TYPES OF INTERVIEW

Panel Interview/Board Interview

Candidates are interviewed by two or more individuals. This process is commonly used by
governments and large organizations. It is important to maintain eye contact with the
person asking the question and give an answer with an example to support it. Always
acknowledge the other interviewers' presence by making eye contact while answering
rotating questions. Direct your attention at the beginning and end of your response to the
person who asked you that question. The questions asked in the interview are often set out
in advance. The board may already have decided which answers they will accept/prefer for
the questions. Ignore note-taking by board members. Obtain employers' names prior to the
interview and use them during the conversation.

One-On-One Interviews

Candidates are interviewed by one person. These interviews tend to be more informal,
however, it always depends on the employer's style. The interviewer will often have a series
of prepared questions, but may have some flexibility in their choices. It is important to
maintain eye contact with the person interviewing you.

Impromptu Interviews

This interview commonly occurs when employers are approached directly and tends to be
very informal and unstructured. Applicants should be prepared at all times for on-the-spot
interviews, especially in situations such as a job fair or a cold call. It is an ideal time for
employers to ask the candidate some basic questions to determine whether he/she may be
interested in formally interviewing the candidate.

Second Interviews or Follow-Up Interviews

Employers invite those applicants they are seriously considering as an employee following a
screening or initial interview. These interviews are generally conducted by middle or senior
management, together or separately. Applicants can expect more in-depth questions, and
the employer will be expecting a greater level of preparation on the part of the candidate.
Applicants should continue to research the employer following the first interview, and be
prepared to use any information gained through the previous interview to their advantage.

Telephone Interviews

Have a copy of your resume and any points you want to remember to say nearby. If you are
on your home telephone, make sure that all roommates or family members are aware of the
interview (avoids loud stereos, etc.). Speak a bit slower than usual. It is crucial that you
convey your enthusiasm verbally, since the interviewer cannot see your face. If there are
pauses, don't worry, the interviewer is likely just making some notes.

Group Interviews

Employers bringing several candidates together in a group situation to solve a problem are
testing your ability to work in a team environment. They want to know how you will present
information to other people, offer suggestions, relate to other ideas, and work to solve a
problem. In short, they are testing your interpersonal skills. It is difficult to prepare for this
type of interview except to remember what is being testing and to use the skills you have to
be the best team player and/or leader you can be. Some employers will take you to meet
the staff who would be your co-workers if hired. This is a very casual type of interview, but
leaving a positive and friendly impression is no less critical.

HR INTERVIEWS

How To face The Interview

1.Are your work practices similar or different from ours? (If Experienced)
2.Describe our (products/services).
3.Describe our company for me.
4.Describe our corporate environment for me.
5.Describe your work (methods/processes) in comparison to ours? (If Experienced)
6.Do our competitors do things that we should be doing?
7.Do you have any concerns about working here?
8.Do you have any questions about (our/this) company?
9.Do you know how long we have been in business?
10.Do you know what products we make?
11.How could you have prevented your (judgmental) errors?
12.How do you think our company determines success?
13.How does you present employer communicate with others in your department? (If Expd)
14.Tell me how you found out information about (our/this) company?
15.Tell me what you know about (our/this) company?
16.Was there anything your company could have done to be more successful?
17.What about our company do you like best?
18.What about your present employer (do/did) you like best?
19.What advantages do you think our competitors have over us?
20.What advantages do you think we have over our competitors?
21.What are the greatest challenges that this company faces?
22.What concerns do you have about this company?
23.What direction do you think this company is headed in?
24.What do you dislike about our company?
25.What do you know about (our/this) company?
26.What do you know about (our/this) operation?
27.What do you know about our competitors?
28.What do you know about our customers?
29.What do you know about our products?
30.What do you know about our products or services?
31.What do you know about our stock?
32.What do you know about our web site?
33.What do you know about the way our company (works/operates)?
34.What do you know about this position?
35.What do you think are the challenges facing this company?
36.What do you think are the greatest challenges facing this company in the near future?
37.What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like ours?
38.What do you think it takes to be successful in our company?
39.What do you think the atmosphere here is like?
40.What is the financial stability of your last company?
41.What questions do you have about our organization?
42.What would make someone successful in our business?
43.What is the (best/worst) thing you have heard about (our/this) company?
44. What is the (best/worst) thing you have heard about (our/this) department?

PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE-UP BEFORE YOU ENTER THE INTERVIEW ROOM

For your first few interviews your background is important - your school, the medium and
the place you studied in, all serve to give the interviewer an idea about you. Carry a copy of
the bio-data that you have already sent, and the interview letter. Keep the extra copy with
you, just in case. Show the interview letter to the receptionist/interviewer to establish your
credentials, but keep this letter with you. This gives you, for your future reference, a
time and date record of your interview, gives the official address of the company for further
correspondence and clarifications, and may give you the name and designation of the
person you are to report to.

Carry everything you need for the interview in a neat folder - do not have loose papers
cascading to the floor because you are desperately hunting for the degree certificate, while
the interviewers drum their fingers impatiently. And don't carry your papers in a plastic
or cloth shopping bag either: invest in a good folder, plastic or even leather.

Incidentally, don't feel shy or hesitant about calling up the office and getting details about
location, landmarks/bus routes/other information to help you reach the venue of the
interview. Again, if it is not a "mass" interview, where lots of people are being interviewed
on the same day, and you do have a genuine difficulty about reaching on the scheduled
day/time, many employers will re-schedule if you ask them nicely enough. The reverse is
also true: a good impression is created if you take the trouble to inform the interviewer that
you can/will not attend the interview. If you are in the same town go and "case the joint" -
see where the office/interview centre is, and how long it will take you to get there.

