Facing A Job Interview

OFFICE of UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI ALA!SIA

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Competition is stiff at all levels

In the STAR (April 1, 2006): Stiff Fi ht for AirAsia !o"s
# $00 hopef%ls &ere intervie&e' for ste&ar'esses !o"s # onl( )0 &o%l' "e pi*+e' for a se*on' intervie&, # -.I &as re!e*te' "e*a%se of the small s*ars on m( han',/ S%0ithra 1ai'%, a 222(ear2ol' of Chinese an' In'ian parenta e, -.I mi ht tr( m( l%*+ an' o for another intervie& some other time,/ she a''e',
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4o%r !o" *ompetitors are ever(&here .,

4o%r o&n *lassmates ( i,e, same ra'%atin *lass of S55) 4o%r fa*%lt( (S56, S57, S55, S58 an' S5R of F555SA) 4o%r %niversit( (all fa*%lties in 9T:) ;o*al %niversities<*olle es
7overnment (I8TA) 8rivate (I8TS)

=verseas ra'%ates >?perien*e' people (&ith 'e rees or not)

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8reparation "efore the intervie&

Assess (o%r intervie&in s+ills, Ahat are (o%r stren ths an' &ea+nessesB Aor+ on *orre*tin (o%r &ea+nesses, s%*h as: spea+in rapi'l(, tal+in too lo%' or too soft et*, 8re'i*t some C%estions relate' to (o%r !o" (o% are appl(in an' prepare ans&ers to them, 8ra*ti*e ivin ans&ers &hi*h are "rief "%t thoro% h 8ra*ti*e tailorin (o%r ans&ers to sho& ho& (o% meet the *ompan(Ds nee's, if (o% have 'etails a"o%t the spe*ifi* !o" "efore the intervie& Assess (o%r overall appearan*e, an' tr( to improve # roomin , appropriate *lothin , shoes, et*, Resear*h the *ompan( # the more (o% +no& a"o%t the *ompan(, an' the !o" (o% are appl(in for, the "etter (o% &ill 'o in the intervie& Colle*t all ne*essar( 'o*%ments, *reate (o%r *over letter, res%me, than+ (o% letter et*, Arrive earl( for the intervie& # plan 10 to 1) min%tes earl(, an' have time to fin' a restroom an' *he*+ (o%r appearan*e,
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Ahat Eo >mplo(ers Sa(B

;t, Colonel (Rt') Ir, Eat%+ Aahir%''in "in A"'%l Aahi', 7eneral :ana er for Corporate Affairs, Shell :ala(sia

The( are impresse' "( *an'i'ates &ho have e?*ellent *omm%ni*ation s+ills, oo' roomin ha"its, an' relevant &or+ e?perien*eF

The( &ant to hire ne& emplo(ees &ho *an move ri ht in, et alon &ith their *o2&or+ers, an' et the !o" 'one &itho%t havin to "e traine' at ea*h step,
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Ahat Eo >mplo(ers See+B

Comm%ni*ation s+ills: a"ilit( to *omm%ni*ate *learl( &ith peers, mana ers, *%stomers Team&or+ s+ills: &or+ &ell &ith others Interpersonal s+ills: relates &ell &ith others Comp%ter s+ills Anal(ti*al s+ills Gonest(<inte rit( :otivation<initiative Fle?i"ilit(<a'apta"ilit( Aillin ness to share information an' i'eas Responsiveness or a'apta"ilit( to *han e Eat%+ G!, :ah"o" "in 5hali' A"ilit( to &or+ %n'er press%re Sense of o&nership of &or+ an' i'eas Aillin ness to ta+e *al*%late' ris+s, &itho%t fear of *onseC%en*es :%lti*%lt%ral e?perien*e an'<or a"ilit( to spea+ m%ltiple lan %a es Commitment to *ontin%o%s learnin , s+ills 'evelopment 6

Aarm %p sli'e 1@
Intervie&er &ill 'es*ri"e !o" position et*, Aarm %p C%estion: i,e Intro'%*e (o%rself (please ans&er short an' "rief) Ahat to tell an' &hat not to tell (i,e avoi' personal iss%es)<limit (o%r response<tell onl( positive st%ff >?plain: &or+in e?perien*e to s%pport appli*ation for the post applie' for<pro!e*t involve<some a*a'emi* "a*+ ro%n'

