A Interview Skills ace on as This chapter offers you opportunit Why an interview? Types of interview Interview panel ‘Types of questions asked Reasons for selecting a candidate Reasons for rejecting a candidate (On the day of interview On to the interview table ‘Attending job fair Common mistakes that you wouldn't want to do ‘Questions the candidate shouldn't ask during the interview Post-interview etiquette How does one follow up? Telephonic interview Dress code at interview Typical questions asked Interview mistakes ‘Quick tips - How to present well in interview Tips to make a good impression in an interview Job interview — Basic tips How to search for job effectively Interview quotations 000000000000000900990900 ities to understand the, following topics :Types of interview ~ jf i yor’ ga social process: which Dpto consi Ceca persons — the A ; ine-Fo perviewee. Ingivesa chance ef theinte! al Tere crite | ie jimpse of the inner Oe eer Have SB P' at tte! gaguaiteS of d itd "ort span of time you have to de, skills and knowledge (ASK he interviewee. sit ery jared i you have studied for about co soe brought oun avery sy em spa of times Yenc pec prensa candidatesshould not eh fou will encounter a number of interview Nowaday’ chniques during your job search. Approaches their interview will be a ‘ pe graned tat vary according to th: sete uation, Advances in technology industry. eo aL aed te potential or applica be sega host of different mediums. diionaly che sheer number of highly sll peopl searching for fobs increases 1d for employers to find some method of ‘sangdova te numbers, However this should c Behavioural interviews ‘The interviewer will ask you to describe how you handled various situations in your life. The emphasis is on your experience and its relevance to the position for which you are being aust off potential candidates; as long as you considered. prepared, nothing should unsertle you. Prepare by identifying four or five examples Viyan interview? that show how you faced challenges and achieved. ree positive outcomes in your life. In each cass desctibea specific task or situation thacis relevant to the role in question. Situational interviews These are very similar to behavioural jnterviews. The difference is that situational ‘interviews pose hypothetical questions: rather than asking for specific examples of past | performance. ™ Questions are based on the skills and | + They persoraliy ais thar ar required for etre | i oF a mth aod ae Unstructured interviews ty eee Iissjlets conversational and informacion * prac Yo spoken image is gained through a fee-fowing discussion. The Hanae orm He eriioegmpraskeasec of users" — a know eet “termined order Pe can i w their expectati predeter Skills mPtess: them, an ‘You are required to Carry the conversation : vt a eee rey = wedge (ASK principle) and ene206 sot ils jiews ie ee of multiple cee These om urced from different parts 0 ho are usualy sourced from differ sa re likely 10 organisation, Obje ly herween member of the panel and this between mem the flow of questioning, c e classified Inshort the types of intervi asunder ¥ Structured interview proper setting and format. : ¥ Stress interview - Conducted to test one’s = Conducted with a ability to cope with stress ¥ Situational interview — Conducted to test how you react to a situation ¥ Walk-in interview — Conducted in a job fair Interview panel 5 | 20, ¥ Subject knowledge expert— tests the subject knowledge ¥ Management representative — tests the ability to be a team player HR manager ~ tests the attitude and innate interest Traits tested (Technical) * Subject know © Work skills * Finer skills * Communication skills * Ability to listen * Honesty and forthrightness Traits tested (Non-technical) * Body language © Gestures © Dress © Manners quette Attitude ‘The non-technical facto deciding factors p! final decision Types of questions asked — Direct questions These types of questio tS though py Y @ significane ro the inthe MS Predetermn the focus of your answer. eg. “Whar ini ils do you have that relate to this positigs information should be clear and specif. types of questions, whether they 4 technical or sof skills, should be cay if you have completed the research oq Indirect questions Your These late to answer Yourself Indirect questions are general and do nt ask for specific information, eg. “Tell usa yy about yourself”. You determine the focus of your answer, In response to this particular quesion, you should briefly summarize approximately four areas: education, experience, skills, and personal attributes. If possible, make your response relevant