51283notes on interviews

8/18/2019 51283notes on Interviews

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The Interview Process

“One important key to success is self-confidence….

…..An important key to self-confidence is preparation.”

- Arthur Ashe

The purpose of conducting interviews:

Interviews provide companies the opportunity to assess your relevant skills, knowledge,

interests, attitude and overall personality against specific, pre-determined evaluation parameters.

If your interviewers are able to assess that you have the potential to contribute positively towards

the company’s growth and handle the job competently, they will opt to select you. However,

interviews are not just an opportunity for the interviewer to assess you, but are also a two way

process. You also have the opportunity to sell your strengths, ability and skills to the interviewers

and convince them that you are the right candidate for the job. You should think of interviews as

opportunities to market yourself successfully and not as something to be apprehensive about.

s there a formula for success!

At the end of this module you will "e a"le to:

• earn about the interview process and what is e!pected from you in the interview.

• "now about the prere#uisites and essentials of preparing for the interview.

• $ecome aware of the type of #uestions that will be asked from you in the interview

and how you can best answer them.

• %ssess your performance against standard interview evaluation parameters.


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&urely for the sake of better understanding into what ingredients are necessary for

succeeding in interviews, we can derive a success formula for interviews which may be as

follows'

#our A"ilities $%nowledge & 'kills & Attitude( ) *eeds of the Organi+ation

(his formula gives the mi! of ingredients re#uired for succeeding in interviews. (he

actual proportion of each ingredient may vary according to the type of interview and the job

profile. (he formula brings out the fact that, over a period of time, skills and attitudes have

assumed a higher degree of importance in the corporate sector as the selection criteria for

freshers. )ost companies nowadays not only check whether a student’s knowledge fundamentals

are sound, but also probe beyond to evaluate their soft skills and attitudes which are crucial for

performing effectively in a job.

(he corporate interview can also be defined as a two way process'

,ind out what the "uyer is "uying

'ell what the "uyer is "uying

In other words, you have to find out what the employer wants and show how you can best

meet those e!pectations. (his concept of interviews highlights the importance of essential

function of pre-interview research on industry verticals company and o" profile as well as

highlights the significance of developing and customi+ing your employa"ility portfolio to best

suit the job re#uirements. Your key strategy should be to uncover the interviewer’s greatest needs

and wants before you appear for your interview.


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Interviews can also be defined in terms of a basic marketing function, where you have

to consider yourself as a product that has to be positioned to match the buyer’s needs as closely

as possible, and as in every product, the finishing or the packaging plays an important role to

attract attention. %s such, professional grooming and interview eti#uette, the two basic

components which form your packaging, is also very important and have been ade#uately

covered in detail in this book.

nterview procedure / methodology:

Interviews are generally a multi-stage process having a series of H* and technical

rounds. You can e!pect some of the following types of interview rounds'

0roup nterviews: In this type of interview session, students are made to sit in small

groups of +- and randomly asked general #uestions on various aspects of their personal

profile and knowledge areas. (his is an elimination round from which only the cream of

students are selected for a further one to one personal interview. (his type of interview

session is conducted when the number of candidates is large and or there is shortage of

time. roup interviews need careful handling. You have to be totally alert and #uick to

respond to any #uestion thrown at you, otherwise you may miss the opportunity. You are

selected on the basis of your speed of response, communication skills and #uality of your

answer.

'tress nterviews: (hey are conducted for specific job profiles where work pressure is

tremendous and deadlines have to be met. (hey are also conducted for job profiles in

which multitasking is re#uired or there is a continuous client interaction. /tress

interviews involve the process of putting you under a time limit to perform a group of

tasks, or simultaneously handling a variety of tasks or critical #ueries. /tress interviews


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can also be in the form of an aggressive personal attack on your abilities or doubting your

suitability for the job, asking four or five #uestions in a row or at the same time, acting

rude or sarcastic, disagreeing with you, ignoring you, or simply keeping you waiting for a

long period. (he idea is to test your confidence level, patience and coolness, presence of

mind and smartness of response. (he key to surviving the stress interview is to remember

the 1 23s of nterviews' /taying 2alm, 2ool, and 2ollected. If you remain calm, cool

and collected, and handle such unnerving #uestions or hostile treatment with finesse and

grace, it will have a positive effect on the employer. $e aware of showing negative body

language during this time such as clenching your fist, crossing your legs, frowning or

s#uirming in the chair. 0!hibit a calm thoughtful demeanor and maintain good eye

contact while answering stress #uestions.

2ase study "ased nterviews: (his kind of interview is held typically for technical or

marketing students in which a case study is given, which may consist of problems in

software development and implementation or finding a solution to a marketing problem.

(he focus will be on your problem comprehension and solving skills, strategic and

analytical ability, creativity and innovative ability. 1uestions are asked on your

understanding of the problem and discussing possible solutions. You can also be asked to

suggest alternate methods of finding the solution. In such #uestions, there is generally no

right answer. It’s important that you take the interviewers through your thought process in

finding the solution so they can assess your analytical ability.

One to one nterviews: (hese are generally second stage interviews on a one to one

basis. However, scarcity of time compels most companies to use them as a front line

interviewing methodology. /uch interviews are in-depth interviews which look into the


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aspect of your suitability for that particular job. (he interviewer will most likely be your

prospective departmental head, under whom you will be working.

4anel nterviews: % panel interview comprises of a combination of interviewers from

the H* and the heads of concerned department, i.e. marketing or technical, depending on

the job profile. (he panel can also include one of the senior officers of the company. (he

panel interview is much comprehensive and wider in scope, as the panel consists of

people from different departments who can ask you different kinds of #uestions. /o be

prepared to handle all kinds of #uestions related to your academics, skills and

achievements, work e!perience, family background, willingness to work under certain

conditions, relocating, etc.

