Notion Press

Old No. 38, New No. 6

McNichols Road, Chetpet
Chennai - 600 031

First Published by Notion Press 2018

Copyright © Saurav Bhowmik 2018
All Rights Reserved.

ISBN 978-1-64324-432-7

This book has been published with all efforts taken to make the
material error-free after the consent of the author. However, the
author and the publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any
liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by
errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from
negligence, accident, or any other cause.

No part of this book may be used, reproduced in any manner

whatsoever without written permission from the author, except
in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and
reviews.
 Contents

Foreword ix

Preface xiii

Acknowledgements xvii

Introduction xix

Step-1 Pre-Interview Preparation 1

Step-2 On the Day of Interview 41

Step-3 During the Interview 48

Step-4 End of Interview 69

Step-5 Follow up after the Interview 75

Important Interview Questions 84

vii
 Step-1
Pre-Interview Preparation

As a human being, we always want the best in our life, may

it be the right school for our self, best college, right coaching
institute etc. It’s human mind that always guides us to be the
best in everything from our childhood days till the end of life.
For example, we always want to get the right and best dress
for our birthday party, marriage parties and even our farewell
party. Getting the best story books in the right time, getting
the first watch, bicycle, Bike, mobile phone, laptops and even
finding the first love, we all wanted to have the best and also
in the right time. Just think for a moment, how much were
you excited while selecting your dream college, may it be for
Graduation, Engineering or even for Management Studies. You
must have activated all your energy to find the best institute as
per your expectations and in this process not only you but all
your friends, family members, professors and many more were
directly or indirectly involved with you. Likewise, we always
want to have the best in the right place, right time and finding
the right dream job is no exceptions.

The Pre-Interview preparation is definitely the first step

towards getting your dream job, however there are few basic
preparations to be taken into consideration which are as
follows-

1
2 | 5 Steps to Crack Personal Interview

A. Search the right job

B. Writing an effective CV (Resume)
C. Effective Pre-Interview Preparation

Let us not assume that the job interview is simply a formality

before you receive the job offer. Rather, think of a job interview
as an “audition” for getting an opportunity to impress the
employer with your knowledge and skills.

Many employers have shared with me how that one thing,

being obviously well prepared can make or break a job seeker’s
chances of getting a new job. Being prepared for the job
interview demonstrates to the employer that the job seeker is
genuinely interested in the job. And, that preparation is often
viewed by the employer as an example of the job seeker’s work.
The above three basic preparations are discussed below which
will help to master yourself to start the first step towards your
dream job preparations.

A.  Search the Right Job

As we all agree that we always want the best and same holds
true when it comes to search for the right job.

There are many locations or mediums to look for jobs,

with the latest location being the Internet. Sites like, Monster,
CareerBuilder, Naukri, HotJobs, Shine, Naukristation and
many more are all that offer companies and candidates find
each other.

If the Internet is not working for you, then there are paper
sources that help. The classified advertisements in your local
newspaper are the first step you can take. Several companies
 Pre-Interview Preparation | 3

will also post advertisements on bulletin boards located in

stores, apartment complexes, or other similar locations.

Some companies will not advertise their job openings.

Hence you need to make sure people know you are job
hunting. When you know what your skills are, talk to your
friends and relatives who may be aware of companies that
are currently having any openings. Your college professors
may know companies that are looking for applicants but not
broadcasting it. Finally, your references are your strongest asset,
so let them network for you by suggesting you to companies
that may not realize they need a new employee.

The Internet can also be used to find jobs that are not
advertised. Most companies have websites and many will have
a section for people to find careers. Use these pages to find
companies that may have jobs open and not being advertised,
you will have a better chance of securing a position.

The earlier days of finding a job right out of colleges

and sticking with it until retirement is certainly in the
past. In these modern times, people have become more
eager at locating new job opportunities. But some of the
more traditional tactics have started to  fade  in popularity;
no longer are people looking  primarily at the newspaper
“wanted” advertisement to find their dream jobs. Job seekers
are becoming more creative and utilizing new strategies in
moving their careers forward.