Always arrive at least fifteen minutes before your scheduled time - that gives you time to
catch your breath in case you climbed the stairs too fast, allows you to compose yourself
and not be too nervous, and to check out the competition. If the interview is in the offices of
the company itself, this also allows you to get a "feel" of the company. See how comfortable
you feel, how efficient the interview process is. Says a lot about what the rest of the
company is.

PANEL INTERVIEWS

When you are facing a panel of interviewers, make your best moves.

Whether you are searching for jobs, looking for career avenues or climbing the corporate
ladder, you can't escape team interviews these days. The problem is that such interviews
don't have a pattern to them. They come in different forms. You could be facing your
prospective team members. Or you could be up against the top brass—HR vice-president,
the section head, the operations chief. Or you could also be sent to a recruitment
assessment centre for multi-parametric evaluation (psychological tests for pressure-handling
abilities, team-player skills and so on).

Try these ten tips for surviving, and scoring, in a team interview.

GIVE VARIETY TO YOUR ANSWERS

Remember you might be interviewed by different panels. Don't give a stock

answer to all of them. They'll be comparing notes.

Repackage your skills so that they sound different. If you're showcasing project X as your
major achievement in your present job before one team, talk about project B before another
interview panel.
A technical team will tune in to techie talk; an HR team would rather hear about your
interpersonal skills.

FINE-TUNE-INTERPERSONAL-SKILLS
Pull out the stops on your group management and group presentation skills.

Interviewers are people after all. Look for the personality type underscoring each
interviewer.Then try and connect with each one of them without getting personal. Usually
the best way to make contact is to project values that you feel you can share with your
interviewers.

DON'T QUAKE IN YOUR BOOTS

 Interviewers are looking for excuses to hire you, not spill your guts.
 Don't be obsequious. That conveys low self-esteem.
 If you face your interviewers with fear in your eyes, they won't like what they see.
They are NOT sadists.

PREPARE FOR STRESS

 You'll be up against a time crunch in a team interview.

 In one-on-ones, the interviewer might be taking notes, allowing you little breathers.
No such luck with four people firing questions at you. Use stress control techniques to
soothe your nerves. You might even use the extra adrenaline to sharpen your
responses.

SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANT THINGS

 List seven important things that fit the job description of the advertised post. Prepare
to present skills that fit such traits.
 It helps to talk to friends familiar with the job description. You can even ask them to
prepare tests that you can take from them.

REHEARSE WELL

 Put together three family members or friends with diverse personality traits.
 Recreate the formality of a team interview situation and ask them to fire nonstop
questions at you. That will serve as a useful practice session.
 Ask for serious feedback, especially about weak areas in your answers. Questions
about qualifications and work experience are usually generic, so what your mock
team asks you is bound to be pretty close to the real stuff.

CREATE A MENTAL PICTURE OF YOURSELF

Boost your self-confidence by seeing yourself as star performer who's a cut

above. See yourself answering with elan the questions you expect. Then
replay your answers and ask yourself these questions:

 How interesting were your observations?

  Did most of your responses begin the same way?
 Did you use 'we' often, suggesting team-player attributes?
 Are there traces of humour in your responses?

ASK GOOD QUESTIONS

 Research is integral to a good interview performance. Find out as much about you
can about the company concerned. Browse the Net, check company reports, put
together news clips.
 Armed with your background brief, ask relevant questions about the company.
 If you think you have a bright idea about any ongoing activity, try this: "Did the
company consider this option ..."

LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

 Your interview team has some core queries about you. It's these they want you to
address. Try and look beyond the upfront questions to decipher their exact intent.
Then respond to fill in what the team is really looking for.
 Flesh out your answers to focus on the team's concerns. If they ask you about your
perception of the company's ESOP policy, they want you to present your expectation
from a stock option plan.
 Answer in sync with the general tenor of the interview. If your work involves
individual research besides team work, don't go overboard about team-player
abilities. Balance your answer. Mention how sometimes individual work is more
productive though team work is needed to put into action ideas generated by
individual research.

TECHNICAL INTERVIEW

Move through Question Papers

Facing the technical interview of a company is an uphill task. It all depends on the mood of
the interviewer and to an extent on your appearance. If he is in a bad mood, the interview
can be really tough. Otherwise you might have a slight consideration. Be prepared for any
questions from every section of your skill set. If the interviewer goes to a part of your skill,
which you are not comfortable with, try to divert his attention to some other part in which
you are an expert. Try to explain things in a simple way and be precise in your answers. If
you don't know an answer admit it. DO NOT try to make up and answer. That might lessen
your chances of getting through.

CAMPUS INTERVIEWS

7 Commandments for Success in Campus Interviews :

Campus Interview … Hmm… is what one looks forward to with enthusiasm, fear and
excitement towards the beginning of the final year .

For some it's a make or break, atleast that's the way it's looked at and for some it's a matter
of pride. The constant thought in one's mind is - what shall make this click! What is it that
the interviewer is looking in me!
Here's what we look for when we visit the various campuses. This by no means is an
exhaustive list but is a good indication of the expectations and the mean s to meet these.
We present you the 7-Commandments.

1. Know Thyself!

Not everyone is good in each and every field. Each one of us has our fortes and weaknesses
too. But that's not a stumbling block! What we look for are people who know their area of
specialization and are an expert in it. Therefore, it pays to be a master in some fields if not
the jack of all.

The most common mistakes many make is to profess knowing a field of which they know
little about. Remember that huge and bulky resumes are as tough to read as they are to
make. So, identify your skill set, and keep your resumes simple and straight. Know your
limits and polish on your strengths.