Technical nterviews: %s the name suggests, they are technical in nature and may not be

just #uestion and answer sessions. You may be asked to practically demonstrate or

display your technical skills. (echnical interviews focus on analy2ing your competency

for a specific skill or a set of specific skills. 3or e!ample, I( stream students may be

asked to write a small program or prepare a flowchart. In some cases, the technical

interview is combined with the one to one interview, with one interviewer from the

technical side and the other from H*.

4eer nterviews

/ome companies are adopting newer techni#ues, one of them being a “peer interview”,

where you are asked to intermingle with your prospective co-workers who evaluate you

at the same time according to specific parameters.


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4reparing for the nterview:

)ental fear of the unknown is often what produces physical symptoms of nervousness. In

addition to preparing yourself physically, you also need to prepare yourself mentally. (he best

way to prepare is to fully understand what you may face during the interviews and practice

thoroughly. 3ear e!ists only when you are faced with the unknown. 4nce the process becomes

familiar through regular practice sessions, you feel more confident and positive. (herefore, you

should take pains to prepare rigorously for the interview process'

5. (he best way to prepare for interview #uestions is to make a list of e!pected #uestions

and prepare your answers for them by writing them down.

6. 4nce you have put your answers down on paper, use the sound scripting techni7ues

e!plained in the chapter on 8er"al 2ommunication 'kills to enhance the way you

deliver your answers.

1. /it in front of a mirror and practice speaking the answers aloud with proper word stress,

intonations and pauses.

9. (ake note of your facial epressions eye movement hand gestures and posture. %lso

the level and pace of your voice. You can use the *on-ver"al communication check list

given at the end of this module for non ver"al analysis to rate yourself after each

practice session to make improvements.

;. &ractice the interview eti7uette of asking permission to enter greeting shaking

hands asking permission to sit down and thanking the interviewer. You should be able

to perform these things smoothly and confidently without any hitch. 5heck yourself

against the nterview


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gestures. *emember, you’re in an interview and not giving a presentation to a large

audience. (he best way to avoid this is to imagine a small one foot s#uare bo! in front of

you and make your hand gestures within that bo! only.

:se active listening skills by nodding to show you9re listening to the interviewer.

"eep a confident and interested facial e!pression. (ry not to appear nervous,

apprehensive or disillusioned.

"eep a check on too fre#uently repeated body movements, such as making the same kind

of hand gestures all the time.

*egative >ody language gestures:

Here are some negative body language gestures which you should be aware of and

completely avoid during your interview'

2rossed arms: you are revealing a defensive and reserved personality.

2rossed legs: means you are very reserved and wary.

'itting with hands inside the pockets: means you’re not sure or feel suspicious.

'itting in a chair shaking one of the legs' You are completely nervous and

uncomfortable.


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?u""ing the "ack of your head or the "ack of your neck: - means you’re really

uncomfortable with the interview and would like to get away as soon as possible.

@aking palm-down gestures: /uch signs are generally reserved for authority figures.

@aking a thum" up or down gesture: (his is an informal symbol of non verbal

communication and to be avoided at interviews.

'teepling or clasping your hands: 6isplays intellectual arrogance or superiority and

should be avoided.

,olding your legs under your chair or sitting with crossed ankle: 8hile the first one

shows an introverted tendency, the second one displays arrogance.

*ervous actions while answering 7uestions: $iting your lip or licking them is a sign of

nervousness, and should be strictly avoided.

8er"al communication during interviews:

;erbal communication during interviews is all about the 123s: 2onfidence 2redi"ility and

2ompetence.

2onfidence: (he tone and pace of your voice e!pressively conveys the way you are

feeling. 8hen you are nervous your pace tends to speed up, which leads to stammering,

fumbling and mispronouncing words. It may also cause you to use e!cessive fillers

or keep repeating a particular phrase in your answers . 3ear can make your tone subdued and timid.

$oth pace and tone need to be controlled if you want to display confidence. (he best way

to control your pace and tone is to prepare and rehearse your answers well and get into a

lot of mock practice sessions.


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2redi"ility: (his comes with the kind of words you use and the way you speak. 5hoice

of appropriate words is important to convey your ideas and thoughts clearly. :se

communication enhancers like action verbs , idioms, word partnerships and emphatic e!pressions to answer convincingly. :se keywords to describe your work e!perience or summer internship work

profile. /ound scripting techni#ues serve to enhance the way you speak and add to the

credibility of your answer by use of tonal variations and word stress to convey optimism,

enthusiasm, conviction and interest during the interview.

2ompetence: (his is conveyed through how you answer the #uestions. %lways keep

your answers brief and to the point. isten carefully and seek clarifications if you don’t

understand the #uestion. 6on’t ramble 7 keep on talking and repeating what you’ve

already said. You should ?


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4ositive impact' ?I first understand the customer’s needs and offer them the best possible

solution that will fulfill those needs. (his way I am able to effectively convince my

customers.@

(he second response shows your understanding of the selling process which is based on

understanding and satisfying the customers needs. It sounds more believable and realistic.

?e7uired 2ompetencies for nterviews:

Aow let’s look into the kinds of competencies that are tested during

the interviews, and how to best proect these competencies in front of your interviewers.

2ompetencies: 'kills 'et

%s in group discussions, skill sets vary according to the job profile and you should

highlight those competencies which are crucial for the performance of that job. If you are

applying for a sales job profile, then be prepared to be asked to sell a product or service to the

interviewer. You should be familiar with the basic principals of selling and how to effectively

display your convincing skills. /imilarly for a managerial position in sales, you should also be

able to convince your interviewers about your leadership #uality and team building skills with

suitable e!amples.

2ompetencies: Attitudes

%part from skills, the set of attitudes you project matter a great deal in interviews.

%ttitudes are a state of mind or disposition you have with regards to a person or thing. It is a

tendency or orientation formed through e!perience, habits and environmental circumstances.

%ttitude is what causes people to regard an object in different ways. (he classic e!ample of this

is the glass of water illustration. /ome will say it is half full and others will call it half empty.

