Read the job description!

 
Interview Tips: Many of the clues you need to effectively focus
Prepare & research your way to interview your interview responses are most likely
success contained within the position profile itself. Try to
anticipate questions based on the responsibilities
You don't say! and skills listed in the document, and prepare
It's not just what you say during an interview examples that will highlight your ability to
that counts, it's also what you don't say more perform in these key areas. Ensure that you can
than half of all communication is non-verbal. respond to questions that relate to experiences
Industry experts agree that body language can or competencies that are not clearly
be used to maximize your overall chances of demonstrated on your resume. Remember that
success.  although it is fine to rehearse your answers,
These positive behaviors include: don't overdo it. You want to leave the impression
• maintaining friendly eye contact with the that you are a genuine and articulate individual,
interviewer  not someone responding to questions with
• adopting a positive and open body posture  "canned" answers.
• dressing professionally for the interview  Prepare questions to ask your interviewer
• listening carefully and communicating clearly Preparing relevant and well thought-out
and concisely  questions to ask your interviewer at the end of
• effectively demonstrating your abilities with the discussion demonstrates your level of
relevant examples from your past experience  preparation and interest in the position. The
Know before you go interview is also one of the most important
Perhaps the most effective way to ensure opportunities for you to gather specific
interview success takes place before the information about the company and the job, so
interview even starts. That's when effective make sure you use it wisely. 
preparation and research can make the Prepare your references
difference. Always expect the unexpected during Before the interview, don't forget to contact
an interview. To avoid unpleasant surprises, those individuals on your list of references and
make sure you come prepared. ask permission to share their names. In advance
Make sure you know what the employer is of your interview, be sure to send each reference
looking for a brief thank-you note, and enclose a copy of
Before your interview, create a profile of the your résumé. The résumé will provide current
company, which outlines key business facts and information and help them speak more
information related to the philosophy, values and knowledgeably about you. Ask references for
ethics of the organization. This can also help you their daytime contact information because that is
recognize what attracts you to the position, and the most likely time they'll be called.
how it could potentially meet your career goals. Keep focused on the information you want to
“Did you profile our company?” is also a share. 
frequently asked question, and a poorly prepared Knowing the employer's history and
answer will speak volumes about your level of understanding expectations will help you prepare
interest in the job.  your answers and the questions you ask during
the interview. You can easily gain the respect
and understanding of the interviewer by focusing jewelry might distract your interviewer, so
on the skills, accomplishments, and beware. You want the interviewer to remain
competencies most related to those required of focused on you and your answers and not
the position and by demonstrating your abilities anything else. 
clearly with relevant examples. Make sure you Look attentive, always
include transferable skills such as teamwork, Do not slouch in your chair. Keep focused on the
problem-solving, and leadership and ensure that interviewer. Put your portfolio or purse discreetly
you are able to clearly articulate the skills you on the floor, rather than in front of you, so as
wish to develop and how they will benefit both not to create a barrier. Always be truthful. Your
the organization and yourself.  body language, tone of voice, or the words you
Make the Right Impression use will almost always give you away if you tell a
To do well in any interview, you need to achieve lie. Classic body language "giveaways" include
two main objectives scratching your nose and not looking directly at
Interview objectives  the interviewer as you talk.
• Convince the interviewer you are technically Listen carefully to the questions 
qualified to do the job  Make sure that you fully understand them before
• Demonstrate that you will fit in with the you try to answer. Do not be afraid to ask the
company's organizational structure and integrate interviewer to rephrase or repeat the question if
well into the working environment  you are unsure of what is being asked. 
The first part will depend on your answers to the Where possible, provide clear and concise
questions posed, but the second part is examples from your previous experience that will
sometimes more difficult to demonstrate. By highlight your proven capability in performing
following these tips, you should be able to job-related skills. Examples should focus
impress any interviewer. primarily on the actions you performed to
Dress professionally for the interview achieve the desired result, not on the scenario or
Dress for success, unless specifically advised the context of the example. By focusing your
