Interview Preparation Tips

Interviews are always unpredictable and little scary too but you can do lot better even if you
are attending an interview for the first time. YOU ARE THE BEST...only these 4 words
works. I'm not talking about superiority complex but you should not have inferiority complex
while attending an interview. You have to build up a confidence inside you and you have to
support yourself at the time of interview. Here I would not give you a 1000 page interview
book but I will give you some general tips to get your focus on tack. With a few interviews
you will be on your way and you will also write same notes for others. So when you get an
interview call then take care of the followings

(1) First of all do some research about the company for which you are going to attend this
interview. You can get some some idea from Internet or from any of your friends. This will
give you idea about the work domain of the company (Telecom Billing, Financial
Application or any other domain ). This will give you a particular direction to prepare
yourself for the interview. Once you understood about the work domain then start gathering
relevant information for that domain and prepare yourself for technical questions. In case you
know the position for which you are going to be interviewed then prepare a questionnaire for
that position and do a good rehearsal to answer them. This phase should bring you in full
confidence and you should start to feel that now you are ready to answer anything.

(2) Once you are fully prepared for technical questions then there are some common
questions for which you would have to prepare in advance. I'm listing down very basic
questions which can be asked from you during your interview.

 Tell me about yourself?: Most of the interviews start with this question. So introduce
yourself staring with your name, native place, qualifications, experiences,
interests/hobbies. Don't spend more than 2 minutes on this.
 What do you know about our company?: You remember what information you
gathered about this company. So speak out the things you learned about the company
during your preparation.
 What can you do for us that someone else can't?: Speak out your strengths.
 What do you look for in a job?: Honestly speak out your objective and what you are
looking for.
 What are your career goals?: You have to prepare for this question yourself.
 What are your strong & weak points?: Prepare for this question by evaluating
yourself.
 What position do you expect to have in 2 to 5 years?: Again it is a self assessment
question and you have plan for next 2 to 5 years based on your capabilities.
 Do you have your reference list with you?: Keep some references along with you
but don't give it out unless it is asked for.
 How much salary you are expecting ?: This is very difficult question and in many
case you would not get a job because you would have asked more salary than
employer had fixed for this position. So if possible better to request for an offer then
only comment on it or negotiate on this. Here "offer" means let employer tell you
about how much can be offered.
  What questions didn't I ask that you expected?: You would have so many
questions in your mind which you were expecting to be asked. So you can speak out 1
or 2.
 Do you have any question for me? : At the end of interview you will be asked this
question. And you have to be prepared for this question. You can prepare so many
questions like "What exactly is this position?", "What will be roles and
responsibilities for this position?", "To whom would I report?", "Would I be assigned
to a specific department?", "How much travel is expected?", "How much freedom and
responsibility is given to new employees?", "Typical timings of job work?", "Describe
the typical first year assignments for this position.", "Do you have a tuition or higher
education reimbursement policy?", "How my performance will be evaluated?", "What
are future plans and directions for the organization?".

(3) Now hope you are fully prepared for technical and non technical questions. Before
starting from home you have check the followings:

 Don't wear jeans, junky, franky or other casual cloths. Dress up well.
 Better to wear a tie if you feel comfortable otherwise don't wear it.
 Check your shoes they should be polished well. Black or brown
 perfume or makeup or jewelry.
 Collect your all certificates and put them in a file properly and take them along with
you.
 If you have invitation letter then keep it in your file safely and take it along with you.
 Keep a small note book in your file. In case you need to note down something during
interview.
 Put your pen safely in your front pocket.
 Start at a time so that you can reach at your interview place before 15-20 minutes of
your schedule.

(4) Starting from the time when you enter into the interview room:

 Greet everybody in a friendly manner.

 Don't sit down until you are invited to.
 Take care of your poster, voice, jitters.
 Maintain eye contact with your interviewer. Show you want the job with your interest.
 Don't play with your hair, clothing, pen or notebook etc.
 Pay full attention to interviewer and present yourself like you are very much
interested in giving this interview and you are enjoying in giving this interview.
 Try to bring interviewer on a subject where you have good command.
 Be Positive - In particular, avoid negative comments about past employers if you had
one.
 Listen carefully what interviewer is asking and if you don't understand question
completely then take an excuse and ask to repeat the question again.
 If you get a chance establish a relationship by doing some informal chit chat.
 If you don't know answer then you can frankly say that you don't know the answer.
 You will be given a chance to ask questions. So you can ask some questions from
interviewers which we have listed above.
 Finally thanks to everybody with smile and come out of the room.
Now you are fully prepared for your upcoming interview. Believe in yourself and think
positive. Trust me.. you can do whatever you like and you are really really the best...