Interview Tips

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines interview as ‘formal consultation usually to evaluate the qualifications of a prospective employee’. This means that the path to a job leads through an interview. There are two types of interviews -

1. Where there is only one interviewer or the person evaluating the interviewee.
2. Where there is a team of interviewers usually consisting of two or more members. These days most of the organizations follow these type of interviews.
   

Interview Tips - Things to remember

• Do not worry about the format. Concentrate on your preparation and creating a good first impression. If you can manage to ride on that first impression then fine, otherwise take care to make your body language reflecting a positive language.
•  Do not forget to carry a smile with a purpose of business. Be confident; try to relax yourself by doing any thing that may soothe your nerves. Remember, if you are relaxed, then you will be able to perform better. Try to listen to your favorite music if possible, or wash your face or read some magazine. The idea is that you remain relaxed and appear to be relaxed. Follow some golden rules -
• Do not get nervous. This will not be your last interview. Your life does not depend on this particular interview.
• In an interview, honesty is the best policy. If you lie then it leaves a bad impression about you and the interviewer has the knowledge about what he/she is asking. So come what may, do not try to fool the interviewer/s.
• Do not look like a flowerpot. This is a formal interview and not a wedding or a fashion show. So, dress formally, use perfume or deodorant to the minimum.
• If you smoke, do not smoke prior to the interview. It leaves a bad impression.
• Do not be over cautious about your physical looks. Habits like running your hand through your hair is considered bad. Strictly avoid this.
• Ensure you do not smell bad.
• Make sure to wish every person collectively while you enter and while you leave.
• Remember you are not going on a war. Neither the interviewers are at war with you. On the Contrary, the interviewers try their best to make you feel comfortable. After all, they want to judge your capabilities, and that can be done only when you are calm.
• Remember, the interviewer is perpetually short of time. In this short duration of 5-10 minutes you have to tell him your positive qualities. Therefore, it is advisable that you prepare extensively for the interview. Secondly, make judicious use of time. For e.g. do not dwell too much on your personal qualities that you may not get enough time to tell about your professional qualities, experience, expectations etc.
• Be punctual. It is better to arrive at the venue before time rather than being late. It gives the impression of being a non-serious person.
  

Tips to prepare for the interview

Remember it is only an interview call and not the joining letter. So, instead of getting elated make sure you prepare well for the interview.
Prepare well in advance what you will and how you will provide information about yourself. Remember when you start speaking 1 minute appears too long. Instead do this, write down a rough note of what you want to convey and keep a watch with you to see how much time you take. Do not take more than 2-3 minutes. On the other hand do not be so short that you stop as soon as you begin. Remember the interviewer has only seen your CV, that too cursorily. Now he will like to know about you from you. Therefore, judicious use of speech is the solution.

Prepare by making a thorough enquiry about the potential employers, the type of organization, and the performance of the organization in your field of expertise.

List the 10 traits associated with the position you are seeking and prepare to demonstrate them during the session. Would creativity, presentation or facilitation skills be important? Ask people who are familiar with the kind of job you are seeking to create short tests that might allow you to illustrate your skills.

Interview Questions

Prepare an exhaustive list of questions that may be asked from you. Such a list may appear something as follows:-

• Why do you wish to leave your present job?
• What do you know about this particular job and this company? How you came to know?
• What are your goals; both short term and long term?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• What salary are you expecting?
• What information is important to you in making a decision about this job change?
• What questions do you plan to ask the employer either about the job, company, or other things? Whom have you learned the most from?
• If you could bring some change in the organization what would be that?
• How soon can you join?

What additional skills do you have which may be put to test if the Company decides to resort to cutting strength of employees?
Generally, the interview starts with a usual ‘Tell us something about yourself’. You should try to structure your answer in such a way that if possible, you are able to direct the interview in your direction. Therefore, it is very necessary to keep a calm head on your shoulders.

The following tips can improve your encounters with interviewing teams Alter your answers

If you are called back for subsequent rounds of interviews, then try to present the same information in another way Do not describe the same project you managed to all the interviewers. Instead, describe a different project in each of the successive interviews.

Read between the lines

With several people asking questions consecutively, you may not have much time to prepare for a response, therefore, try to read the hidden meaning and try to be measured in your response. Try to be politically correct to be on the safer side and Do not carry your prejudices with you to the interview chamber.