otherwise by the interviewer. On the day of the answers and highlighting your actions, you will
interview, leave home earlier than you think you allow the interviewer to evaluate your potential
need to. You could be delayed by traffic or some competencies against the required competencies
other reason. for the position.
Remember to smile and be courteous to all Ask questions
employees of the company, not just the people In addition to demonstrating your level of
you expect to be assessing you. During the research into the company, this is your
interview itself, be positive about yourself and opportunity to gain valuable information about
your abilities, but remember to keep your the role, environment and the company itself.
answers concise and focused on responding Take the time to prepare a list of relevant
specifically to the questions asked.  questions. 
Present a professional image throughout the Thank the interviewer at the end of the interview
interview and ask for an estimate of how long the selection
Keep your body language positive and be sure to process will take. Let the interviewer know if you
maintain comfortable eye contact with the anticipate needing a response earlier, for
interviewer. Strong perfume or large pieces of example, if you are currently interviewing
elsewhere and are expecting an imminent job
offer. Communicate this gracefully and do your
best to accommodate the prospective employer's
timeline. 
At the end of the interview, wait for the
interviewer to rise before you do. Shake hands
firmly and make eye contact.
Follow up with a thank you
This can be delivered in a variety of ways. Time
to arrive within two business days of the
interview. The preferred method is a written
card, addressed directly to the interviewer. This
is the least intrusive and the most personal.
Keep the message short and to the point,
thanking the interviewer for the time and for any
advice that was offered.  should they select you? What qualities do you
By demonstrating your communication and
effective listening skills, along with a sincere
desire to do an exceptional job in the role, you
will leave a lasting and positive impact on any
interviewer. Conduct timely and professional
follow-up to maximize your chances of interview
success.  Interview basics:
Good luck!
Effective interview skills
To meet the challenges of a professional life, one
has to be familiar with many interview skills to
grab the attention of an interviewer. Only
interviewees, who are original, show their
interest with confidence and who present
themselves in an appealing manner can be
successful at interviews
Life is full of challenges that we confront in our
daily life. We face many hard nut cracking
challenges in the course of our education and
learn many lessons of practical life through
them. After completing education, students
usually move towards specialization or adopt a
profession, keeping in view the market demands.
Talent and skills are the only tools, which can
lead an individual towards success in these
challenging times. To qualify for a professional
degree or a job, one should have a strong
educational background along with integrated,
multidimensional skills. Interview skills are
crucial when you are either applying for a job or
want to qualify for a professional degree. To
meet the challenges of a professional life, one
has to be familiar with many interview skills to
grab the attention of an interviewer. Being
prepared in advance is the best way to gain the
trust of an interviewer who has to decide why
have that others don't? How can you benefit
their organisation?
If you can express your confidence,
commitment and appropriate skills you can
achieve a successful future.
Interview is a form of oral communication. It is a
one-to-one or one-to-group interaction where an
applicant proves himself or herself to be a
unique person and capable of being a part of an
organisation. Remember that an interview is
always pre-planned and structured. It is a formal
presentation between an interviewer and an
interviewee. Only interviewees, who are original,
show their interest with confidence and who
present themselves in an appealing manner can
be successful at interviews.
Types of interviews:
There are many types of interviews like
information gathering interviews, appraisal
interviews, exit interviews, hiring interviews,
college/university interviews, persuasive
interviews, counselling interviews and many
more. In this article, we are going to learn about
the college/ university entrance and hiring
interviews.
Hiring/Entrance interview:
Hiring/Entrance interview is one of the best-
known and most widely experienced types of
interviews where Human Resource
Managers/educational experts conduct the
interview.
To reduce chances of being rejected, here
are some basic professional skills, which will lead
you towards the path of success in your
interview:
Before the interview:
First of all, prepare your mind the night before
for the interview the next morning. Relax and do
not get nervous, tensed or tired.
Before going for an interview, pre-plan few
things:
1).Learn about the company, organisation
or educational institution and do some
research in advance.
--Why research? To develop good answers and
to prove that you are unique.
--What to research?You can gather information
about organizational structure; type of
clients/students; departments and branches;
past and present achievements etc.
--How to gather information?The internet has
