''Preparing for an interview''

Defination of Interview
1:
An interview is a conversation between two or more people where
questions are asked by the interviewer to elicit facts or statements from the
interviewee.
2:
A formal consultation usually to evaluate qualifications (as of a
prospective student or employee).
3:
a) A meeting at which information is obtained (as by a reporter, television
Commentator, or pollster) from a person.
b) A report or reproduction of information so obtained.

Five essential points to get across in an interview

Even the most confident person is likely to experience some nerves in an
interview situation. In fact, research from our training partner Home Learning
College shows that 55% of Brits think interviews are the worst part of finding
a new job. While its completely normal to feel nervous, the more preparation
you do, the better you will be able to show why you are the right person for
the job.
With that in mind, here are five key things you should always try to
communicate to an interviewer:
Company knowledge
Employers want to believe that you have a genuine desire to work for their
organisation and will be a committed member of the team. Theres nothing
worse than being faced with a candidate who hasnt got a clue about the
business and just wants any old job. Thats why its essential to demonstrate
you understand the companys history, plans and culture.
An internet search will usually reveal all you need to know about the main
people in the business and whether there have been any major changes
recently, such as the launch of new products or services. You dont need to
remember tons of information - a few facts and figures are enough to show
youve done your homework.
Related skills and training

Your CV will contain the highlights of your education and career history but
this is designed to be a concise document, so there may be other relevant
points to discuss face to face. Before going into the interview, make a list of
the less obvious but equally important skills youve acquired over the years,
whether through formal training or self-development. These could include
proficiency in different software programmes, or internal training specific to
your current or previous organisation.
Having this list handy will allow you to easily demonstrate competency in a
particular area, such as the ability to learn new systems and processes.
Measurable examples of success
Its highly likely that your interviewer has already met several other
candidates for the role, so you need to make sure you stand out from the
competition. When discussing your abilities and experience, try to steer clear
of over-used phrases that your potential employer has probably heard a
million times before, such as Im a real people person or I pride myself on
my work.
Instead you should discuss situations where you demonstrated these qualities
with a positive effect. For example, if you do pride yourself on your people
skills then you may want to talk about a time when you led a team, helped a
colleague or were commended for your excellent customer service.
Positive attitude and flexibility
In most roles, there are times when you will be expected to go above and
beyond the call of duty, or do something that doesnt technically fit within
your remit, in order to get the job done. This is all part of the natural ebb and
flow of working life and not something to be shirked.
Businesses need people they can rely on, so interviewees who demonstrate a
willingness to be flexible and stretch themselves are more likely to be hired
than those with rigid expectations or working habits.
Manners
If theres ever a time to be on your best behaviour its in an interview. This
may seem an obvious point but its something all too many people forget. Be
polite to everyone you meet, from the receptionist to your potential boss.
Smile; say please and thank you when appropriate and show that you
would be a friendly and valuable member of the team. When it comes to
making a final decision between two equally qualified candidates, the one
who comes across as most personable is bound to get the job!
If you remember all these points when preparing for an interview then you

can feel confident you will perform to the best of your ability on the day. If
you dont get the job then try not to feel too disheartened. Instead try to
think about where you could do better next time and take steps to fill any
knowledge gaps or work on your interview technique with a friend.

Types of Interviews

There are many different types of interviews as well as interview methods

and techniques. Every job is different, so be prepared! You may experience a
combination or all of these.
Also, remember than in professional interviewing, you will almost always go
through a series of interviews. As a general rule, each subsequent interview
will become longer and more detailed.Remember that the key to success is to
be well prepared for every interview.
Screening Interviews
Screening interviews are generally conducted when an employer has a large
applicant pool which they want to narrow down to a more manageable
number. The purpose is to weed out the applicants who are obviously not a
fit. Screening interviews are usually done by phone, tend tobe very short, and
the questions will focus on basic qualifications.
Phone Interviews
Most screening interviews are done by phone, but phone interviews will also
be used for other reasons, such as geographic obstacles the applicant lives
in another city or state. In this case,phone interviews will be longer and more
detailed. Here are a few dos and donts of phoneinterviews in all situations:
Be well prepared.
Never conduct a phone interview in your car or in a public area you need
to focus all
your attention on the interview.
Use a land line to avoid the possibility of a cell phone call being dropped or
poor
reception.
Conduct the interview in a quiet private area.

