Basics

The Basic Things

In addition to doing research and practicing your answers to common

interview questions, you should be aware of general interview etiquette.
Remember the following points when preparing for an interview:

Review your resume, and make sure that you can explain everything on it.
Arrive at the interview ten minutes early to give yourself an opportunity to
collect your thoughts and relax. Be aware that many employers will have
their receptionists record the time you came in. If you rush in at the last
minute, an employer may have serious concerns about your ability to arrive
on time for a normal day at work.

Get a good night's sleep before your interview. You will think more effectively
in the interview if you are rested. Also, yawning will not impress anyone. Eat
something before the interview. If you are worried about your stomach
growling, you will not be able to concentrate on the questions.

Dress appropriately for the position that you are applying to. Try to dress like
the people who work there would dress if they were representing their
organization at some function. If you are unsure about what to wear, always
err on the side of being too dressed up.

Make sure that you are clean, neat, and well-groomed. Interviewers do
notice your appearance, and first impressions are critical in an interview
situation.

Take a copy of your resume, transcript, references and perhaps a portfolio or

work samples with you. Also take a pen and paper, as you may wan to
record some important information.

Interview Preparation

The Interview

Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information. The employer wants to know if you, the applicant, have the
skills, knowledge, self-confidence, and motivation necessary for the job. At
this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest
in your resume. He or she also wants to determine whether or not you will fit
in with the organization's current employees and philosophy. Similarly, you
will want to evaluate the position and the organization, and determine if they
will fit into your career plans. The interview is a two-way exchange of
information. It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselves. The
employer is selling the organization to you, and you are marketing your
skills, knowledge, and personality to the employer.

Interview Preparation

Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview. If you haven't done

your homework, it is going to be obvious. Spend time researching and
thinking about yourself, the occupation, the organization, and questions you
might ask at the end of the interview.

Step 1: Know Yourself

The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-

assessment so that you will know what you have to offer an employer. It is
very important to develop a complete inventory of skills, experience, and
personal attributes that you can use to market yourself to employers at any
time during the interview process. In developing this inventory, it is easiest
to start with experience. Once you have a detailed list of activities that you
have done (past jobs, extra-curricular involvements, volunteer work, school
projects, etc.), it is fairly easy to identify your skills.

Simply go through the list, and for each item ask yourself "What could I
have learned by doing this?" "What skills did I develop?" "What
issues/circumstances have I learned to deal with?" Keep in mind that skills
fall into two categories - technical and generic. Technical skills are the skills
required to do a specific job. For a laboratory assistant, technical skills might
include knowledge of sterilization procedures, slide preparation, and scientific
report writing. For an outreach worker, technical skills might include
counselling skills, case management skills, or program design and evaluation
skills

Generic skills are those which are transferable to many work settings.
Following is a list of the ten most marketable skills. You will notice that they
are all generic.

• Analytical/Problem Solving
• Flexibility/Versatility
• Interpersonal
• Oral/Written Communication
• Organization/Planning
• Time Management
• Motivation
• Leadership
• Self-Starter/Initiative
• Team Player
Often when people think of skills, they tend to think of those they have
developed in the workplace. However, skills are developed in a variety of
settings. If you have ever researched and written a paper for a course, you
probably have written communication skills. Team sports or group projects
are a good way to develop the skills required of a team player and leader.
Don't overlook any abilities you may have

When doing the research on yourself, identifying your experience and skills is
important, but it is not all that you need to know. Consider the answers to
other questions such as:

• How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position?

• What are my strong points and weak points?
• What are my short term and long term goals?
• What can I offer this particular employer?
• What kind of environment do I like? (i.e. How do I like to be
supervised? Do I like a fast pace?)
• What do I like doing?
• Apart from my skills and experience, what can I bring to this job?

Step 2: Know the Occupation

The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation.

This is necessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you
have the experience and skills required for that occupation, you must first
know what those requirements and duties are. With this information
uncovered, you can then match the skills you have (using the complete
skills/experience inventory you have just prepared) with the skills you know
people in that occupational field need. The resulting "shortlist" will be the one
that you need to emphasize during the interview.

It is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for
that position, or those similar. There are several ways to find out about an
occupation:

• Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human

• Resources/Personnel) or check with Student Employment Services. If
you are responding to an advertisement, this may also supply some
details.

The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of

occupations. Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are
updated on the occupation. If you belong to a professional association related
to the occupation, use its resources. These associations often publish
informative newsletters and sponsor seminars. It is also a good way to meet
people working in the field. Conduct information interviews with people
working in the field. Read articles about people in the occupation, and articles
written by people in the occupation. Sources include newspapers, magazines
and the internet. Find out what the future trends are in the area. Is
technology changing the job?

Step 3: Know the Organization

The more you know about an organization, the better prepared you will be to
discuss how you can meet its needs. Some of the characteristics that you
should know about an organization are:

• Where is it located?
• How big is it?
• What are its products and who does it serve?
• How is the organization structured?
• What is its history?
• Have there been any recent changes, new developments?

There are a number of ways in which you can access this information. Most
medium- to large-sized organizations publish information about themselves.
You can access this a number of ways:

• On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature

and business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
• The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business
directories
• Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company name
• Finally, you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products, services or areas of research

If the organization is fairly small, or fairly new, there may not be much
information published. In this case, it will be necessary to do an information
interview. Contact someone within the organization, introduce yourself,
explain that you are considering moving into the field, and ask if it would be
possible to meet with him/her to inquire about the company/organization and
about what exactly the position would involve.

Step 4: Prepare Questions

Having completed your background research, you are now ready to prepare
questions to ask the

interviewer(s). Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company
literature. Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate your
genuine interest in the position. Be

careful how many questions you ask, however, as too many can imply you
feel the interview was not

successfully run. Pick your questions with care - this is your chance to gather
information, so ask about

what you really want to know. Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative
information you may have

discovered. This is one of the most effective ways to compare different

employers, so for issues of

particular importance to you (for example, whether they support staff

upgrading), you should ask the same

questions of each employer. Some sample questions are:

• What are the most significant factors affecting your business today?
How have changes in technology most affected your business today?
• How has your business/industry been affected by the recession?
• How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years?
• What future direction do you see the company taking?
• Where is the greatest demand for your services or product?
• Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this
company?
• Which department feels it the most?
• How do you differ from your competitors?
• How much responsibility will I be given in this position?
• What do you like about working with this organization?
• Can you tell me more about the training program?
• Have any new product lines been introduced recently?
• How much travel is normally expected?
• What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance?
• Will I work independently or as part of a team?
• How did you advance to your position?
• What are the career paths available in this organization?
• When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position?

It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire
individuals who are interested in the position - and asking this question
definitely helps to demonstrate interest on your part. Exercise judgement
when asking questions to an employer. When being interviewed by a large
company that has a high profile, one would not ask the question
"What is the history of your company and how was your company started?"
You can find the answer to this question in the company's annual report or
articles in magazines/newspapers. However, small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it
may be difficult to access information on the company and its role in the
industry. This question is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to
find out the answer.

Dressing Right for The Interview

PREPARATIONS

Let's say you are going for an interview tomorrow. You have prepared
yourself well for the occasion - anticipating the questions and getting ready
the answers - but have you given a thought to what you will wear?

If you have not peeked into your wardrobe yet, it's time to take a real hard
look now. Your application's fate depends not just on how well you answer
the interview questions, but also on how well you project yourself physically.
The first impression your interviewer makes about you is based on the way
you look, and you know what they say about first impressions. According to
Joe Hodowanes, J.M. Wanes and Associates career strategy advisor, "The way
a person dresses is the single biggest non-verbal communication you make
about yourself." The right dressing is a measure of the seriousness that you
place on the position, as a person normally spends time on his looks if he
considers an event important enough.

"Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job, a poor dress
sense may exclude you from further consideration," warns Gerry Ditching,
managing partner of Filgifts.com. Besides, given two equally good applicants,
the company may choose to hire the person who is dressed more
professionally. Here are some tips to give you a headstart.

MEN

Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks. White is still the safest and the
best color for shirts. The colour is also appropriate for our tropical
weather. Also acceptable: pale shades such as beige, blue, and other
pastels.

Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves. Never wear a short-sleeved
shirt to an interview or any business purpose. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt
will destroy your executive image.

Ties. Optional. But if you do wear one, choose a conservative pattern. Solids,
small polka dots, diagonal stripes, small repeating shapes, subtle plaids and
paisleys are all acceptable.
Belts. Belts should match your shoes. Those with smaller buckles with
squared lines look more professional.

Socks. Black socks are the best, followed by blue or gray, depending on your
attire. Never wear white socks! Check your sock length, too--no skin should
show when you sit down or cross your legs. Shoes. Black or burgundy leather
shoes with laces on them, because tassel loafers are very casual. Other
suitable colors are brown, cordovan and navy.

Hair. Keep neat, short and preferably parted on the side. And shave off all
those facial hair.

Jewellery. Wear no or little jewellery. The watch and wedding ring are the
only acceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire. Thin gold or
leather-strapped watches look professional but not digital watches. Also,
avoid political or religious insignias, necklaces or bracelets. Definitely no
pierced body parts, and cover up your tattoos!

Accessories. As much as possible, use leather briefcases or folders to hold

copies of your resume. Use narrow briefcases and avoid plastic folders and
plastic ball pens as they are out of place.

WOMEN

Three-piece business suits, blouse and skirt or slacks, and cardigan twin-
sets. Sleeveless shirts should be rejected. Short-sleeved blouses are okay
when they are tailor-cut or have features such as a sports collar or double
breast design to create a business-like look. Skirts can either be long
provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or short where it
falls no shorter than two inches from the knee. Nothing too revealing, please!

Panty-hose or stockings. A must for professional grooming, but nothing

with overly fussy patterns. Bring an extra pair, just in case the ones you are
wearing run.

Shoes. Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1½-inch heels suggest a more
professional look. Dark colors are best.

Hair. Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back.
Don't let it fall in front of your face and don't keep trying to fix it during the
interview. Avoid large hair ornaments and trendy hairstyles.

Make-up. Be subtle; natural is the key word. Light shades of lip coloring and
nail polish are recommended.

Jewellery. Be conservative. Studs of gold, silver or pearls are best. Do away

with gaudy fashion jewelers, and those that clank and make noise when one
moves.
Accessories. Folders and bags should blend well with the total professional
look. Women should match their purse with their shoe colour.

