Résumé and Interview Preparation

2016
What Employers look for
 Intelligence ,knowledge and aptitude
 Ability to do the job
 Self Management Skills
 People Management skills
Questions to ask
1. What is the job/ designation/role I am applying for?
2. What are the skills required?
3. What qualifications are important to this job?
4. Why should they hire me?
Exercise:
What skills are the employers looking for here??
As an HR assistant, you'll be responsible for recruitment, training, employment law compliance,
employee benefits, handling grievances, disciplinary action and dismissals You'll be working
closely with line managers and individual employees. Initially you will be will be largely involved
with administration duties (updating personnel records, pay reviews, etc.).
Responsibilities
◦ Handle recruitment drives,
◦ Screening, selecting and on boarding
◦ Coordinate Induction and training activities
◦ Assist in pay reviews, grievance handling
◦ Maintain and update employee database
◦ Create training calendar and coordinate with vendors
The Skills required
 Enjoy working with people
 Be patient, tactful, diplomatic and approachable
 Have good organising skills
 Have problem solving skills
 Be able to work as part of a team
 Be able to work accurately, with good attention to detail
 Be able to use databases, spreadsheets, word processing and accounts packages
Creating Winning
Resume/CVs
What is the purpose of a Resume/CV?

To get you an Interview!!

What is a Resume/CV
A sales letter that gets you to the interview
◦ A resume (summary), or a CV, contains details about a person’s educational qualifications, work
experience, professional achievements and other accomplishments.
◦ A bio-data contains details such as one’s date of birth, religion, gender, nationality, marital status,
hobbies, etc.

A resume or CV is prepared mainly for the purpose of applying for a job whereas a bio-data is
prepared for various other purposes.
Provides the ‘doors’ to the interviewer
How to Write a Resume
When You're Just Out of College
1. List a career objective if you’re clear on
what you want to do or you’re applying to a
specific job.
2. List your school, degree year, and any
honors, including your grade point average if
it’s high.
3. Consider listing additional coursework
outside your major.
4. Take a fresh look at what you may think are
menial jobs.
6. Think about whether your coursework
could be considered work experience.
7. Use active verbs.
8. Be specific in your descriptions and
quantify with numbers wherever possible.
9. Try a “brain dump” of your work, schooling
and other experiences.
10. Consider an alternative format.

5. Scrutinize your extra-curricular activities

and think about how they might relate to a
real-world job.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/05/10/how-to-write-a-resume-when-youre-just-out-of-college/#5261755c50ca
The doors concept
The things that you put on the
Resume/CV are like doors waiting to
be opened.
Each door they open should
communicate your brilliance.
Never put a door that has nothing
inside.
The Resume/CV starts with the Job
Description
Window dress your Resume/CV to suit the job description
Has the CV been tailored to the job that you are applying for? Have you included important
information that the recruiter looks for?
Questions to ask
1. What is the job/ designation/role I am applying for?
2. What are the skills required?
3. What qualifications are important to this job?
4. Why should they hire me?
Before writing the Resume/CV
1. Strengths /Skills relevant to the job
2. Accomplishments at each work place
A good CV has the following sections
1. Name and contact details (address, email, 1. Skills (mainly technical)
phone)
2. Areas of interest (related to the job
2. Objective applied for)
3. Summary of profile 3. Strengths (communication, interpersonal,
leadership, computer, etc.)
4. Education and qualifications
4. Interests and
5. Internships/work experience
5. Reference (include names of two referees,
6. Achievements (academic and other) their designations and contact details:
email and phone number.)
Formats
FORMAT I FORMAT II

Name Name
Objective - optional Objective
Contact Details – phone number and email Education
Summary of profile Experience
Educational Qualifications Certifications
Work Experience Technical skills
Achievements Personal details –DOB, community etc.
Certifications References
Personal details –DOB, community etc. MS Word comes with set templates which can
References be used with ease
Many resources are available online e.g.
https://www.livecareer.com/resume-builder
Writing the objective
Have you stated your objective clearly? Objective here implies the
purpose of sending your CV. Your ‘career objective’ could be different
from your ‘application objective’.
Examples
◦ To obtain a Marketing Manager position that requires good relationship
building and organizational abilities
◦ To obtain a position as Human resource Manager
Summary of Profile
Sample
◦ MBA graduate with experience in channel sales of construction products. Excellent communicator with
good negotiations skills. Ability to speak English, Hindi and Tamil fluently. Good network of wholesalers
and dealer outlets.
How to write the Work Experience
Write Designation, Name of the Company, Duration
◦ Use Bullet points
◦ Use Action words like
◦ Developed
◦ Coordinated
◦ Achieved
◦ Assisted
◦ Organized
◦ Presented
◦ Conducted
◦ Analysed.etc
Understanding
Copywriting
techniques
Does it have a
pleasing and
professional
appearance and
thus catches the
recruiter’s eyes?
WHAT IS the purpose
of an INTERVIEW?
It is an effort by the employer to find the suitable candidate and for the candidate to find
the suitable employer.
Types of job interviews
One on one Interviews
Group Interviews
Telephone Interviews
Panel interviews
What % of employers hire potential
employees based on the following?