2. Testing What You Know and NOT What You Don't.

Many interviewers may ask the student the subjects that she/he wishes to be interviewed
upon. Eureka !! Here's a golden opportunity. Answer this wisely! Never end up choosing a
difficult subject that you know only little about, rather choose the one you are most
confident of.

3. Rack Your Brain - Analyze

The interview is not just limited to testing your knowledge base, but we are also interested
in knowing your ability to apply it. Often questions that need to be solved then and there are
asked. Now keep in mind - the right answer is not the only thing being looked at. The focus
area is also the way in which you attack the problem i.e. approach to problem solving is
equally important.

So, remember to put your thinking caps on!

4. Ask for Help!

Murphy chooses to strike at the appropriate time! Inspite of the fact that you may know
something very well, it might just slip your mind. After all, heavy preparation does takes its
toll. Who better to ask for help than the poser of the question (of course, don't try this too
often!)!

Remember the interviewer is not there to grill the confidence out of you, but to bring forth
the best in. Just in case you are stuck, ask for a hint. Things might just click. Also, stay alert
for clues.

5. What are your biggest accomplishments

You may like to begin your reply with: "Although I feel my biggest achievements are still
ahead of me, I am proud of my involvement with……I made my contribution as part of that
team and learnt a lot in the process".

It will be a good idea to close your answer with also specifying what attributes and
circumstances made you succeed.
6. Be Calm, have Clear Verbal and Sound Non-Verbal Communication

Calmness shows emotional maturity. True, being calm in a job interview is a difficult
proposition, but then that is where it is required! Calmness does not imply being
unenthusiastic or apathetic during the interview, but knowing that you are nervous and not
letting it come in the way. A clear verbal communication implies clarity of the thought
process.

One should also watch out for the impressions made in non-verbal communication. Body
language and facial expressions can assist you in establishing a good rapport with the
interviewer. Pauses, silences and gestures may all indicate what you mean, understand, or
would like to emphasize.

7. Two-Way Exchange Process

The interview process is a two-way exchange of information. Make sure you also understand
about the company, its activities, job requirements. The company is in need for good
candidates and you need a good company to launch your career.

Interview is an opportunity to present yourself and your skills to your best advantage. Make
sure you make the most out of it. And YOU are the best one to do it!!

BASICS FOR INTERVIEWS

The Basic Things

In addition to doing research and practicing your answers to common interview questions,
you should be aware of general interview etiquette. Remember the following points when
preparing for an interview:

Review your resume, and make sure that you can explain everything on it. Arrive at the
interview ten minutes early to give yourself an opportunity to collect your thoughts and
relax. Be aware that many employers will have their receptionists record the time you came
in. If you rush in at the last minute, an employer may have serious concerns about your
ability to arrive on time for a normal day at work.

Get a good night's sleep before your interview. You will think more effectively in the
interview if you are rested. Also, yawning will not impress anyone. Eat something before the
interview. If you are worried about your stomach growling, you will not be able to
concentrate on the questions.

Dress appropriately for the position that you are applying to. Try to dress like the people
who work there would dress if they were representing their organization at some function. If
you are unsure about what to wear, always err on the side of being too dressed up.

Make sure that you are clean, neat, and well-groomed. Interviewers do notice your
appearance, and first impressions are critical in an interview situation.

Take a copy of your resume, transcript, references and perhaps a portfolio or work samples
with you. Also take a pen and paper, as you may wan to record some important information.
INTERVIEW PREPARATION

The Interview

Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather information.
The employer wants to know if you, the applicant, have the skills, knowledge, self-
confidence, and motivation necessary for the job. At this point you can be confident that the
employer saw something of interest in your resume. He or she also wants to determine
whether or not you will fit in with the organization's current employees and philosophy.
Similarly, you will want to evaluate the position and the organization, and determine if they
will fit into your career plans. The interview is a two-way exchange of information. It is an
opportunity for both parties to market themselves. The employer is selling the organization
to you, and you are marketing your skills, knowledge, and personality to the employer.

Interview Preparation

Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview. If you haven't done your homework,
it is going to be obvious. Spend time researching and thinking about yourself, the
occupation, the organization, and questions you might ask at the end of the interview.

Step 1: Know Yourself

The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that you
will know what you have to offer an employer. It is very important to develop a complete
inventory of skills, experience, and personal attributes that you can use to market yourself
to employers at any time during the interview process. In developing this inventory, it is
easiest to start with experience. Once you have a detailed list of activities that you have
done (past jobs, extra-curricular involvements, volunteer work, school projects, etc.), it is
fairly easy to identify your skills.

Simply go through the list, and for each item ask yourself "What could I have learned by
doing this?" "What skills did I develop?" "What issues/circumstances have I learned to deal
with?" Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic. Technical
skills are the skills required to do a specific job. For a laboratory assistant, technical skills
might include knowledge of sterilization procedures, slide preparation, and scientific report
writing. For an outreach worker, technical skills might include counselling skills, case
management skills, or program design and evaluation skills

Generic skills are those which are transferable to many work settings. Following is a list of
the ten most marketable skills. You will notice that they are all generic.

 Analytical/Problem Solving
 Flexibility/Versatility
 Interpersonal
 Oral/Written Communication
 Organization/Planning
 Time Management
 Motivation
 Leadership
 Self-Starter/Initiative
 Team Player
Often when people think of skills, they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace. However, skills are developed in a variety of settings. If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course, you probably have written communication
skills. Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of a team
player and leader. Don't overlook any abilities you may have

When doing the research on yourself, identifying your experience and skills is important, but
it is not all that you need to know. Consider the answers to other questions such as:

 How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position?