 Ask family members and friends not to disturb you during the interview.
No eating, surfing the web, I/M or text messaging during the phone
interview avoid
distractions and focus on the interview.
Also, phone interviews are often not scheduled in advance, they will just call
you. If you are busy, driving or in any way not able to focus 100% on the
interview, tell them you are busy and ask to schedule a time later in the day
or week. Dont worry, interviewers know they are calling you without an
appointment and are very flexible they will work with you.
One-on-One Interviews
This is the most common interview method and involves you and the
interviewer alone in aprivate office. Once you are face-to-face with the
interviewer your dress, appearance, non-verbal communication skills and
other visual factors, as well as your verbal communication skills will come
into play. Building rapport with the interviewer is usually easiest in this
setting.
Panel Interviews
Sometimes the employer will have a selection committee or for some other
reason there will be multiple people involved in conducting interviews. They
may want to conduct a panel interview in which you will be interviewed by
several people at the same time. Panel interviews are very efficient from the
employers perspective because it allows them, in effect, to do many
interviewsall at once.
Remember that in a panel interview you must connect with and engage every
member of thepanel, not just the person asking the question. Make sure you
get a business card from everypanel member and send each a thank you
note afterwards.
Always bring extra resumes and offer one to each member of the panel at the
beginning of the interview.
Serial Interviews
In a serial interview you will meet with several people throughout the day,
usually back-to-back. One person will interview you, then pass you to the
next person, and so on throughout the day. Serial interviews are physically
and mentally tiring because they can often take the entire day. Remember
that each time you are passed onward your chances of being hired improve!
Serial interviews are typically used for senior-level positions, but there are

exceptions.
Lunch Interviews
Sometimes the employer will take you to an interview lunch or even dinner.
Interview lunches arevery unstructured, and they will probably be evaluating
your social skills and manners. If you havent yet done so, make a point of
attending the University Career Center Professional Etiquette dinner to
familiarize yourself with the basics of dining etiquette. When ordering off the
menu, stick with something in the mid-range of prices thats easy to eat.
Never under any circumstances order an alcoholic drink during a lunch or
dinner interview.
Group Interviews
You may be asked to do a group interview, which is the opposite of a panel
interview. Instead of several interviewers and one candidate, one interviewer
will sometimes interview several candidates at the same time. The
interviewer will ask questions of no one in particular in hopes that a leader
will emerge. Group interviews are not very effective for most situations and
are rarely used.
Stress Interviews
Stress interviewing is a generally ineffective and antiquated interview
method, and most but unfortunately not all employers have discontinued
this practice. The theory is to see how you react to stress. The interviewer
may make the room physically uncomfortable by turning up the heat, make
the candidate sit in an uncomfortable chair or sometimes even stand, ask offthe-wall questions that have nothing to do with the job and possibly refuse to
answer your questions.Todays job candidates are too sophisticated to
tolerate these methods and this technique is very ineffective.
The Traditional Interview
This is the scenario you'll face most often: You sit down with a solo
interviewer and answer a series of questions designed to help her figure out if
you're a great candidate for the job.
What You Need to Know
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Your All-in-One Interview Prep Guide
The 10 Rules of Interview Etiquette

The Skype Interview:

Skype video interviews take the phone-screening interview to the next level,
and they're becoming a regular part of the job application process for many
companies. From choosing the right on-screen look to making sure all of your
tech systems are a go, you'll want to be 100% ready for your TV debut.