Etiquette that you should have

Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table

Hone your interview etiquette................ Churn the right mix of deportment,

attitude and dressingskills for a great job talk !

Never make the big mistake of treating an interview lightly. It's not an
impromptu thing where you depend on your improvisation skills. An interview
requires careful thought and planning before you take it. Keeping in mind
some basic attitudes and presentation techniques will help you sail through it
with panache.

So if you thought that going for an interview just meant pulling your best suit
out of the wardrobe and updating your resume, please think again. You are
forgetting the other essentials: body language, basic etiquette and attitude.

Remember that you are actually selling an entire package and the packaging,
in this case, is as relevant as the product inside. Ultimately you are
presenting yourself as a valuable professional to a new job environment. And
you can't do that without minding the basic interview etiquette to get you
ahead of the rest of the pack.

An interview is the sum total of many parts. It's not just what you say but
how you say it that matters equally. So it's good to brush up on more than
just your training skills when you do go in for an interview.

ATTIRE

How you dress for an interview is perhaps as relevant as the way you lay out
your resume. Says Nina Kochar of Upgrade Management Services, an
organisation which coaches' executives in the basic rules of corporate
etiquette: "A person who is sloppy in appearance shows a sloppy personality,
so you have to be decently dressed." Of course, decently dressed does not
necessarily mean being dressed to the gills. In most cases, this would mean
you would wear long sleeved shirts and a pair of formal trousers. In fact,
Nina Kochar does not recommend suits, especially for younger people. "A lot
of young people do not have the money to invest in suits, consequently, they
wear ill-fitting or borrowed suits and that looks even worse. A tie, shirt and
pant should do the trick for most junior level positions."

Most HR experts would also tell you to mind the accessories like ties, belts
and shoes. To be sure, badly matched shoes and ties can have a jarring
effect on an interviewer. Similarly, please avoid heavy jewellery or personal
accessories as they would look incongruous on you.

ENTRANCE AND INTRODUCTION

Even though most of us are primed for the basic grilling that we would face
during the interview, we seldom pay attention to the way we enter an
interview room or how we introduce ourselves. Says Subhashish Mitra,
deputy manager, Essar Cellphones: "A lot of people do not think it important
to knock properly while entering the interview room. They assume that as an
interview is taking place, the panel will be expecting them. To my mind this is
a very major faux pas which really jars."

In fact, the best way to enter an interview is to knock, ask for permission to
enter and then wait for a while before you actually sit down. Few
interviewees know this but the interview panel needs a little quiet time to
discuss the previous candidate before they get around to the next one. So
your silence till you actually get seated would be very valuable. Try and keep
a bag with you for all your papers and certificates; make sure this bag is an
unobtrusive as possible.

ATTITUDE AND RESPONSE

This is a grey area for most interview candidates. While dressing up and
resume writing are skills you can Go for a mock exercise before the real talk
at the job table handle with a little practice, cultivating the right attitude as
an interviewee requires a lot of patience and reading between the lines. The
usual complaint of most interviewers is that few interviewees are able to stri
perhaps the best thing you can do for getting your answer right. Most
interviewers like to give a lead to the candidate in the way they ask the
question, so it's entirely up to you to note facial expressions and the tone of
the words.

Do you show your certificates immediately to the interview panel?

Not till you are asked actually. You might already have sent in your resume,
so you shouldn't try and offload all your achievements and skills onto the
panel till a turn in the interview leads to such a situation.

Try and take cues form the tonal variations, facial expressions and thrust of
questions from the interview panel. That in itself will give you a clue as to
where this interview is heading.

TEN THINGS THAT AN INTERVIEWER LOOKS IN YOU!

1. Family Background

2. Education
3. Experience

4. Stability

5. Initiative

6. General Ability

7. Interpersonal Skills

8. Confidence

9. Aptitude

10. Pleasant Looks

How one wished that an interview were a simple meeting of minds and
hearts. Just one casual meeting where an employee's future gets sealed.
Unfortunately, it's not something as pre-ordained as you would like it to be;
it's a pre-meditated exercise which fetches you dividends only if your
homework is done right.

Resume Preparation

Your resume is the first interface you have with your employer

Your resume is the first interface you have with your employer. Make the
most of this opportunity............. The employment market is changing all the
time and so have resumes, evolving from a one-size-fits-all standard. Here
are our tips to convert your resume into a catching one.

Follow These Basic Standards....

• Don't overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space.

• Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.
• Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum -- two at the most.
• Use a font that is easy to read. Times Roman works well.
• Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of
the page to "rag."
• Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing
features.
• Make sure your name, address, and a phone number appear on your
resume and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.
• Print your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality
printer.
• Second- and third-generation photocopies must be avoided
 • Print on one side of the paper only.

Avoid Mistakes:

SPELLING MISTAKES:

To avoid spelling mistakes:

• Don't use words with which you aren't familiar.

• Use a dictionary as you write.
• Perform a spell check on your finished resume.
• Carefully read every word in your resume.
• Have a friend or two proof read your resume for you.

PUNCTUATION MISTAKES:

Things to look for:

• Periods at the end of all full sentences.

• Be consistent in your use of punctuation.
• Always put periods and commas within quotation marks.
• Avoid using exclamation points.

GRAMMATICAL MISTAKES:

Grammar hang-ups to watch for:

• Do not switch tenses within your resume.

• The duties you currently perform should be in present tense (i.e., write
reports)
• Duties you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense
(i.e., wrote reports).
• Capitalize all proper nouns.
• When expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and
nine (i.e., one, five, seven), but
• use numerals for all numbers 10 and above (i.e., 10, 25, 108).
• If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral (e.g.
Eleven service awards won while employed.).
• Make sure your date formats are consistent (i.e.11/22/01 or Nov. 22,
2001, or 11.22.01. Choose one and stick with it.).
• Choose Your Words Carefully:
• Phrase yourself well:
• Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words:
• accept (to receive), except (to exclude)
• all right (correct), alright (this is not a word)
• affect (to bring about change), effect (result)
 • personal (private), personnel (staff members)
• role (a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve).
• Use action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed
staff).

REFERENCES:

In most instances it is not necessary to include names and address of

references on the resume. If you include a reference, make it sure that the
referenced person knows very well about you. It is also advisable to add the
persons as references, whom the employer can contact easily. If possible add
the phone number and e-mail ID of the reference. Never add a person as a
reference, about whom you know nothing

STICK TO THE POINT

Employers have a busy schedule, so don't expect them to read through a

long resume. Ideally, resumes should be of one page, or of two pages only if
absolutely necessary, to describe relevant work experience.

WORDS COUNT

Use of language is extremely important; you need to sell yourself to an

employer quickly and efficiently. Address your potential employer's needs
with a clearly written, compelling resume. Avoid large paragraphs (five or six
lines). If you provide small, digestible pieces of information, your resume will
be read. Use action verbs. Verbs such as "developed", "managed", and
"designed" emphasise your accomplishments. Don't use declarative
sentences like "I developed the ..." or "I assisted in ...", leave out the "I".
Avoid passive constructions, such as "was responsible for managing". Just
say, "managed": that sounds stronger and more active.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE

Employers need to know what you have accomplished to have an idea of

what you can do for them. Don't be vague. Telling someone that you
"improved the company's efficiency" doesn't say much. But if you say that
you "cut overhead costs by 20 per cent and saved the company Rs 20 lakh
during the last fiscal year", you are more specific.

HONESTY IS A GOOD POLICY

Employers will feel more comfortable hiring you if they can verify your
accomplishments. There is a difference between making the most of your
experience and exaggerating or falsifying it. A falsified resume can cost you
the job later.
DOUBLE-CHECK FOR MISTAKES

Check your resume for correct grammar and spelling - evidence of good
communication skills and attention to detail. Nothing can ruin your chances
of getting a job faster than submitting a resume filled with preventable
mistakes. Make your resume easy on the eye. Use normal margins (1" on the
top and bottom, 1.25" on the sides) and don't cram your text on the page.
Allow for some space between the different sections. Avoid unusual or exotic
fonts. Preferred fonts: Arial and Times Roman

Interview Questions

Type of Questions

Interviewers use five different types of questions - directive, non-directive,

hypothetical, behavior descriptive, and stress. Being aware of the different
types can help you in the preparation stage as you build your skills
inventory. It may also help you focus in on exactly what is being asked and
what the employer is looking for in specific questions.

Directive Questions

The interviewer determines the focus of your answer. The information that
the interviewer wants is very clear. If you have completed the research on
yourself, this type of question should be easy to answer.

Example: "What skills do you have that relate to this position?"

"I have very good communication and interpersonal skills that I have refined
through several summer and part-time jobs working with the public. In
addition, I am fluent in both English and French."

Non-Directive Questions

You determine the focus of your answer. The interviewer asks a general
question and does not ask for specific information. The most common non-
directive question is

"Tell me about yourself."

When answering the question, keep in mind that the employer is interested
in knowing how your background and personality qualify you for the job. In
your answer, you should cover four areas: your education, related
experience, skills and abilities, and personal attributes. As you talk about
these areas, relate them to the job you are seeking. Decide what your
response will be before starting to speak, this helps to keep responses
concise.
Example: " Tell me about yourself."

"I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, and have recently

completed the course

in Volunteer Management through the Volunteer Center of Winnipeg. These

have given me a strong background in many of the principles of human
behavior and the recruitment, training, and supervision of volunteers. I have
experience in working with young adults in a helping capacity, both through
my position as a Peer Advisor at the University of Manitoba, and as a camp
counselor at a camp for behaviorally troubled adolescents. Both of these
positions involved individual counseling, facilitating discussion groups, and
teaching young people about health issues - all of which relate directly to the
services which I would be training volunteers to provide within your
organization. In addition, I thoroughly enjoy working with young people, and
can establish rapport with them easily."

Hypothetical or Scenario Questions

When asking a hypothetical question, the interviewer describes a situation,

which you may encounter in the position and asks how you would react in a
similar situation. This is a good way to test problem-solving abilities. When
answering this type of question, try applying a simple problem solving model
to it – gather information, evaluate the information, priories the information,
seek advice, weigh the alternatives, make a decision, communicate the
decision, monitor the results and modify if necessary.

Example: "Suppose you are working your first day in our laboratory, and a
fire at a nearby work station breaks out. What would you do?"

