how to have a great customer service interview

8/6/2019 How to Have a Great Customer Service Interview

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How To Have a Great Customer Service InterviewYou've polished your customer service resume to perfection, you've searched high and lowfor the super-job and sent your resume in. You've been called for an interview. Now what?How do you survive the waiting until the interview? How do you not only survive theinterview, but win the job? Read on...

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Finding a New Job: The ProcessFinding a new job is difficult. Its even harder when you currently don't have a job.You can make your search easier by consistently following an intelligent, well thought outprocess. As you complete each interview, you analyze and revise the process to more nearlyinsure your success in the future.

Preparation: Before Your First InterviewAnticipating and meeting your needs during the interview is the one thing you can do tominimize that sense of "I forgot something" that sometimes precedes the interview.Preparation can take on a new depth if you approach your job search seriously. Find a nicebriefcase. If you don't have one, go buy one. Stock your briefcase with interview supplies.

Here's a list of ideas:

A clean, fresh manila envelope containing extra copies of your most recent resume.

An envelope containing copies of your references.

Two working pens.

Two pencils. Sharp.

A notebook.

An envelope to hold company research information. This will initially be empty.

A spare tie in the event that you accidentally spill on the one you are wearing.

Your day timer.

A local area map.

Cel phone (if you have one).

Guys: a comb; Gals: a brush.

Battle dress: You must wear a suit to your interviews. It displays your respect for theinterviewer and your acknowledgement of the seriousness of the interview situation. If youare going to play the game, you must put on the uniform.

Get out your suit(s). Make sure it is clean and pressed. Keep a dress shirt clean and pressedat all times. Inspect your tie for stains and get it dry-cleaned if necessary. Shine yourshoes.

You may be asked for an interview with very short notice, so it pays to be prepared.

Preparation: The Evening Before Every InterviewThe evening before each interview, conduct a brief research session on the company. Visit

the corporate web site. Familiarize yourself with the company's products and services. Findout who the company's biggest competitors are. If the company is public, note the latesttrade price. print out your research and put it in your briefcase for the upcoming interview.

Even if you think you know a lot about the company, it never hurts to learn more. Everycompany changes. Fresh research helps you keep abreast of the company's most recentchallenges and successes. Before each interview, add the following items to your briefcase:

Phone number of your interviewer


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Directions to the interview location

A copy of the cover letter

Your research on the company interviewing you

Decide what you will wear. Even if the potential employer's work environment is casual,wear a suit and tie. It never hurts to overdress -- you can always trim back if necessary

after you arrive. You can never build up dress that is too casual.

Make sure your suit is clean and pressed.

Preparation: Before the InterviewIf you already have a job and plan to interview sometime during the day, don't do anythingto tip your current employer off that you have an interview. Here are some common-senseideas that may help:

Don't discuss your career plans with your peers and co-workers. If you do, your boss willfind out.

Wear a subset of the outfit you will wear for the interview, e.g., pants and shirt. If yourwork environment is more casual, put your tie and jacket in a suit bag and place it in

your car taking care to avoid wrinkles. If the weather is cool, put on a sweater. You canswitch for the tie and jacket in the parking lot at the interview location.

If anyone asks where you are going, simple say that you have an appointment. Ifsomeone presses you for details, say that its personal.

Be sure to plan enough time for travel so that your arrive in advance of your scheduledinterview time. If you are not sure about the location, get directions or consult your map.Be sure that you know how to get there beforehand.

If you cannot avoid being late to an interview, call the interviewer and let them know assoon as you realize you will be late.

ArrivingWhen you arrive at the interview location, make your presence known - if there is a

receptionist, introduce yourself and let them know you have arrived for an interview withthe person in question.

Be polite and positive toward everyone you meet. Astute employers sometimes ask thereceptionist for an opinion about each candidate. If the receptionist has a poor impression,it can end the candidate's chances of getting any job with the employer.

