University Institute of Engineering

Course Name- Professional Communication Skills LAB

Course Code- 21PCH-102

Interview Skills DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER

 COURSE OBJECTIVES

The Course aims to:

Prepare students for their careers through proficient use of

1 English in professional and interpersonal communication in the
globalized context.

Inculcate soft skills and a professional attitude in the student.

2

Impart expertise for effective presentation skills.

3

2
 COURSE
OUTCOMES • Space for visual (size 24)
On completion, the students are expected to
CO Title Level
Number
CO1 Display moral values, ethics and sensitivity for
Apply
diversity and inclusion.
CO2 Perform effectively in the placement process.
Apply
CO3 Analyse and summarize information, ideas and
opinions on a social issue using grammatically Analyse
correct English.

CO4 Evaluate facts to write research and short official,

Evaluate
technical or social reports.
CO5 Create communication material for an organization
dedicated to a social cause and use electronic/social Create
media to share concepts and ideas. https://images.jdmagicbox.com
3
What comes first in your mind?

https://psychology.iresearchnet.com 4
 Interview - Meaning
• The term interview has been
derived from the French word
entire voir that means to
glimpse or to see each other.

• By definition it means a meeting

for obtaining information by
questioning a person.

www.BRPTech.com 5
 What is a Job Interview?
• An interview gives a
prospective employer the
opportunity to speak with you
and consider your
appropriateness for the job in
question.
• A well written resume will get
you a call for an interview; the
soft skills you exhibit during
the interview will get you the
job.

www.njschooljobsblog.com 6
 Importance of Interview
• Important for both job seekers
and employers as it connects
both of them at the
professional level.
• Assists employers in
selecting a right person for a
right job.
• It helps job seekers to present
their job skills and acquire a
desired position on merit.

https://www.google.com 7
 Types of Interview
• Some interviews may be very formal, others may be very informal
and seem like just a chat about your interests. Remember always
you are being assessed.

Nondirective / Informal Interview Directive / Formal Interview

Screening Interviews Telephone Interview

Panel Interview Stress interview
Group Interview Competency Based
Interviews

8
Nondirective/ Informal Interview

It is an unstructured conversational-style interview. The interviewer

pursues points of interest as they come up in response to questions.

Examples:
• Tell me about yourself.
• How do you define success?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses? Give examples.
• What values are you bringing to the table?

9
 Directive/ Formal Interview
Directive / Formal Interview- An interview following a set sequence
of questions.

Examples:
1) What kind of work have you done which would prepare you
for the duties of this position?
2) How does your education equip you for the job at hand?
3) What 2/3 words would your pervious seniors used to describe
your work?

10
 Poll Question 1
Q. Questions, in interview, that show how your background, education,
skills and personality qualify you for the position, is a type of-

1. Directive interview

2. Nondirective interview

11
 Screening Interview
These interviews are generally conducted when an employer has a
large applicant pool, to narrow down to a more manageable number.
They are short, and focus on basic qualifications.
• Screening is usually done by phone.
Typical questions during a screening interview include:
a) Tell me about yourself
b) Describe your work history
c) Salary requirements
d) Skill based questions

12
 Telephone Interview
• Companies request an initial telephone interview before inviting for a face to
face meeting in order to get a better understanding of the type of candidate.

• Benefit is that you can have your notes out in front of you.

• You should do just as much preparation as you would for a face to face
interview, and remember that your first impression is vital. 

• Phone interviews may become longer and more detailed if its overseas on
video conference.

13
 Video Conferencing Interview
• A Video Conferencing interview is an advanced component for a
long distance job search and gives an employer the opportunity to
meet with the candidate using a human-like interaction.
• The most popular platforms are: Skype, GoToMeeting, BlueJeans,
IntermediaAnyMeeting, Zoom and CiscoWebex.
Benefits
• To interview far-flung candidates, no matter where they are
located.
• Cost effectiveness
• To examine the technological comfort of a candidate.
14
 Panel Interview
These interviews are also known as Board Interviews. They involve a
number of people sitting as a panel with one as chairperson. This type of
interview is popular within the public sector.
In panel interviews interviewers often ask a mix of behavioral and
situational questions.

