LECTURE 8, HSMC 601

BY
PROF. JAP PREET KAUR BHANGU
PREPARING FOR JOB INTERVIEWS

By

PROF. JAP PREET KAUR BHANGU

JOB INTERVIEWS : AN INTRODUCTION
An Interview for a job, like all kinds of interviews, is a psychological and
sociological exercise. It is an interaction between two or more persons for a
specific purpose, in which the interviewer asks the interviewee specific
questions in order to assess his/her suitability for recruitment.

It is a systematized method of contact with a person to review his/her

qualifications and skills, to know his views about professional, general and
personal matters, and is regarded as the most important method of data
collection.

For most candidates, an interview for job, due to its very nature, is an event
marked by a lot of stress, since so much is hinged upon one’s successful
performance. That is why, interviews need a lot of preparation.
EMPLOYER’S EXPECTATIONS DURING JOB INTERVIEWS

Job interviews can be face to face, telephonic, or through video

conferencing.

Your prospective employer might be looking for the following qualities in you when
you appear for an interview:

● Disposition
● Career Objective
● Subject knowledge
● General knowledge
● Communication Skills
● Mental Agility
● Consistence
● Self-confidence
TO EXPLAIN IN DETAIL...
● Disposition pertains to your Appearance, clothes, facial expressions,
gestures, manners, the way you present yourself, the impression you leave
on the employer-- all these things are components of your personality. Most
of these can not be learnt overnight, but can be acquired over time through
consistently working on yourself.
● The panel will try to assess what you want to accomplish in your life. You
may also be asked where you want to see yourself after ten years. Your
career objective should reflect clarity, presence of required skills and
aptitude, and willingness to learn and grow in order to achieve the said
goal.
● Every employer expects its employees to be well versed with the subjects
they have pursued. Hence there may be questions to assess your knowledge
of your subject. So you must brush up the fundamentals of your subject/s or
any specialization you have pursued.
TO CONTINUE
● You are expected to have good general knowledge of current affairs, updates in
your discipline, etc. There may be questions to assess your awareness of things
happening around you, you analytical ability, your mental level, and your
potential for coherent perception of happenings in the world. Make sure that you
come across as an aware person but you must not be the mouthpiece of any
particular political party, at least during the interview.
● It is absolutely essential to possess effective communication skills, oral as well
as written.Again an area, that requires continuous work on oneself.
● Be attentive during the interview and mentally alert so that you are quickly able to
understand questions and answer appropriately.
● A good candidate has a well-developed approach to life. Be consistent in your
answers, the same question may be asked with changed words. Do not ever
contradict yourself.
● Overall maintain your self -confidence. Have a positive approach towards life,
believe in yourself and be always ready to learn from your mistakes.
PREPARING FOR A JOB INTERVIEW
Successful interviews begin with preparation. Here is a list of things to do while
preparing for job interviews:

● Sit with yourself and visualize the interview. Think up the possible questions and
their answers.
● Go through a mock interview alone or with a friend. Actually practice answering
(aloud) the possible questions.You may do it before a mirror, or record/videotape
yourself and remove the mistakes.
● Gather adequate inside information about the company. Know about its working,
products, location, status etc. Also understand the nature of job you are
appearing for and prepare answers according to its requirements.
● Dress appropriately. Do not be too dressy in party or fashion clothes. Be neat,
select conservative formal clothes, no t shirts and jeans. Take care of shoes too.
● Memorize your Resume. You should know what all you have listed there.
● Be punctual. Appear relaxed, hide your tension, and Smile.
POINTS TO TAKE CARE OF DURING THE INTERVIEW
● Establish rapport. When you enter the room, look around and
establish eye contact with the people present there. Smile warmly
and greet them. Shake hands with a firm grip if offered a hand and
sit when invited to do so. Exude optimism, positivity, knowledge
and confidence. Do not come across as an arrogant person.
● Consolidate your position by answering questions accurately and
effectively. Your honesty and sincerity in answering should be
evident. You will be judged on attitude, work ethic, intelligence and
honesty.
● At the closing of the interview, stand up without dragging the chair,
gather your documents neatly, bid goodbye and leave. Do not forget
to close the door gently behind you.
SOME COMMON QUESTIONS ASKED DURING JOB INTERVIEWS
● Tell us about yourself.
● Why are you interested in this job?
● Why our company?
● What do you know about our organization?
● How did you hear about this position?
● Why are you leaving your current job?
● Why are you currently unemployed?
● You seem to change jobs frequently.
● What did you do during the years missing in your resume?
● What do you think are your strengths?
● What are your weaknesses?
● Do you have a work ‘style?’
● How would your colleagues describe you?
● Describe yourself by putting three labels.
● Do you prefer working independently or in a team?
● Tell us about a challenge you faced and how you dealt with it.
● Are you comfortable travelling for work?
● Where do you see yourself in five years?
● What are your hobbies?
● Tell us about your dream job.
● Why should we hire you over another candidate?
● Do you have any questions for me?
A FEW MORE TIPS
● Listen to the question carefully, for example : Tell us about yourself, tell us a
little about yourself, tell us something about yourself, describe yourself in
three words, what would you like me to know about you? Answer
appropriately.
● It is not just about your answer, it is also how you answer. Your body
language, manner is important too.
● They want to know about you in order to determine how you think. Do you
know about what the job requires? Do you know about company values?
● They may ask questions about your likes and dislikes, etc., remember they
are not interested in you as a person. They are merely trying to evaluate if
your profile matches that of the company.
● Identify/quantify your achievements and link them with company needs.
● While answering the weaknesses question, divide it in two parts; your
weakness and what you are doing about it.
TO CONCLUDE
It is a vast topic, can not be concluded at this stage.

REMEMBER, during an interview, there are two ways of answering questions.

● GIVING HONEST ANSWERS

● GIVING POLITICALLY-CORRECT ANSWERS
● Both are strategies with plus and negative elements. It is your choice, which
strategy you wish to follow.
● Finally, do what brings fulfillment to you as a professional and as a person.
Ideally it would help if your profession is also your passion.
● Keep working, trying to get better and better… grow into happy, confident,
knowledgeable successful people, doing good for yourself as well as for the
world around.
● ALL THE BEST !
ASSIGNMENTS

● What points should be keep in mind while preparing for a job

interview?
● What points should be kept in mind while giving a job interview?
● Have a look at the list of questions commonly asked during a job
interview. How would you answer them?