Chetan Mahajan, President, HCL Learning tells you how to respond to these

seemingly simple but tricky interview questions (edi!!"com#

Question $% &ell me something about yoursel!
Don't read out from the CV. Highlight only what's relevant.
Don't elaborate on a single point/area unless you are asked to do
so. For eample! when you are talking about your family! the
employer definitely doesn't need to know where your great
grandfather worked unless he did something "ommendable like
winning the #obel! fighting the $orld $ar... and that has
inspired you in some way.
%eep it brief and to the point. &alk about your family! edu"ation!
professional eperien"e! spe"ial skills and your "areer ob'e"tive.
(ra"ti"e in advan"e and "ompile the information in less than two
minutes.
Don't forget to make a mental note of what kind of information
interests the employer through the rest of the "onversation. &his
should help you de"ide what to say and what to avoid.
Downplay hobbies and interests unless you've a"hieved
something at the national or international level.
Question '% (hy did you apply !or this job) (hy do you
think should the company hire you)
)gain! the key is to be honest. *ay you are passionate and are
looking for a new "hallenge through the opportunity.
&his is where your resear"h and homework will prove handy.
+very organisation epe"ts their prospe"tive hires to "ome
prepared and know a few important things about them.
*hare an eample of how a "ertain initiative or pro'e"t of the
organisation impressed you! or how you aim to work on a "ertain
pro'e"t the "ompany is planning to undertake.
&alk about your merits ,, your marketing and negotiating skills!
how you led your team through a "hallenging situation et".
)t the same time! never mention the - word in the first round of
the interview. .t is understood that you are epe"ting a better
remuneration than what your "urrent organisation is offering.
/eserve the dis"ussion for the H/ round.
Question *% +e!ine your strengths and weaknesses"
$hen talking about skills! always demonstrate with the right
eamples.
&alking about your strengths should be easy! but pi"k the ones
you think will be relevant to the 'ob profile and organisation you
applied for. For eample! if you have applied for a "onsultant
profile! you must talk about your resear"h and analyti" skills.
$hen it "omes to dis"ussing weaknesses! don't a"t smart. 0ad
handwriting! for eample! doesn't 1ualify as a weakness!
parti"ularly in this age of the internet. *o try to be a little more
giving here.
.f you're a Colle"tions guy! you may probably say! you2re not an
epert at -i"rosoft +"el but if given the opportunity! you'd like
to sign up for a training programme to improve your skills in it.
+ven if the "ompany doesn2t have a training programme! they
might "onsider your honesty and eagerness to learn and improve
your skills.
*ome more tips to turn the interview in your !avour%
,! you-re a !resher, don-t be rigid in the !irst $. months
o! your career" /e open to new e0periences and take on
a completely di!!erent job pro!ile" &his is your learning
phase and you need to get the most out o! it" 1o be
!le0ible"
3nless you're being interviewed over the phone! make eye
"onta"t with the person you are speaking with. .f during the
"onversation you look away be"ause you2re nervous or the
employer looks intimidating! you will be giving the impression
that you are either not prepared or not sure of taking the
opportunity.
/emember to etend a firm! "onfident handshake before and at
the end of the interview.
Don't sound too anious when talking. (ause at the right
intervals. *peak loudly and "learly.
.f you are not sure of something! it's okay to say '. don't know'.
$hen the interviewer asks ,, Do you have any 1uestions4 ,,
Don't 'ust nod your head and say 'nothing'. )sk at least one
relevant 1uestion related to the 'ob profile you have applied for.
.t shows that you are interested in the opportunity.
)sk non,frivolous 1uestions like5 '$ho will . be reporting to4' or
'$hat is my probable "areer path going to be in the
organisation4'
Consider the 'ob lo"ation and dis"uss it with your employer
before you take it up.
0e honest about what your priorities are! rather than setting up
the wrong epe"tations and avoid the disappointment of not
fulfilling them later.
+ven if you don't make it through the interview! don't forget to
send a '&hank you' note to the hiring manager and stay in tou"h
professionally through 6inked.n or any other "areer site that you
are part of. #etworking! a wise man told me! is 'the art of
rea"hing out to people when you don't need them'.