%ttitudes are conveyed both sublimely and consciously by you 7 through your body language


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and by your words. It is not enough to say you have a positive approach towards things while

sitting in a slouching manner in the chair. /o make sure you convey your attitude in both your

verbal and non verbal communication during interviews. Here are some attitudes which you

should display during the interview'

&ositive and optimistic frame of mind

0nthusiasm and keenness

&erseverance and dedication

%lertness and attentiveness

%daptability and fle!ibility

&assion for the career stream, industry sector C job profile.

&roblem solving and result oriented approach

&roactive nature

?4ut of the bo!@ thinking

Buestions to epect in an nterview:

You can e!pect a wide variety of #uestions which assess your overall personality, from

evaluating your employability skills and motivations to the technically intricate #uestions

relevant to the job applied for. 1uestions are designed around the specific competencies re#uired

for the position you have applied for. *emember that the whole point of the e!ercise is for the

interviewer is to establish three basic things about you - to determine if you have the skills and

competencies to perform the job effectively, if you are willing to perform the job well and

e#ually important, if you are someone they would like to work with, whether your overall

personality 7 your appearance, grooming and eti#uettes are acceptable enough or not. %s such,

there are only three categories of interview #uestions'


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2an you do the o" well!

(his tests your competency and knowledge for the job.

Cill you do the o" well!

(his probes if you are motivated enough to perform the job.

o you fit in well!

(his is to judge how well you will get along with the others in the organi2ation.

%ll interview #uestions fit into the above mentioned categories. (here is a fourth category

which really does not apply to freshers and that is the #uestion 7 Are you afforda"le! %s

companies visiting the campus for selecting students have a fi!ed salary structure which is

intimated to you during the briefing session. In case you have applied directly, before going for

the interview, research the current salary structure pertaining to that job profile in that specific

sector and #uote accordingly in case you are asked about your salary e!pectations.

% list of most fre#uently asked interview #uestions according to various job profiles is

given in the appendi! section, along with the best possible way to answer them. o through them

and prepare your own answers accordingly.

Different styles of questioning:

It is a good idea to be aware here about the different styles of #uestioning and how to best

respond to each type. 5orporate interviews are generally a mi! of various types of interviews,

and very rarely of one kind, such as a purely behavioral, situation or case study interview. %s

such it is better to focus on the different styles of #uestions which may be asked from you'

'pecific:


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hypothetical situations that you may face on the job. You are tested here are for your speed

and clarity of though, along with the ability to construct a logically convincing response. It

also tests your knowledge level in applying relevant skills to a hypothetical yet practical

situation.

ncidental or >ehavioral:


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- 6escribe the background here' ?6uring our annual college festival ?Happenings@ in Eanuary

last year, I was entrusted with the responsibility of=..@

8hat was your TaskD

- 4utline your work responsibilities clearly here' ?I was entrusted with the responsibility of

getting sponsors for various cultural events from companies.@

8hat Actions did you takeD

- 3ocus here on your competencies to accomplish the given task' ?I used my interpersonal

skills to "uild a team of enthusiastic students, and motivated them to visit companies to

collect sponsorships. I was able to organi+e the work according to the ability and resources

of the team members and utili2ed my personal contacts as well to get sponsorships=..@

(his answer clearly demonstrates to the interviewers that you know all about interpersonal

skills and team building.

8hat was the ? esultD

- )ention the outcome at the end 7 what you achieved as a result of efforts. ive specific

figures and include a positive appraisal received from your head of department or teachers

praising your efforts.

The telephonic interview:

enerally, phone interviews are a preliminary to the actual interview. It gives a pre-

interview assessment to the company about the feasibility of calling you for a face to face

interview. &hone interviews are usually held when you apply directly to the company, either

online or by other means.


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&reparation for a phone interview is e#ually important. (he initial impression you create

and the way you present yourself will decide weather you will be called over for a face to face

interview. (ake care of certain prere#uisites which can make your interview easier to handle'

"eep your 5; near the phone or on a desk if you are using a mobile to answer the

interview call, so that it9s readily available to you while answering #uestions.

o over your competency related e!amples and keep your research sheet on the company

handy.

&repare a written brief about yourself to respond to the very basic #uestion 9(ell me about

yourself.9

Eot down a couple of #uestions you would like to ask.

"eep a pen and paper within reach for jotting down points.

(urn off the call-waiting function on your phone and put any other phone you may have

to silent mode.

If the call comes at an inconvenient time, ask if you could talk at another time.

)ake sure there will be no disturbance around you at the time of taking the call.

Dandling the phone interview:

The Opening

In case you are not mentally prepared or caught by surprise when the call comes, take

a breather before starting the interview. (hank the interviewer for calling and re#uest

permission to switch off the television or the music system before attending the call.

%fter this, put the phone down and collect your resume and support materials, take a


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few deep breaths and pick up the phone with a smile on your face. (his establishes a

self control and prepares you to face the interview.

During the Intervie

It’s a good idea to give the interview while standing up instead of being seated. (his

allows you room to pace around a little while answering #uestions and a little

movement takes away any nervous agitation within you. 6on’t overdo the pacing

around as it might make you feel breathless.

It’s very natural for your mouth to dry up while answering #uestions. "eep a glass of

water nearby.

)ake sure to smile from time to time. /miling changes the tone of your voice and

will project a positive image to the listener.

In a phone interview, your tone and pace is the most important aspect. "eep your tone

enthusiastic, friendly and energetic. "eep a check on speaking too fast. )odulate

your voice by using sound scripting techni#ues. 4ver the phone, it’s also important

that your pronunciation is clear and you do not use any fillers such as umm=.and =

ahh.

:se the interviewer’s name fre#uently during the interview such as ?)r. upta@. You

can vary this by sometimes also using 7 ?sir@. %lso, use the company’s name a few

times during the interview.

%void answering in ?yes@ or ?no@ to #uestions and never interrupt the interviewer.