If you arrive early, as suggested earlier, you will probably be told where you may wait. Youhave two choices while you wait: 1) review your research on the company or 2) look at yoursurroundings and find materials to help you learn more about the company.

When the interviewer introduces themself, be positive, smile, shake hands and say thankyou for the chance to interview. Your interviewer may ask you if you want something todrink. If you can't avoid spilling on yourself, you should politely decline.

Battle TacticsAs the interview unfolds you will encounter questions, activities and issues that have neverarisen before. Here are some common sense tips to help guide you when the going getstough.

What if: Hypothetical questions are difficult because they often are ambiguous. You caneliminate areas of confusion by asking questions. Rely upon your experience to help youask the right questions. As with your resume, be honest.


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Don't worry about appearing foolish. The interviewer expects you to ask questions andmay consider your reluctance to do so a weakness.

Sometimes what if questions hint at issues the employer might be having with anexisting employee. After you provide your initial answer, gently ask why you are beingasked that question. The interviewer may volunteer an answer. If so, don't hesitate touse the new knowledge to revise your answer.

Career aspirations: You can prepare yourself for this question in advance by thinkingabout where you want to be in your career one, three and five years in the future. Behonest. At the end of one, three and five years, have a job title or position in mind thatyou will have achieved.

Why did you leave your last job? -or- Why are you leaving your current job?:This is a very common interview question. It is surprising how many applicants don'tanswer this very well.

Most people don't want to answer this question because they are afraid that it mightreveal a weakness. The irony is that most people have job terminations that occurred

under negative circumstances. Here are a few principles to consider:

Do:o Be honesto Stick to the factso If you would rather not have to explain why you were terminated its perfectly ok to

say that it wasn't working out for both you and the employer and you decided to partways. If the interviewer presses you for details, be honest and stick to the facts.

Note: never omit a job from your resume, even if you only worked it for a month. Theemployer will perform a background check, learn about the job and conclude that youlied.

Here are some don'ts:

o Don't become angryo Don't make negative or disparaging remarks about your former employero Don't in any way imply that it was the employer's fault

Why should we hire you?: Even if the interviewer doesn't ask this outright, theunderlying tenor of the interview is to get the answer to this question. There is no singlecorrect answer. It will depend both upon 1) what the employer needs and 2) what youbring to the table to satisfy that need. You cannot answer the question without knowingboth of these. Happily, you already know the latter; what you must discover is the

former. As the interview progresses, the interviewer should be communicating at leastsome of the need. As he/she does, try to ask questions that help put a fine point on theneed.

There actually are some wrong answers to this question:o Because I'm a hard workero I don't knowo I'm good with numbers


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o I'm a fast learner

Answers like these will not get you the job.

The best way to answer this question is to ask it of yourself before the interview and to

have a plausible answer prepared. Once in the interview, and with new information, youcan revise your answer as appropriate.

Thought problems: This type of question is often asked of technical customer servicepeople and is intended to 1) place a little pressure on you and 2) test the your ability tothink through and solve a problem on the fly. For the majority of these questions, thecorrect answer isn't usually the most obvious one. The most important aspect of gettingto the answer is to ask questions. Consider your interviewer as a resource or expert onthe subject (i.e., a coach). Your best avenue, especially if you get stuck, is to askquestions that will help clarify the issues and help crystallize your thinking so that youcan arrive at the correct answer. Often these types of questions aren't so much about theright answer, but more about your ability to ask intelligent questions as you consider thevarious aspects of the problem.

Once you have asked some questions, begin to visualize the problem. Imagine steppingthrough scenarios -- out loud. If you misstep, the employer may inadvertently help youby correcting you.

What questions can I answer for you?: This question is deceptive. At first blush, itappears as though the interviewer is preparing to conclude the interview. Not so. This isa test to see if you have been paying attention and whether or not you have any interestin the job.