 What are my strong points and weak points?
 What are my short term and long term goals?
 What can I offer this particular employer?
 What kind of environment do I like? (i.e. How do I like to be supervised? Do I like a
fast pace?)
 What do I like doing?
 Apart from my skills and experience, what can I bring to this job?

Step 2: Know the Occupation

The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation. This is
necessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the experience
and skills required for that occupation, you must first know what those requirements and
duties are. With this information uncovered, you can then match the skills you have (using
the complete skills/experience inventory you have just prepared) with the skills you know
people in that occupational field need. The resulting "shortlist" will be the one that you need
to emphasize during the interview.

It is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position, or
those similar. There are several ways to find out about an occupation:

 Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human

Resources/Personnel) or
 Check with Student Employment Services. If you are responding to an advertisement,
this may also supply some details.

The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations. Make
sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupation. If you
belong to a professional association related to the occupation, use its resources. These
associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars. It is also a good
way to meet people working in the field. Conduct information interviews with people working
in the field. Read articles about people in the occupation, and articles written by people in
the occupation. Sources include newspapers, magazines and the internet. Find out what the
future trends are in the area. Is technology changing the job?

Step 3: Know the Organization

The more you know about an organization, the better prepared you will be to discuss how
you can meet its needs. Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are:

 Where is it located?
  How big is it?
 What are its products and who does it serve?
 How is the organization structured?
 What is its history?
 Have there been any recent changes, new developments?

There are a number of ways in which you can access this information. Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves. You can access this a
number of ways:

 On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and business

directories).
 Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by searching by
industry and company name
 Finally, you can visit or phone the organization and request some information on
their products, services or areas of research

If the organization is fairly small, or fairly new, there may not be much information
published. In this case, it will be necessary to do an information interview. Contact someone
within the organization, introduce yourself, explain that you are considering moving into the
field, and ask if it would be possible to meet with him/her to inquire about the
company/organization and about what exactly the position would involve.

Step 4: Prepare Questions

Having completed your background research, you are now ready to prepare questions to ask
the interviewer(s). Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily available in
company literature. Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate your genuine
interest in the position. Be careful how many questions you ask, however, as too many can
imply you feel the interview was not successfully run. Pick your questions with care - this is
your chance to gather information, so ask about what you really want to know. Avoid
sounding critical by mentioning negative information you may have discovered. This is one
of the most effective ways to compare different employers, so for issues of particular
importance to you (for example, whether they support staff upgrading), you should ask the
same questions of each employer. Some sample questions are:

 What are the most significant factors affecting your business today? How have
changes in technology most affected your business today?
 How has your business/industry been affected by the recession?
 How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years?
 What future direction do you see the company taking?
 Where is the greatest demand for your services or product?
 Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company?
 Which department feels it the most?
 How do you differ from your competitors?
 How much responsibility will I be given in this position?
 What do you like about working with this organization?
 Can you tell me more about the training program?
 Have any new product lines been introduced recently?
 How much travel is normally expected?
 What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance?
 Will I work independently or as part of a team?
  How did you advance to your position?
 What are the career paths available in this organization?
 When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position?

It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals who
are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to demonstrate
interest on your part. Exercise judgement when asking questions to an employer. When
being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile, one would not ask the
question

"What is the history of your company and how was your company started?" You can find the
answer to this question in the company's annual report or articles in magazines/newspapers.
However, small- and medium-sized companies do not always produce publicly available
annual reports and it may be difficult to access information on the company and its role in
the industry. This question is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the
answer.

DRESSING RIGHT FOR THE INTERVIEW

PREPARATIONS

Let's say you are going for an interview tomorrow. You have prepared yourself well for the
occasion - anticipating the questions and getting ready the answers - but have you given a
thought to what you will wear?

If you have not peeked into your wardrobe yet, it's time to take a real hard look now. Your
application's fate depends not just on how well you answer the interview questions, but also
on how well you project yourself physically. The first impression your interviewer makes
about you is based on the way you look, and you know what they say about first
impressions. "The way a person dresses is the single biggest non-verbal
communication you make about yourself." The right dressing is a measure of the
seriousness that you place on the position, as a person normally spends time on his looks if
he considers an event important enough. Besides, given two equally good applicants, the
company may choose to hire the person who is dressed more professionally. Here are some
tips to give you a headstart.

MEN

Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks. White is still the safest and the best color for
shirts. The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather. Also acceptable:
pale shades such as beige, blue, and other pastels.

Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves. Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your executive
image.

Ties. Optional. But if you do wear one, choose a conservative pattern. Solids, small polka
dots, diagonal stripes, small repeating shapes, subtle plaids and paisleys are all acceptable.

Belts. Belts should match your shoes. Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional.
Socks. Black socks are the best, followed by blue or gray, depending on your attire. Never
wear white socks! Check your sock length, too--no skin should show when you sit down or
cross your legs. Shoes. Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them, because tassel
loafers are very casual. Other suitable colors are brown, cordovan and navy.

Hair. Keep neat, short and preferably parted on the side. And shave off all those facial hair.

Accessories. As much as possible, use leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your
resume. Use narrow briefcases and avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out
of place.

ETIQUETTE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE

Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table

Hone your interview etiquette................ Churn the right mix of deportment, attitude and
dressingskills for a great job talk !

Never make the big mistake of treating an interview lightly. It's not an impromptu thing
where you depend on your improvisation skills. An interview requires careful thought and
planning before you take it. Keeping in mind some basic attitudes and presentation
techniques will help you sail through it with panache.

So if you thought that going for an interview just meant pulling your best suit out of the
wardrobe and updating your resume, please think again. You are forgetting the other
essentials: body language, basic etiquette and attitude.

Remember that you are actually selling an entire package and the packaging, in this case, is
as relevant as the product inside. Ultimately you are presenting yourself as a valuable
professional to a new job environment. And you can't do that without minding the basic
interview etiquette to get you ahead of the rest of the pack.