%lways try to respond with a positive answer and remember the golden rule of using

the interview as a means of showcasing your competencies.


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(his is not a good time to mention things like salary, benefits or perks. "eep these

things for the face to face interview.

The !losing

Your objective is to set up a face to face interview. %t the end of the interview, make

sure you ask for it. You can do this by thanking the interviewer for calling and

en#uire when it would be possible to meet in person.

%t the end of the interview, in case the interviewer asks if you have any #uestions, use

it as an opportunity to ask what the ne!t step is. 6on’t ask any further #uestions at

this stage. 0!press your desire to work for the company and say you would appreciate

the opportunity for a face to face interview.

4ost telephonic interview re7uisites:

Aote down what #uestion you were asked and how you answered them. (his will help

you to improve yourself for the ne!t phone interview.

In case there is no commitment from the interviewer for a face to face interview,

follow up with a thank you noteemail which shows your interest in the job and

re#uests for a face to face interview.

Dow are you evaluated in the interview!

enerally, you are evaluated on an ?0vidence $ased@ methodology, a procedure which

focuses on finding evidence of your past achievements in areas of knowledge, skill and

motivation. (he recruiter will first identify the competencies and motivations re#uired to perform

the job well and frame #uestions designed to solicit the desired response from you. You are then


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evaluated on the #uality of evidence you provide for each #uestion. (herefore, you should be

ready with concrete e!amples which provide evidence of your competencies and motivations for

the job. iven in the appendi! section is a 9-factor nterview


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selection presentation in which the salary structure and perks are conveyed to you. (his means

that the salary is non-negotiable and the company will offer a fi!ed package as conveyed to you

in their presentation, so don’t raise the issue of salary in your interviews.

B6. Chat if don3t understand a 7uestion!

You can always ask the interviewer to clarify by re#uesting politely to repeat or paraphrase the

#uestion.

B1. Chat if don3t know the answer to a 7uestion!

It’s best to be honest in situations like this and say that you don’t know.

B9. s it proper to shake hands with all the interviewers "efore and after the interviews!

8hile shaking hands is important as it displays confidence on your part, it may not be practical

when you are having a panel of G-+ interviewers.

B;. Dow do eplain any gaps in my education!

/ometimes, it may not be possible to come up with valid reasons for e!plaining the gaps in your

education. You can always convert this into a positive factor in your favor by stating that you

utili2ed your spare time in preparing and e#uipping yourself with the relevant knowledge and

competencies re#uired for your chosen career. 4therwise you can give reasons which do not

reflect personally on your capability or attitude, such as family problems.

BE. s it all right to say that have plans to study further!

It may not be a good idea to convey that you are planning to enroll for some full time course

after - years of working in a job. It gives the impression that you regard this job as a stopgap

measure to earn money and gain e!perience, not someone the company can regard as a long term

employee on whom they can invest time and money. You can say that you would like to upgrade


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your knowledge and skills by enrolling for a correspondence course, or would be willing to join

some company sponsored training courses.

BF. 'hould say have applied elsewhere!

In case the interviewer brings up this #uestion, you can always say you are keeping your options

open.

BG. Chat if say something that mismatches with the information have put in my 28!

It’s best to avoid this situation and go over your 5; and prepared answers carefully to check if

they match. (his kind of situation will not generally come up if your preparation is thorough.

BH. 2an ask if have "een selected or not at the end of the interview!

You can en#uire about the ne!t step after your initial interview. In case it is your final interview,

you can always en#uire how soon they will be intimating the outcome to you.

B5I. Chat 7uestions should ask in case the interviewer asks me if have any 7uestions!

You can ask #uestions related to your training or orientation program, specific areas of job

responsibility, in house employee development programs the company may be having. 6on’t ask

#uestions on the leave policy, promotion criteria, and possibility of relocating or future monetary

benefits.

nterview Buestion / Answers:

iven below are some of the most fre#uently asked #uestions during corporate interviews, with

the best possible way to answer the #uestions. You should customi2e and frame your answers

according to your personal profile, nature of job and company whose interview you are giving.

Buestion 5: Tell us something a"out yourself!

(his is usually the first and one of the most important #uestions asked during the interview. (he


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way you answer this #uestion creates a strong initial impression on the interviewer and can set

the tone for the rest of your interview. )ake sure you prepare the answer to this #uestion well

and practice speaking it aloud a few times in front of a mirror, or in front of someone who can

give you an honest, critical appraisal.

4urpose:

(his #uestion has a three-fold purpose'

How well you can market yourself as the most #ualified person for the position.

8hat you consider more important about yourself.

(esting your communication skills.

0eneral tips on how to answer:

/tructure your /elf- &resentation

:se /ound /cripting

5ontrol your &ace C (one

&rioriti2e your Information

:se action words to create a positive impact

'e7uence of nformation'

Aame C current pursuit.


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"ey /kills and #ualities 7 mention those relevant to the job profile.

/pecial %chievements - &ri2es, positions held, participation in events C competitions,

research papers presented, projects, etc.

&rofessional (echnical #ualifications 7 something apart from your academics, which can

also include relevant seminars and workshops attended.

Hobbies C 0!tra-curricular activities.

It is important to mention appropriate e!tra-curricular activities which add to your suitability for

the job. 3or e!ample, if you are applying for a position which involves your working in a team, it

would be a good idea to mention that you enjoy playing or watching team games like cricket,

football or hockey.

iven below is a Jo" 4rofile K 2ompetency 2hart depicting what skills and attitudes are

essential for which job profile'

'.*o. Jo" 4rofile 'kills / Attitudes

J. /ales 5ommunication, Interpersonal, 5onvincing,

%ssertive, &ersistence, &atience, 4ptimism,0nthusiastic, *esult oriented, team working.

. )arketing 5ommunication, Interpersonal, (eam working,4rgani2ing and planning, Innovative, %nalytical,

6ecisive, (rouble shooting, 4ptimistic, 0nthusiastic.

