for the organisation. Dress on the conservative side. Arrive early. Bring extra resumes, notepad, pen. Be sure you know how to pronounce your interviewer's name correctly.

Be polite to everyone you meet there. They all count. Be personable as well as professional. Do not chew gum, smoke, swear or use slang. Be aware of body language, vibes, reactions - use your instincts to keep things on course. Assume all questions are asked for a good reason and answer accordingly. Do not assume that your interviewer knows how to elicit the information he/she is looking for. Feel free to ask for clarification before answering a question. Take some time to formulate your answers before you speak. Answer all questions honestly, but in the best, most positive light. Do not bad mouth old employers. Your work habits and style If I spoke with your previous boss, what would he say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? Emphasise skills - don't be overly negative about your weaknesses; it's always safer to identify a lack of a skill as an area for improvement rather than a shortcoming. Can you work under pressures, deadlines, etc.? Yes, it's a way of life in business. How have you changed the nature of your job? Improved it ... of course. Do you prefer staff or line work? Why? Depends on the job and its challenges. In your present position, what problems have you identified that had previously been overlooked? Keep it brief and don't brag. Don't you feel you might be better off in a different size company? Different type company? Depends on the job - elaborate slightly. How do you resolve conflict on a project team? First you discuss the issues privately. What was the most difficult decision you ever had to make? Try to relate your response to the prospective employment situation. Your career goals If you could start your career again, what would you do differently? Nothing ... I am happy today, so I don't want to change my past. What career options do you have at the moment? "I see three areas of interest..." Relate those to the position and industry.

How would you describe the essence of success? According to your definition of success, how successful have you been so far? Think carefully about your answer and relate it to your career accomplishments. Personality questions Do you generally speak to people before they speak to you? Depends on the circumstances. What was the last book you read? Movie you saw? Sporting event you attended? Talk about books, sports or films to show that you have balance in your life. What is the toughest part of a job for you? Be honest; remember, not everyone can do everything. Are you creative? Yes. Give examples How would you describe your own personality? Balanced. Are you a leader? Yes. Give examples. What are your future goals? Avoid, "I would like the job you advertised." Instead, give long-range goals. What are your strong points? Present at least three and relate them to the company and job you are interviewing for. What are your weak points? Don't say you have none. Try not to cite personal characteristics as weaknesses, but be ready to have one if the interviewer presses. Turn a negative into a positive answer: "I am sometimes intent on completing an assignment and get too deeply involved when we are late." Salary questions How much are you looking for? Answer with a question, i.e., "What is the salary range for similar jobs in your company?" If they don't answer, then give a range of what you understand you are worth in the marketplace. What do you know about our company? Do your homework before the interview! Spend some time online or at the library researching the company. Find out as much as you can, including products, size, income, reputation, image, management talent, people, skills, history and philosophy. Project an informed interest; let the interviewer tell you about the company. How much do you expect, if we offer this position to you? Be careful; the market value of the job may be the key answer, e.g., "My

understanding is that a job like the one you're describing may be in the range of Rs__." What kind of salary are you worth? Have a specific figure in mind ... don't be hesitant. General questions Tell me about you! Keep your answer to one or two minutes; don't ramble. Use your resume summary as a base to start. What do you know about our company? Do your homework before the interview! Spend some time online or at the library researching the company. Find out as much as you can, including products, size, income, reputation, image, management talent, people, skills, history and philosophy. Project an informed interest; let the interviewer tell you about the company. Why do you want to work for us? Don't talk about what you want; first, talk about their needs: You would like to be part of a specific company project; you would like to solve a company problem; you can make a definite contribution to specific company goals. What would you do for us? What can you do for us that someone else can't? Relate past experiences that show you've had success in solving previous employer problem(s) that may be similar to those of the prospective employer. What about the job offered do you find the most attractive? Least attractive? List three or more attractive factors and only one minor unattractive factor. Why should we hire you? Because of your knowledge, experience, abilities and skills. What do you look for in a job? An opportunity to use your skills, to perform and be recognised. Please give me your definition of a .... (the position for which you are being interviewed). Keep it brief - give an actions- and results-oriented definition. How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm? Not long at all - you expect only a brief period of adjustment to the learning curve. How long would you stay with us? As long as we both feel I'm contributing, achieving, growing, etc.