Here are some good questions to ask...o How many candidates besides me are you considering for this opening?o How do I rank compared to the other candidates? Why? If you think this question will

put the interviewer on the defensive, you are correct. Your job, therefore, is to disarmthem and get an answer. Be sincere. Let them know that they can tell you without any

risk to themselves. Phrase your encouragement in terms that say "you don't have toworry about taking back what you say later." For example, if you say, "Don't worryabout hurting my feelings. Truth is truth." You can also ask "what could I have donebetter during this interview?" If you encourage the interviewer to take the role ofcoach, you can disarm them and get the information you need.

o What is your hiring process like? What's the next step?

Here are some bad responses:

o I don't know.o Can I get back to you on that?o I can't think of any right now, but I'll call you if I think of anything.

These answers display a lack of interest in the company and reduce your chances ofgetting the job.

After Action"Itain't over untilthe fat lady sings."

After your interview there are some things to do to reinforce your positive impression and to


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prepare to continue your job search.

Follow-Up Letter: Send a hand-written note to your potential employer. In it, review theimportant, salient aspects of the employer's business that they felt were important enoughto take the time during the interview to tell you about. It will help them realize that youheard what they said and that you took it seriously. Here are some ideas for other things toadd to your note:

Thank them for the opportunity to interview with them.

Tell them you look forward to hearing from them.

Ideally, you should write this note the same day that the interview takes place.

If the interviewer touched on personal issues during the interview, be sure to ask aboutthem in your note.

Don't try to write the letter before the interview.

Self Assessment: After the interview, Write down what you thought went well and whatdidn't during the interview. For each item that went well, think of and write down ways tomake them a habit in future interviews. For things that didn't go well, write down threeways you could have handled the issue different and/or better.

Example: If it was something physical, like a forgotten extra resume, take the necessaryaction to be sure that it never happens again. Go to the local copy store and make copies ofyour resume. Put them in a manila envelope and then put the envelope in your briefcase.Leave the envelope in your briefcase until you have landed a job.

Learn MoreWhere to find more information. There are a dearth of excellent web sitesout there that deal with the art of interviewing. Here's a little hint on how to find them...

If you use Yahoo or Google, your search phrase should include "howto". Be sure to enclosethe "how to" phrase in quotes when you type it into the search field. In addition,add customer service interview. The entire search phrase is as follows:

"howto" customer service interview

If you cut and paste into a search engine, you should be able to find many, many resourcesto help you have a successful interview.

Also, be sure to check out our article on how to write a great customer service resume.


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Interview Questions and Answers

Introduction

Here are some very popular interview questions and some possible ways to answer them. Please

remember that there cannot be just one answer to them. Your answers depend a lot on your particular

circumstances. For instance, if the interviewer asks you to describe a challenging issue you had to face,

your answer would depend on your particular background and experience. Therefore we have attempted

to give you strategies to answer such questions, rather than specific answers.

Remember, what you say makes only half of the story. How you say it-how positive and convincing you

sound- matter a lot. Do not try to make up stories or exaggerate-it shows. If you are a fresher and cannot

tell things from your work experience, you can cite instances of your leadership and skills from

appropriate circumstances of your student life. Speak slowly and accompany what you say with moderate

gestures. Maintain eye contact (this does not mean that you have to stare!)

Here are the questions.

1. Can you tell us about a challenging situation at work you have encountered so far? How did

you tackle it?

Here the interviewer is looking at a number of factors- your problem solving skills, underlying attitudes,

how you put across your ideas and how your previous experience may be useful to the present

organization. When answering this question, keep the following in mind. What are the requirements of this

organization or the job you have applied for? (You should have done some research about this before

going to the interview). Now consider a situation, skill or experience from your past that would be relevant

to the present company. This acts as a proof of your usefulness. It is a good idea to prepare such a list

and have a few small stories ready for the interview. The word story does not mean that you have to

cook up something- find something genuine from your past. Having such stories helps you in severalways- you have something to talk about, and you feel more confident.