The Case Interview

The case interview is a more specialized format in which you're given a
business problem (How can BigCoal Co. double its growth?) or a puzzle
(How many tennis balls fit in a 747?) to solve. While case interviews were
once exclusively the domain of aspiring consultants, theyre now popping up
everywhere from tech companies to NGOs.
The Puzzle Interview
Google and other highly competitive companies have been known to ask
"puzzle" questions, like, How many people are using Facebook in San
Francisco at 2:30 PM on a Friday? Seems random, but your interview wants
to determine how quickly you can think on your feet, how youll approach a
difficult situation, and how you can make progress in the face of a challenge.

The Apprentice Interview

In some industrieswriting, engineering, or even salesyou may be asked to
complete an actual job task as part of the interview. Basically, your
interviewers don't want you to tell them you can do the job, they want to see
it. Don't panic: If you go in prepared, this is your chance to shine.

The Firing Squad

If you'll be reporting to several people or working with a team, it's not
uncommon to meet with multiple interviewersall at the same time. Sounds
nice, because you only have to answer those tough questions once, but it can
also be tricky to make a strong connection with each decision maker.

The Career Fair Interview

If you're attending career fairs as part of your job hunt, get ready for
impromptu interviews, where you'll only have 10 or 15 minutes to sell
yourself to the recruiter for a chance to come in for a full interview.

Standard Interview
The most common interview questions are:
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Why are you here today?
The interviewer may also ask you to tell him or her about yourself. Come up
with well-thought-out, specific and truthful answers to each of these classic
questions before interview day. That way, you will have a concise response
ready to go.

Behavioral Interview
Behavioral interviews focus on the past so employers can attempt to predict
future behavior. For example, they may say:
Describe a time when you didnt get along with a colleague.
Tell me about your biggest professional failure.
Choose one example, and briefly describe the situation, how you handled it
and what you learned from it. People often confuse behavioral and situational
interviews, which are described next. Questions may seem similar, because
an employer is assessing your behavior in a particular situation.
Situational Intwerview
Typically, situational questions concentrate on future performance rather than
past performance, which is the focus of behavioral interviews. The
interviewer will give you a problem and ask how you would deal with it. For
example:
Your boss is on a whirlwind business trip. He assigned you a report to write for
a client while he is gone, and he expects a first draft in two days. You thought
everything was clear, but when you look back through your meeting notes
and emails, there are outstanding questions that will make it difficult to
complete the report. What do you do?
Employers want to know how you would likely solve a problem, and in some
cases, they want to measure your expertise. Always be honest and specific.
Address the problem, and describe your solution and the action you would
take. If its a question that probes at your expertise in an area, include
something applicable in your answer to show you know your stuff.

Presentational
Some interviewers will challenge you with a business issue and ask you to
present solutions to one or more employees. You may be given 15 minutes to
prepare and 15 minutes or less to present.
The key here is to put pen to paper immediately to get thinking fast. In the
first five minutes or less, outline the problem and as many solutions that
come to mind in words. Drawing diagrams or pictures may help, too. Next,
circle the solutions you think are the best or the ones for which you have the
most ideas on how to implement. After that, brainstorm what resources you
need to apply to each solution in under five minutes. Use the remaining time
to prepare. If you were asked to use a whiteboard or computer for the
presentation, transfer your ideas to the board or screen. Dont worry about
being fancy, because you dont have time for that. The logic and contents of
your thought process are most important.
Conclusion
Employers conduct multiple interviews as a filtering or screening process. At
each stepcandidates are eliminated from consideration until at the end only
one person remains. Eachtime you are invited back for a subsequent
interview means you are one step closer to a job offer!
In all interviewing situations the key to success is good preparation. The more
effort you put into it, the better your odds of succeeding.

Tips to Boost Your Interview Skills

Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job
interviews. Why, you ask? Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no
second chances to make a great first impression. So study these 10
strategies to enhance your interview skills.
Practice Good Nonverbal Communication
It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact
and connecting with a firm handshake. That first nonverbal impression can be
a great beginning -- or quick ending -- to your interview.