made research very simple, all you have to do is
visit the company website. Newspapers are
another constructive research tool. You can also
search the yellow pages or interview friends or
family/relatives who are familiar with the
organisation.
2). Prepare answers to typical questions.
Practice your answers and never rote-learn
them.
Here are a few of the sample questions, which
you can practice in advance:
--What do you feel about the organisation?
--Why do you want to become a part of our
organisation?
--What are your weaknesses?
--Tell me about yourself and about your hobbies?
--Who is your role model and why?
3). If you know the name of the person who
will interview you, memorise his/her name
properly.
4).Decide what to wear.
Do's: - 
--Dress simply but elegantly.
--Clothes should be well-ironed and without
creases.
--Wear comfortable shoes.
--Wear basic hosiery. You can even check what
management wears and dress similarly without
overkill.
Don'ts: - 
--Dress casual.
--Wear athletic shoes.
--Spray lots of cologne.
--Wear lots of jewellery.
--Wear wrinkled attire.
--Wear flashing tie (should NOT be flashy)
5).Prepare a file having your portfolio,
educational degree copies and extra copies
of your resume.
6).Find proper address in advance as to
where are you going in the morning.
7).Get a good night's sleep.
On the day of the interview:
--Take a bath.
--Do not apply heavy make-up (especially for
girls).
--Always carry a purse or a small handy
briefcase with you.
--Do carry your portfolio file.
--Do not eat anything containing garlic or onion
in your breakfast.
--Arrive 15 minutes earlier to show you are
prompt and serious.
--Be friendly with the receptionist.
--Why did you choose to become a teacher,
nurse, doctor etc...?
--Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10
years?
--Why do you want to leave your current job?
After the interview
: You should dress smartly and appropriately and
--Thank the interviewers with a pleasant smile
and ask about the next step in the process
--Follow-up: Call them if you do not get a call
within a given time frame.
--Write a thank you letter to the organisation for
taking out their precious time for your interview.
Reasons for not getting a
job/admission:
--Lack of oral communication skills or writing
skills.
--Inappropriate attitude.
--Lack of knowledge about relevant work factors.
--Lack of confidence.
--Lack of experience.
--Lack of motivation.
--Inappropriate/fake degrees.
Practice these interview skills to become a
confident and successful individual. Chin up and
get into gear for your next interview!  According to research employers' impressions
By Munir Moosa Sewani
General Advice
Before you go for your interview you need to find
out everything you can about the company.
Reread your application/CV/covering letter, so
that you can think about your skills and
qualifications, and also questions that you might
be asked.
In order to do well in the interview you need to
be able to convince the interviewer that you
have the right skills for the job, this will include
your motivation towards the job, how well you
will fit into the company, along with meeting
their academic and skills requirements.
should leave in plenty of time allowing for
possible delays, so that you are not late.
Remember first impressions last!
Tips
It's a good idea to ask for a glass of water, as
you will be doing a lot of talking, but its also
good to take a sip if you want a few seconds to
think about the question asked. 
Ensure that you are sitting comfortably in a
position where you can address all the
interviewers. 
Make sure that you remember the names of the
interviewers, and take note of their various
roles. 
First Impressions
Most people make an initial opinion of a stranger
within the first five minutes of meeting them.
are made up of the following:
Body Language and image (70%) 
Tone of voice (20%) 
What you say (10%) 
As soon as you enter the building you need to be
polite to everyone you meet. You need to remain
calm and confident, give a firm handshake, and
remember to make eye contact. You need to put
both yourself and the interviewer at ease by
being down-to-earth whilst remaining business-
like, it is often quite a good idea to have a few
conversation openers, especially if the
interviewer takes you to the interview room, it
helps break the silence
The Interview Preparation
You need to prepare well for the interview,
finding out about the history of the company, its
structure, market position and management
style, along with details such as: how big the
company is, how long have they been operating,
what are their key income revenues and core
areas of business, who are their major
competitors, and have they had any major
upheavals or successes. The easiest place to
start the research is the website, or calling the
marketing department and asking for a company
profile or press kit. This will not only help you
show your enthusiasm to the company but also
enable you to be more relaxed about the
questions asked. If you are preparing for a
specific job interview, you will need to familiarise
yourself with the job description, so matching
your attributes to their requested skills.
You will also need to prepare information about
yourself by building up a personal profile to
enable you to answer questions both quickly and
accurately. The profile will comprise of both
personal and business information. For example:
Personal: 'I am an ambitious, organised and