Examples
1) How are you at handling tight deadlines for projects where there is
minimal supervision?
2) Tell us about an occasion when you had to deal with a difficult
client. How did you prevent the situation from escalating?
15
 Stress Interview
An interview in which the applicant is made uncomfortable by a series of
often rude questions.
• This technique helps identify hypersensitive applicants and those with
low or high stress tolerance.

Examples
1) Why haven’t you achieved more in your career?
2) You don’t have a relevant experience and we only hire
experienced professionals. Why should we hire you?
3) "If you were an animal, what type of animal would you be?"
16
 Group Interview
When candidates are required to perform a task in a group the
selection is done in a group interview and the candidate along with a
group is asked to solve a particular problem.
• The performance and behavior is, however, assessed and rated
individually.
• You may be asked to interact with each other by usually a group
discussion

Example: assigned a team activity, like solve a riddle, make a

presentation, build something out of conventional.

17
 Competency Based Interview
These are structured to reflect the competencies the employer is
seeking for the particular job. Usually detailed in the job description so
make sure you read it through, and have your answers ready for
questions such as:

1) Give me an example of the time you worked as a team and

took a leadership role to achieve a common goal.
2) How do you cope in adversity?
3) Take me through a situation when you showed integrity and
professionalism.

18
Situational / Behavioral interview

Behavioural questions which focus on how the candidate

would behave in a given situation.
Situational questions that focus on how they reacted to
actual situations in the past.
questions which focus on relevant past job-
Job-related
related behaviors.
1) What would you do if you made a mistake that no one else
noticed?
2) Would you address the error and risk slowing things down or
ignore it to keep the project or task moving forward?

19
STAR Method

20
 The Sequential Interview
These are several interview with different interviewer each time. Each
asks questions to test different sets of competencies.

Unstructured
Structured Sequential
Sequential

The applicant is interviewed

Each interviewer forms an
sequentially by several interview
interview independent opinion
supervisors and each rates the
after asking different questions.
applicant on a standard form.
21
 Depth Interview
• In such a interview, questions are based upon a specific area of the
interviewee’s interest. Generally the questions are open ended the
candidate has to answer in detail.
• The academic competence and knowledge is tested thoroughly in such
type of interviews.
Examples
1) Do you have any patents? If so, tell me about them. If not, is that
something that you see yourself pursuing? Why or why not?
2) What new engineering skills have you developed during the past
year?

22
 Candidate-order error
• An error of judgment on the part of the interviewer due to
interviewing one or more very good or very bad candidates just
before the interview in question

• For example, a candidate may be viewed more favourably than they

actually are if they were interviewed after a series of unfavourable
candidates.

23
 Interview Process
Interview acts as a filtering device through which the interviewer
screens the desired candidates. It is a method to shorten the
candidate list to those who are the required fit in the job profile.
Interview Preparation
First Impression
Information Exchange
Closing the Interview
Interview Follow up
24
Stages of Interview

• PRE INTERVIEW - Preparation

• INTERVIEW - First Impression, Information

Exchange, Closing the interview

• POST INTERVIEW – Follow-up

25
 Pre-Interview Process

Preparation

Employer Research

Practice Questions
Practice

What to wear / what to

bring
https://www.google.com 26
 Pre- Interview:
Preparation
• Do a SWOT Analysis – Find your strength and Weaknesses
• Check Resume for any update.
• Rehearse your answers loudly in front of the mirror.
• Rehearse a mock interview with a friend/person and seek an
honest critical feedback.
• Do not fumble or get confused during the actual interview.
• Find the location to avoid any delay.
• Get proper rest the night before.
• Arrive early and use this time to freshen up.
• What are the employment opportunities / career path in your field.

27
 Pre- Interview:
Employer Research
• The biggest mistake you can make in
a job interview is knowing little to
nothing about the company with
which you are interviewing!

• Read about the company products/

services, operations, history, CEO,
international/national partnerships
etc.

www.slideshare.net 28
 Pre-Interview: FAQs
• Some frequently-asked interview questions
• “Tell me about yourself.” (The interviewer is looking for
communication skills and clear thinking about your recent history, not
your childhood).
• “What is your biggest strength?” (Know your top 2 or 3 strengths and
be prepared to discuss each with an example).
• “How will you handle stress on the job?” (Provide a good example of
how you have dealt with stress in the past. It’s possible that stress
can actually help some people perform better!)