. 3inance %nalytical, Innovative, )ethodical, &recise,

*ational, 6etail 4riented, 5ritical, $road vision andforesightedness, planning and structuring, intuitive.

G. H* 5ommunicative, Interpersonal, Eudgmental,

Aegotiating skills, "een insight of human character,

)otivating, Indiscriminating, 5ompassionate, oodlistening skills.

+. (echnical *esearch 5reative, %nalytical, 6etail 4riented, )ethodical,&recise, &ersistent, 5ritical, 4ptimistic, Intuitive,

&roblem solving approach, (eam working.

K. /oftware 6evelopment %nalytical, 6etail 4riented, )ethodical, Innovative,

&roblem solving approach, (eam working.


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L. (echnical /upport %nalytical, )ethodical, &roblem solving approach,(eam working.

. 5ustomer care

Hospitality 5lient

Interaction

5ommunication, Interpersonal skills, patience, team

working, 0mpathic.

Aote' 4ther skills may also be re#uired for a particular job profile, but are secondary. 3or

e!ample, for a 3inance job, analytical ability is essential, but it is also good to have a positive

and optimistic attitude.

It is important while answering this #uestionF you phrase your answer in such a way that brings

out the relevant #ualities appropriate for that job profile. )ake use of specific keywords and

phrases in your answer in order to create a better impact.

Here are some e!amples to give you an idea'

Buestion: LTell me a"out yourself!L

?esponse for a finance o" profile:

?I have achieved success so far by making well-thought-out decisions based on careful analysis

of all factors. I9m a person who approaches problems with logic and sound reasoning. I would

enjoy developing appropriate systems and procedures to streamline and automate the financial

functioning of a company in an effective manner, and my goal is to gain e!pertise in all finance

related procedures and systems. )y finance speciali2ation in )$% and relevant summer

internship in %AM rindlays has provided me the technical knowledge which I can built upon,

and I am looking forward to joining a company which can provide me a platform to build a

career in finance.N

?esponse for a marketing o" profile:


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?I thrive on seeking out innovative solutions to challenging problems to ma!imi2e results.

*egardless of the task or challenge, I always like to give my best performance in anything I do. I

think my main strength is my ability to work well with diverse teams. I seek out opportunities to

involve and collaborate with others to perform a job effectively. (his ability, combined with my

effective communication skills has always led me to success in e!tra curricular activities. )y

marketing speciali2ation and summer training project in identifying and developing new market

segments at Hindustan :nilever has groomed me well for a professional career in marketing. I

believe that an organi2ation that does not change and grow will die. I would enjoy working with

your company to help define new market opportunities and evolve innovative strategies in order

to ma!imi2e the overall profitability of the organi2ation.@

Buestions 6: Chat are your 2areer goals! M Chat do you want to achieve! M Dow do you

define success!M Chere do you see yourself fiveMten years from now!

4urpose:

How clear are you in your purpose and if it matches with the organi2ation9s goals.

(o see if you9re settling for this position, or using it merely as a stopover until something

better comes along.

auge your level of ambition and your definition of success.

Dow to Answer:

"now first about the company9s corporate goals, the job responsibilities and organi2ational

structure before answering this #uestion and customi2e your career goals accordingly. Your

answer should be task focused and not self-materialistic. &roject yourself as someone who can

develop the relevant e!pertise and e!perience to perform wider work responsibilities and


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functions in the future, whom the company can depend upon to contribute towards its

growth, instead of just obtaining higher monetary benefits and promotions for your self.

)any candidates answer this #uestion by elaborating upon their own future benefits and personal

achievements such as promotions, higher salary and incentives which gives a very selfish,

narrow ambition. Instead, focus on higher work responsibilities and wider contribution to the

company with respect to your job.

% lot of candidates make the mistake of saying that their goal is to start their own business.

8hile being an entrepreneur is an admirable ambition, it is the wrong sort of answer to give

during a job interview, as your prospective employers are looking to develop you into a corporate

asset in the future, not in someone who may gain e!perience at their e!pense and then leave the

job to start their own business.

It may be a good idea to give a break up of your immediate short term goals and your long term

goals. /hort term goals are always specific and target oriented. If you’re giving an interview of a

marketing job profile, focus on achievement of targets, e!panding the client base of the company,

brand promotion and development of sales team, etc. 3or a technical job profile, it could be

successful testing and implementation of new software or meeting the project completion

deadlines.

Buestion 1: Cho is your role model! M Cho inspires you the most!

4urpose:

8hat #ualities you consider important for success, and if they are relevant to the job profile.

Dow to Answer:

)ention a person from the relevant trade 7 a well know, non controversial figure. $e clear on

why you admire that person 7 their #ualities, skills and achievements which should be relevant


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to the job profile.

4ne of the biggest mistakes to make here is to name a non 7 related personality, which causes a

job profile 7 skill set mismatch. 4ne student during an interview session for a brand promotion

e!ecutive of a mobile company, named )other (eresa as the person he admired the most. You

can imagine the grilling he was put through to justify his choice of role model with respect to the

job profile. Ao doubt, on a personal level, )other (eresa may be a perfect e!ample to emulate,

but professionally, it will not be suitable to pick her as a role model.

Questions 4: Why do you want to join our company? / Why do you want to

enter this particular career? / Describe your ideal company and job profle.

4urpose:

(o test your general awareness about the company, job profile C sector and your motive in

pursuing that career line or joining the company. (o see if you will prove to be a long term player

in this field who will stick through the ups and downs.

Dow to Answer:

0mphasi2e on the long term growth prospects in that particular career.

8hat you admire most about the company.

&ositive growth prospects of the industry segment.

How the company’s corporate goals and field of business fits in with your personal career

aspirations.

How your skills and 7ualities make you the ideal person for the job profilecareer line.