2. What is your way of handling conflicts?

Work related conflicts can be of several sub varieties. This could be conflicts between colleagues,

conflicts between senior management and subordinates, conflicts with management rules, systems and


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procedures, conflicts with clients and customers as well as work versus personal life. The employer

obviously expects you to look at things from their point of view. No employer likes an employee for whom

they are second priority. You are valued for your ability to solve problems and not for bringing problems to

the workplace. Therefore it is important to project a rational and realistic approach. You can say

something like I am aware that conflicts are quite natural things- problems do crop up. My approach

would be to look at what is causing the problem. This involves communicating with my team members or

the other concerned parties. I will take in as many views as possible and go with the solution that appears

to be the most rational to me. The interviewer is quite likely to ask you for some such instance from your

previous work. In fact you can offer some such example even if you are not asked, as long as you keep it

brief and relevant. If it illustrates your point, go for it.

3. In what ways do you think you are suited for this job? How can you contribute to this

organization?

This again is a question that requires preparation. Before appearing for the interview, assess your own

qualification and skills. You should also evaluate the needs of the job and the company. You are qualified

for the job to the extent that these two match. What are the most important skills this particular position

requires? Make a list and then prepare a list of instances from your previous work experience that match

these requirements.

For instance, a customer care executive needs good interpersonal skills, ability to look at problems

rationally, and also the ability to deal with difficult people. Once you are clear about this, make a list of

such instances where your good interpersonal skills and objectivity helped to solve a difficult problem at

work.

The next step is to analyze the specific requirements or problems the company is facing at the moment.

Which of these can be helped by you? What is the value that you bring to the company?

Once you have prepared specific answers to these questions, you are in a great position to answer this

question. You can now say something like In my view, good interpersonal skills and objective problem

analysis are the most important requirements in a customer care executive. I can tell you a few instances

from my previous experience where I had demonstrated these skills and solved problems successfully

(Give one or two brief stories here). I also see that you are planning to set up a separate unit to cater to

corporate clients. With my previous experience in servicing corporate clients, this is an area I could be of

specific use to you

Incidentally, this question may be framed in another way. Why should we hire you?


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4. I would like to hear about some experience from your work life so far.

This is in fact another version of the previous question, but a more open-ended one. The interviewer

wants to leave it up to you what part of your personality and work experience you wish to bring forth.

However this is not an invitation to share your adventures and tales of heroism. You would do well to tell

them some story from everyday work life, but one that shows your problem solving skills- things like how

you conduct yourself at work and with difficult situations and people. Here you have more possibilities for

showing something that you value in yourself- your resourcefulness, your adherence to the rules or your

ability to think out of the box. But do consider the organization you are interviewing for- its requirements

as well as work culture. What you say should not give the impression of a misfit.

5. Give us an instance when you failed in spite of your best efforts?

This is a very common situation for many people, but nevertheless a tricky question. You are likely to be

embarrassed or worried that talking about a previous failure hampers your job prospects. This need not

be the case. No one can be perfect. The employer here is most probably looking at your ability to deal

with failure, learn from mistakes and also deal with other peoples mistakes. If you have such

experiences, be prepared with one. Make sure that it is something that took place sometime back, was

not too gigantic or drastic and something that offered you a chance to learn from and apply that learning

thereafter. The net result should be to show you in a better light.

6. How would you evaluate your analytical skills?

This is a fairly easy question if you have done your homework. It is important to be realistic about what

skills you have and how you can substantiate your claims. You have to be prepared to talk about where

or how you learned the skill and how you have applied it. However your inventory should be in tune with

what the current job requires. This way the employer gets to know about the specific skills you can bring

to the table. You can also take into account skills you learned from extracurricular activities, as these can

also teach you great skills like teamwork.

7. Tell us about what you consider as your weak area- things you find difficult to manage.

This is a multi-purpose question again. The interviewer wants to see how you react to tricky questions.

They are also assessing your awareness of yourself and how you approach difficult situations and tasks.