An interview is the sum total of many parts. It's not just what you say but how you say it that
matters equally. So it's good to brush up on more than just your training skills when you do
go in for an interview.

ATTIRE

How you dress for an interview is perhaps as relevant as the way you lay out your resume.
"A person who is sloppy in appearance shows a sloppy personality, so you have to
be decently dressed."

Most HR experts would also tell you to mind the accessories like ties, belts and shoes. To be
sure, badly matched shoes and ties can have a jarring effect on an interviewer.

ENTRANCE AND INTRODUCTION

Even though most of us are primed for the basic grilling that we would face during the
interview, we seldom pay attention to the way we enter an interview room or how we
introduce ourselves. "A lot of people do not think it important to knock properly
while entering the interview room. They assume that as an interview is taking
place, the panel will be expecting them."
In fact, the best way to enter an interview is to knock, ask for permission to enter and then
wait for a while before you actually sit down. Few interviewees know this but the interview
panel needs a little quiet time to discuss the previous candidate before they get around to
the next one. So your silence till you actually get seated would be very valuable. Try and
keep a bag with you for all your papers and certificates; make sure this bag is an
unobtrusive as possible.

ATTITUDE AND RESPONSE

This is a grey area for most interview candidates. While dressing up and resume writing are
skills you can Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table handle with a little
practice, cultivating the right attitude as an interviewee requires a lot of patience and
reading between the lines. The usual complaint of most interviewers is that few interviewees
are able to stri perhaps the best thing you can do for getting your answer right. Most
interviewers like to give a lead to the candidate in the way they ask the question, so it's
entirely up to you to note facial expressions and the tone of the words.

Do you show your certificates immediately to the interview panel?

Not till you are asked actually. You might already have sent in your resume, so you shouldn't
try and offload all your achievements and skills onto the panel till a turn in the interview
leads to such a situation.

Try and take cues form the tonal variations, facial expressions and thrust of questions from
the interview panel. That in itself will give you a clue as to where this interview is heading.

TEN THINGS THAT AN INTERVIEWER LOOKS IN YOU!

1. Family Background
2. Education
3. Experience
4. Stability
5. Initiative
6. General Ability
7. Interpersonal Skills
8. Confidence
9. Aptitude
10. Pleasant Looks

How one wished that an interview were a simple meeting of minds and hearts. Just one
casual meeting where an employee's future gets sealed. Unfortunately, it's not something as
pre-ordained as you would like it to be; it's a pre-meditated exercise which fetches you
dividends only if your homework is done right.

RESUME PREPARATION

Your resume is the first interface you have with your employer

Your resume is the first interface you have with your employer. Make the most of this
opportunity............. The employment market is changing all the time and so have resumes,
evolving from a one-size-fits-all standard. Here are our tips to convert your resume into a
catching one.
Follow These Basic Standards....

 Don't overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space.

 Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.
 Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum -- two at the most.
 Use a font that is easy to read. Times Roman works well.
 Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of the page to
"rag."
 Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features.
 Make sure your name, address, and a phone number appear on your resume and all
correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.
 Print your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality printer.
 Second- and third-generation photocopies must be avoided
 Print on one side of the paper only.

Avoid Mistakes:

SPELLING MISTAKES:

To avoid spelling mistakes:

 Don't use words with which you aren't familiar.

 Use a dictionary as you write.
 Perform a spell check on your finished resume.
 Carefully read every word in your resume.
 Have a friend or two proof read your resume for you.

PUNCTUATION MISTAKES:

Things to look for:

 Periods at the end of all full sentences.

 Be consistent in your use of punctuation.
 Always put periods and commas within quotation marks.
 Avoid using exclamation points.

GRAMMATICAL MISTAKES:

Grammar hang-ups to watch for:

 Do not switch tenses within your resume.

 The duties you currently perform should be in present tense (i.e., write reports)
 Duties you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense (i.e., wrote
reports).
 Capitalize all proper nouns.
 When expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and nine (i.e., one,
five, seven), but
  Use numerals for all numbers 10 and above (i.e., 10, 25, 108).
 If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral (e.g. Eleven service
awards won while employed.).
 Make sure your date formats are consistent (i.e.11/22/01 or Nov. 22, 2001, or
11.22.01. Choose one and stick with it.).
 Choose Your Words Carefully:
 Phrase yourself well:
 Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words:

Accept (to receive), Except (to exclude),

All right (correct), Alright (this is not a word),
Affect (to bring about change), Effect (result),
Personal (private), Personnel (staff members),
Role (a character assigned or a function), Roll (to revolve).

 Use action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed staff).

REFERENCES:

In most instances it is not necessary to include names and address of references on the
resume. If you include a reference, make it sure that the referenced person knows very well
about you. It is also advisable to add the persons as references, whom the employer can
contact easily. If possible add the phone number and e-mail ID of the reference. Never add a
person as a reference, about whom you know nothing

STICK TO THE POINT

Employers have a busy schedule, so don't expect them to read through a long resume.
Ideally, resumes should be of one page, or of two pages only if absolutely necessary, to
describe relevant work experience.

WORDS COUNT

Use of language is extremely important; you need to sell yourself to an employer quickly
and efficiently. Address your potential employer's needs with a clearly written, compelling
resume. Avoid large paragraphs (five or six lines). If you provide small, digestible pieces of
information, your resume will be read. Use action verbs. Verbs such as "developed",
"managed", and "designed" emphasise your accomplishments. Don't use declarative
sentences like "I developed the ..." or "I assisted in ...", leave out the "I". Avoid passive
constructions, such as "was responsible for managing". Just say, "managed": that sounds
stronger and more active.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE

Employers need to know what you have accomplished to have an idea of what you can do
for them. Don't be vague. Telling someone that you "improved the company's efficiency"
doesn't say much. But if you say that you "cut overhead costs by 20 per cent and saved the
company Rs 20 lakh during the last fiscal year", you are more specific.