29
 Pre-Interview: FAQs (Cont.)
• Describe your most significant accomplishment. (Relate the
situation, the obstacle and the outcome. Tell what qualities were
needed to achieve this. Mention a life experience that illustrates your
best attributes ).
• What do you see yourself doing in five years? (You should assure
the employer that you’re worth the investment in time and training,
and that you plan to be around for awhile – learning and contributing
more along the way).

30
 Pre- Interview:
What to wear/bring
• Formal dress
• Confident smile
• Professional-looking portfolio/briefcase
• Two copies of your resume and
photographs
• Copies of result card
• Nice pen and paper for note-taking
• Brush/comb, breath freshener

www.lovielimes.com 31
 The Interview
• Recruiters will size you up in the first 30 seconds of your interview.
Make sure that you create a good first impression by being aware of
the following:
• Good eye contact & the importance of smile
• Firm handshake
• Clear, well spoken introduction,
• Be careful with vocal tone.
• Show confidence and poise
• Maintain good posture

www.interviewskills.com.au 32
 The Interview:
Information Exchange
• Listen carefully
• Take time with your answers
• Respond positively
• Focus answers on the needs of the employer
• Ask insightful questions, showing your knowledge of the employer
and subject.
• Give examples and provide details: tell stories that illustrate your
achievements

33
 The Interview:
Closing the Interview
• Mention anything relevant that you feel is important. Repeat your
“sales pitch” as you show enthusiasm for the job.

• Take the employer’s business card and thank him/her.

• Ask what the next step in the hiring process is, if you get confirmed.

34
 Interview Follow-Up
• Send a prompt thank you
letter or email.

• Follow up if you have not

heard from the employer in
the time period earlier
specified.

https://www.google.com 35
 Interview Don’ts
• No bad manners or rudeness (treat all office staff nicely)
• DON’T whine or complain about others or about your ‘bad luck.’
• DON’T be a know-it-all.
• DON’T try to be funny (but a genuine sense of humour is a good
thing).
• DON’T discuss salary or benefits until you have been offered a job.

36
 Top 10 Interviewing Blunders!
• Don’t prepare
• Dress inappropriately
• Poor communication skills
• Cell phone goes off
• Talk too much
• Don’t talk enough
• Fuzzy facts
• Give the wrong answer
• Badmouthing past employers
• Forget to follow up
www.vetta.co.za 37
 Poll Question 2
Which of the following is one of the job interview blunders?

1. Don’t be a know-it-all
2. Not providing fuzzy facts
3. Talk too much and don’t talk enough

38
 General Interview Preparation
• Here’s a list of questions that you should consider your answers for
when preparing…
• Why do you want this job?
• Why are you the best person for the job?
• What relevant experience do you have?
• Why are you interested in working for this company?
• What can you contribute to this company?
• What do you know about this company?
• What challenges are you looking for in a position?
• Why should we hire you?

https://www.google.com 39
 Applications
• Applicable to professional life
• Will help students learn and apply the tips to crack interview.
• Students will be able to perform better in the placement process.

40
 Assessment Pattern
Students are assessed on the basis of the following parameters:
Content Assessment Fluency of Speech (5) Confidence (3) Quiz (5)
(7)
•Relevance of the content •Syntax to be appropriate •Confidence level of •Comprehension of the
•Exemplifying the content •Sentences should be grammatically students concepts
•Adequate length of the accurate •Positive body language- •Quiz will be based on the
content •Paralinguistic aspects to be taken smile, eye-contact, points discussed in the
•Coherence and logic into consideration such as tone, enthusiasm, gestures, presentation
•Consistent flow of thought rhythm, pitch etc posture, etc.
•Creative and original •Pauses to be used appropriately •Speaking without the help
ideas •Monotone to be marked down of any written material
•Intelligible and comprehensible
pronunciation
•Fluency in language- voice clarity
and audibility

41
 References

• www.businessnewsdaily.com/5836-top-interviewing-skills.html

• www.interviewskills.com.au

• www.ceswoodstock.org/job_search/intervuintro.shtml

• https://www.udemy.com/find-a-job-interview-skills-training-course/

42
43