"Before I start working in any laboratory, I always locate the emergency

equipment, such as eye washes, fire blankets and alarms. I would also
review the safety protocols. So in this situation, I would be aware of these.
As soon as I noticed the fire, I would shut down my experiment and if the fire
is significant, I would pull the firm alarm and help to evacuate the lab. In the
case of very small flame, I would ask the staff member at the station what I
could do to help, Which would vary with the type of substances involved.”

Behavior Descriptive or Behavioral Questions

This type of question is becoming increasingly popular in interview situations.

It asks what you did in a particular situation rather than what you would do.
Situations chosen usually follow the job description fairly closely. Some
employers feel that examples of past performance will help them to predict
future performance in similar situations. There is no right or wrong answer to
this type of question, but keep in mind that you should relate the answer to
the position. If you are interviewing for a research position, talk about a
research project you completed.
Example: "Give me an example of a work situation in which you were proud
of your performance."

"While working as a sales representative for XYZ Company for the summer, I
called on Prospective clients and persuaded them of the ecological and
economic benefits of Recycling. I also followed up on clients to ensure that
they were satisfied with the service They received. This involved both
telephone and in-person contacts. I increased sales 34% over the same
period in the previous year."

When preparing for this type of questioning, it is crucial that you review the
skills and qualities that the position would require and identify specific
examples from your past which demonstrated those traits.

Stress Questions

Some questions will surprise you and possibly make you feel uncomfortable
during an interview. For

Example:" Which do you prefer, fruits or vegetables?" There are many

reasons why an interviewer might ask such questions. They may want to see
how you react in difficult situations, or they may simply be trying to test your
sense of humor. Such questions may directly challenge an opinion that you
have just stated or say something negative about you or a reference.
Sometimes they ask seemingly irrelevant questions such as,

"If you were an animal, what type of animal would you be?"

The best way to deal with this type of question is to recognize what is
happening. The interviewer is trying to elicit a reaction from you. Stay calm,
and do not become defensive. If humour comes naturally to you, you might
try using it in your response, but it is important to respond to the question.
What you say is not nearly as important as maintaining your composure.

Example: "Which do you like better, Lions or Tigers?"

"Oh, lions definitely. They appear so majestic and are very sociable. To be
honest, I think that seeing The Lion King four times has probably contributed
to this!"

Answering Interview Questions

Way of Answering

Regardless of what type of question you are asked, you will find it
easier to respond effectively if you keep in mind some basic question
answering strategies:
 You can never predict every question that you will encounter, so
approach the interview with an inventory of important points. Make a
list of the points about yourself that you want the interviewer to know.
For example, if you were to apply for a job as a Sales Representative,
you might want to list the products you have sold before, types of
customers (by industry, age, etc.), languages spoken, personal
experience in that industry and related knowledge (perhaps from your
academic program).

Consider each question an opportunity to provide some of this

information. Don't assume anything. You will be evaluated on your
answers, not your resume. Therefore, ensure you incorporate the
relevant information from your resume in your answers.

Pause a couple of seconds before you respond to each question, even

if you know exactly what you want to say. Take this time to quickly
plan your answer, this helps to avoid misunderstandings and produces
much more concise answers.

If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification. This is

expected and is preferable to providing an unsuitable answer. If you
need time to collect your thoughts - take it. When people are nervous
they tend either to "draw a blank" or to babble. It is better to think for
a few moments and make sure that your answer is doing you justice
and that there is a point to what you are saying.

Always expand. Never answer a question with a "yes" or "no."

The interview is an opportunity for you to sell yourself. Don't be afraid

to 'blow your own horn.' As long as you can back up what you are
saying with examples which demonstrate that what you are saying is
true, you are not bragging. Third party observations can also be
mentioned. For example, "My last employer told me that I was
promoted because of how I handled conflicts with clients."

Be very positive. Don't complain about anything - from your former

employer to the weather - and don't apologize for experience that you
don't have. Just sell what you do have and let the employer decide if
you have what he/she is looking for. Also, avoid negative words. For
example, you would not say "I have a little experience...," you would
say "I have experience......"

Don't be afraid to repeat important points. In fact, it is a good idea to

do this.

Through Interview Process

Go Through The Process

There are many different types of interviews designed to serve different
purposes or situations. Regardless of the type of interview, most will
incorporate the following stages: establishing rapport, exchanging
information, and closing the interview. Pay attention to the job titles of the
interviewer(s). This can help you decide how much technical detail to provide
in your responses.

Establishing Rapport

This is a very important part of the interview because while establishing

rapport, first impressions are made, and the tone of the interview is set.
Some people suggest that the decision to hire is greatly influenced by the
first five minutes of the interview. A good interviewer will introduce
him/herself, and take the lead. Follow his or her lead - if they are chatty, be
chatty; if they are formal, be formal. Some employers use what seems to be
casual conversation to get to know you on a more personal level – this may
be crucial to a hiring decision!

Tips:

• Smile and maintain eye contact. This is one way of communicating

confidence, even if you don't feel it.
• If the interviewer offers his or her hand, shake it firmly. If they don't,
it is appropriate to offer yours.
• Wait until the interviewer sits or offers you a seat before sitting down.
• If the interviewer is making small talk, participate. Keep your answers
short and positive.

Exchange of Information

This is the bulk of the interview. It is your opportunity to let the interviewer
know what you have to offer, and your chance to learn more about the
organization.

Tips:

• When you answer a question, look the interviewer in the eye.

• Be aware of the interviewer's reactions. If he or she looks confused,
ask if you can clarify anything.
• Be aware of what your body is saying. Avoid closed postures. Sit
upright, but not stiffly.
• Try to find a comfortable position as that will make you feel more
relaxed.
• Control your nervous habits. Don't swing your foot, talk with your
hands (to an extreme), or fiddle with jewelers, buttons, pens, etc.
• Show that you are interested in the job by asking questions.
• Try not to appear bored or anxious. Don't look at your watch.
Closing the Interview

When the interviewer is done gathering the information that is needed, he or

she will ask if you have anything to add, or if you have any questions. This is
your opportunity to mentally review your inventory of skills and make sure
that you have communicated everything that you wanted to. If any of your
questions have not been addressed during the course of the interview, now is
the time to ask them.

Tips:

• Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration.

• Ask when you can expect to hear from him/her.
• If it is not known when a decision will be reached, ask if you
can phone in a week's time to inquire about the progress.
• If the interviewer offers his/her hand, shake it firmly.
Otherwise, it is fine to offer yours first.
• If not already discussed, you can offer to leave a sample of
your work, or portfolio if you have one.

Mistakes That Cost People Jobs

Think about the following points. Do any of them apply to you?

Oversell

Trying too hard to impress; bragging; acting aggressively.

Undersell

Failing to emphasize the fact that you have related skills; discussing

experience using negative qualifiers (i.e. "I have a little experience...").

Body Language

It is easy to create a negative impression without even realizing that you

are doing it. Are you staring at your feet, or talking to the interviewer's

shoulder? Be aware of what your actions say about you.

Lack of Honesty

The slightest stretching of the truth may result in you being screened out.

Negative Attitude
The interview is not an opportunity for you to complain about your

current supervisor or co-workers (or even about 'little' things, such as

the weather).

Lack of Preparation

You have to know about the organization and the occupation. If you

don't, it will appear as though you are not interested in the position.

Lack of

Enthusiasm

If you are not excited about the work at the interview, the employer will

not assume that your attitude will improve when hired.

Top Ten Interview Tips -Note it

Great interviews arise from careful groundwork. You can ace your
next interview if you:

1. Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the state from which
great basketball players or Olympic skaters operate. You'll need to
quiet the negative self chatter in your head through meditation or
visualization prior to sitting down in the meeting. You'll focus on the
present moment and will be less apt to experience lapses in
concentration, nervousness, self-doubt and self-condemnation.
2. Act spontaneous, but be well prepared. Be your authentic self,
professional yet real. Engage in true conversation with your
interviewer, resting on the preparation you did prior to coming to the
meeting. Conduct several trial runs with another person simulating the
interview before it actually occurs. It's the same as anticipating the
questions you'll be asked on a final exam.
3. Set goals for the interview. It is your job to leave the meeting feeling
secure that the interviewer knows as much as he or she possibly can
about your skills, abilities, experience and achievements. If you sense
there are misconceptions, clear them up before leaving. If the
interviewer doesn't get around to asking you important questions,
pose them yourself (diplomatically) and answer them. Don't leave the
meeting without getting your own questions answered so that you
have a clear idea of what you would be getting yourself into. If
possible, try to get further interviews, especially with other key
players.
4. Know the question behind the question. Ultimately, every question
boils down to, "Why should we hire you?" Be sure you answer that
completely. If there is a question about your meeting deadlines,
consider whether the interviewer is probing delicately about your
personal life, careful not to ask you whether your family
responsibilities will interfere with your work. Find away to address
fears if you sense they are present.
5. Follow up with an effective "thank you" letter. Don't write this letter
lightly. It is another opportunity to market yourself. Find some areas
discussed in the meeting and expand upon them in your letter. Writing
a letter after a meeting is a very minimum. Standing out among the
other candidates will occur if you thoughtfully consider this follow up
letter as an additional interview in which you get to do all the talking.
Propose useful ideas that demonstrate your added value to the team.
6. Consider the interviewer's agenda. Much is on the shoulders of the
interviewer. He or she has the responsibility of hiring the right
candidate. Your ability to do the job will need to be justified. "Are there
additional pluses here?" "Will this person fit the culture of this
organization?" These as well as other questions will be heavily on the
interviewer's mind. Find ways to demonstrate your qualities above and
beyond just doing the job.
7. Expect to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." This is a pet
question of prepared and even unprepared interviewers. Everything
you include should answer the question, "Why should we hire you?"
Carefully prepare your answer to include examples of achievements
from your work life that closely match the elements of the job before
you. Obviously, you'll want to know as much about the job description
as you can before you respond to the question.
8. Watch those nonverbal clues. Experts estimate that words express
only 30% to 35% of what people actually communicate; facial
expressions and body movements and actions convey the rest. Make
and keep eye contact. Walk and sit with a confident air. Lean toward
an interviewer to show interest and enthusiasm. Speak with a well-
modulated voice that supports appropriate excitement for the
opportunity before you.
9. Be smart about money questions. Don't fall into the trap of telling the
interviewer your financial expectations. You may be asking for too little
or too much money and in each case ruin your chances of being
offered the job. Instead, ask what salary range the job falls in.
Attempt to postpone a money discussion until you have a better
understanding of the scope of responsibilities of the job.
10. Don't hang out your dirty laundry. Be careful not to bare your soul and
tell tales that are inappropriate or beyond the scope of the interview.
State your previous experience in the most positive terms. Even if you
disagreed with a former employer, express your enthusiasm for earlier
situations as much as you can. Whenever you speak negatively about
another person or situation in which you were directly involved, you
 run the risk (early in the relationship) of appearing like a troubled
person who may have difficulty working with others.