The trick is again being prepared with a story or two. It could be about addressing a meeting, voicing your

disagreement about an important issue or being put in a situation you had no skills to handle. The story

should show something valuable you have learned from the experience. It could also show a difficulty that


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you are preparing yourself to handle. I find that it is difficult for me to make a presentation to my seniors

without adequate preparation. I usually have to prepare all the details and rehearse in advance. For

example, there was this instance with my previous company where the project had to be temporarily

discontinued due to some problems with the supplies. The company was very concerned, as this project

was strategically very important to them. I was asked to brief the top management immediately. I was

handling all the details, so I simply put together all the facts and brought them up in the meeting. It was

easier than I thought, but whenever possible I still would like some time to prepare.

8. Tell us about your goals- both short term and long term.

This is a very you-specific question. It all depends on you. In answering this question, you have to assess

where you are at the moment in your career and where you want to go from there. Many people switch

careers five or six times and some have two careers going on simultaneously. Be sure to connect your

answer to the job you are interviewing for. It makes sense to steer clear of aims that cannot be achieved

with this organization. For example, you may like a stint abroad but the organization has no overseas

connections. It is better not to mention this in the interview. This does not mean that you have to come up

with things that you have no interest in. Research into the organization and the possibilities it offers and

also consider your wishes. There is a good chance that you come up with something that connects the

two.

9. Where do you see yourself in the next two/five/ten years?

This is another version of the previous question. The interviewer is here assessing how realistic and

adept you are in making short term and long term plans. They also want to see if your aims are in sync

with the organizations. A sensible way to answer this is to relate it to your progress so far. I started

working five years back as a customer care executive while I was still pursuing my graduate studies.

Once my graduation was done, I went ahead for a part-time MBA. Meanwhile I was promoted on the job

to the level of a team leader in the next company that I worked for. This was in recognition of my

experience and added qualification. . I am a fairly quick learner on the job and I have also continued with

my learning through training programs and workshops. I am not really looking at titles, but overall growth

in tandem with my learning and contribution to the organization. Therefore I could say that at the end ofthis period I will have learned more and assumed a role of more responsibility where I can make more

significant contributions to the organization.

10. Is there anything that would make us want to hire you, apart from what we have already asked

you?


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This is your chance for you to present your key selling points. Remember that many qualified people

would have interviewed for this job. What makes you stand out? What are your strengths that this

organization may want to hire you? Perhaps you are good at making stories sound interesting? Maybe

you genuinely enjoy helping people. Or you have a knack of holding kids attention to what you are

saying. Think of which of these are useful in the job you are applying for. Also be prepared to substantiate

your claims. A class overall scores went up at the end of the term you took over as teacher- a difficult

child was integrated into the class- or some such evidence. Be sure to plan this out well in advance. You

can also include this in your thank you letter after the interview. That would help to sum up your key skills

in your request for the job.

11. What in your view are the key factors in good customer service?

To answer this question, you need to step into the customers shoes. Keep aside the specific situation or

problem. What do you expect as a customer? Now you are equipped to answer this question. You can

say something like There are two important elements to customer service- respect and prompt action.

You might come up with some other variant of this, so choose whatever sounds the most convincing to

you. It would be great if you can cite one or two instances of exceptional customer care behavior where

you were involved.

12. Tell us what you know about this organization.

This question is an excellent opportunity to show that you have an active interest in the organization. For

this you need to do prior research about the company and also relate it to the field of expertise you are

offering the company. For instance, if you are applying for a marketing position, I am aware that you are

one of the top five FMCG companies in India and that you are currently looking to expand your market

into the Middle East. This area already has intense competition, however you have certain advantages

like. This shows several things. For one, you have already gathered relevant information and you

appreciate the companys position. It also shows that you are actively using your expertise to bring in

solutions.

13. From your resume, we see that you have been in your current job only for six months. Why do

you want to leave it so soon and join us?