to the job you are seeking Hypothetical or situational questions These questions use a problem solving approach to determine your analytical skils and critical thinking abilities. These “What if questions are presented in the form of case examples or problem situations. You will be asked to imagine yourself experiencing a situation and will then be evaluated on how you would handle that situation, Provide your answer in a logical sequence elating to the situation. There are many different Problem solving models. ‘The following is merely ne model you could use to shape your answer * Gather information * Evaluate * Prioritize * Seck advice (if necessary) ° Weigh alternativesInterview Skills 207208 Sof iis Lae enthusiastic managerial skills Seems to have Appears to know a lot © Has the right attitude © Hasa spark © Way ahead of others «Flawless expression # Impressing personality . Laing eed Ee Reasons for rejecting a candidate “He's threatened to continue singing until we hire him.” * Doesnt haye spark * Too slow * Doesn‘ listen or think * Looks too casual * Too confused and unclear * Couldn't express himself * Doesn't have much credentials * May not adapt to the situation * Poor physical appearance * Lack of courtesy and manners © Aggressive © Lack of tact and prudence * Poor eye contact Other reasons for not hiring a candidate 1. No previous or insufficient job experience, fe. lacks six months required Previous experience in a similar or related Position, 2. Lacks qualifications, i.c., lacks required/ ‘recommended PC experience, lacks the years of progressively responsible experience, 3. PYAR oa Unable t© do the job because o reasons or disability and , f eligi, ©aSonah accommodation will not wor or ya ot se undue hardship. Not interested in job applied for Poor references Lied on application Would nor relocate Candidate requires a higher silary thay authorized. On the day of interview — Dress well but be conservative Take more than one copy of your resume Reach early (check out the venue the day before) Sequence your documents Don’t miss the food On to the interview table_,| aa | your bod language: Waesnarty but anodes om the entrance F othe ble pe yoarsighthand orwardand bow down * ile shaking hand ; 4g Sestandardcrose legs poston ¥ ainraina moderate ee contact F Donot move your hands and head aimlessy 4 pe noc do anything disractive + be nor place your hands on the table 4 Do not lean back on the chair 4 Pickup your papers on receiving signal from the chainperson 4¢ Sand, bow down and thank them before __Ieaving voice: In the higher dimensions, words and ght are replaced by clear, unbroken rones. one picture is worth a thousand words, one one is worth a million pictures. Those who can arthese tones, high above all the other sounds Irs not so much what you say, as the nner in which you say it. Your tone conveys nes literally. Your message depends not so ch on the language you use, as the tone in hich you convey it. Words may be mild and fair, bus the tone pierce like a dart. Words may be soft as summer air, but the tone may break your Words spring from the mind. They can ‘manipulated and contrived. They may be icate by design. But tones rise from the inner self, pure in itr intention, revealing the truth. Whether u know it or not, whether you mean itor care Poutit, all emotions are conveyed by your fone. ‘the index of the mind. is the index of the soul. hnlenien Sis 209 All emotions surface in the tone. Keep negativity not only out of your but keep it out of your aie ogee = Undertones Tone is an important factor in any communication and striking the right tone can be particularly challenging, In electronic communication — such as e-mail or instant messages — there is an absence of inflections facial expressi i sor body language. + Enter with a favourable and courteous tone + Control your voice all the time + Adjust the volume of your voice + Never speak at the top of your voice + Do not rush too much + Do not whisper + Speak with your normal accent Concept of groomable « et form well or at "During interview try © pe! oie impression that you can be uined in the days to come. Attending job fair all the items, which you need {rake them along, pies of your resume210 Soft Skis roe Sy © Make different versions of your resume for different companies e Carry along reference letters, recommendations, a portfolio of your work © Remember to carry afile or folder which can hold your papers © Review the list of organizations and then research the organization you are interested © Dress to impress; your dress will tell your attitude ® Convey maturity © Present