HONESTY IS A GOOD POLICY

Employers will feel more comfortable hiring you if they can verify your accomplishments.
There is a difference between making the most of your experience and exaggerating or
falsifying it. A falsified resume can cost you the job later.

DOUBLE-CHECK FOR MISTAKES

Check your resume for correct grammar and spelling - evidence of good communication
skills and attention to detail. Nothing can ruin your chances of getting a job faster than
submitting a resume filled with preventable mistakes. Make your resume easy on the eye.
Use normal margins (1" on the top and bottom, 1.25" on the sides) and don't cram your text
on the page. Allow for some space between the different sections. Avoid unusual or exotic
fonts. Preferred fonts: Arial and Times Roman

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Type of Questions

Interviewers use five different types of questions - directive, non-directive, hypothetical,

behavior descriptive, and stress. Being aware of the different types can help you in the
preparation stage as you build your skills inventory. It may also help you focus in on
exactly what is being asked and what the employer is looking for in specific questions.

Directive Questions

The interviewer determines the focus of your answer. The information that the interviewer
wants is very clear. If you have completed the research on yourself, this type of question
should be easy to answer.

Example: "What skills do you have that relate to this position?"

"I have very good communication and interpersonal skills that I have refined through several
summer and part-time jobs working with the public. In addition, I am fluent in both English
and French."

Non-Directive Questions

You determine the focus of your answer. The interviewer asks a general question and does
not ask for specific information. The most common non-directive question is

"Tell me about yourself."

When answering the question, keep in mind that the employer is interested in knowing how
your background and personality qualify you for the job. In your answer, you should cover
four areas: your education, related experience, skills and abilities, and personal attributes.
As you talk about these areas, relate them to the job you are seeking. Decide what your
response will be before starting to speak, this helps to keep responses concise.

Example: " Tell me about yourself."

"I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, and have recently completed the course
in Volunteer Management through the Volunteer Center of Winnipeg. These have given me
a strong background in many of the principles of human behavior and the recruitment,
training, and supervision of volunteers. I have experience in working with young adults in a
helping capacity, both through my position as a Peer Advisor at the University of Manitoba,
and as a camp counselor at a camp for behaviorally troubled adolescents. Both of these
positions involved individual counseling, facilitating discussion groups, and teaching young
people about health issues - all of which relate directly to the services which I would be
training volunteers to provide within your organization. In addition, I thoroughly enjoy
working with young people, and can establish rapport with them easily."

Hypothetical or Scenario Questions

When asking a hypothetical question, the interviewer describes a situation, which you may
encounter in the position and asks how you would react in a similar situation. This is a good
way to test problem-solving abilities. When answering this type of question, try applying a
simple problem solving model to it – gather information, evaluate the information, priories
the information, seek advice, weigh the alternatives, make a decision, communicate the
decision, monitor the results and modify if necessary.

Example: "Suppose you are working your first day in our laboratory, and a fire at a nearby
work station breaks out. What would you do?"

"Before I start working in any laboratory, I always locate the emergency equipment, such as
eye washes, fire blankets and alarms. I would also review the safety protocols. So in this
situation, I would be aware of these. As soon as I noticed the fire, I would shut down my
experiment and if the fire is significant, I would pull the firm alarm and help to evacuate the
lab. In the case of very small flame, I would ask the staff member at the station what I could
do to help, Which would vary with the type of substances involved.”

Behavior Descriptive or Behavioral Questions

This type of question is becoming increasingly popular in interview situations. It asks what
you did in a particular situation rather than what you would do. Situations chosen usually
follow the job description fairly closely. Some employers feel that examples of past
performance will help them to predict future performance in similar situations. There is no
right or wrong answer to this type of question, but keep in mind that you should relate the
answer to the position. If you are interviewing for a research position, talk about a research
project you completed.

Example: "Give me an example of a work situation in which you were proud of your
performance."

"While working as a sales representative for XYZ Company for the summer, I called on
Prospective clients and persuaded them of the ecological and economic benefits of
Recycling. I also followed up on clients to ensure that they were satisfied with the service
They received. This involved both telephone and in-person contacts. I increased sales 34%
over the same period in the previous year."

When preparing for this type of questioning, it is crucial that you review the skills and
qualities that the position would require and identify specific examples from your past which
demonstrated those traits.

Stress Questions
Some questions will surprise you and possibly make you feel uncomfortable during an
interview. For

Example:" Which do you prefer, fruits or vegetables?" There are many reasons why an
interviewer might ask such questions. They may want to see how you react in difficult
situations, or they may simply be trying to test your sense of humor. Such questions may
directly challenge an opinion that you have just stated or say something negative about you
or a reference. Sometimes they ask seemingly irrelevant questions such as,

"If you were an animal, what type of animal would you be?"

The best way to deal with this type of question is to recognize what is happening. The
interviewer is trying to elicit a reaction from you. Stay calm, and do not become defensive. If
humour comes naturally to you, you might try using it in your response, but it is important
to respond to the question. What you say is not nearly as important as maintaining your
composure.

Example: "Which do you like better, Lions or Tigers?"

"Oh, lions definitely. They appear so majestic and are very sociable. To be honest, I think
that seeing The Lion King four times has probably contributed to this!"