This is a tricky question. Be well prepared with a safe answer if you are in this position. The answer has

to be closest to the truth while at the same time sounding a safe one. Your reasons could be any of these.

The actual job was very different from how it was described to me while joining.


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The company changed its direction/ goals.

My skills and talents were not being put to good use there.

The company management changed and the new management brought in their own staff.

The company went in for downsizing or reorganization.

Whichever answer you might give, be prepared for a few follow up questions. Therefore it is important not

to make up stories- who knows what kind of unexpected question the interviewer might throw at you!

The fact is, this is a very common situation. Most interviewers of some experience have heard these

stories before. They are not really interested in all your details- what they want to know is how

dependable you are. Are you a job hopper? The employer evaluates the circumstances under which you

went for this short term job. Did you take it up when you already had a job or did you join the job when

you were unemployed?

If you have held on to other jobs for longer and more reasonable durations, it is better to stress on that so

that the employer sees this short term job as a one-off incident. You can even omit it from your resume.

However you may not be able to omit the job from your resume if you are a young person who doesnt

have much experience and even a six or four month stint makes up a good percent of your total work

experience.

14. What are you looking to gain from this organization?

This is another question where research makes all the difference. In other words the interviewer is asking

what brings you job satisfaction. Find out some important things about the company, like the corporate

structure, product base, recent happenings or current plans and the key figures in the management.

Which of these appeal the most to you? In the past I have had several opportunities to work with some

innovative launches. I understand that you are about to launch an e-learning portal to reach out to more

students. I am very excited about this. With my experience in launching student interactive programs, I

am positive of brining insights and contributions for this project. I am also very enthusiastic about the

team you have already formed for this project. I feel that I have also a lot to learn from them... Working

on new technology, doing path-breaking work, learning new skills, working with experts the company has

on board, these are all sound lines to approach this question.

15. What for you are the most important factors of an employees responsibility towards the

organization?


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These include constantly bringing your best abilities to do the work at hand, putting your time to

productive use, being loyal to the company, being a good team player, valuing the work relationship, and

being passionate about the products and services the company is offering.

16. Why do you want to leave your current job and join us?

You may have to answer this question either in the companys application form or at the interview. Be

ready with a good answer. You might say something like this: This company is known all over the

country/world and I would like to work for you. Whenever possible, it is a good idea to come to a

consensus with your current employer as to your reasons for leaving, as the new company might

approach them to enquire about you. Again put the information you have gathered by research to good

use. Your effort should be to show how your skills and talents match with the company. If you can

impress on the interviewer that this is just the opportunity you have been looking for, great. Give several

points as to how you can add value to the company. Do not give downgrade the previous employer if

asked your reasons for leaving the job. This reflects badly on you. You should come across as a positive,

and enthusiastic individual who can be of value to the organization for many years to come. Ideally, you

should put across a sincere, long-term interest in the company- this creates the impression that you are

not just job-hopping.

17. Tell us about what motivates you.

This is something only you can frame an answer to. It is helpful to look into your past. What were the

times and occasions when you were highly charged? When was the time when you were not motivated?

Looking into these situations helps to bring forth a concrete answer.

18. What are the essential qualities that make a good team player?

It is better to answer this question taking the work context. What is the overall environment of the

organization- what kind of work does it do? Is the organization framework very strong? Is the work

atmosphere informal? Are the teams permanent or temporary? A persons individual idea of a good team

member might be different from what the organization needs. Your aim is to present yourself as a good

team member who meets the specific parameters of the organization. A lot also depends on where you

are in the structure- are you a new member, a team leader or in a support position? Consider all these

factors before you answer this question. Also study what are the specific problems the company is facing

in its team building and how you can contribute to solve them. You need to make yourself into a good fit

into the team and ensure cooperation from others.


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19. Why should we hire you for this position?