(his answer needs careful thinking, as giving short term, temporary reasons for entering into a

particular career stream may put a #uestion mark against your maturity level and soundness of


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your choice. 6uring the interview sessions for a major hotel chain, several students cited the

good growth prospects in the hospitality industry due to the OJO 5ommonwealth ames as a

reason for wanting to pursue a career in the hotel industry. (his is an e!ample of a short term

point of view upon which to base a career decision on. (he interviewer asked the candidates who

gave this answer that what will happen after the 5ommonwealth ames 7 would there not be an

overcapacity in the hospitality sector afterwards which may lead to a slump in occupancy and

rentalsD Aone of the candidates were able to give a satisfactory reply to this. /o it is better to

focus on long term trends in the industry.

/imilarly, you have to give solid, long term reasons for joining the company. /uperfluous

answers such as the company being a market leader, having a good product range, brand image,

appealing advertising, etc. will show that you have not given a deep thought to why you wish to

join the company. (hese are temporary things which may change over time. 0mphasi2e on the

core values, long term vision and corporate objectives of the company, which remain unchanged.

0laborate how your personal goals can be best fulfilled while working in the company, and how

the company offers you the best working environment for achieving your ambition.

6uring a campus interview session of H:, one student emphasi2ed upon the company’s

e!cellent work culture as his reason for wanting to join. 8hile there was nothing wrong in that

answer, a bit of in depth probing by the interviewers revealed chinks in the candidate’s

knowledge of the work culture of H:. (he student had no clue of the company’s work culture

or H* policies. /o, be careful to back whatever reasons you give by concrete facts.

Buestion ;: Chy do you think you are suita"le for this o"! MChy should we hire you! M

Dow can you convince us that you are the "est candidate for the o"!


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enthusiastic and confident fresher like me can achieve. %lso, this job profile suits my personal

ambition to make a long term, stable career in channel marketing.@

Buestion E: Chat is your greatest weakness! M Chere could you use some improvement!

4urpose:

(his is a potential trap and can eliminate you to make you admit a fatal flaw within you to

dis#ualify you.

Dow to Answer:

(urn your weaknesses into strengths. 0.g. - $eing impatient 7 but this also leads you to

drive yourself hard to achieve things more #uickly. 4r being too pushy sometimes.

However, this often leads you achieve results in difficult situations.

/pecify those weaknesses only that do not dis#ualify you for the job. 6on9t mention

things like being la2y, dishonest, careless or short tempered.

ive a weakness which you have already resolved or taking steps to improve. 0.g. - ack

of computer skills, for which you are taking a special course in )/ 4ffice.

'ome weaknesses you can mention:

Impatience, inade#uate e!posure to a working environment, lack of technical

skills which you are resolving by taking a course, tend to push people too hard for success, being

too much of a perfectionist, being restless and wanting to be on the move ,

dislike paperwork and writing reports .

Buestion F: Chat are your greatest strengths!

4urpose:

(his #uestion seems easy, but be careful here. You don9t want to come across as egotistical or

arrogant. Aor is this a time to be humble.


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Dow to Answer:

%s mentioned earlier, if you know your interviewer’s greatest wants and needs - you should have

this list as your greatest strengths and always give corresponding e!amples of how this strength

has helped you achieve something in the past.

/ome students during campus interviews or mock interview practice sessions give standard,

routine strengths which are not actually strengths but basic character re#uirements, such as being

honest, hardworking, disciplined, punctual, etc. )entioning these things as strengths should be

avoided, as these things are e!pected from everyone as part of their character, and need not be

highlighted. %s a general guideline, here are some common positive traits which can be used for

all sorts of job profiles'

&ositive attitude, good sense of humor, being a self starter, definiteness of purpose,

ability to walk the e!tra mile for results, being a good listener, good communication skills,

having an eye for details, good character judgment, ability to interact well with others, #uick

learner, being work savvy.

However, it would be best to mention those strengths which are job specific, those which can

help you perform more effectively in that job.

Buestion G: f we select you how do you see yourself one year from now!

4urpose:

4ne reason interviewers ask this #uestion is to see if you’re settling for this position, using it

merely as a stopover until something better comes along. 4r they could be trying to gauge your

level of ambition.

Dow to Answer:

*eassure your interviewer that you’re looking to make a long- term commitment, that this


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position entails e!actly what you’re looking to do and is something what you can do

e!tremely well according to your skills and aptitude. ive specific roles and responsibilities you

would like to accomplish within one year, as per your job profile. Your answer should be focused

on what specific tasks you would successfully be able to perform during that period of time and

what would be the results or benefits to the company. You can also specify work related

e!perience and knowledge you would like to ac#uire within that time.

Buestion H

0ive me an eample of your creativity $analytical skill…managing a"ility…selling skills

etc.(

4urpose:

(his #uestion asks you to demonstrate relevant skills necessary for the job by giving a practical

e!ample from your past. You can take an e!ample from your professional field, academics or

e!tra-curricular activity or any personal incident which brings out the application of the skill

asked about. (he worst offense here is simply being unprepared. Your hesitation may seem as if

you’re having a hard time remembering the last time you were creative, analytical, etc.

Dow to Answer:

You should have a specific e!ample or two, which illustrates your relevant strengths, chosen

from your most recent activities. You should memori2e this e!ample well and be able to

recite it without any hesitation.

%s e!plained earlier, use the 'TA? framework for answering such #uestions'

'- 8hat was the 'ituationD

T 7 8hat was your Task D

A 7 8hat Actions did you takeD


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? 7 8hat were the ?esultsD

Buestion 5I: Chat type of people do you work with most effectively and the least! M Chat

7ualities impress you most in colleagues!

4urpose:

(o find out how well you would fit in with the other employees of the company, and what you

consider to be the most admirable #ualities to cultivate.

Dow to Answer:

,ocus on the positive 7ualities of other people here instead of negative ones:

"xample: "I tend to work well with people who are confident and straightforward and who

are motivated and optimistic’’

instead of : “I dislike working with lazy, conceited, or indecisive people!