If you are leaving a job Why are you leaving your present job? Refine your answer based on your comfort level and honesty. Give a "group" answer if possible, e.g. our department was consolidated or eliminated. How do you feel about leaving all of your benefits? Concerned but not panicked. Describe what you feel to be an ideal working environment. One in which people are treated as fairly as possible. How would you evaluate your present firm? An excellent company that afforded me many fine experiences. Job search questions Why haven't you found a new position before now? Finding a job is easy; finding the right job is more difficult. (You are being "selective.") Had you thought of leaving your present position before? If yes, what do you think held you there? Challenge, but it's gone now. What do you think of your boss? Be as positive as you can. Would you describe a situation in which your work was criticised? Be as positive as you can. What other types of jobs or companies are you considering? Keep your answer related to this company's field. Experience and management questions You may be over-qualified for the position we have to offer. Strong companies need strong people. A growing, energetic company is rarely unable to use its people talents. Emphasise your interest in a long-term association, pointing out that the employer will get a faster return on investment because you have more experience than required. What is your management style? (If you've never thought about this, it's high time you did.) "Open-door management" is best ... And you get the job done on time or inform your management. Are you a good manager? Give an example. Why do you feel you have top managerial potential? Keep your answer achievement- and task-oriented; emphasise management skills - planning, organising, controlling, interpersonal, etc. What do you look for when you hire people? Skills, initiative, adaptability.

Did you ever fire anyone? If so, what were the reasons and how did you handle it? You have had experience with this and it worked out well. What do you see as the most difficult task in being a manager? Getting things planned and done on time within the budget. What do your subordinates think of you? Be honest and positive ... they can check your responses easily. What is your biggest weakness as a manager? Be honest and end on a positive note, e.g. "I don't enjoy reprimanding people, so I try to begin with something positive first." Salary requirements: Six steps to handling money questions by Therese Droste Everyone wants as much money as an employer is willing to shell out. Yet when it comes to job interviewing, salary questions make most people squirm. One reason is that such questions pressure you to tip your hand during the negotiating game. Winning the salary you want requires some evasive action on your part. Choose your words carefully, and don't be afraid to redirect a pointed question. These tips will help you stay in control of your compensation. How to handle applications or ads requesting a salary history? Diane Barowsky, partner at TMP Executive Search, Chicago, advises job seekers not to include salary requirements. "True, when you leave out the information, you run the risk that the employer won't look at you because you've not put a salary in there. But you run a greater risk of selling yourself short because you don't know what the range is," she says. Instead, write that you expect a salary commensurate with your experience and the job's demands. You could also write "negotiable" because, frankly, salary is always negotiable. What are you currently making? Answer carefully. State that the new job, while in line with your skills, can't compare to your current job. As such, your current salary isn't a good judge of what you should earn in this position. "Answer: What I'm making is not important. What is important is whether or not my skills are what you need, and I'm confident that the range will be fair," says Barowsky. This allows you to reveal your self-confidence. In addition, this levels the playing field if there are two candidates, says Barowsky. If you're currently underpaid, answering such a question directly will work against you. "What if you work for a non-profit, and your pay is lower than that of another candidate who has the same skills and experience but has a higher pay because he is with a corporation that offers competitive salaries? You could be hired at a much lower figure than the other person would have received. It's not the past salary that's important, it's the skills and experience and what you can do for the organisation," she says. Get the employer to say a number first.