Types of Interviews

Panel Interview/Board Interview

Candidates are interviewed by two or more individuals. This process is

commonly used by governments and large organizations. It is important to
maintain eye contact with the person asking the question and give an answer
with an example to support it. Always acknowledge the other interviewers'
presence by making eye contact while answering rotating questions. Direct
your attention at the beginning and end of your response to the person who
asked you that question. The questions asked in the interview are often set
out in advance. The board may already have decided which answers they will
accept/prefer for the questions. Ignore note-taking by board members.
Obtain employers' names prior to the interview and use them during the
conversation.

One-On-One Interviews

Candidates are interviewed by one person. These interviews tend to be more

informal, however, it always depends on the employer's style. The
interviewer will often have a series of prepared questions, but may have
some flexibility in their choices. It is important to maintain eye contact with
the person interviewing you.

Impromptu Interviews

This interview commonly occurs when employers are approached directly and
tends to be very informal and unstructured. Applicants should be prepared at
all times for on-the-spot interviews, especially in situations such as a job fair
or a cold call. It is an ideal time for employers to ask the candidate some
basic questions to determine whether he/she may be interested in formally
interviewing the candidate.

Second Interviews or Follow-Up Interviews

Employers invite those applicants they are seriously considering as an

employee following a screening or initial interview. These interviews are
generally conducted by middle or senior management, together or
separately. Applicants can expect more in-depth questions, and the employer
will be expecting a greater level of preparation on the part of the candidate.
Applicants should continue to research the employer following the first
interview, and be prepared to use any information gained through the
previous interview to their advantage.
Dinner Interviews

The interviews may be structured, informal, or socially situated, such as in a

restaurant. Don't be the only one at the table to order an alcoholic drink, and
if you have an alcoholic drink, stop at one. Decide what to eat quickly, some
interviewers will ask you to order first (don't appear indecisive). Avoid
potentially messy foods, such as spaghetti. Be prepared for the conversation
to abruptly change from 'friendly chat' to direct interview questions, however,
don't underestimate the value of casual discussion, some employers place a
great value on it.

Telephone Interviews

Have a copy of your resume and any points you want to remember to say
nearby. If you are on your home telephone, make sure that all roommates or
family members are aware of the interview (avoids loud stereos, etc.). Speak
a bit slower than usual. It is crucial that you convey your enthusiasm
verbally, since the interviewer cannot see your face. If there are pauses,
don't worry, the interviewer is likely just making some notes.

Group Interviews

Employers bringing several candidates together in a group situation to solve

a problem are testing your ability to work in a team environment. They want
to know how you will present information to other people, offer suggestions,
relate to other ideas, and work to solve a problem. In short, they are testing
your interpersonal skills. It is difficult to prepare for this type of interview
except to remember what is being testing and to use the skills you have to
be the best team player and/or leader you can be. Some employers will take
you to meet the staff who would be your co-workers if hired. This is a very
casual type of interview, but leaving a positive and friendly impression is no
less critical.

HR Interviews

How To face The Interview

1.Are your work practices similar or different from ours?

(If Experienced)
2.Describe our (products/services).
3.Describe our company for me.
4.Describe our corporate environment for me.
5.Describe your work (methods/processes) in comparison to ours?
(If Experienced)
6.Do our competitors do things that we should be doing?
7.Do you have any concerns about working here?
8.Do you have any questions about (our/this) company?
9.Do you know how long we have been in business?
10.Do you know what products we make?
11.How could you have prevented your (judgmental) errors?
12.How do you think our company determines success?
13.How does you present employer communicate with others in your
deprtment? (If Experienced)
14.Tell me how you found out information about (our/this) company?
15.Tell me what you know about (our/this) company?
16.Was there anything your company could have done to be more
successful?
17.What about our company do you like best?
18.What about your present employer (do/did) you like best?
19.What advantages do you think our competitors have over us?
20.What advantages do you think we have over our competitors?
21.What are the greatest challenges that this company faces?
22.What concerns do you have about this company?
23.What direction do you think this company is headed in?
24.What do you dislike about our company?
25.What do you know about (our/this) company?
26.What do you know about (our/this) operation?
27.What do you know about our competitors?
28.What do you know about our customers?
29.What do you know about our products?
30.What do you know about our products or services?
31.What do you know about our stock?
32.What do you know about our web site?
33.What do you know about the way our company (works/operates)?
34.What do you know about this position?
35.What do you think are the challenges facing this company?
36.What do you think are the greatest challenges facing this company
in the near future?
37.What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like
ours?
38.What do you think it takes to be successful in our company?
39.What do you think the atmosphere here is like?
40.What is the financial stability of your last company?
41.What questions do you have about our organization?
42.What would make someone successful in our business?
43.What is the (best/worst) thing you have heard about (our/this)
company?
44. What is the (best/worst) thing you have heard about
(our/this) department?

PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE-UP BEFORE YOU ENTER THE INTERVIEW

ROOM

For your first few interviews your background is important - your

school, the medium and the place you studied in, all serve to give
the interviewer an idea about you. Carry a copy of the bio-data that
you have already sent, and the interview letter. Keep the extra copy
with you, just in case. Show the interview letter to the
receptionist/interviewer to establish your credentials, but keep this
letter with you. This gives you, for your future reference, a time
and date record of your interview, gives the official address of the
company for further correspondence and clarifications, and may give
you the name and designation of the person you are to report to.

Carry everything you need for the interview in a neat folder - do not
have loose papers cascading to the floor because you are desperately
hunting for the degree certificate, while the interviewers drum their
fingers impatiently. And don't carry your papers in a plastic or
cloth shopping bag either: invest in a good folder, plastic or even
leather.

Incidentally, don't feel shy or hesitant about calling up the office

and getting details about location, landmarks/bus routes/other
information to help you reach the venue of the interview. Again, if
it is not a "mass" interview, where lots of people are being
interviewed on the same day, and you do have a genuine difficulty
about reaching on the scheduled day/time, many employers will re-
schedule if you ask them nicely enough. The reverse is also true: a
good impression is created if you take the trouble to inform the
interviewer that you can/will not attend the interview. If you are in
the same town go and "case the joint" - see where the
office/interview centre is, and how long it will take you to get
there.

Always arrive at least fifteen minutes before your scheduled time -

that gives you time to catch your breath in case you climbed the
stairs too fast, allows you to compose yourself and not be too
nervous, and to check out the competition. If the interview is in the
offices of the company itself, this also allows you to get a "feel"
of the company. See how comfortable you feel, how efficient the
interview process is. Says a lot about what the rest of the company
is.

Panel Interview

When you are facing a panel of interviewers, make your best moves.
Whether you are searching for jobs, looking for career avenues or climbing
the corporate ladder, you can't escape team interviews these days. The
problem is that such interviews don't have a pattern to them. They come in
different forms. You could be facing your prospective team members. Or you
could be up against the top brass—HR vice-president, the section head, the
operations chief. Or you could also be sent to a recruitment assessment
centre for multi-parametric evaluation (psychological tests for pressure-
handling abilities, team-player skills and so on).

Try these ten tips for surviving, and scoring, in a team interview.

GIVE VARIETY TO YOUR ANSWERS

Remember you might be interviewed by different panels. Don't give a

stock answer to all of them. They'll be comparing notes.
Repackage your skills so that they sound different. If you're showcasing
project X as your major achievement in your present job before one team,
talk about project B before another interview panel.
A technical team will tune in to techie talk; an HR team would rather hear
about your interpersonal skills.

FINE-TUNE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Pull out the stops on your group management and group presentation skills.

Interviewers are people after all. Look for the personality type underscoring
each interviewer.Then try and connect with each one of them without getting
personal. Usually the best way to make contact is to project values that you
feel you can share with your interviewers.

DON'T QUAKE IN YOUR BOOTS

• Interviewers are not ogres. They are looking for excuses to hire you,
not spill your guts.
• Don't be obsequious. That conveys low self-esteem.
• If you face your interviewers with fear in your eyes, they won't like
what they see. They are NOT sadists.

PREPARE FOR STRESS

• You'll be up against a time crunch in a team interview.

• In one-on-ones, the interviewer might be taking notes, allowing you
little breathers. No such luck with four people firing questions at you.
Use stress control techniques to soothe your nerves. You might even
use the extra adrenaline to sharpen your responses.

SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANT THINGS

 • List seven important things that fit the job description of the
advertised post. Prepare to present skills that fit such traits.
• It helps to talk to friends familiar with the job description. You can
even ask them to prepare tests that you can take from them.

REHEARSE WELL

• Put together three family members or friends with diverse personality

traits.
• Recreate the formality of a team interview situation and ask them to
fire nonstop questions at you. That will serve as a useful practice
session.
• Ask for serious feedback, especially about weak areas in your answers.
Questions about qualifications and work experience are usually
generic, so what your mock team asks you is bound to be pretty close
to the real stuff.

CREATE A MENTAL PICTURE OF YOURSELF

Boost your self-confidence by seeing yourself as star performer

who's a cut above. See yourself answering with elan the questions
you expect. Then replay your answers and ask yourself these
questions:

• How interesting were your observations?

• Did most of your responses begin the same way?
• Did you use 'we' often, suggesting team-player attributes?
• Are there traces of humour in your responses?

ASK GOOD QUESTIONS

• Research is integral to a good interview performance. Find out as

much about you can about the company concerned. Browse the Net,
check company reports, put together news clips.
• Armed with your background brief, ask relevant questions about the
company.
• If you think you have a bright idea about any ongoing activity, try this:
"Did the company consider this option ..."

LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

• Your interview team has some core queries about you. It's these they
want you to address. Try and look beyond the upfront questions to
decipher their exact intent. Then respond to fill in what the team is
really looking for.
 • Flesh out your answers to focus on the team's concerns. If they ask
you about your perception of the company's ESOP policy, they want
you to present your expectation from a stock option plan.
• Answer in sync with the general tenor of the interview. If your work
involves individual research besides team work, don't go overboard
about team-player abilities. Balance your answer. Mention how
sometimes individual work is more productive though team work is
needed to put into action ideas generated by individual research.

Technical Interview

Move through Question Papers

Facing the technical interview of a company is an uphill task. It all depends

on the mood of the interviewer and to an extent on your appearance. If he is
in a bad mood, the interview can be really tough. Otherwise you might have
a slight consideration. Be prepared for any questions from every section of
your skill set. If the interviewer goes to a part of your skill, which you are not
comfortable with, try to divert his attention to some other part in which you
are an expert. Try to explain things in a simple way and be precise in your
answers. If you don't know an answer admit it. DO NOT try to make up and
answer. That might lessen your chances of getting through.

Here are some of the FAQ's that can be asked in the technical
interview

C- QUESTIONS JAVA QUESTIONS

MICROPROCESSOR QUESTIONS

C++ QUESTIONS ADVANCED JAVA QUESTIONS

OPERATING SYSTEM QUESTIONS

DATA STRUCTURE QUESTIONS ELECTRONICSQUESTIONS

1.
C- QUESTIONS
What does static variable mean?
2. What is a pointer?
3. What is a structure?
4. What are the differences between structures and arrays?
5. In header files whether functions are declared or defined?
6. What are the differences between malloc() and calloc()?
7. What are macros? what are its advantages and disadvantages?
8. Difference between pass by reference and pass by value?
9. What is static identifier?
10.Where are the auto variables stored?
11.Where does global, static, local, register variables, free memory and C
Program instructions get stored?
12.Difference between arrays and linked list?
13.What are enumerations?
14.Describe about storage allocation and scope of global, extern, static,
local and register variables?
15.What are register variables? What are the advantage of using register
variables?
16.What is the use of typedef?
17.Can we specify variable field width in a scanf() format string? If
possible how?
18.Out of fgets() and gets() which function is safe to use and why?
19.Difference between strdup and strcpy?
20.What is recursion?
21.Differentiate between a for loop and a while loop? What are it uses?
22.What are the different storage classes in C?
23.Write down the equivalent pointer expression for referring the same
element a[i][j][k][l]?
24.What is difference between Structure and Unions?
25.What the advantages of using Unions?
26.What are the advantages of using pointers in a program?
27.What is the difference between Strings and Arrays?
28.In a header file whether functions are declared or defined?
29.What is a far pointer? where we use it?
30.How will you declare an array of three function pointers where each
function receives two ints and returns a float?
31.what is a NULL Pointer? Whether it is same as an uninitialized pointer?
32.What is a NULL Macro? What is the difference between a NULL Pointer
and a NULL Macro?
33.What does the error 'Null Pointer Assignment' mean and what causes
this error?
34.What is near, far and huge pointers? How many bytes are occupied by
them?
35.How would you obtain segment and offset addresses from a far
address of a memory location?
36.Are the expressions arr and &arr same for an array of integers?
37.Does mentioning the array name gives the base address in all the
contexts?
38.Explain one method to process an entire string as one unit?
39.What is the similarity between a Structure, Union and enumeration?
40.Can a Structure contain a Pointer to itself?
41.How can we check whether the contents of two structure variables are
same or not?
42.How are Structure passing and returning implemented by the
complier?
43.How can we read/write Structures from/to data files?
44.What is the difference between an enumeration and a set of pre-
processor # defines?
45.what do the 'c' and 'v' in argc and argv stand for?
46.Are the variables argc and argv are local to main?
47.What is the maximum combined length of command line arguments
including the space between adjacent arguments?
48.If we want that any wildcard characters in the command line
arguments should be appropriately expanded, are we required to make
any special provision? If yes, which?
49.Does there exist any way to make the command line arguments
available to other functions without passing them as arguments to the
function?
50.What are bit fields? What is the use of bit fields in a Structure
declaration?
51.To which numbering system can the binary number
1101100100111100 be easily converted to?
52.Which bit wise operator is suitable for checking whether a particular bit
is on or off?
53.Which bit wise operator is suitable for turning off a particular bit in a
number?
54.Which bit wise operator is suitable for putting on a particular bit in a
number?
55.Which bit wise operator is suitable for checking whether a particular bit
is on or off?
56.which one is equivalent to multiplying by 2:Left shifting a number by 1
or Left shifting an unsigned int or char by 1?
57.Write a program to compare two strings without using the strcmp()
function.
58.Write a program to concatenate two strings.
59.Write a program to interchange 2 variables without using the third
one.
60.Write programs for String Reversal & Palindrome check
61.Write a program to find the Factorial of a number
62.Write a program to generate the Fibinocci Series
63.Write a program which employs Recursion
64.Write a program which uses Command Line Arguments
65.Write a program which uses functions like strcmp(), strcpy()? etc
66.What are the advantages of using typedef in a program?
67.How would you dynamically allocate a one-dimensional and two-
dimensional array of integers?
68.How can you increase the size of a dynamically allocated array?
69.How can you increase the size of a statically allocated array?
70.When reallocating memory if any other pointers point into the same
piece of memory do you have to readjust these other pointers or do
they get readjusted automatically?
71.Which function should be used to free the memory allocated by
calloc()?
72.How much maximum can you allocate in a single call to malloc()?
73.Can you dynamically allocate arrays in expanded memory?
74.What is object file? How can you access object file?
75.Which header file should you include if you are to develop a function
which can accept variable number of arguments?
76.Can you write a function similar to printf()?
77.How can a called function determine the number of arguments that
have been passed to it?
78.Can there be at least some solution to determine the number of
arguments passed to a variable argument list function?
79.How do you declare the following:
o An array of three pointers to chars
o An array of three char pointers
o A pointer to array of three chars
o A pointer to function which receives an int pointer and returns a
float pointer
o A pointer to a function which receives nothing and returns
nothing
80.What do the functions atoi(), itoa() and gcvt() do?
81.Does there exist any other function which can be used to convert an
integer or a float to a string?
82.How would you use qsort() function to sort an array of structures?
83.How would you use qsort() function to sort the name stored in an
array of pointers to string?
84.How would you use bsearch() function to search a name stored in
array of pointers to string?
85.How would you use the functions sin(), pow(), sqrt()?
86.How would you use the functions memcpy(), memset(), memmove()?
87.How would you use the functions fseek(), freed(), fwrite() and ftell()?
88.How would you obtain the current time and difference between two
times?
89.How would you use the functions randomize() and random()?
90.How would you implement a substr() function that extracts a sub
string from a given string?
91.What is the difference between the functions rand(), random(), srand()
and randomize()?
92.What is the difference between the functions memmove() and
memcpy()?
93.How do you print a string on the printer?
94.Can you use the function fprintf() to display the output on the screen?

C++- QUESTIONS Go Up

1. What is a class?
2. What is an object?
3. What is the difference between an object and a class?
4. What is the difference between class and structure?
5. What is public, protected, private?
6. What are virtual functions?
7. What is friend function?
8. What is a scope resolution operator?
9. What do you mean by inheritance?
10.What is abstraction?
11.What is polymorphism? Explain with an example.
12.What is encapsulation?
13.What do you mean by binding of data and functions?
14.What is function overloading and operator overloading?
15.What is virtual class and friend class?
16.What do you mean by inline function?
17.What do you mean by public, private, protected and friendly?
18.When is an object created and what is its lifetime?
19.What do you mean by multiple inheritance and multilevel inheritance?
Differentiate between them.
20.Difference between realloc() and free?
21.What is a template?
22.What are the main differences between procedure oriented languages
and object oriented languages?
23.What is R T T I ?
24.What are generic functions and generic classes?
25.What is namespace?
26.What is the difference between pass by reference and pass by value?
27.Why do we use virtual functions?
28.What do you mean by pure virtual functions?
29.What are virtual classes?
30.Does c++ support multilevel and multiple inheritance?
31.What are the advantages of inheritance?
32.When is a memory allocated to a class?
33.What is the difference between declaration and definition?
34.What is virtual constructors/destructors?
35.In c++ there is only virtual destructors, no constructors. Why?
36.What is late bound function call and early bound function call?
Differentiate.
37.How is exception handling carried out in c++?
38.When will a constructor executed?
39.What is Dynamic Polymorphism?
40.Write a macro for swapping integers.

1.
DATA STRUCTURE QUESTIONS Go Up
What is a data structure?
2. What does abstract data type means?
3. Evaluate the following prefix expression " ++ 26 + - 1324" (Similar
types can be asked)
4. Convert the following infix expression to post fix notation
((a+2)*(b+4)) -1 (Similar types can be asked)
5. How is it possible to insert different type of elements in stack?
6. Stack can be described as a pointer. Explain.
7. Write a Binary Search program
8. Write programs for Bubble Sort, Quick sort
9. Explain about the types of linked lists
10.How would you sort a linked list?
11.Write the programs for Linked List (Insertion and Deletion) operations
12.What data structure would you mostly likely see in a non recursive
implementation of a recursive algorithm?
13.What do you mean by Base case, Recursive case, Binding Time, Run-
Time Stack and Tail Recursion?
14.Explain quick sort and merge sort algorithms and derive the time-
constraint relation for these.
15.Explain binary searching, Fibinocci search.
16.What is the maximum total number of nodes in a tree that has N
levels? Note that the root is level (zero)
17.How many different binary trees and binary search trees can be made
from three nodes that contain the key values 1, 2 & 3?
18.A list is ordered from smaller to largest when a sort is called. Which
sort would take the longest time to execute?
19.A list is ordered from smaller to largest when a sort is called. Which
sort would take the shortest time to execute?
20.When will you sort an array of pointers to list elements, rather than
sorting the elements themselves?
21.The element being searched for is not found in an array of 100
elements. What is the average number of comparisons needed in a
sequential search to determine that the element is not there, if the
elements are completely unordered?
22.What is the average number of comparisons needed in a sequential
search to determine the position of an element in an array of 100
elements, if the elements are ordered from largest to smallest?
23.Which sort show the best average behavior?
24.What is the average number of comparisons in a sequential search?
25.Which data structure is needed to convert infix notations to post fix
notations?
26.What do you mean by:
o Syntax Error
o Logical Error
o Runtime Error

How can you correct these errors?