yourself in a professional manner ® Spore the right attitude ® Go prepared Common mistakes that you wouldn’t want todo © Don't say things like ‘I am ready to do anything’ © Don't be stingy with your resumes © Don't be short on enthusiasm © Don't ask inappropriate questions © Don't spore a bad attitude ~~ Questions the candidate sh e t oul during the interview 5 ZS n't ash Can you tell me something about your company? An aspiring candidate is supposed to vise the company website and understand its business model, products, services, history, ete Will you do a reference check? Most companies use the services ofa third arty agency to conduct a ‘reference check’. The moment you ask this question the interviewer may think you have something to hide, What is your leave policy? Dont ask this question. It looks like you like to relax. While most companies talk of work life balance, few practice them. Do you work on Saturdays? Avoid this question, as the employer gets 4 suspicion about your intentions to work hard When will I get my next increment? This question makes you appear ‘greedy’ Avoid itat this stage of the interview process. The employer thinks that you are looking at money all che time and hence will change jobs if offered a marginally higher salary. Do you have any other jobs available in your company? ‘You may be offered a job that you think is below your aspirations. If you feel that the job is below your ability, then say so directly at the interview. fins nei the Aré you bos be pra wt ov ist the fur wh ni Pogoon can I transfer to another role? jo" his question has no me go the employer “I dont like Hi ae ling as you literally 91 are, Remember is} | xesnpable ie in the offered role a ste gap our ermance rane you sent srelime about the best way (bus st each the office from my most employers will keep can yo or train) t residence? Dont ask this ques find the answer by calking £0 people in the Be phourhood and a the bus, tain station or whe employees of the organization. Are there opportunities for promotion? Once you join the company and prove yourself, then you can raise this issue with your toss. In today's job market, your priority should fet first get che job. Is better to look for promotion after chat. When do I start? The employer will think that you are overconfident and brash, and may not suit chem. ‘Abetter way for job seekers to show their interest is to be direct. They should tell the interviewer they are very interested in being considered further for the position and offer to rovide posi Pp ‘whatever additional information the company might need. Post-interview etiquette ion! You can easily Interview Skis 247 After interview you sit for hours together You assume that the employer will call you and inform of the outcome & Employers have several top candidates attending interviews & Taking initiative to follow up the interview & Employer sometimes uses this as a screening device © Therefore those who follow up may be the cones who reach the final & Following up demonstrates skills such as commitment, steadfastness, determination to pursue things. x E-mail © e mal - in case the interview was through internet ermal docs not waste the time of the interviewer © email must not be too long Telephone calls A1.212 5 © ‘tho next bert option : 3 ‘Telephone call all for greater and careful planning © Siart with > During! ol © Establish why you are d job Letters the right time to talk xo you entire call keep the conversation fhe best option for the Suitable when you want to send a thank you note to the employer Lewers retain the personal touch > Liked by traditionalists Becareful about the spelling and grammar— this may spoil performance in the interview © Remember itis nota suitable method in the era of technology Timeframe © Adore cera eee Bitirrcillsctredtorscci 2 ieee } Gia anemone ek da cee ee Cleo © At the-same rime Communteate your sustained interest in the job Thank you note Aa > Senda thank you note to all your interviewery © Lear their names and designation and i¢ possible get their card > Senda thank you note to administrative staff ‘00 > These notes must be sent for every interview irrespective of your performance. Mention the interview details ‘© Mention all the details ofthe interview © Helps che interviewer to remember This will help him in answering you with great case Remember not co give the impression that you are desperate Be sensitive to any subtle hint the employer gives and stop immediately Your follow up may be what your employer is looking for. Te might be your interest in the job that can tilt the balance in your