The answer to this question must be ready in your mind even before you submit your resume and prepare

the cover letter. Do your homework by researching into the organization and the job. What are the

requirements. Next, take stock of your own skills, experiences and interests. Which of these are matching

with what the company needs? In other words, how can you add value to the company? Now form a

strategy as to how you will prove that you are suitable for the job. Have concrete examples of your

contributions to the previous employers and show enthusiasm for the job you are interviewing for.

Remember that you are at the interview to offer solutions to some specific problems/requirements of the

organization.

20. What is your salary now?

This is a tricky question. The good side is that you have come to a stage where the company is going to

make an offer to you. This is a good opportunity to discuss salary. In case you are pressed to disclose

your current salary, it is better to mention ranges or a total package rather than go for an exact figure.

You can say something like the current package is on the higher side of five figures. Some employers

might ask to see your salary slip or some such proof, therefore be sure not to lie. This punctures your

credibility. It is better to show that you are willing to take a step back as an investment in this new career.

This is an area where you should market yourself well. It is important to show why you like the job and

how you are suited for it- the compensation is important, but not your first consideration.

21. What do you consider as a reasonable starting salary with us?

Ideally you should stay away from talking about compensation till the company makes an offer. However

this does not happen in many situations and the company tries to figure out your price tag, so to say. This

question might be used as a f ilter, so you need to give a response. Research can help you here. How is

the general pay rate for this job? Have you checked out other ads for similar jobs? Now consider your

experience level and see if your experience matches this pay range. This can work as an indicator to

calculate how much you can ask for.

It is also important to present your estimate in the right manner. If you dont have all the relevant

information about the job so that you can present a reasonable range, say it and ask for what you need to

know. Before we can talk about salary, I would like to know how many people will be reporting to me and

what their experience and skill levels are. It is also possible to ask in a straightforward manner how other

people in the same position are paid in this organization. Try to get as much information as possible, and

then present your quote in the form of a range. Based on the information I have got now, I feel that a


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range of to would be appropriate for this position. However I am quoting this outside of your standard

benefits package. Peg this in such a way that there is some possibility of negotiation.

22. If you got a chance to get into a merry-go-round, what song would you like to play? What

animal would you choose?

This is one of those off-the-beaten-track questions. The first step towards answering this is not to feel

embarrassed. This means just that the interviewer is creatively oriented. Moreover this question is very

much appropriate if you are interviewing for a creatively oriented job like an advertising copy writer. Enjoy

the situation and go with the flow. Try to give an answer that comes from within and reflects your real

personality. Be ready to explain why you chose a particular song/tune or animal. An anecdote from your

experience would be a good idea. If you cant come up with any such stories, at least give a song you

have always liked and held a special meaning for you. A brief and interesting narration is what the

interviewer is looking forward to. The same is true for the choice of animal. You can choose an animal

you like and tell them why. It does not really matter which song or animal you choose- your explanation of

your choice is what makes all the difference.

A Final Round of Tips

Okay, so now we saw some popular interview questions and some ways to tackle them. Let us finish off

this session with a few general tips that help you towards success in interviews. Here are the tips.

y Be punctual. Arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before the appointed time. You can in fact

arrive just in time, but it is always better to reach a little early to avoid last minute tensions. This

also gives you some time to relax and collect yourself.

y Be courteous from the word go. This applies to the way you interact with the reception, other

people who have come for the interview as well as the interview board itself.

y It is very common for the company to leave some of their material like in-house magazines in the

lobby where you wait. Use your waiting time to read them.

y Go for a firm handshake. However this does not mean that you have to break bones! Firm and

not hard is the word.

y Listen before you speak. It is very important to understand the question properly.

y Use appropriate and moderate body language. This makes you appear natural and shows

interest.

y Do not hesitate to smile when needed. Also use nods and other non verbal feedback whenever

needed.

y Get your queries about the next step clarified before you leave.


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y Thank the interviewer before leaving.

y Send a thankyou letter or email after the interview as a follow up.

how to have a great customer service interview

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