Before you begin looking for a new job it is important to

know what you want. Update your resume and devote plenty
of time to finding a new position. Attending events, looking
in person, networking, using a headhunter or recruiter,
4 | 5 Steps to Crack Personal Interview

and searching online is all good strategies. Few important

ways to find for your dream job are as mentioned below:

1. Check out company websites: If there is a certain

company you would love to work for, visit their
website. There will often be a “Careers” section
that allows you to apply for a position—sometimes
even if they are not currently hiring. This lets the
company know you sought them out directly, which
may give you an edge over other applicants. Create a
list of employers that you would like to work for and
visit their websites often. Even Companies love to
find workers that already have a value associated with
their company in particular. If you are fond of the
company, you will most likely be fond of the culture
and brand that is already in place. Go directly to the
careers section in the website for each company that
you are interested in. Let the recruiters know you
have an understanding of the company, making you
a more attractive candidate.
2. Visit job search websites: Sites such as naukri.com,
Monster.com, Indeed.com, Naukri station, Shine.
com and CareerBuilder.com can be great resources
for finding employment. You can search by category,
keyword, location, salary, etc. Some even have
career resources or allow you to post your resume.
Thousands of jobs are posted each day, so be sure to
check back often.
3. Use LinkedIn to maximum effect:  LinkedIn is a
powerful tool to easily connect with the right people.
Search your target market based on your industry,
 Pre-Interview Preparation | 5

qualifications, university and interests, and connect

with the people that interest you. For example, if
you want to work in the insurance sector, you could
aim to connect with all potential bosses and human
resource departments in this industry and in your
market. You can even set goals for yourself, such
as, “Connect to all general managers and human
resource managers in the insurance industry in my
city by the end of April.”
4. Do a google search: You could type in “nursing jobs
in Mumbai, India” for example and see what Google
comes up with. It will likely bring up several of the
websites mentioned above, but there may also be
new sites you haven’t checked out yet. Try rephrasing
your search to find even more hits.
5. Networking: It is said that the majority of job
vacancies are never advertised, often referred to as
the “hidden job market.” To land these jobs, seekers
will need to find a way to get a foot in the door.
Networking can go a long way of locating job
opportunities; even if no one you know directly has
knowledge of a job opening, there’s a chance they
know someone that does.
Networking can be done both in person and
online. You can join professional associations, attend
events for job aspirants, or aim to connect with
professionals who work in your field. Various online
tools also exist, such as LinkedIn, which allow you
to network with other professionals and learn about
possible job openings. You may also be able to meet
other professionals through  social networking  sites
6 | 5 Steps to Crack Personal Interview

like Facebook or Twitter. Sign up for an upgraded

account with LinkedIn so you can see everyone who
viewed you and send better inMail. This will put you
in touch with recruiters faster. Also, check out your
first connections and see if anyone is connected to
someone that can get you noticed.
Networking is one of the best ways to find new
employment. Start with reaching out to your existing
connections. You can also locate new connections
based on what kind of position you are looking for.
Reach out to colleagues, previous and current, to see
if they know of any positions that would be right
for you.
Don’t be afraid to directly mail recruiters that
post job for their company. Contacting them directly
can get you noticed and expedited if it is a company
or position that you truly wish to pursue.
6. Use job boards:  Many companies will check job
boards for potential new employees, and your college
or university likely has some as well. Find the best
job board for your skill set and post your resume
there. Choose a catchy but professional headline to
entice employers.
Job boards were traditionally just those boards
posting vacancies and employment opportunities.
Though some of these boards may still exist in a
literal sense, many job boards have moved toward a
virtual format. Often central or state governments
will provide job boards and job banks that job seekers
can access. You can also use job search engines on the
internet or the vast number of career related websites
 Pre-Interview Preparation | 7

that post job openings, such as Monster.com or

CareerBuilder.com. These websites function in a
similar way to the traditional wanted advertisements;
however, they have a much quicker turnaround time
and allow you to search a much larger number of
jobs over a large area.
7. Job fairs: This is typically targeted toward specific
industries, though some job or recruitment fairs
are more generalized. These ads will usually come
with a list of the organizations that will be present.
Investigate any companies that interest you, bring
a number of resumes and be ready to sell yourself.
Consider any conversations with recruiters as
mini interviews that can set you apart from other
applicants. Some organizations may even offer
on-site interviews to candidates that match their
requirements.
8. Referrals: This also comes from individuals you
know, however, this method may get you an invitation
to apply for a position without actually searching
for a new job. Some employers offer incentives to
their employees for referring a successful candidate
to their company, a win-win situation for everyone.
You get a new job, and your contact gets a referral’s
fee for attracting a top notch employee.
9. Head hunters and Recruitment agencies: If
you’re looking for some professional help in your
job search,  head hunters  and recruitment agencies
can definitely lend a hand (though in some cases
it may come at a price). There are a number of
organizations that hire through recruitment agencies
8 | 5 Steps to Crack Personal Interview