favour. Telephonic interview .ac deal of applicants will be oe ingle role and therefore the | one T mply not have the time or eee meet everyone personally. A quick soees he phone will allow them to narrow $307 eT bers further. Although this Fee quite nerve racking, in fact it tio? os with the perfect opportunity eae their thoroughly researched orf less intimidating situation. ‘The prs sould be bore fn mind: fale to predictable questions should be + Anse ly researched and applicants should = Intervie Skils 293 eP your resume in clear view, on of your desk, or tape it to the wall pee phone, so its at * your fingertips when ced to answer eee ean Have a short list of call canes SRE an Have Haye a pen and paper handy for note taking. Turn call-waiting off so your call isn't interrupted. If the time isn't convenient, ask if you could talk at another time and suggest some alternatives, Clear the room - evict the kids and the pets. Turn off the stereo and the TV. Close the door. Unless you're sure your cell phone service is going to be perfect, consider using a landline rather than your cell phone ro avoid a dropped cal or static on the line. Practice Talking on the phone isn't as easy as it seems, Haye a friend or family member conduct a mock interview and tape record it so you can see how you sound over the phone. Any cassette recorder will work. You'll be able to hear your “ms” and “uhs” and “okays” and you can practice reducing them from your conversational During the phone interview — Donit smoke, chew gum, eat, or drink. “Do keep a glass of water handy, in case you ‘to wet your mouth. Smiling will project 2 positive image 0 ic and will change the tone of your y and enunciate cleatly. (Me. or Ms. and their name if they ask[214 soils if it would be possible to meet in person. After the interview © Take notes about what you were asked and how you answered. ‘+ Remember to say “thank you.” Follow with a thank you note which reiterates your interest in the job. In sho: remember the following during telephonic interview > Stay calm and positive 2 Voice matters a lot > English grammar matters a lot > Try mock runs with your friends 2 Have your resume in front of you > Have the supporting materials with you > Jor down a few notes about the points you would like to discuss with the interviewer > Mention your interest and passion > Remember you cannot make out what the fnterviewer thinks about you (no clue of body. language) Dress code at interview ~. etcup a face-to-face ‘© Remember your goal isto set-up he view. Afier you thank the interviewer ask Parts and spiked hair til stoved upin rumpled dotherge ch falling down. One recruitereven told with his trousers down below ine winnie Your ants Up.” According vo ee” outlandish dress costs some candidates gosh Women’s interview attire Solid colour, conservative suig * Coordinated blouse * Moderate shoes Others chev th * Limited jewellery Neat, professional hairstyle Tan or light hosiery Sparse make-up and perfume © Manicured nails * Portfolio or briefcase Men's interview attire, * Solid colour, conservative suit White long sleeve shirt * Conservative tie Dark socks, professional shoes * Very limited jewellery * Neat, professional hairstyle Go easy on the aftershave © Neatly trimmed nails * Portfolio or briefcase In short * Look smart Wear a white or light coloured shirt * Avoid loud colours and flashy ties ® Hair recently cut and look neat * Shave in the morning Avoid piercing dress Avoid high heels Avoid junky jewellery and accessories Hlavea modest make up and perfume Have a folder or brief case itl ‘ In foci e vi ukely ee 1 Face answer specifi incerv Interv compa «© Wh « Wh Wh you * Are ‘wi “wh on ‘wr w ‘wiIntenviw Skils 215. J ’ tions asked — © What are your goals for the next five years / ten years? i N ( ) How do you plan to achieve those goals? Whar ate your salary requirements - both short-term and long-term? ” * Questions about your eareer goal. Interview questions: Work history sypical aus * Name of company, position title and description, dates of employment Interv ‘What were your expectations for the job and jr jo seekers who have gone on countless Rneeeereneiere they mic for Pes, The best way to reduce the stress 4 easement iro be prepared. Take the time to review the Pome ereen sendar interview questions you will most 4 Whac vere your responsibil? Hilly be asked, Also review sample answers to 4 Whae iia Beripebiensdidyoul hese typical incerview questions. face? How did you handle them? - ‘hen takethetimetorescarch the company. Which was most / least rewarding? hat way youll be ready with Knowledgeable 4 What was the biggest accomplishment / | answers for the job int iguestiens| thar failure in this position? 