Every employer has some type of salary range in mind. And they most often can play with that range, says Barowsky. "They have information you are not privy to. When you don't know what the employer has in mind, you can underbid yourself. Employers will jump on that. Later, you'll find out that someone two cubicles over from you is making more money for the same work you're doing," says Barowsky. So find out what the range is before you state any salary requirements. If the range is below what you want, state that you expect a range closer to XYZ. And make XYZ at least 10 to 20 percent higher than what you currently make. If you're grossly underpaid in your position, hike it even higher. What if you're really pushed to state a figure? State a range that reflects the amount you want to make. And remember: Employers will always look at the low end of your range, so make the low end as high as you are comfortable with. If you make Rs 30,000 per month, state a range of Rs 37,000 to Rs 42,000 or so. Be prepared. Do your research. Research what others in the field make. Contact professional organisations and get their annual salary surveys. Read professional publications. Network to find out what others in your field are making. Also check out Internet sites that provide salary information. Show us your pay slip. If an employer wants to contact your old employers to verify your salary, think twice about the job. Frankly, do you really want to work with someone who will intimidate you? "If they badger you during the interview, a point where they're supposed to be wooing and impressing you, think of what it'll be like when you go to work there," says Barowsky. The bottom line is you not only want good pay, you want respect. And a job that provides mutual employer-employee respect is bound to reap rewards. Interviewing by Sylvia Ho after a job loss

So, your last job didn't exactly pan out. Maybe your boss or your coworkers were jerks, or you were laid off -- or even fired. Now, you are looking forward to your first job interview. What is your biggest hurdle? Is it job references, or your spotty resume, or even your former boss? No, it's probably your attitude and preparation. A positive, forward-looking attitude impresses employers, while a negative attitude can be a turn-off. A candidate who is prepared -- who has researched the company s/he is

interviewing with and the position and knows what s/he can bring to the job -- appears professional and mature, worthy of being considered. An unprepared candidate gives the appearance of being disorganised and unprofessional and only reinforces any impression that might be given in a bad reference. Here are some "Do's and Don'ts" to improve your attitude and preparation before your big interview:
1. Don't worry.Worrying is only natural, but most people,

at one time or another, had a job that didn't work out. Chances are that your interviewer may have even been let go from a job. Worrying saps your energy and leaves you powerless. Instead, take some active steps before the interview to practice responding to any possible objections that you believe an employer would have to hiring you. 2. Counter a poor reference with many other good ones. Prepare ahead if you think your former boss may give you a bad reference. Call other former employers who thought well of you and would give you a good reference, and obtain a letter of recommendation. The more letters of recommendation you are able to provide, the less significant a bad reference will appear. Ultimately, a decision-maker will weigh all the evidence and may weigh references in your favour. 3. Prepare to answer hard questions professionally. Hard questions are part of any interview, but they can seem even harder when your last job did not work out. Prepare possible hard questions and the answers you would give to them if asked. Have your friends or relatives listen to your answers and give you their opinions on how the answers sound. There is no shame in having left a job if you can articulate why the job didn't work out for you and what you learned from the experience. 4. Know your accomplishments and your value. Believe that you do bring value and skills to a prospective employer. Spend some time thinking about what you accomplished at your previous jobs. What skills do you bring to the table? Are these skills in demand? Make a list and review it again and again. This will improve your attitude and self-confidence and will help you at your interview.

5. Don't blame other people for your previous work

problems. Responsible employees are in demand. Interviewers do not like candidates who make excuses. Discuss your accomplishments instead of the negative aspects of your previous job. If you have to talk about why the job did not work out, discuss what you learned from the experience that will make you a better employee in the future. 6. Keep searching and don't get discouraged. The reason you did not get a job may have absolutely nothing to do with you. If you did not get the job, do write and then call the interviewer to find out why you were not hired. Make it clear that you are not trying to change their decision, only to get information that will help you in your job search. Learn from each interview and continue searching. Don't get discouraged!

