INTERVIEW ZING WITH BANKERSADDA : Last Minute Tips

Dear BA'ians,

With the interviews starting form tomorrow for

many of you. We are sure you all are ready to put
your best foot forward and move ahead towards
your goals. Just to give final touches to your
preparation, we would like to add that zing factor
to help you get the Midas touch.
Here is a list of few things that you need to stay
away from during your interview, to keep you
going on the right track!

1. Arriving late- make sure you be on time, as the

saying goes, the first impression is always the last
impression.
2. Being rude to the receptionist.
3. Smelling like a cigarette.
4. Being dressed inappropriately- please refer to the
interview capsule for proper dress code for the
interviews.
5. Wearing sunglasses.
6. Wearing too much perfume or aftershave.
7. Wearing the cell phone Bluetooth earpiece.
8. Leaving the cell phone on- make sure you have your
phone on flight mode or the silent mode before
entering the room.
9. Shaking hands too weakly or too strong-This is the
most common mistake candidates make if they
extend their hand for a hand shake. Remember the
hand should fit in the opposite persons hand and
should be a firm grip which is neither too tight nor
too loose.
10. Complaining that you were kept waiting for the
interview.
11. Sitting before invited by the interviewer (not
waiting to be invited before taking a seat).
12. Sitting in a sloppy manner.
13. Chewing gum, a pen or playing with your hair.
14. Not matching yourself to the style of the
interviewer’s communication- i.e if the interviewer is
cracking a joke, do laugh a bit along with him, or if
the interviewer changes the language, make sure
you do it as well, if his tone is a bit casual, you
too,answer in a way that is short and casual.
15. Failing to listen carefully to the interviewer’s
questions- At times we get lost in our own thoughts,
or previous answer that we have given. Remember
to be in the present moment during the interview,
even if your past answer was a bit messy or not to
your expectation. Do not assume things till you get
over with your interview.
16. Being unprepared to the standard job interview
questions- We are sure you have gone through the
list of frequently asked questions and have made
your answers as per your situation, if not you still
have time, as it is always beneficial to have a
17. Failing to do your homework about the potential
employer.
18. Lying about your qualifications, experience and
your knowledge- make sure you put forward correct
facts about yourself, this does not mean that you
elaborate the negatives as well in your attempt to be
honest. Just say what will help you get brownie
points, leave the rest.
19. Not showing enthusiasm/interest on the job- No
matter how you feel, or what your life situation
might have been, but once in the interview room, all
you should think about is the job and the panelist
who are no less that the golden ticket to your job.
20. Bad mouthing you previous boss-A definite no
no, always have good things to say about your boss,
remember the phrase-'The boss is always right",
have things to say about how much you learnt from
him/her, what was the best thing about your
previous job, and how much it helped in your
development, etc.
21. Explaining in detail about the cause of the job
layoff- Remember DO NOT GO INTO DEPTH OF
ANYTHING, say only that which is required and will
help you in convincing them about your capabilities.
22. Sharing too much- same as above, do not get
too involved in your answer that you forget when to
stop. The panelist are trained to make you feel at
home, and are usually a chirpy lot, so seeing them
do not forget your purpose . Stay committed to your
goals at all times and on guard too.
23. Failing to explain how your skills match the job
in question- See you are going there either for the
post of an Assistant officer or a Probationary officer,
so at all times your skill description should convince
them of your commitment and eligibility for that post
24. Speaking for most of time of the interview or
Interrupting the interviewer speech-remember you
need to be a good listener if that's what the situation
demands.
25. Asking too many questions or irrelevant
questions. Failing to ask good questions.
26. Yawning.
27. Waving names to boast or sounding like you
think you know everything.
28. Asking to use bathroom during the interview.
29. Being too humble: Being humble is a good trait,
but it does not mean that you stay mum and do not
say anything about your self. Remember you are
there to sell your self there, think of ways by which
you can stand apart from the crowd. Find ways to
make the best of the situation you are in. Do not for
once doubt your capabilities. Remember it is not
what you say that is going to land you a job,
but rather how you say that will set you apart.
30. Not making eye contact (or maintaining
prolonged eye contact)- Make sure you make eye
contact with the panelist, but does not mean that
you keep looking into their eyes, while talking look
around as well for a few seconds.
31. Getting angry or defensive- no matter where the
conversation leads to, even in the worst case
scenario, stay away from anger or irritation. Do not
let your ego come in the way of your prudence.
32. Saying phrases like “you know", "like a", “I
guess” and "Hmm"- i.e being too casual and laid
back in your answers, rather be a good mix of formal
and casual as per the demand of the situation.
33. Showing nervousness-We are well aware of the
fact that not everyone is super confident, and it is
only natural to be a little jittery and nervous before
the panelist. but make sure you do not let this
nervousness get the better of you, be in control of
your mind at all times and stay away from over
anxiety about the result.Like said before, be in the
present and try enjoying the conversation.
34. Laughing and Giggling unnecessarily: Smiling
and being enthusiastic does not mean that you
become like a child in a play ground. Dont forget
that you all are going there to sell yourself as the
future bankers of our country, so might as well
behave like one.
35. Sounds desperate.
36. Checking the time - looking at the watch.
37. Being too prepared. Blurting your answers out-
See preparing your answers in advance is
important, but you have to say them in a way that
they look natural and fit the situation. They should
not look mugged up, rather natural an effortless.
Having said all this, go into the interview withself
belief. You will meet a lot of candidates outside the
room, who might seem much more capable to you
that your own self, but do not let anything take
your self belief and confidence from you. You have
reached the interview round based on your
capability.

So as always, no matter what, do not forget to have

fun, and giving it your best shot, so that when you
come out of the room, you have no regrets!
If there was ever a good time to be joining the banking space,
it is now.