27.In which data structure, elements can be added or removed at either

 end, but not in the middle?
28.How will inorder, preorder and postorder traversals print the elements
of a tree?
29.Parenthesis are never needed in prefix or postfix expressions. Why?
30.Which one is faster? A binary search of an orderd set of elements in an
array or a sequential search of the elements.

1.
JAVA QUESTIONS Go Up
What is the difference between an Abstract class and Interface?
2. What is user defined exception?
3. What do you know about the garbage collector?
4. What is the difference between java and c++?
5. In an htm form I have a button which makes us to open another page
in 15 seconds. How will you do that?
6. What is the difference between process and threads?
7. What is update method called?
8. Have you ever used HashTable and Directory?
9. What are statements in Java?
10.What is a JAR file?
11.What is JNI?
12.What is the base class for all swing components?
13.What is JFC?
14.What is the difference between AWT and Swing?
15.Considering notepad/IE or any other thing as process, What will
happen if you start notepad or IE 3 times ? Where three processes are
started or three threads are started?
16.How does thread synchronization occur in a monitor?
17.Is there any tag in htm to upload and download files?
18.Why do you canvas?
19.How can you know about drivers and database information ?
20.What is serialization?
21.Can you load the server object dynamically? If so what are the 3 major
steps involved in it?
22.What is the layout for toolbar?
23.What is the difference between Grid and Gridbaglayout?
24.How will you add panel to a frame?
25.Where are the card layouts used?
26.What is the corresponding layout for card in swing?
27.What is light weight component?
28.Can you run the product development on all operating systems?
29.What are the benefits if Swing over AWT?
30.How can two threads be made to communicate with each other?
31.What are the files generated after using IDL to java compiler?
32.What is the protocol used by server and client?
33.What is the functionability stubs and skeletons?
34.What is the mapping mechanism used by java to identify IDL
language?
35.What is serializable interface?
36.What is the use of interface?
37.Why is java not fully objective oriented?
38.Why does java not support multiple inheritance?
39.What is the root class for all java classes?
40.What is polymorphism?
41.Suppose if we have a variable 'I' in run method, if I can create one or
more thread each thread will occupy a separate copy or same variable
will be shared?
42.What are virtual functions?
43.Write down how will you create a Binary tree?
44.What are the traverses in binary tree?
45.Write a program for recursive traverse?
46.What are session variable in servlets?
47.What is client server computing?
48.What is constructor and virtual function? Can we call a virtual function
in a constructor?
49.Why do we use oops concepts? What is its advantage?
50.What is middleware? What is the functionality of web server?
51.Why is java not 100% pure oops?
52.When will you use an interface and abstract class?
53.What is the exact difference in between Unicast and Multicast object?
Where will it be used?
54.What is the main functionality of the remote reference layer?
55.How do you download stubs from Remote place?
56.I want to store more than 10 objects in a remote server? Which
methodology will follow?
57.What is the main functionality of Prepared Statement?
58.What is meant by Static query and Dynamic query?
59.What are Normalization Rules? Define Normalization?
60.What is meant by Servelet? What are the parameters of service
method?
61.What is meant by Session? Explain something about HTTP Session
Class?
62.In a container there are 5 components. I want to display all the
component names, how will you do that?
63.Why there are some null interface in JAVA? What does it mean? Give
some null interface in JAVA?
64.Tell some latest versions in JAVA related areas?
65.What is meant by class loader? How many types are there? When will
we use them?
66.What is meant by flickering?
67.What is meant by distributed application? Why are we using that in our
application?
68.What is the functionality of the stub?
69.Explain about version control?
70.Explain 2-tier and 3-tier architecture?
71.What is the role of Web Server?
72.How can we do validation of the fields in a project?
73.What is meant by cookies? Explain the main features?
74.Why java is considered as platform independent?
75.What are the advantages of java over C++?
76.How java can be connected to a database?
77.What is thread?
78.What is difference between Process and Thread?
79.Does java support multiple inheritance? if not, what is the solution?
80.What are abstract classes?
81.What is an interface?
82.What is the difference abstract class and interface?
83.What are adapter classes?
84.what is meant wrapper classes?
85.What are JVM.JRE, J2EE, JNI?
86.What are swing components?
87.What do you mean by light weight and heavy weight components?
88.What is meant by function overloading and function overriding?
89.Does java support function overloading, pointers, structures, unions or
linked lists?
90.What do you mean by multithreading?
91.What are byte codes?
92.What are streams?
93.What is user defined exception?
94.In an htm page form I have one button which makes us to open a new
page in 15 seconds. How will you do that?

1.
ADVANCED JAVA QUESTIONS Go Up
What is RMI?
2. Explain about RMI Architecture?
3. What are Servelets?
4. What is the use of servlets?
5. Explain RMI Architecture?
6. How will you pass values from htm page to the servlet?
7. How do you load an image in a Servelet?
8. What is purpose of applet programming?
9. How will you communicate between two applets?
10.What IS the difference between Servelets and Applets?
11.How do you communicate in between Applets and Servlets?
12.What is the difference between applet and application?
13.What is the difference between CGI and Servlet?
14.In the servlets, we are having a web page that is invoking servlets
,username and password? which is checks in database? Suppose the
 second page also if we want to verify the same information whether it
will connect to the database or it will be used previous information?
15.What are the difference between RMI and Servelets?
16.How will you call an Applet using Java Script Function?
17.How can you push data from an Applet to a Servlet?
18.What are 4 drivers available in JDBC? At what situation are four of the
drivers used?
19.If you are truncated using JDBC , how can you that how much data is
truncated?
20.How will you perform truncation using JDBC?
21.What is the latest version of JDBC? What are the new features added
in that?
22.What is the difference between RMI registry and OS Agent?
23.To a server method, the client wants to send a value 20, with this
value exceeds to 20 a message should be sent to the client . What will
you do for achieving this?
24.How do you invoke a Servelet? What is the difference between doPost
method and doGet method?
25.What is difference between the HTTP Servelet and Generic Servelet?
Explain about their methods and parameters?
26.Can we use threads in Servelets?
27.Write a program on RMI and JDBC using Stored Procedure?
28.How do you swing an applet?
29.How will you pass parameters in RMI? Why do you serialize?
30.In RMI ,server object is first loaded into memory and then the stub
reference is sent to the client. true or false?
31.Suppose server object not loaded into the memory and the client
request for it. What will happen?
32.What is the web server used for running the servelets?
33.What is Servlet API used for connecting database?
34.What is bean? Where can it be used?
35.What is the difference between java class and bean?
36.Can we sent objects using Sockets?
37.What is the RMI and Socket?
38.What is CORBA?
39. Can you modify an object in CORBA?
40.What is RMI and what are the services in RMI?
41.What are the difference between RMI and CORBA?
42.How will you initialize an Applet?
43.What is the order of method invocation in an Applet?
44.What is ODBC and JDBC? How do you connect the Database?
45.What do you mean by Socket Programming?
46.What is difference between Generic Servlet and HTTP Servelet?
47.What you mean by COM and DCOM?
48.what is e-commerce?
1.
OPERATING SYSTEM QUESTIONS Go Up
What are the basic functions of an operating system?
2. Explain briefly about, processor, assembler, compiler, loader, linker and
the functions executed by them.
3. What are the difference phases of software development? Explain
briefly?
4. Differentiate between RAM and ROM?
5. What is DRAM? In which form does it store data?
6. What is cache memory?
7. What is hard disk and what is its purpose?
8. Differentiate between Complier and Interpreter?
9. What are the different tasks of Lexical analysis?
10.What are the different functions of Syntax phase, Sheduler?
11.What are the main difference between Micro-Controller and Micro-
Processor?
12.Describe different job scheduling in operating systems.
13.What is a Real-Time System ?
14.What is the difference between Hard and Soft real-time systems ?
15.What is a mission critical system ?
16.What is the important aspect of a real-time system ?
17. If two processes which shares same system memory and system clock
in a distributed system, What is it called?
18.What is the state of the processor, when a process is waiting for some
event to occur?
19.What do you mean by deadlock?
20.Explain the difference between microkernel and macro kernel.
21.Give an example of microkernel.
22.When would you choose bottom up methodology?
23.When would you choose top down methodology?
24.Write a small dc shell script to find number of FF in the design.
25.Why paging is used ?
26.Which is the best page replacement algorithm and Why? How much
time is spent usually in each phases and why?
27.Difference between Primary storage and secondary storage?
28.What is multi tasking, multi programming, multi threading?
29.Difference between multi threading and multi tasking?
30.What is software life cycle?
31.Demand paging, page faults, replacement algorithms, thrashing, etc.
32.Explain about paged segmentation and segment paging
33.While running DOS on a PC, which command would be used to
duplicate the entire diskette?

1.
MICROPROCESSOR QUESTIONS Go Up
 Which type of architecture 8085 has?
2. How many memory locations can be addressed by a microprocessor
with 14 address lines?
3. 8085 is how many bit microprocessor?
4. Why is data bus bi-directional?
5. What is the function of accumulator?
6. What is flag, bus?
7. What are tri-state devices and why they are essential in a bus oriented
system?
8. Why are program counter and stack pointer 16-bit registers?
9. What does it mean by embedded system?
10.What are the different addressing modes in 8085?
11.What is the difference between MOV and MVI?
12.What are the functions of RIM, SIM, IN?
13.What is the immediate addressing mode?
14.What are the different flags in 8085?
15.What happens during DMA transfer?
16.What do you mean by wait state? What is its need?
17.What is PSW?
18.What is ALE? Explain the functions of ALE in 8085.
19.What is a program counter? What is its use?
20.What is an interrupt?
21.Which line will be activated when an output device require attention
from CPU?