because it helps to streamline the lengthy process of

locating and interviewing candidates. Head hunters
locate individuals to fill a specific vacancy within an
organization or find a position for a job seeker who
has hired their services. Payment is often based upon
commission. Keep in mind that many colleges and
universities have job placement services that can help
new graduates to develop their resumes and assist
both current students and alumni with their job
searches.
10. Attend events: Your college or university likely has
job fairs each semester that you can attend. Events
hosted by charities as well as professional organizations
can also be a great way to meet potential employers.
Make a goal to speak to at least two or three people at
each event and try to get the business cards, and don’t
forget to follow up.
11. Contact alumni from your college or university:
Many institutes have career centers with all kinds of
resources that you may find helpful, such as specific
job search websites. Get in touch with students or
even professors from your college days. They are a
great source for new leads and may even be in the
position to offer you a job themselves. We generally
like people, who have something in common with us;
who share the same values or hobbies; or have gone
to the same school. Call the alumni in your region,
go to meet and grow your network. Adding three
new alumni per week (through alumni directories or
LinkedIn) is a solid approach, even better if these are
in your industry.
 Pre-Interview Preparation | 9

12. Temporary internships: Sometimes temporary

employment or internships can lead to permanent
positions. If you’re without work, finding a
temporary position with a great company is a great
way to get a foot in the door, or provide you with
useful business contacts to call upon in the future.
Many recruitment agencies can assist with locating
temporary or casual positions and contract work.
Internships is a great choice for students who are
just graduating from college and job placement
services can connect students with opportunities.
Volunteering can also be a great method for gaining
valuable industry contacts.
13. Social media: In a competitive job market, some job
seekers have moved toward more creative methods
for drawing attention to themselves in social media.
Today social media like Facebook, twitter, whatsapp
etc. are some of the best platforms to promote you
as a job seeker. There are various niche groups where
you can get a good lead for your dream job. You can
also get connected with various people in the social
media and later they can be of good help. Though
these methods can actually work, be cautious. You
may get the attention of recruiters, but sometimes
they actually can invade your privacy. If you’re
going for such creative techniques, be sure that
it’s appropriate for the industry in which you’re
attempting to find employment. (Stand out from the
rest of the applicants.)
14. Cold calling: If you don’t see any job listings posted
for a company you’re particularly interested  in,
10 | 5 Steps to Crack Personal Interview

you might consider making a cold call. You can use

the telephone or email to contact individuals within
an organization by finding their contact details
on the company website or by inquiring with a
receptionist. Contact individuals directly to find
out if they foresee any upcoming vacancies, and be
sure to attach a copy of your resume to any emails
you send. You can also ask for information about
types of jobs, or what kind of skills or qualities
the organization looks for in a candidate. Keep in
mind that this kind of contact may not always be
well received, but there is always a chance it’ll give
you the inside track on upcoming vacancies. The
above ways are the major ways to find your dream
Job interview other than the traditional Newspaper
classified Advertisements. However, the study
shows in spite of all the different options available
the traditional Newspaper classified advertisement
as well as internet is the most preferred & common
as it is easy to access in this country.

B.  Writing an Effective CV (Resume)

“First impression last long, this proverb we had learnt since
our child hood. Today everyone wants an attention in their
life including a toddler or an adult. Every stages of our life
we all need attention in any form and we definitely have a
“feel good factor” when it gets accomplished. There are many
beautiful examples in your life like wearing the best dress in
our birthday, first day of our school, buying the latest mobile
 Pre-Interview Preparation | 11

phone or a bike are all to give best & first impression to others.
And who will forget the first date where we took a long time
to plan and be at our best to make a first impression to the
other partner.

When I remember my first interview experience, I tried to

be best with my dress, looks and attitude but I was miserable
with my resume which I presented to the interviewer. It was
handwritten resume on a sheet of A4 Size paper and my
handwriting was not that impressive. In fact no one even
guided to carry a complete resume with me for the interview
and may be that was one of the reasons for getting rejected in
my first interview.