S%

estions

1ot to sa( (es or no, then stop, "%t e?plain, if (es &h(, if no &h(B >?perien*e an' e'%*ational histor(< 6e prepare' C%estion from (o%r res%me, i,e Go""(: rea'in , the intervie&er ma( as+, &hat "oo+ have (o% rea'B If (o% *annot ans&er, (o% trap (o%r self, Can'i'ate m%st e?plain &hat he<she *an *ontri"%te to the *ompan(, >?plain : soft s+ill<har' s+ill (sports a*tivit() Go& 'o (o% plan to improve (o%rself (i,e '%rin intervie& intervie&er noti*e (o% have some la*+in a"o%t (o%rself) Career path: m%st st%'( in ) (ears to "e*ome &hatB In that parti*%lar post applie' for

FAJs E%rin an Intervie&

Tell me about yourself. Keep your answer brief (the interviewer is only interested in your goals, experience, interests and communication skills) What are your strengths? Emphasize your good traits and those that relate to the job for which you re interviewing! "ou can mention an area that you re working to improve or have recently made great strides! #ive specific example to illustrate your point What are your weaknesses? $ention something actually your strength, e!g!% &'m a perfectionist or & am too disciplined( What do you know about the company? )o your homework before the interview* +pend some time to collect information including products, size, reputation, image, skills, history and philosophy of the company! ,roject an informed interest- let the interviewer tell you about the company!
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FAJs E%rin an Intervie& (*ontD')

Why do you want to work here? .his is a good chance to mention how you can apply your skills, interests and goals to the job Why should we hire you? .ake this opportunity to highlight the uni/ue /ualities you can bring to the job Why do you need a change now? (! to develop my potential, (!!the opportunities in my present company are limited ( Tell me about a problem you had in your last job and how you resolved it? (this is assessing your analytical skills and see if you are a team player)
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FAJs E%rin an Intervie& (*ont')

Why are you leaving your present job? 0efine your answer based on your comfort level and honesty! #ive a 1group1 answer if possible, e!g! our department was consolidated or eliminated! How would you evaluate your present firm? 2n excellent company that afforded me many fine experiences! You may be overqualified for the position we have to offer. +trong companies need strong people! 2 growing, energetic company is rarely unable to use its people talents! Emphasize your interest in a long3 term association, pointing out that the employer will get a faster return on investment because you have more experience than re/uired!
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FAJs E%rin an Intervie& (*ontD')

What do you look for in a job? 2n opportunity to use your skills, to perform and be recognized! an you work under pressures! deadlines! etc.? "es, it s a way of life in business especially in the present trend of globalization "n your present position! what problems have you identified that had previously been overlooked? Keep it brief and don t brag!

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4o%r C%estion time

8repare 223 C%estions for the *ompan( , !%st to sho& (o%r interest2 as+ intelli ent C%estion 7eneral C%estion: that &ill ive "enefits to the *ompan( onl(, 1ot personal interest %nless "ein as+ (i,e ho& m%*h salar( &ill I etB) avoi' personal "enefit C%estion

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S%mmation
9s%all( intervie&er &ill notif( &hen the 'e*ision &ill "e ma'e Can'i'ate stan' %p an' offer han'2sha+e (=ptional), Sa( than+ (o% &ith proper smile Sa( I loo+ for&ar' to hear from (o% soon, Sa( oo' "(e<salam Eo not lin er
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=verall Intervie& Tips Eo

6e sin*ere an' 'ire*t 6e attentive an' polite As+ relevant C%estions Ans&er C%estions *on*isel( 9se spe*ifi* e?amples to ill%strate points

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=verall Intervie& Tips (*ontD')

EonDt
Tr( to *ontrol the entire intervie& 6e too serio%s Sho& (o% are 'epresse' or 'is*o%ra e' :a+e ne ative *omments a"o%t an(one or (o%r *ompan( ;oo+ at (o%r &at*h Ta+e e?tensive notes Tal+ a"o%t salar( an' "enefits 2 "est left for a se*on' intervie&, or, "etter (et, a !o" offer Ans&er (o%r han' phone or S:S someone (p%t it asi'e on silent mo'e)

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Avoi' the top 10 !o" intervie& mista+es

1, 2, 3, @, ), 6, H, $, I, 10, 1ot ta+in the intervie& serio%sl( ;a*+ of enth%siasm 1ot sho&in &h( (o% are the "est *hoi*e Sa( I thin+<(o% +no&,,et* Tal+in too m%*h Fo*%sin on the emol%ment or pa( Trash tal+in Failin to as+ C%estions Eressin 'o&n For ettin the follo&s %p,
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After atten'in the intervie&.,

Than+ a'ministrative assistants or someone &ho assiste' (o% on (o%r arrival at the intervie& ven%eF 7oo' etiC%ette &ill p%sh (o% one step f%rther Follo& %p "( sen'in a than+ (o% letter (or alternativel( sen' a *ar' than+in the intervie&ers et*,)

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"To be a great champion, you must believe that you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are - Muhammad Ali
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1ormeena A"'%l Rashi'

San 6oon >n 20