1.
ELECTRONICS QUESTIONS Go Up
What is meant by D-FF?
2. What is the basic difference between Latches and Flip flops?
3. What is a multiplexer?
4. How can you convert an SR Flip-flop to a JK Flip-flop?
5. How can you convert an JK Flip-flop to a D Flip-flop?
6. What is Race-around problem? How can you rectify it?
7. Which semiconductor device is used as a voltage regulator and why?
8. What do you mean by an ideal voltage source?
9. What do you mean by zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown?
10.What are the different types of filters?
11.What is the need of filtering ideal response of filters and actual
response of filters?
12.What is sampling theorem?
13.What is impulse response?
14.Explain the advantages and disadvantages of FIR filters compared to
IIR counterparts.
15.What is CMRR? Explain briefly.
16.What do you mean by half-duplex and full-duplex communication?
 Explain briefly.
17.Which range of signals are used for terrestrial transmission?
18.What is the need for modulation?
19.Which type of modulation is used in TV transmission?
20. Why we use vestigial side band (VSB-C3F) transmission for picture?
21.When transmitting digital signals is it necessary to transmit some
harmonics in addition to fundamental frequency?
22.For asynchronous transmission, is it necessary to supply some
synchronizing pulses additionally or to supply or to supply start and
stop bit?
23.BPFSK is more efficient than BFSK in presence of noise. Why?
24.What is meant by pre-emphasis and de-emphasis?
25.What do you mean by 3 dB cutoff frequency? Why is it 3 dB, not 1 dB?

26.What do you mean by ASCII, EBCDIC?

Back To

Team Interview

Nine Tips For Team Inter View.......

Whether you are searching for jobs, looking for career avenues or climbing
the corporate ladder, you can't escape team interviews these days. The
problem is that such interviews don't have a pattern to them. They come in
different forms. You could be facing your prospective team members. Or you
could be up against the top brass—HR vice-president, the section head, the
operations chief. Or you could also be sent to a recruitment assessment
centre for multi-parametric evaluation (psychological tests for pressure-
handling abilities, team-player skills and so on).

Try these ten tips for surviving, and scoring, in a team interview.

GIVE VARIETY TO YOUR ANSWERS

Remember you might be interviewed by different panels. Don't give a

stock answer to all of them. They'll be comparing notes.
Repackage your skills so that they sound different. If you're showcasing
project X as your major achievement in your present job before one team,
talk about project B before another interview panel.
A technical team will tune in to techie talk; an HR team would rather hear
about your interpersonal skills.

FINE-TUNE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Pull out the stops on your group management and group presentation skills.
Interviewers are people after all. Look for the personality type underscoring
each interviewer.Then try and connect with each one of them without getting
personal. Usually the best way to make contact is to project values that you
feel you can share with your interviewers.

DON'T QUAKE IN YOUR BOOTS

• Interviewers are not ogres. They are looking for excuses to hire you,
not spill your guts.
• Don't be obsequious. That conveys low self-esteem.
• If you face your interviewers with fear in your eyes, they won't like
what they see. They are NOT sadists.

PREPARE FOR STRESS

• You'll be up against a time crunch in a team interview.

• In one-on-ones, the interviewer might be taking notes, allowing you
little breathers. No such luck with four people firing questions at you.
Use stress control techniques to soothe your nerves. You might even
use the extra adrenaline to sharpen your responses.

SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANT THINGS

• List seven important things that fit the job description of the
advertised post. Prepare to present skills that fit such traits.
• It helps to talk to friends familiar with the job description. You can
even ask them to prepare tests that you can take from them.

REHEARSE WELL

• Put together three family members or friends with diverse personality

traits.
• Recreate the formality of a team interview situation and ask them to
fire nonstop questions at you. That will serve as a useful practice
session.
• Ask for serious feedback, especially about weak areas in your answers.
Questions about qualifications and work experience are usually
generic, so what your mock team asks you is bound to be pretty close
to the real stuff.

CREATE A MENTAL PICTURE OF YOURSELF

Boost your self-confidence by seeing yourself as star performer

who's a cut above. See yourself answering with elan the questions
you expect. Then replay your answers and ask yourself these
questions:
 • How interesting were your observations?
• Did most of your responses begin the same way?
• Did you use 'we' often, suggesting team-player attributes?
• Are there traces of humour in your responses?

ASK GOOD QUESTIONS

• Research is integral to a good interview performance. Find out as

much about you can about the company concerned. Browse the Net,
check company reports, put together news clips.
• Armed with your background brief, ask relevant questions about the
company.
• If you think you have a bright idea about any ongoing activity, try this:
"Did the company consider this option ..."

LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

• Your interview team has some core queries about you. It's these they
want you to address. Try and look beyond the upfront questions to
decipher their exact intent. Then respond to fill in what the team is
really looking for.
• Flesh out your answers to focus on the team's concerns. If they ask
you about your perception of the company's ESOP policy, they want
you to present your expectation from a stock option plan.
• Answer in sync with the general tenor of the interview. If your work
involves individual research besides team work, don't go overboard
about team-player abilities. Balance your answer. Mention how
sometimes individual work is more productive though team work is
needed to put into action ideas generated by individual research.

Campus Interview

7 Commandments for Success in Campus Interviews :

Campus Interview … Hmm… is what one looks forward to

with enthusiasm , fear and excitement towards the beginning of the

final year .

For some it's a make or break, atleast that's the way it's looked at and for
some it's a matter of pride. The constant thought in one's mind is - what
shall make this click! What is it that the interviewer is looking in me!

Here's what we look for when we visit the various campuses. This by no
means is an exhaustive list but is a good indication of the expectations and
the mean s to meet these. We present you the 7-Commandments.
1. Know Thyself!

Not everyone is good in each and every field. Each one of us has our fortes
and weaknesses too. But that's not a stumbling block! What we look for are
people who know their area of specialization and are an expert in it.
Therefore, it pays to be a master in some fields if not the jack of all.

The most common mistakes many make is to profess knowing a field of

which they know little about. Remember that huge and bulky resumes are as
tough to read as they are to make. So, identify your skill set, and keep your
resumes simple and straight. Know your limits and polish on your strengths.

2. Testing What You Know and NOT What You Don't.

Many interviewers may ask the student the subjects that she/he wishes to be
interviewed upon. Eureka !! Here's a golden opportunity. Answer this wisely!
Never end up choosing a difficult subject that you know only little about,
rather choose the one you are most confident of.

3. Rack Your Brain - Analyze

The interview is not just limited to testing your knowledge base, but we are
also interested in knowing your ability to apply it. Often questions that need
to be solved then and there are asked. Now keep in mind - the right answer
is not the only thing being looked at. The focus area is also the way in which
you attack the problem i.e. approach to problem solving is equally important.

So, remember to put your thinking caps on!

4. Ask for Help!

Murphy chooses to strike at the appropriate time! Inspite of the fact that you
may know something very well, it might just slip your mind. After all, heavy
preparation does takes its toll. Who better to ask for help than the poser of
the question (of course, don't try this too often!)!

Remember the interviewer is not there to grill the confidence out of you, but
to bring forth the best in. Just in case you are stuck, ask for a hint. Things
might just click. Also, stay alert for clues.

5. What are your biggest accomplishments

You may like to begin your reply with: "Although I feel my biggest
achievements are still ahead of me, I am proud of my involvement with……I
made my contribution as part of that team and learnt a lot in the process".

It will be a good idea to close your answer with also specifying what
attributes and circumstances made you succeed.
6. Be Calm, have Clear Verbal and Sound Non-Verbal Communication

Calmness shows emotional maturity. True, being calm in a job interview is a

difficult proposition, but then that is where it is required! Calmness does not
imply being unenthusiastic or apathetic during the interview, but knowing
that you are nervous and not letting it come in the way. A clear verbal
communication implies clarity of the thought process.

One should also watch out for the impressions made in non-verbal
communication. Body language and facial expressions can assist you in
establishing a good rapport with the interviewer. Pauses, silences and
gestures may all indicate what you mean, understand, or would like to
emphasize.

7. Two-Way Exchange Process

The interview process is a two-way exchange of information. Make sure you

also understand about the company, its activities, job requirements. The
company is in need for good candidates and you need a good company to
launch your career.

Interview is an opportunity to present yourself and your skills to your best

advantage. Make sure you make the most out of it. And YOU are the best one
to do it!!

Good Luck!

Adarsh John
H. R. Manager
Cassius Technologies

Tips on Group Discussions

Tips on interviews and Group Discussions GET A MOCK GD

HERE

Many companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to

check on your interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with
other people. The GD is to check how you behave, participate and contribute
in a group, how much importance do you give to the group objective as well
as your own, how well do you listen to viewpoints of others and how open-
minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own. The aspects which
make up a GD are verbal communication, non-verbal behaviour,
conformation to norms, decision-making ability and cooperation. You should
try to be as true as possible to these aspects.

1. In a group discussion what should my objectives be and how should I

achieve them?
 2. Is it wise to take a strong stand either in favor or against the topic right
at the start of a Group Discussion ?
3. Is it a good strategy to try and be the first speaker on the topic in a GD?
4. In an interview how does one handle the question "Tell us about
yourself?".
5. Is it better to have a longer selection interview or a shorter one?
6. In the MBA entrance interview how do I justify my decision to pursue
the MBA programme?
In a group discussion what should my objectives be and how should I
achieve them? In order to succeed at any unstructured group discussion,
you must define what your objective in the group is. A good definition of your
objective is - to be seen to have contributed meaningfully in an attempt to
achieve the right consensus.

The key words in this definition are 'seen', 'meaningfully', and 'attempt'.
Let us understand what each of these imply in terms of action points : The
first implication is that merely making a meaningful contribution in an
attempt to achieve consensus is not enough. You have to be seen by the
evaluator to have made a meaningful contribution in n attempt to build the
right consensus.

In other words you must ensure that you are heard by the group. If the
group hears you so will the evaluator. You must get at least some airtime. If
you are not a very assertive person you will have to simply learn to be
assertive for those 15 minutes. If you get cowed down easily in an
aggressive group, you can say goodbye to the business school admission.

Many GD participants often complain that they did not get a chance to
speak. The fact of the matter is that in no GD do you get a chance to speak.
You have to make your chances.

The second important implication is that making just any sort of

contribution is not enough. Your contribution has to be meaningful. A
meaningful contribution suggests that you have a good knowledge base, are
able to structure arguments logically and are a good communicator. These
are qualities that are desired by all evaluators.

Many GD participants feel that the way to succeed in a GD is by speaking

frequently, for a long time and loudly. This is not true. The quality of what
you say is more important than the quantity. Don't be demoralized if you
feel you have not spoken enough. If you have spoken sense and have been
heard, even if only for a short time, it is usually good enough. You must
have substance in your arguments.