Appearance and impression 45%

Reliable and punctual 35%

Work experience ( depends on the job) 10%

Education/training 10%
Preparing for the
Interview
Preparing for Interviews
Know Yourself
Know the position you are applying for – research the employer.
Know the company listing the position – prepare a list of questions.
Success Principles
1. Principle of Centering
i. Understanding
ii. Aligning

2. Principle of Focus
i. Focusing on the NOW
ii. Letting go of the attachment to the outcome

3. Principle of Leverage
i. Non Resistance
ii. Leveraging
Steps to Interview success
• Calm and centered
• Bring your focus into the NOW-this is not the time to worry about the outcome
• Get your doors ready
• Be non defensive
• Never ever let opposing punches make contact
• Maintain focus
• Gather support
Handling Fear
We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to
look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot- Eleanor Roosevelt
The nature of Emotions
The more you repress the more powerful it
becomes
Handling nervousness and fear is crucial to
freeing up your thinking process and better
performance
Use the AAF method to reduce the intensity of
the emotion
Preparing for the Interview
1. Understand the job – (Everything starts
with the job description)
2. Research the company

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mkl45ejleg/do-your-homework/#4b1c24277300
Questions to ask
What is the job description?
What exact skills /experience are they looking for?
What is the company? What business are they in? What services/products do they offer? What
is their culture and history?
What do you have to offer to this organization?
What skills, abilities and experience specific to the job do you bring?
Preparing for the Interview
1. Understand the job – (Everything starts
with the job description)
2. Research the company
3. Clean up their social media profile

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mkl45ejleg/do-your-homework/#4b1c24277300
Preparing for the Interview
1. Understand the job – (Everything starts
with the job description)
2. Research the company
3. Clean up their social media profile
4. Prepare a Resume/CV

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mkl45ejleg/do-your-homework/#4b1c24277300
Preparing for the Interview
1. Understand the job – (Everything starts
with the job description)
2. Research the company
3. Clean up their social media profile
4. Prepare a Resume/CV
5. Get clarity on your objectives

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mkl45ejleg/do-your-homework/#4b1c24277300
Preparing for the Interview
1. Understand the job – (Everything starts
with the job description)
2. Research the company
3. Prepare a Resume/CV
4. clean up their social media profile
5. Get clarity on your objectives
6. Dress well

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mkl45ejleg/do-your-homework/#4b1c24277300
Grooming Checklist
 Dress Shoes
Clean & Ironed Clean & Polished
Well fitting

Socks Makeup
Clean Not torn Light
Elastic not loose Complementing your face

Hair Jewellery
Clean & Dandruff free Delicate & minimum
Well combed

Nails Today did you…

Clean Cut & Filed Bathe /shower
Polish - Men - NO Brush teeth
Women - Light & not chipped Shave (men)
polish Use deodorant
Preparing for the Interview
1. Understand the job – (Everything starts
with the job description)
2. Research the company
3. Prepare a Resume/CV
4. clean up their social media profile
5. Get clarity on your objectives
6. Dress well
7. Arrive Early

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mkl45ejleg/do-your-homework/#4b1c24277300
Weapons in your arsenal
Well drafted Resume/CV
Clarity of thought and purpose
Understanding of your strengths and abilities
Understanding of what the job requires
Communication skills
Smile
During the Interview
Getting into the zone
The right perspective
◦ It is an effort by the employer to find the suitable candidate and for the candidate to find the suitable
employer.
◦ You just don’t want any job.
Strategies to adopt
Project your image/professional profile
◦ Utilize your experiences, skills, interests and
values as a backdrop to answer the question

Use the DOORS concept

◦ The STAR Method
◦ Situation
◦ Task
◦ Action
◦ Result (Don’t forget this one)

◦ Bangalore days interview scene

Strategies to adopt
Project your image/professional profile
◦ Utilize your experiences, skills, interests and
values as a backdrop to answer the question

Use the DOORS concept

◦ The STAR Method
◦ Situation
◦ Task
◦ Action
◦ Result (Don’t forget this one)