5 the;company you arc § (nestions about your supervisors and co- 7 workers ‘© Wharwasiclikeworking for your supervisor? 4 What were his strengths and shortcomings? © Who was your best boss and who was the worst? © Why are you leaving your job? ‘® What have you been doing since your last job? jews are always stressful - even What were your starting and final levels of Do you take work home with yo nany hours do you normally work? Id you describe the pace at which ou handle stress and pressure? res you? your salary expectations? u find are the most difficultWhat are your pet peeve n eriticize about Whar do people t most often When was the happened? ereangry? What lasctime you werea st 10 years of your Fyou could relive the last 10 years ais pac wuld you do deer? ite 9 ere asked why Fhe people who know you were asked wh ¢ Fresltbs hid what would they say Do you prefer 19 work independently oF in ateam? Si les of | «Give some exampl © What type of work environment do you teamwork. prefer? pd © How do you ae ee # Ifyou know your boss is 100% wrong about eine hogpaldlyou handle i # Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it. * Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it. © More job interview questions about your abilities, * More job interview questions about you Interview makes iding mistakes is very important a5 much as doing the perfect thin, mistake can cost you the job. time of facing interview, mistakes should avoided, The first two are a the following. © Late Arrival: Man candidat before the interview buts thoy?!" to, venue will be new many wil potion of ® give high priority for pure, before the regular habituated ig? °°4 pl, & Odd Dressing: First impression 4 impression. That’ possible rg ig! tb dress sense only. Informal way ft over smart dressing is the biggest n Dressing, strategy can be exuif observing other professionals, Submitting resume w offering handshake prior to liste, Y adopted ithout sign; the interven and eee istal at you n Wer ate the other mistakes that you make duap’ 3 interview. Quick tips - How to present well in interview, 1. Listen well 2. Understand clearly what you listen 3. Take time before you respond 4, Make eye contact >. Use appropriate volume 6. Avoid a monotone 7. Slow down to the point 8. Don't mumble 9. Pronounce your words correctly 10. Use the tight words II: Be Polit, respectful and sincere | | |Job interview - Basic tins ‘An interview gives you the opportunity to esent your talent f0 an employer, so it pays to be well prepared. Some basic job Interview tips: «Review your resume thoroughly «Learn more about the organization, + Prepare answers t0 sensitive questions about yourself # Have a Mock Interview with a friend or relatives. Arrive before the scheduled time of your interview. ‘+ Dress appropriately. Do not chew gum or smoke, «Relax abit. ‘« Answer each question concisely by listening what the interviewer is expecting. ond promptly. hand avoid artificial slang. Interview Skills 217 J your answer would be like joyful, enthusiastic, eager to meet etc. So a good smile on face, a firm handshake and eye contact are the few ways to make you likable by the employer. And if interviewer likes you it will enhance your chances of getting the offer letter Chit chat Ieee other reerleenlleerays help to know each other. Small tlk or chit chat With interviewer also puts both partes at case and this small talk could be your golden chance to demonstrate your abilities/ skill and correlate them with the requirement of the job. Do your homework ‘Whenever you go for interview you should also do your homework first. Know as much as possible about the company and the job profile by visiting company website, job posting from the company on websites like www.naukti.com » wwwmonster. com etc, Also, not to forget to know about the interviewer also (if you know who will take interview). You can look about him at vatious professional networking sites like wwwlinkedin. com or wwwsiliconindia. com or simply search www.google.com by his name or email id, co know more about the person. Get ready with FAQs One research shows that 70% of the questions are common, asked in most of the interviews. The idea behind asking those ons by the interviewer is to analyze the eal and don’ forget to support your proof! igure. Ifyou say, you have ieved your target nobody is going ad, if you state that you have frarget of last quarter which was reate a positive impact on quantify your claims[218 Sof til : How to search for job effectively - Job seekers will be bored of eae jobs aily and applying for the jobs daily. So what is Beeiccr gee rid of boredom ...cvery body's answer will be JOB...yes , buchow to get the Job and how effectively search can be performed. That's what che question is ina lot of job seekers minds, Searching is easy and sorting out that particular search is tough as lot of websites, newspapers and other magazines offer the same job openings. Now, looking fora job is a full time job in itself, and requires the same systematic approach, perseverance and hard work. Yet, the task of job search can be broken down into simple steps, and each step tackled individually. If you follow the steps diligently, there is no reason you will not land the job of your dreams- © Firstofall, make a decision about the type of job thats ideal for you. Beside your obvious interest and liking for a field, your work area will be greatly determined by your technical qualifications and training, © Make a lise of your technical qualifications, vocational courses, interests, skills and strengths. Also list down your previous work experience, ifany in the field of your interest, * Go through the want ads in newspapers, magazines, industry journals and internet, Make a note of the companies and specific jobs and positions that interest you as per your experience and qualifications. Now, do Some research. List down the job descriptions of these positions, and match them with your list of skill sets. Select the jobs which you find ‘most appropriate. © Network, network and n you know that you ar and ask them to hel boys’ network. companies and ask 6¥0Fk Tell € looking «ve IP. Refresh yay ish YOUr contacts jn ‘ask them if they jy, thet int positions. You can even car” of former employerand ask forhely reat? a helpifyeus? been able to maintain cordial rege?! * ation + Write a resume anda corereter fore, Sach of these positions separately, Ty send the same aoe eae since the job descriptions mig State your objective inthe resume, Lis skills and strengths, and your specigc and achievements using these skills. # Send the resumes to all addressed specifically to cate not yg he companies he vary slighty, the companies the concerned person, Do some research to find out the name of that person; do nocaddressit "Des HR Manager”. Upload your resume ig various career sites like Monster, Hot Jobe etc. If you can find the e-mail addreses of the HR managers, you can send your resumes over the mail. Call the concerned managets and ask for a possible vacancy oran interview * Last, but of course, nor the least, follow up In fact, follow up endlessly. Persistence pays while searching for a job. In conclusion, a job search requires a systematic approach, and a lot of persistence Identify your skills and strengths, match them with the job descriptions of the desired vacancies, and make a fresh resume and cover lettet for every position. Ask everyone for help; use your network of family, friends and colleagues. And be persistencin the follow up. You will definitely get the dream job. Thterview quotations a (()) Quotes to Remember .. |‘You never get a second chance for the first impression. Too many of us sell ourselves short ‘visual impression lingers longer than words. 4, Small things make perfection but perfection jsnot asmall thing, ‘Theerror ofa momentcan become the sorrow ofa life ime. ‘The two words success story “work works”, -_ No bees no honey. . Your attitude determines your altitude For further reference read the following books on Interview = + Brilliant Job Hunting : How to Gee the Job Yu an Author): Fagan, Angela Format Interview Skils 219 J + The Interview Rehearsal Book (Paperback) bby Deb Gottesman (Author), Buzz Mauro (Author + 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions (Paperback)by Vicky Oliver (Author) “An old adage tells us “there are no stupid questions...” (more) + 201 Best Questions To Ask On Your Interview (Paperback) by John Kador (Author) “Every job interview, if the job seeker is lucky, gets o this stage...” (more) + Fearless Interviewing: How to Win the Job. by Marky + Winning Job Interviews: Reduce Interview Anxiety / Ourprepare the Other Candidates (Land the Job You Love (Paperback)by Paul Powers + How to Interview Like a Top MBA: Job- Winning Strategies From Headhunters, Fortune 100 Recruiters, and Carcer Counselors (Paperback)by Dr. Shel Leanne + Knock ‘Em Dead 2000 by Martin Yate + Sweaty Palms: The Neglected Art of Being Interviewed by H. Anthony Medley + Interview Strategies Thac Will Get You the Job You Want by Andrea G. Kay 250 Job Interview Questions You'll Most