ANSWERING INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Way of Answering

Regardless of what type of question you are asked, you will find it easier to respond
effectively if you keep in mind some basic question answering strategies:

You can never predict every question that you will encounter, so approach the interview with
an inventory of important points. Make a list of the points about yourself that you want the
interviewer to know. For example, if you were to apply for a job as a Sales Representative,
you might want to list the products you have sold before, types of customers (by industry,
age, etc.), languages spoken, personal experience in that industry and related knowledge
(perhaps from your academic program).

Consider each question an opportunity to provide some of this information. Don't assume
anything. You will be evaluated on your answers, not your resume. Therefore, ensure
you incorporate the relevant information from your resume in your answers.

Pause a couple of seconds before you respond to each question, even if you know exactly
what you want to say. Take this time to quickly plan your answer, this helps to avoid
misunderstandings and produces much more concise answers.

If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification. This is expected and is preferable to
providing an unsuitable answer. If you need time to collect your thoughts - take it. When
people are nervous they tend either to "draw a blank" or to babble. It is better to think for a
few moments and make sure that your answer is doing you justice and that there is a point
to what you are saying.

Always expand. Never answer a question with a "yes" or "no."

The interview is an opportunity for you to sell yourself. Don't be afraid to 'blow your own
horn.' As long as you can back up what you are saying with examples which demonstrate
that what you are saying is true, you are not bragging. Third party observations can also be
mentioned. For example, "My last employer told me that I was promoted because of how I
handled conflicts with clients."

Be very positive. Don't complain about anything - from your former employer to the weather
- and don't apologize for experience that you don't have. Just sell what you do have and let
the employer decide if you have what he/she is looking for. Also, avoid negative words. For
example, you would not say "I have a little experience...," you would say "I have
experience......"

Don't be afraid to repeat important points. In fact, it is a good idea to do this.

THRU THE INTERVIEW PROCESS

Go Through The Process

There are many different types of interviews designed to serve different purposes or
situations. Regardless of the type of interview, most will incorporate the following stages:
establishing rapport, exchanging information, and closing the interview. Pay attention to the
job titles of the interviewer(s). This can help you decide how much technical detail to
provide in your responses.

Establishing Rapport

This is a very important part of the interview because while establishing rapport, first
impressions are made, and the tone of the interview is set. Some people suggest that the
decision to hire is greatly influenced by the first five minutes of the interview. A good
interviewer will introduce him/herself, and take the lead. Follow his or her lead - if they are
chatty, be chatty; if they are formal, be formal. Some employers use what seems to be
casual conversation to get to know you on a more personal level – this may be crucial to a
hiring decision!

Tips:

 Smile and maintain eye contact. This is one way of communicating confidence, even
if you don't feel it.
 If the interviewer offers his or her hand, shake it firmly. If they don't, it is appropriate
to offer yours.
 Wait until the interviewer sits or offers you a seat before sitting down.
 If the interviewer is making small talk, participate. Keep your answers short and
positive.

Exchange of Information

This is the bulk of the interview. It is your opportunity to let the interviewer know what you
have to offer, and your chance to learn more about the organization.

Tips:

 When you answer a question, look the interviewer in the eye.

  Be aware of the interviewer's reactions. If he or she looks confused, ask if you can
clarify anything.
 Be aware of what your body is saying. Avoid closed postures. Sit upright, but not
stiffly.
 Try to find a comfortable position as that will make you feel more relaxed.
 Control your nervous habits. Don't swing your foot, talk with your hands (to an
extreme), or fiddle with jewelers, buttons, pens, etc.
 Show that you are interested in the job by asking questions.
 Try not to appear bored or anxious. Don't look at your watch.

Closing the Interview

When the interviewer is done gathering the information that is needed, he or she will ask if
you have anything to add, or if you have any questions. This is your opportunity to mentally
review your inventory of skills and make sure that you have communicated everything that
you wanted to. If any of your questions have not been addressed during the course of the
interview, now is the time to ask them.

Tips:

 Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration.

 Ask when you can expect to hear from him/her.
 If it is not known when a decision will be reached, ask if you can phone in a week's
time to inquire about the progress.
 If the interviewer offers his/her hand, shake it firmly. Otherwise, it is fine to offer
yours first.
 If not already discussed, you can offer to leave a sample of your work, or portfolio if
you have one.

MISTAKES THAT COST PEOPLE JOBS

Think about the following points. Do any of them apply to you?

Oversell

Trying too hard to impress; bragging; acting aggressively.

Undersell

Failing to emphasize the fact that you have related skills; discussing experience using
negative qualifiers (i.e. "I have a little experience...").

Body Language

It is easy to create a negative impression without even realizing that you are doing it. Are
you staring at your feet, or talking to the interviewer's shoulder? Be aware of what your
actions say about you.

Lack of Honesty
The slightest stretching of the truth may result in you being screened out.

Negative Attitude

The interview is not an opportunity for you to complain about your current supervisor or co-
workers (or even about 'little' things, such as the weather).

Lack of Preparation

You have to know about the organization and the occupation. If you don't, it will appear as
though you are not interested in the position.

Lack of Enthusiasm

If you are not excited about the work at the interview, the employer will not assume that
your attitude will improve when hired.