Get excited! Convey your individuality and

eagerness
Enthusiasm
Enthusiastic people seem to work harder, longer and more accurately than those who are not
enthusiastic.
Top executive recruiters agree there are only three true job interview questions1, they are:
1.  Can you do the job? Strengths
2.  Will you love the job? Motivation
3.  Can we tolerate working with you? Fit
Most people like to work with others who are enthusiastic about their work.
Pursuit of Happyness Interview Scene

1
http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgebradt/2011/04/27/top-executive-recruiters-agree-there-are-only-three-key-job-interview-questions/#7f9e55984de7
Understanding Communication
Verbal
◦ Tone
◦ Volume
◦ Pitch

Non Verbal
◦ Is it possible to communicate without words?
◦ Studies show that over half of your message is carried through nonverbal elements:
◦ Your appearance
◦ Your body language
◦ The tone and
◦ the pace of your voice.
First Impression
What to avoid to not create a negative first impression
Dress & grooming:
 dresses of lower quality with inappropriate
coloures Eye contact
 messy dressing style  Very little eyecontact
 dirty shoes Body posture
 Voice  Poor posture
 Monotone and weak voice,  Bad hygiene
 poor vocabulary Devil Wears Prada Interview Scene

Handshake
 Cold, limp handshake
Language of Gestures
 Body language and nonverbal communication are transmitted through the eyes, face, hands,
arms, legs and posture (sitting and walking)
 Each individual, isolated gesture is like a word in sentence; it is difficult and isolated
dangerous to interpret in and of itself.
 Therefore consider the gesture in the light of everyhing else that is going on around you.
Eyes
Windows of the soul, excellent are indicators of feelings.
Shifty eyes, beady eyes and look of steel demonstrate awareness.
Honest person has a tendency to look you straight in the eye when speaking.
At least listeners accept it like that.
The Arms and Legs
Crossed arms tend to signal defensiveness.
They seemingly act as a protective guard
against an anticipated attack or a fixed
position which the other person would rather
not move.
Conversely, arms open and extended toward
you generally indicate openness and
acceptance.
Posture: Sitting and Walking
Sitting with your legs crossed and elevated foot moving in a slight circular motion indicates
boredom or impatience.
Interest and involvement are usually projected by sitting on the edge of the chair and leaning
slightly forward.
Generally, people who walk fast and swing their arms freely tend to know what they want and
to go after that.
What to Avoid
◦ Hand to Face ◦ Picking at lint on clothing
◦ Cover Mouth ◦ Moving Away
◦ Touch Nose ◦ Slow response
◦ Lip Biting ◦ Long Answers
◦ Foot Tapping ◦ Vocal Pitch
◦ Play with Collar
Tools for interviewing
S – Face the person SQUARELY
O – Adopt an OPEN posture
L – LEAN toward the sender
A – Acknowledge communicator by maintaining good EYE contact
R – Try to be RELAXED
What aids listening?
 Maintaining relaxed body
posture
 Leaning slightly forward if
sitting
 Facing person squarely at eye
level
 Maintaining an open posture
 Maintaining appropriate
distance
 Offering simple
acknowledgments
 Using eye contact
 Providing non-distracting
environment
What hinders listening?
 Acting distracted
 Telling your own story without acknowledging theirs first
 No response
 Invalidating response, put downs
 Interrupting
 Changing the subject
 Reassuring without acknowledgment
After the Interview
Follow up

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mkl45ejleg/do-your-homework/#4b1c24277300
Handling questions with finesse
 Tell us about yourself
 What are your strengths and weaknesses?
 Why do you want to apply for this job?
 Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Relate an incident where you
demonstrated _______
Problem:
Action:
Resolution:
Value to the business:
Common Interview Questions for practice
About the position
Why did you apply for the position?
How did you hear about this position?
What do you know about our company?
How do you think working with us will benefit you?
Describe your ideal job.
Career Ambitions
Tell me about your career goals.
What are you looking for in a career?
Do you have plans to gain further qualifications?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Describe your ideal employer
Skills and Requirements
Why should we hire you?
Mention any achievements you have had till date.
Was there any challenges/problems you had in the
previous jobs? Explain how you handled it.
Mention how you have used your skills in the
previous job.
Personality
Describe yourself
What motivates you most?
What are your strengths/weaknesses?
How do you spend your spare time?
Other questions
What made you choose your degree? Any plans of further studies?
What subjects do you enjoy? How do you spend you spare time?
Is there a weak subject you had? Mention any extracurricular activities you
were involved in.
What projects did you do?
Do you have any leadership experience?
Tell me how your background suits this
position.
Describe your ideal job.