Therefore, think things through carefully. Always enter the room with a
piece of paper and a pen. In the first two minutes jot down as many ideas as
you can. It pays to think laterally. Everybody else will state the obvious.
Can you state something different? Can you take the group ahead if it is
stuck at one point? Can you take it in a fresh and more relevant direction?
You may like to dissect the topic and go into the underlying causes or into
the results.

One way of deciding what sort of contribution is meaningful at what point

of time is to follow two simple rules. First, in times of chaos a person who
restores order to the group is appreciated. Your level of participation in a fish
market kind of scenario can be low, but your degree of influence must never
be low. In other words you must make positive contributions every time you
speak and not speak for the sake of speaking. The second rule is applicable
when the group is floundering. In this situation a person who provides a fresh
direction to the group is given credit.

The third implication is that you must be clearly seen to be attempting to

build a consensus. Nobody expects a group of ten people, all with different
points of view on a controversial subject to actually achieve a consensus.
But did you make the attempt to build a consensus?

The reason why an attempt to build a consensus is important is because in

most work situations you will have to work with people in a team, accept
joint responsibilities and take decisions as a group. You must demonstrate
the fact that you are capable and inclined to work as part of a team.

What are the ways that you can try to build consensus?

First, you must not just talk, you should also listen. You must realize that
other people also may have valid points to make. You should not only try to
persuade other people to your point of view, but also come across as a
person who has an open mind and appreciates the valid points of others.

You must try and resolve contradictions and arguments of others in the
group. You must synthesize arguments and try and achieve a unified position
in the group. Try to think of the various arguments of yours and others' as
parts of a jigsaw puzzle or as building blocks of a larger argument for or
against the topic.

Try and lay down the boundaries or the area of the discussion at the
beginning. Discuss what the group should discuss before actually beginning
your discussion. This will at least ensure that everyone is talking about the
same thing.

Try and summarize the discussion at the end. In the summary do not
merely restate your point of view; also accommodate dissenting viewpoints.
If the group did not reach a consensus, say so in your summary.
 You must carry people with you. So do not get emotional, shout, invade
other people's private space.

Do not bang your fist on the table except in extreme circumstances.

If you have spoken and you notice that someone else has tried to enter the
discussion on a number of occasions and has not had the chance to do so
maybe you could give him a chance the next time he tries. But do not offer
a chance to anyone who is not trying to speak. He may not have anything to
say at that point and you will just end up looking foolish.

The surest way of antagonizing others in the GD as well as the examiner is

to appoint yourself as a de facto chairperson of the group. Do not try to
impose a system whereby everyone gets a chance to speak in turn. A GD is
meant to be a free flowing discussion.

Let it proceed naturally. Do not ever try to take a vote on the topic. A vote is
no substitute for discussion.

Do not address only one or two persons when speaking. Maintain eye
contact with as many members of the group as possible. This will involve
others in what you are saying and increase your chances of carrying them
with you. Do this even if you are answering a specific point raised by one
person. One last point. You must not agree with another participant in the
group merely for the sake of achieving consensus. If you disagree, say so.
You are not there to attempt to build just any consensus. You have to
attempt to build the right consensus.

Is it wise to take a strong stand either in favour or against the topic right at
the start of a Group Discussion ?

In theory yes. If you believe something why shouldn't you say so? If we
are convinced about something our natural response is to say so
emphatically. However in practice what is likely to happen if you take a very
strong and dogged stance right at the beginning of the interview is that you
will antagonize the people in the group who disagree with you and will be
unable to carry them with you and convince them of the validity of your
argument. We therefore recommend that after you hear the topic you think
about it for a minute with an open mind and note down the major issues that
come to your mind. Don't jump to any conclusions.

Instead arrive at a stand in your own mind after examining all the issues in a
balanced manner. Only then begin to speak. And when you do so outline
the major issues first and only then state your stand. In other words give the
justification first and the stand later. If you were to state your stand first
chances are that the others in the group who disagree with your stand will
interrupt to contradict you before you can elaborate on the reasons why
you have taken that stance. In this situation the evaluator will only get an
impression of what you think and not how you think. Remember you are
being evaluated on how you think and not what you think.

Is it a good strategy to try and be the first speaker on the topic in a GD?

In most GD's the opening speaker is the person who is likely to get the
maximum uninterrupted airtime. The reason is simple - at the start most
other participants in the GD are still trying to understand the basic issues
in the topic, or are too nervous to speak and are waiting for someone else to
start. Therefore the evaluators get the best chance to observe the opening
speaker.

Now this is a double edged sword. If the opening speaker talks sense
naturally he will get credit because he opened and took the group in the right
direction. If on the other hand the first speaker doesn't have too much sense
to say, he will attract the undivided attention of the evaluators to his
shortcomings. He will be marked as a person who speaks without thinking
merely for the sake of speaking. As someone who leads the group in the
wrong direction and does not make a positive contribution to the group.

So remember speaking first is a high risk high return strategy. It can make
or mar your GD performance depending how you handle it. Speak first only
if you have something sensible to say. Otherwise keep shut and let someone
else start.

In an interview how does one handle the question "Tell us about yourself?".

An often asked opening question. Perhaps the most frequently asked

question across interviews. Your opening statement needs to be a summary
of your goals, overall professional capabilities, achievements, background
(educational and family), strengths, professional objectives and anything
about your personality that is relevant and interesting. This question
represents an opportunity to lead the interviewer in the direction you want
him to go e.g., your speciality or whatever else you may wish to highlight.

Your intention should be to try to subtly convince the interviewers that you
are a good candidate, you have proved that in the past, and have a
personality that fits the requirement. Remember that the first impression you
create will go a long way in the ultimate selection. Keep in mind, most
candidates who are asked this question just blurt out their schooling,
college, marks and qualifications. All this is already there in the CV.
Why tell the interviewer something he already knows?

A final word on approaching this question. Once you have said what you have
to say - shut up. Don't drone on for the sake of speaking for you just might
say something foolish. Sometimes interviewers don't interrupt in order to
give the candidate the impression that he has not spoken enough. This is just
a stress inducing tactic. Don't fall for it, if you feel you have spoken
enough. In case the pause gets too awkward for you just add something like,

"Is there something specific that you wish to know about me?"

Is it better to have a longer selection interview or a shorter one?

The length of an interview in no way is an indicator of how well an

interview went. This is especially so when there are a number of candidates
to be interviewed for example in the civil services interview or the MBA
entrance interview. In the past a number of candidates have reported varying
lengths of interviews. Nothing positive or negative should be read into this.
An interview is only a device whereby the panel seeks information about the
candidate. Information that will help the panel decide whether or not the
candidate should be selected.

If the panel feels that it has gathered enough information about the
candidate in 15 minutes of the interview commencing and that it has no
further questions to ask the interview will be terminated in 15 minutes. If on
the other hand the panel takes an hour to gather the information required to
take a decision the interview will last for an hour. In either case the decision
could be positive or negative. It is a fallacy to believe that interview panels
take longer interviews of candidates whom they are more interested in.

No panel likes to waste its time. If an interview is lasting longer than usual
then it only means that the panel is seeking more information about the
candidate in order to take a decision.

In the MBA entrance interview how do I justify my decision to pursue the

MBA programme?

When you are asked this for God's sake don't tell the panel that you are
looking for a "challenging job in a good firm with lots of money, status and
glamour". That is the first answer that most candidates think of.
Unfortunately it is the last answer that will get you admission. In the answer
to a direct question on this subject you must convey to the interview panel
that you have made a rational and informed decision about your career
choice and your intended course of higher study. There are broadly six areas
which your answer could touch upon :
 Career Objectives : You could talk about your career objectives and how
the two year MBA programme will help you achieve them. This implies that
you have a clear idea of what your career objectives are and how you wish to
achieve them. For example you may want to be an entrepreneur and wish to
set up your independent enterprise after doing your MBA and then working
for a few years in a professionally managed company. You could explain to
the panel that the MBA programme will provide you with the necessary
inputs to help you run your business enterprise better. But then you must be
clear about what the inputs you will receive in the MBA programme are.

Value Addition : That brings us to the second area that your answer should
touch upon. What is the value you will add to yourself during your two year
study of management. Value addition will essentially be in two forms
knowledge and skills. Knowledge of the various areas of management e.g.
marketing, finance, systems, HRD etc. and skills of analysis and
communication. You will find it useful to talk to a few people who are either
doing their MBA or have already done it. They will be able to give you a more
detailed idea of what they gained from their MBA.

Background : Remember, there must be no inconsistency between your

proposed study of management and your past subject of study or your past
work experience. If you have studied commerce in college then management
is a natural course of higher studies. If you are an engineer this is a tricky
area. You must never say that by pursuing a career in management you will
be wasting your engineering degree. Try and say that the MBA course and
your engineering degree will help you do your job better in the company that
you will join. But then you should be able to justify how your engineering
qualification will help.

Opportunities and Rewards : You could also at this stage mention the
opportunities that are opening up in organizations for management
graduates. Highlight with examples. At the end you may mention that while
monetary rewards are not everything they are also important and MBAs do
get paid well. You must not mention these reasons as your primary
motivators even if that may be the case.

General Tips

• A good level of general awareness will come in handy so that you

aren't at a loss of words on certain issues.
• Understand the topic and analyse it mentally before speaking.
• Be clear about the purpose and content of your viewpoint.
• One should be able to communicate his views in an effective manner
to everyone. Be clear in speech, audible but not too loud and above all
remain confident.
• Remember the six C's of effective communication -- Clarity,
Completeness, Conciseness, Confidence, Correctness and Courtesy.
• You should mantain eye contact with all others in the group and not
focus on a particular person for he may benefit from that.
• Be responsive to ideas from other people and seem to be very
receptive and open-minded but don't allow others to change your own
viewpoint..
• Starting the discussion is considered to be good however it isn't that
important; what is important is that you speak for a period long
enough for you to be able to communicate your viewpoint .
• Always mantain your calm and never get aggresive. If you haven't
been able to talk then one can cut in saying "Excuse me, but what I
think is .........." or something of that sort.
• Never lose your temper and never attack anyone on a personal front.
Your attitude should be one of cooperation and not one of conflict.
• Don't lose sight of the goal of the discussion.
• Listen to any criticisms and give them a thought before trying to
defend your views.