highly-motivated individual who is goal driven
and excels at building long-term customer
relationships.'
Business: 'I am an experienced sales
professional with five years specific experience in
the automotive industry'... go into further
details.
Be positive, if you are negative the employers
will not believe in you. You need to remember
that you have been short-listed, and therefore
must stand a good chance. It is good to feel a bit
nervous before the interview as it shows that
you want the job.
Interview Techniques
The interview is not only a chance for the
interviewer to assess if you are the right person
for the job, but it is also an opportunity for you
to see if the job and the company are suitable
for you.
During the interview you need to look for
opportunities to be proactive and ask your own
questions or try to lead the discussion where
appropriate. Questions should reflect your
keenness to work for the company. Generally
you should limit yourself to just a couple of
significant questions such as:
What are the key tasks and responsibilities of the
job 
What support and guidance is available 
What training will be available 
Other aspects to talk about are:
Structure of the organisation 
Success of the organisation, it's profitability and
product portfolio 
Future strategies and development 
Keep your concentration levels up during the
interview and make sure you listen to the
responses the interviewer gives you. The worst
mistakes happen when people end up asking
questions about topics that have already been
covered, or don't hear or understand what the
interviewer has said.
Key points:
Make sure you give the interviewer your full
attention 
Wait for them to finish speaking, before you
answer the question 
Make sure you ask open questions, to ensure
you get full answers 
Check you understand everything that has been personality, so just be yourself. 
said 
What are your biggest accomplishments? This
At the end of the interview find out what will should be job related, and is a chance to show
happen next: your competency 
Where do you see yourself in five years time? 
When will I hear from you 
How will I be informed  Dealing with objections
Do you need any more information from me 
How do you handle criticism? Try to portray the
Candidates can easily find themselves on the attitude that all criticism has a benefit, providing
defensive, trying to justify themselves, rather an opportunity for improvement. Also elaborate
than sell their attributes. A good interviewer will by giving an example of a poor idea that has
often throw all sorts of challenging questions at been criticised rather than a substandard piece
you, in order to see if you are suitable for the of work. 
job.
How will you cope with a change in environment?
To help you cope with these it is best to know Talk about how you can adapt and learn quickly. 
the possible questions that you might get asked,
these can be divided up into sections: Turning negatives into positives (change your
weaknesses into strengths)
Selling yourself (mention your strengths)
What can you do for us that someone else can't?
What experience do you have to benefit this If you have understood the details of the job
job?  then try to answer this with a combination of
Can you work well under pressure?  your skills/experience which others are unlikely
What is your greatest strength?  to have. 
What interests you most about this job? 
Why should I hire you?  Describe a difficult problem you've had to deal
Do you have any questions?  with. Clearly explain how you have approached a
problem, the result and how the difficult
Questions could include: what your first outcome was averted. This will show that you
assignment would be, what type of training is have a positive attitude to all challenges, and
required or given, requesting to see a job you were not discouraged or intimidated by the
description, and who the company's major situation. 
competitors are.
What is your greatest weakness? This is your
Information giving (information on your chance to show that you have identified and are
experience and skills set) working on reducing your weaknesses. Turn your
weakness into strength. 
Do you consider yourself to be a natural leader?
The interviewer will be interested in your ability How do you handle tension/stress? Explain how
to lead when necessary  you avoid stressful situations, and if not how you
deal with it, for example: exercising and going to
Tell me about yourself. This is an open question, the gym. 
and is a good opportunity for you to reveal the
strengths that you mentioned in your personal How do you take direction? Show by giving
profile. This is also your chance to reveal your examples of how you can be briefed and finish
the task without unnecessary odours, e.g. alcohol, garlic or even perfume 
disagreements/complications  Don't fidget or play with your hair, clothing,
items in your pockets etc 
Do you prefer working with others or alone? Avoid negative phrases such as: 'I don't know'.
Explain how you can work well in both I'm not sure' 
situations.  Be persuasive, speak in terms of what benefit
you can bring to the company, rather 
How do you handle rejection? Much of today's than the other way around
business is commercially orientated, therefore a Remain calm and don't rush your answers 
good answer would tend to be that you move on
but take on board what has happened and use it Psychometric Tests
to benefit you in the future. 