)ake sure you mention only those #ualities which are relevant to the job profile.

Buestion 55: Chat are the essential 7ualities of a good team worker! M Chat skills are

re7uired to lead a team! M *ame 1 essential 7ualities which are necessary for good

interpersonal relationshipsM Chat is important for "eing an effective manager!

4urpose:

(his #uestion is asked to test if you have a clear understanding of the various roles you will have

to perform as part of your job, or the skills you will have to demonstrate.

Dow to Answer:

It9s best to make a list of #ualities essential for being a successful team worker, manager or a

leader. $e brief and specific in describing each #uality and e!plain why you consider each

#uality important. (ry to give some practical e!amples or illustrations from the life of renowned

personalities or from your own personal e!periences. You can also use well known #uotes to


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emphasi2e your point.

Buestion *o 56: Chy are manhole covers round! M Chat color is your "rain! M Chat do

you worry a"out! f #ou Cere an Animal Chich One Could #ou Cant to >e!

4urpose:

(he point is to see how creative you can be, are and see the way your mind works. It also tends

to get an insight into your personality.

Dow to Answer:

(here is no right or wrong answer to this type of #uestion. In fact, the recruiter is not concerned

about the accuracy of your answer, but how and what you answer. 5heck how your answer

reflects on you first. 6oes it show your analytical frame of mindD 4r a creative oneD 6oes it

show you as a go-getterD %n action-oriented personD %gain, what #uality you want to depict in

your answer depends on your job profile. $e sure to e!plain why you answered the way you did.

Buestion 51: The 'tress nducing Buestions: Chy werenNt your grades "etter! M Chat

would you do if told you that thought you were giving a very poor interview today!M

onNt you think your summer training eperience is totally irrelevant for this o" profile!

4urpose:

1uestion like these are asked to put you under stress and test your confidence level. (hey can be

hard hitting and can completely demorali2e you if you are not prepared for them.

Dow to Answer:

"eep your chin upP $e absolutely confident when you answer such #uestions and try not to show

that you are e!periencing stress. (ry to answer as analytically as possible, admitting your

shortcoming and focus on steps you have taken to overcome them. If you lack in one thing, relate

how your other strengths ade#uately compensate for it. *emember, nobody is e!pected to be


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perfect. It9s more your positive attitude which will carry you through while answering such

#uestions.

%n )$% with years relevant working e!perience was told at a job interview' ?$ut we only

take II) pass outs in this company.@ (he candidate replied' ?(hen I9m sure, sir, your company

is losing out on hiring professionals with relevant work e!perience and skills, which cannot be

developed at any management school, no matter how top grade it is.@

In another incident, a fresh engineering candidate was asked by the interview panel - ?%ren9t you

from that :niversity which is notorious for its rowdy student union activityD@ (his candidate was

taken aback, but he countered with illustrating his :niversity9s strengths and renowned

personalities who had been pass outs of the :niversity.

(he point is that, no matter what, keep a positive attitude and a keen mind to come up with a

#uick witted response. "eep yourself well informed on all aspects related to your career and

academic life. You never know what information might come in handy one day, as in the case of

the engineering candidate.

Buestion *o. 59: The 'A=


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%ction, /ale.

If your interviewer tests you by fighting every step of the way, denying that he wants to purchase

what you are trying to sell, don’t fight or argue with the interviewer )ake sure to ask for

references at the end.

Buestion *o. 5;: Dow will you deal with an irate customer!M Dow do you deal with

unreasona"le demands made "y a customer! M

4urpose:

How you react when others lose their temper or become upset is important in certain job profiles,

especially in the services sector $&4 sector, where you have to constantly interact with

customers.

Dow to answer:

ive an e!ample of a time when you were faced with a difficult person and how you handled

it. Your answer should illustrate your maturity, diplomacy, and awareness of the needs and

feelings of others, while at the same time adhering to the organi2ation9s rules and policies.

Buestion *o. 5E: Dave you ever met any targets! f so how did you achieve them! M 0ive

an eample of any target oriented work you have accomplished.

4urpose:

(o check if you are a performance oriented person or not who can deliver results.

Dow to Answer:

ive an e!ample of any performance oriented work you have done. It is best to give some

e!ample of time bound project workassignmentany activity handled in the past in which the

outcome was measurable and elaborate upon how you managed to achieve it using your skills.

Buestion *o. 5F: Chat type of contacts do you have! M Chat is your family "ackground! M


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Are you a mem"er of any social group or clu"!

4urpose:

(o see if you are an outgoing type of person who can interact well in a social setting, and for a

sales job profile, to check out if you can start performing from 6%YJ, using your network.

Dow to Answer:

$e honest here. 6on9t e!aggerate to get the job because you will be soon caught out once on

the job. Instead to fulfill this e!pectation, start cultivating a personal network, or take up

memberships of business forums and groups, especially if you9re keen on a sales job.

Buestion *o. 5G: The Dypothetical 7uestions: Dow do you organi+e and plan for maor

proects! M Dow do you usually go a"out solving a pro"lem! M f you are put in charge of

organi+ing a "usiness meeting with a team of 9 employees under you how would you do it!M

Dow would you epand "usiness in a new territory! n a competitor dominated

territory!

4urpose:

(he purpose is to test how you would respond under certain pre-defined situations and

environments, which can come across in the job profile you are aspiring for.

Dow to answer:

Here you need to prepare your answer carefully 7 Your answer must demonstrate a logical

problem solving approach combined with innovative thinking. :se this as an opportunity to

demonstrate your skills and aptitude for accomplishing the task. You must show clearly what

skills and abilities are re#uired to perform the job 7 and how you will utili2e these skills to

accomplish the task.

%gain, use the 'TA? framework to give your response7 however, the /ituation and (ask will


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already be defined for you in the #uestion. 8hat you need to do is to give what %ction will you

take and what will be the *esult of your actions.