Then I realized nobody can ever underestimate how

important it is to have a good resume. First impressions count,
and the first impression that a potential employer will have of
you, is going to depend on how you present your resume. This
is going to be your one and only chance to capture a potential
employer’s attention, or for your resume to be tossed into the
file of those they don’t want to pursue.

The research & statistics shows, the average employer

only spends a few seconds looking at a resume, so it is
imperative that it makes an impression. In this increasingly
competitive job market you need to have a professional resume
that contains the right information, so that it will stand out
amongst the countless other resumes that potential employers
will be looking at, and give you the best possible chance of
getting their attention. You need to remember that you only
have few seconds that the potential employer is going to be
taking to glance at your resume, so it’s very important to make
12 | 5 Steps to Crack Personal Interview

sure that all the years you have been working or studying or
even both are going to be represented properly in your resume.

The Curriculum Vitae is a Latin expression and translates

to a person’s course of life, more commonly known as a CV in
the modern world.

In some countries e.g. The United States and Canada it is

generally called a Resume, but the contents remain the same
and need to capture a number of key areas, including:

• A Personal Profile Statement.

• Roles undertaken, clearly showing responsibilities,
but more importantly achievements, quantifiable
wherever possible.
• Skills and Abilities.
• Educational qualifications and ongoing personal
development.
• Hobbies and Interests.

Whenever you prepare your resume, please find the following

points into consideration to make it an effective resume.

There is no right or wrong way to write a resume but

there are some common sections you should cover. These
include: personal and contact information; education and
qualifications; work history and/or experience; relevant skills
to the job in question; own interests, achievements or hobbies;
and some references.

A successful resume is always carefully and clearly

presented, and printed on clean, crisp white paper. The layout
should always be clean and well structured and resume should
 Pre-Interview Preparation | 13

never be crumpled or folded, so use an A4 envelope to post

your applications.

Always remember the resume hotspot, the upper middle

area of the first page is where the recruiter’s eye will naturally
fall, so make sure you include your most important information
there.

A good resume is clear, concise and makes every point

necessary without waffling. You don’t need pages and pages
of paper and just keep things short and sweet. A resume is
a reassurance to a potential employer; it’s a chance to tick
the right boxes. And if everything is satisfied, there’s a better
chance of a job interview. Also, employers receive dozens of
resumes all the time so it’s unlikely they’ll read each one cover
to cover. Most will make a judgment about a resume within
sections, so stick to a maximum of two pages of A4 paper.

When you’ve established what the job entails and how

you can match each requirement, create a resume specifically
for that role. Remember, there is no such thing as a generic
resume. Every resume you send to a potential employee should
be tailored to that role so don’t be lazy and hope that a general
resume will work because it won’t.

Create a unique resume for every job you apply for. You
don’t have to re-write the whole thing, just adapt the details so
they’re relevant.

Under the skills section of your resume don’t forget to

mention key skills that can help you to stand out from the
crowd. These could include: communication skills; computer
skills; team working; problem solving or even speaking a
14 | 5 Steps to Crack Personal Interview

foreign language. Skills can come out of the most unlikely

places, so really think about what you’ve done to grow your
own skills, even if you take examples from being in a local
sports team or joining a voluntary group as it’s all relevant.

Under interests, highlight the things that show off skills

you’ve gained and employers look for. Describe any examples
of positions of responsibility, working in a team or anything
that shows you can use your own initiative. Include anything
that shows how diverse, interested and skilled you are. Don’t
include passive interests like watching TV, solitary hobbies
that can be perceived as you lacking in people skills. Make
yourself sound really interesting.

Use assertive and positive language under the work history

and experience sections, such as “developed”, “organized” or
“achieved.” Try to relate the skills you have learned to the job
role you’re applying for. For example: “The work experience
involved working in a team,” or “This position involved
planning, organization and leadership as I was responsible for
a team of people.”

References should be from someone who has employed

you in the past and can vouch for your skills and experience. If
you’ve never worked before you can use a teacher or tutor as a
referee. Try to include two if you can.

It’s crucial to review your resume on a regular basis and

add any new skills or experience that’s missing. For example,
if you’ve just done some volunteering or worked on a new
project, make sure they’re on there and potential employers
is always impressed with candidates who go the extra mile to
boost their own skills and experience.
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