P align=center>Post interview etiquette Now that you have sent an effective covering letter, a persuasive resume and done exceedingly well at the interview, what else needs to be done? Take the right follow-up action. In the highly competitive job market you have to constantly stay a step ahead. You have to build bridges of communication, which will help to further your career. Follow these simple post-interview etiquette tips to make the right moves. Ask the interviewers for their visiting cards. At the end of the interview session make sure you get the visiting cards of the interviewers, the phone numbers and the email IDs. This is imperative to initiate the right follow-up action. You do not want to be sending thank you notes to the wrong people! Moreover you will remove the fizz out of your follow-up actions by calling up the interviewer later to take the address.

Send a thank you letter. The thank you letter not only serves to impress the prospective employer, but it is also a good chance to explain about some points you might have missed during the interview. Write a concise and polite letter to the interviewer thanking him for the time spent with you during the interview. This letter should be sent immediately after the interview is over. Check thoroughly for spelling and grammatical errors. Emailing letters is the norm these days. Wait for the right time to call up the interviewer. Most often the interviewer will clearly indicate the time frame within which the outcome of the interview will be communicated to you. You should at least wait for the indicated time period before trying to make any enquiries. Do not be hasty in making enquiries, as you may spoil your chances. However, remember to call up and enquire after the specified time period, as it is another opportunity to confirm your interest in the assignment. If you are not selected, your courtesy may come in handy when another opening comes up in the organisation. Interact once more with the interviewer even if you have not been selected. Send a polite letter thanking the interviewer for considering you in the first place. Illustrate clearly what you have gained in this brief interaction and thank the interviewer for the same. You never know when and in what capacity you may be once again interacting with them. Whatever follow-up action you take, be sincere in your communication and do not sound opportunistic. One of the important steps in career growth is to network and to do it in style! The power by Peter Vogt of a simple thank-you note

When my wife was hired for her first "real job" after graduating from college, she was remembered and saluted by her new supervisor for one seemingly small step she had taken during the interviewing process: Shed been the only applicant of several interviewed who had sent a thank-you note after her

interview. It seems amazing, but its true: A simple thank-you note after a job interview can wield considerable power and influence, and reflect very favourably on your candidacy for the position. Why? Several reasons: In sending a thank-you note, you show your interviewer common courtesy and respect. Unfortunately, in our busy and often impolite world, we simply dont acknowledge each others time, efforts and commitments. So in sending a thankyou note, you tell your interviewer in no uncertain terms that you appreciate the time he or she has given you. After all, he or she had to give up part or all of the day to be with you, and expend effort learning more about you and what you have to offer. So few job applicants send thank-you notes that you automatically stand out if you do. Its shocking, but the majority of job applicants fail to send thank-you notes after their interviews. Why? Who knows? But the bottom line is that you wind up in a position to shine simply by putting forth the effort of sending a note. Strange, but true. A thank-you note gives you an opportunity to reiterate points you made during your interview. Have you ever left an interview wishing youd more strongly emphasised a certain skill or experience the employer seemed to be looking for? A thank-you note gives you the chance to do just that. After using the first paragraph of your note to thank your interviewer, you can use a brief second paragraph to touch again upon the key points you made in your interview. You can also use a similar strategy to "clean up" any interview rough spots you might have had - i.e., to expand upon or clarify responses you felt were weak or shaky. A thank-you note lets you make points you forgot to make in your interview. Sometimes after an interview, as you walk out to your car, you smack yourself on the forehead and say to yourself, "Why didnt I talk about _____?!" Frustrating? You bet. But you can take care of the problem to

some degree in your thank-you note. Again, perhaps in the second paragraph, you can say something to the effect of "After our discussion, it occurred to me that I forgot to tell you about _________." A thank-you note demonstrates your written communication skills. In receiving and reading your thankyou notes, your interviewer will see firsthand how you handle yourself on paper. Youll be using similar skills every day with the companys potential clients, customers, and vendors - so the interviewer will be reading carefully to see how you come across in print. Writing thank-you notes isnt terribly difficult or timeconsuming. If youd like some ideas on how to proceed, take a look at one of Monster.coms sample thank-you notes. Then, be sure to follow through, preferably the same day as your interview. It can make a much bigger difference than you might think - perhaps even the difference between the job going to you or someone else.