Buestions *o. 5H: Dow do you spend your free time! M Dow do you stay current! M Chat do

you enoy in your spare time! M o you live a "alanced lifestyle! M Chat etracurricular

activities did you participate in during your college !

4urpose:

8hat you do in your spare time gives a very good idea about your personality, way of

thinking and attitude towards self development. (he interviewer is trying to assess if your overall

personality is suitable for the job profile.

Dow to answer:

You should try to convey that you spend your free time constructively towards self

improvement or in learning new things. How you answer to these #uestions can reveal a lot

about your personality and attitude. % spare time pursuit of going out and sociali2ing, shows you

as an outgoing and e!trovert person fit for a marketing or sales job, while pursuing chess as a

hobby might show you to be an analytical, problem solving person. /imilarly, watching or

playing field games such as cricket, hockey or football shows you enjoy team activity and may

prove to be a good team player.

%lso, in several companies there are specific games and activities pursued by employees as part

of the corporate culture, which you should be knowing about if you intend to work in such

companies.

Buestion *o. 6I: o you think there is too much eposure in films / cinemas nowadays!

M o you "elieve in 0hosts! M Chat do you think of the glo"al warming situation!

4urpose:


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(he idea here is to e!plore your sense of judgment, taste and preference towards general topics,

how well informed you are, can get your view point across clearly and how balanced is your

personality.

Dow to answer:

You are being asked to give your opinion on various issues here. )ake sure you are well

informed and give convincing arguments to support your viewpoint. It is advisable not to take an

e!treme viewpoint of things, but show that you have an open mind towards things.

Buestion *o. 65: Chat are your plans for continued study! M Are you planning to eplore

your career options further! M Are you planning to go for further studies!

4urpose:

(his is to check if you are using the job as a short term gap to prepare for your studies, or simply

grabbing an opportunity which has come your way while your real aim is to study further.

Dow to answer:

$e careful here as future plans to leave the job and continue studies could eliminate you.

5ompanies want employees who will stick to the job in the future. /o whatever plans you have

for further studies, convey that they will be part time or correspondence.

Buestion *o. 66: =ooking "ack what could you have done differently in your life! M Chat

changes would you make in your past life if given the opportunity!

4urpose:

8hile this #uestion can be asked to make you admit some life influencing regrets or mistakes in

your past decisions or actions, which may continue to affect your work in the future, it can also

be asked to find out if you are introspective and analytical enough in critically reviewing your

past performance in order to improve things in the future, a #uality which should e!ist in good


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managers and leaders.

Dow to Answer:

(his #uestion can be answered in two ways. 4ne is to be realistically introspective. %dmit that

nobody is perfect, and definitely, if one reflects back on a previous decision or action, one can

always analy2e how past decisions and actions could have been improved or performed in a

better way. ive some specific e!ample where you think you could have made a better decision

or choice in your past which may have led to a better situation, but it should not be something

drastic.

%nother way to answer this #uestion is to indicate that you are a happy, satisfied and optimistic

person and that, in general, you wouldn’t like to change anything.

"xample: ?It’s been a good life so far, rich in learning and e!perience, and the best it yet to

come. I wouldn’t like to change a thing, if I have to go back and do it all over again.@

(his kind of answer shows your confidence and your optimism.

Buestion *o. 61: Dow have your past 7ualifications prepared you for this o"! M o you

think your 7ualifications are suita"le for this o"!

4urpose:

You’re being asked here to give a run down on your past achievements and how each one is

relevant to the job you’re applying for. 8hat they’re judging is whether you’re a focused person

who has invested time to prepare for this specific job profile or not.

Dow to Answer:

You can prepare for this #uestion by jotting down beforehand how each of your academic

#ualifications, vocational courses doneF seminars and workshops attended have been useful in

developing the relevant knowledge and skills for that specific career line.


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Buestion *o. 69: Could you "e willing to lie for the company!

4urpose:

(his #uestion puts you in a dilemma and forces you to choose between loyalty and personal

integrity. It may be intended to make you feel uncomfortable or stressed.

Dow to Answer:

You should try to avoid choosing between the two values, and make a positive statement which

effectively covers both the aspects.

"xample: ?I would never do anything to cause harm to the company.@

However, if pressed to make a choice, always choose personal integrity as it is more highly

considered.

8hatever the outcome of your initial interview, remember to consider it as a learning e!perience

and try to analy2e how you could have improved your performance. )ake notes of the areas

where you felt you faced a problem in answering. (ry to improve and overcome your

deficiencies while preparing for the ne!t interview. 6on’t get disheartened by a negative

outcome. ;ery few of the e!ecutives in the corporate sector actually clear their first interview.

$ut if you make a constant effort for self improvement, you are bound to get selected.

There are two time in life when you are totally alone;

just before you die and just before you go in for a

job interview.

Igor #oporich


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5. nterview ody =anguage 2heck =ist

J. %pproach 0ntering the room 5onfident, unhurried and poised. &osture 0ntering the room

/itting on the chair

/traight and easy stride

:pright without being stiff or slouching

. 0ye 5ontact 8hile answering #uestions ooking at all the interviewers instead of

glancing down or upwards

G. Hand

estures

8hile answering #uestions Aot too e!aggerated, only occasionally to

emphasi2e key points

+. Hand position

8hile entering the room/itting on the chair

$y the side of the body or slightly on thedesk while sitting

K. eg &osition 8hile sitting on the chair /traight and e!tended slightly, withoutcrossing them or pulling them below the

chair L. )ovements 6uring the interview %void'

/cratching rubbing any part of body

/haking leg/ettling the hair

. Involuntary

actions

6uring the interview %void'

icking lips$iting the lip

(apping fingers

5learing throat

Q. 3acial

e!pression

6uring the interview 5onfident and attentive

JO. 0!it %fter the interview 5onfident, unhurried and poised

51283notes on interviews

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