Psychometric means tools for measuring the

Always speak clearly in a controlled range of mind. There are two types of test:
tones. Do not speak in monotone and always
pause before speaking, this avoids instinctively Aptitude test: assess your abilities 
reacting and saying the wrong thing. Personality questionnaires: which build up a
profile of your characteristics 
Points you need to remember:
Many employers believe that such tests give a
Smiling is a good positive signal, as it reaffirms good idea of whether you are able to do the job,
your good nature  and if your personality is suited to that of the job
Maintain eye contact  and the company.
Relax do not rush or fidget 
Mirror the interviewers techniques, if they laugh, Aptitude Tests: These test your critical reasoning
laugh with them  skills under timed conditions. A typical test may
Maintain an alert position, sit up straight, don't have three sections each testing a different
slump, but be comfortable  ability, such as verbal reasoning, numerical
reasoning. The test would normally be about 30
Always have a confident and honest attitude. minutes long for 30 questions.

Personality Tests: Questions tend to focus on;

Do's And Don'ts During The Interview how you relate to other people, your work style,
your ability to deal with emotions (your own and
others); your motivations; determination and
Always adopt a professional and business-like general outlook and your ability to handle
manner  stressful situations. There are no right or wrong
Listen intently  answers, just be yourself.
Use strong positive language 
Ask the relevant questions 
Wear a smile at all times  Overview - Ten-Minute Guide
Never indicate that you're desperate for a job 
Don't get into discussions about your personal
life, and decline any bait to mention secrets of Your aim is to convince the interviewer that:
your present employer, the interviewer should
respect your trustworthiness and integrity  You would be able to do the job 
Ensure that you don't smell of any strong You can bring benefits to the company 
You are the best candidate on both counts  Why do you want to work for this company? Talk
about why you like the company, mission
Preparation: statement, ethics, international etc 

You need to do a mini self-assessment of your What do you know about this company? Give a
profile, for example your work experience so far, run down of their products/services, sales
the qualifications you have gained, and where figures, accomplishments etc 
you want your career to go. Consider your
strengths and weaknesses, so that you have an What interest you about our product/service?
idea of what to say in the interview. Some points This can link to the previous question 
to consider are:
How would you describe yourself? Pick your best
Leadership  attributes 
Self-confidence 
Commitment and determination  What has been your greatest success? How did
Enthusiasm and Stamina  you achieve it? Pick an achievement related to
Competitiveness  the companies/jobs needs 
Good judgement and decision making 
Responsibility  What has been your biggest failure? Pick
Initiative and creativity  something that you were able to correct or that
Organisation  wasn't that important 

Ask yourself: How could you improve yourself? Pick on positive

aspects of your personality or a
Which areas could I improve  strength/weakness scenario where you are
What are the tasks and situations that I have improving 
had the most problems with 
In which instances did my colleagues react How do you handle criticism? Say that you take
negatively towards me  on board criticism and that it is part of your
development so that you can improve certain
areas. 

Questions: Do you work well with others? Give examples of

a good working relationship 

Why do you want this job? Talk about the Are you self motivated? Give an example of
positive aspects of the job, not that it's the only where you have been pro-active 
one you have had an interview for. 
Can you act on your own initiative? This can link
What qualities do you think will be required for into the previous question 
this job? Talk about points that were in the job
description but also other qualities such as: What motivates you? Opportunities to learn new
communications, interpersonal skills etc  skills 

What can you contribute? Your chance to shine. Do you work well under pressure? Answer
Tell them about your achievements in previous positively 
positions or at University etc 
What are your career goals? 
Questions To Ask and where they have been of good use. You
must also re-read your CV, covering letter
and/or application form, as the interviewers may
What will be my responsibilities?  use these as a form of reference and ask you
Who will I report to?  questions related to these.
Who are you customers? 
What will my salary/expenses be? 
What training will you provide?  Remember:

Prior to your interview, it is important that you Make sure you dress smartly 
have read the job description. Go through each
aspect and think about how and why you match Beware of clammy hands for first handshake 
the requirements. You should not just stipulate
that you have good communication skills or Be polite, make polite conversation 
strong organisation skills, you must give
examples of where you have proven such skills Speak in a confident tone and manner

Introduction strategies:

Be careful while introducing yourself during the interview process. Your self-introduction can make or break
your chances during the interview. You may have the best qualifications, and you may be the best-suited
candidate for the job - but if you did not introduce yourself to the panel appropriately, you lose vital points and
it may very well cost you the job.

You may think that this is not necessary, because the interviewer already has your resume with your name
and other relevant details on it. But all they have is some points on paper regarding your experience and skills.
What they really want to know is whether you will fit into the structure of the organization, whether you are a
team player and whether you are going to help the organization to the best of your ability.

What they are looking for during the self-introduction is an insight into your personality and the kind of person
you are.

Here are some strategies you can use to effectively introduce yourself.

o Unique - Make your introduction unique. The interviewer is probably used to hearing the same old "Hi, I am
Dan and I am here for the interview." If you really want to grab the attention of the interviewer, be unique and
different in your self-introduction. This does not mean that you need jump into a song and dance routine, but
it does mean that you be different and show them your creative side.

o Relevant - This means that your self-introduction needs to have a professional tone to it. The interviewer is
not interested in hearing something as irrelevant, like the fact that you were born on the same day as some
famous leader and thus naturally have leadership qualities. Introduce yourself in a way that will highlight your
skills and strengths, and tone down your weaknesses.

o Bond - Introduce yourself and create a bond with the interviewer. This does not mean that you have to kiss
and hug them. It just means that you find something in common with the panel and strike up a conversation.
This will reflect that you have the ability to make anyone feel at ease with you and around you and this will
earn you brownie points.

o Arousing - Arouse curiosity during the self-introduction process. Make statements that will arouse the
curiosity of the interviewer and will make them ask questions. This will help them know you better and make a
difference in your interview process.

Interviewing can be an unnerving process. Follow the steps above to make a good first impression

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online
-http://www.sixsigmaonline.org, offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six
sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

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