Dress for the Job or Company

Today's casual dress codes do not give you permission to dress as "they" do
when you interview. It is important to know what to wear to an interview and

to be well-groomed. Whether you wear a suit or something less formal

depends on the company culture and the position you are seeking. If
possible, call to find out about the company dress code before the interview.

Listen
From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you
information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not hearing it, you are
missing a major opportunity. Good communication skills include listening and
letting the person know you heard what was said. Observe your interviewer,
and match that style and pace.
Don't Talk Too Much

Telling the interviewer more than he needs to know could be a fatal mistake.
When you have not prepared ahead of time, you may ramble when answering
interview questions, sometimes talking yourself right out of the job. Prepare
for the interview by reading through the job posting, matching your skills with
the position's requirements and relating only that information.

Don't Be Too Familiar

The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about

making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer's
demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview
and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking
for a job.

Use Appropriate Language

It's a given that you should use professional language during the interview.
Be aware of any inappropriate slang words or references to age, race,
religion, politics or sexual orientation -- these topics could send you out the
door very quickly.
Don't Be Cocky

Attitude plays a key role in your interview success. There is a fine balance
between confidence, professionalism and modesty. Even if you're putting on a
performance to demonstrate your ability, overconfidence is as bad, if not
worse, as being too reserved.

Be direct :
When you answer a question come to the point first, then expand on it with
background information and examples - not the other way around.

Show off your plus points :

If the interviewer doesn't ask the right questions to highlight your capabilities
and unique skills, figure out how to work them into the conversation, and
quantify your experience where possible with real examples.
Take Care to Answer the Questions
When interviewers ask for an example of a time when you did something,
they are asking behavioral interview questions, which are designed to elicit a
sample of your past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you not
only don't answer the question, but you also miss an opportunity to prove
your ability and talk about your skills.

Ask Questions
When asked if they have any questions, most candidates answer, "No."
Wrong answer. Part of knowing how to interview is being ready to ask
questions that demonstrate an interest in what goes on in the company.
Asking questions also gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right
place for you. The best questions come from listening to what you're asked
during the interview and asking for additional information.

Don't Appear Desperate

When you interview with the "please, please hire me" approach, you appear
desperate and less confident. Reflect the three Cs during the interview: cool,
calm and confidence. You know you can do the job; make sure the interviewer
believes you can, too.

The Value or Importance of a Job Interview

Job interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience for the applicant and a
time-consuming exercise for the hiring company. However, they play a key
role in determining whether the company and candidate will make an
effective match. As such, the interviewing process provides a great deal of
value for the company and candidate alike.

Making an Impression
Though the candidate's resume, cover letter and job application give
interviewers an overview of her background and skills, the interview may be
the best chance the candidate has to make a favorable impression. For better
or worse, the candidate's physical appearance and ability to handle herself
during the questioning will leave a lasting impression and play a vital role in
the interviewer's decision-making process. The interviewer also uses the
process to assess the candidate's personality to determine if she would be a
good fit for the organization.
Exchanging Information
The job interview serves as a two-way street for the exchange of information.
The interviewer has the opportunity to learn more about the candidate's
background and can also impart more in-depth information about the
company and the various duties the job entails. The candidate also has the
chance to ask questions to gain additional insight regarding the expectations
of the job and to get a better feel for the organization's culture.

Selling Opportunity
The interview provides a selling opportunity for the organization as well as
the candidate. The interviewer can highlight the positive aspects of working
for the company, such as how plans for growth can lead to future
opportunities or how the company is recognized as an industry leader.
Candidates can expand upon their skills and positive personal attributes to
demonstrate how they can help the company achieve its short-term and longterm objectives.
Narrowing the Field
In situations where companies receive a heavy volume of applicants for a job
opening, interviews are a valuable tool for narrowing the field. In particular, a
round of preliminary interviews helps the company to weed out unsuitable

candidates so it can then pay closer attention to the "cream of the crop" in
subsequent interviews. For job seekers fortunate enough to possess skills
that are in great demand, they can use the interview process to help
determine which company would ultimately be the best fit.