TOP TEN INTERVIEW TIPS

Great interviews arise from careful groundwork. You can ace your next interview
if you:

1. Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the state from which great players
operate. You'll need to quiet the negative self chatter in your head through
meditation or visualization prior to sitting down in the meeting. You'll focus on the
present moment and will be less apt to experience lapses in concentration,
nervousness, self-doubt and self-condemnation.
2. Act spontaneous, but be well prepared. Be your authentic self, professional yet real.
Engage in true conversation with your interviewer, resting on the preparation you did
prior to coming to the meeting. Conduct several trial runs with another person
simulating the interview before it actually occurs. It's the same as anticipating the
questions you'll be asked on a final exam.
3. Set goals for the interview. It is your job to leave the meeting feeling secure that the
interviewer knows as much as he or she possibly can about your skills, abilities,
experience and achievements. If you sense there are misconceptions, clear them up
before leaving. If the interviewer doesn't get around to asking you important
questions, pose them yourself (diplomatically) and answer them. Don't leave the
meeting without getting your own questions answered so that you have a clear idea
of what you would be getting yourself into. If possible, try to get further interviews,
especially with other key players.
4. Know the question behind the question. Ultimately, every question boils down to,
"Why should we hire you?" Be sure you answer that completely. If there is a question
about your meeting deadlines, consider whether the interviewer is probing delicately
about your personal life, careful not to ask you whether your family responsibilities
will interfere with your work. Find away to address fears if you sense they are
present.
5. Follow up with an effective "thank you" letter. Don't write this letter lightly. It is
another opportunity to market yourself. Find some areas discussed in the meeting
and expand upon them in your letter. Writing a letter after a meeting is a very
minimum. Standing out among the other candidates will occur if you thoughtfully
consider this follow up letter as an additional interview in which you get to do all the
talking. Propose useful ideas that demonstrate your added value to the team.
 6. Consider the interviewer's agenda. Much is on the shoulders of the interviewer. He or
she has the responsibility of hiring the right candidate. Your ability to do the job will
need to be justified. "Are there additional pluses here?" "Will this person fit the
culture of this organization?" These as well as other questions will be heavily on the
interviewer's mind. Find ways to demonstrate your qualities above and beyond just
doing the job.
7. Expect to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." This is a pet question of
prepared and even unprepared interviewers. Everything you include should answer
the question, "Why should we hire you?" Carefully prepare your answer to include
examples of achievements from your work life that closely match the elements of the
job before you. Obviously, you'll want to know as much about the job description as
you can before you respond to the question.
8. Watch those nonverbal clues. Experts estimate that words express only 30% to 35%
of what people actually communicate; facial expressions and body movements and
actions convey the rest. Make and keep eye contact. Walk and sit with a confident
air. Lean toward an interviewer to show interest and enthusiasm. Speak with a well-
modulated voice that supports appropriate excitement for the opportunity before
you.
9. Be smart about money questions. Don't fall into the trap of telling the interviewer
your financial expectations. You may be asking for too little or too much money and
in each case ruin your chances of being offered the job. Instead, ask what salary
range the job falls in. Attempt to postpone a money discussion until you have a
better understanding of the scope of responsibilities of the job.
10. Don't hang out your dirty laundry. Be careful not to bare your soul and tell tales that
are inappropriate or beyond the scope of the interview. State your previous
experience in the most positive terms. Even if you disagreed with a former employer,
express your enthusiasm for earlier situations as much as you can. Whenever you
speak negatively about another person or situation in which you were directly
involved, you run the risk (early in the relationship) of appearing like a troubled
person who may have difficulty working with others.

ASSESSING THE INTERVIEWER

How to assess the interviewer ...............In a normal interview situation, the

interviewer assesses you. Why not turn the tables?

Let us switch roles for once. Instead of being assessed by the interviewer, why not assess
him instead? Is he worthy of conducting the interview? Is he competent enough to be given
the role of being the one who decides the course of your life by determining your career?

Let's start by figuring out what the interviewer is thinking. Let's turn his checklist on him:

IS HE PREPARED?

 Interviewing is a responsible job. If the interviewer doesn’t even bother to find out
the details of the position being offered, or the background of the applicant, he is not
suited to the task.
 An interviewer has to do his homework as well—he just cannot presume he can run
an easy-flowing meeting without knowing the basic details.

IS HE NERVOUS?
  Look for the give-aways: shifting legs, tick in the eye, avoiding eye contact. Realise
that probably he's nervous as well.
 Interviewing is not an easy task. The onus of selection weighs heavy on the
interviewer.
 He has been given the difficult task of finding a suitable candidate who fulfills all the
criteria, yet has moderate salary expectations and is also a reliable person. All this to
be found out—and that too in the duration of a couple of meetings.

IS HE HONEST?

 Find out if the interview is just a sham.

 A just interviewer will play it fair, will follow the rules and will be sincere with you.
 He/she won’t come to the interview with preconceived and fixed ideas.
 He/she will be ready to listen to you and give you, and other applicants, a fair
hearing.

IS HE NASTY?

Tough questions are part of the interview repertoire. A few examples:

 "What are your three greatest strengths, in order?"

 "Where do you want to be in five years?"
 "What does the word success mean to you?"
 "Why should we be interested in hiring you?"

KEEP A DISTANCE

 There is really no need to get familiar or personal during the interview.

 Don't, however, get too involved or preoccupied in your attempt at
analysing/assessing the interviewer. For, you may then forget the real reason for the
interview: getting the job.

MOCK EXERCISE

Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table .........................

ICE BREAKER

(1) Tell us about yourself .

Briefly run through your qualifications and your career in a logical progression.

(2) Tell us about your family background.

The answer again should as brief as your earlier reply. Emphasise personal facts if they help
build your profile.

(3) What do you know about our company?

Do not give your opinions about the company. Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on. Talk about the product portfolio, size, income, and
market perceptions of the company.

(4) Your qualifications are excellent, but you may be overqualified for the position we have
to offer.
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people. It needs
people within different departments to work together. Also emphasise that the company's
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience.

(5) Why should we choose you over someone else?

Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your current workplace and highlight
the quality required. For instance, say how by putting systems or buffers in place, you were
able to deal with infrastructural problems and reduce inventory pile-up by 40 per cent