TIPS FOR INTERVIEW:

Here are a few suggestions on how to approach the interview process:

Research the company. It is good to become familiar with the organization, the position
and the person who may be your boss. Try to match your skills and experience to the
position you are seeking.

Look good. First impressions are lasting, so make it count. Projecting a confident and
professional image is essential. Dress professionally, but don't overdo it with jewelry or
excessive perfume or cologne.

Know the location of the interview. Consider driving/ arriving at the location in
advance. Rushing around trying to find the facility can add to your nervousness.

Know your resume. Be prepared to discuss and defend every aspect of your education
and career experience.

Focus more on the interview, less on the job. There's time to evaluate the job and
whether you want it after the interviewer has learned about you. For now, your goal is to
get invited back for a second interview or an offer. Then you can decide if the job is just
what you want.

Talk about your previous contributions. Prospective employers are interested in

knowing how you made a difference in your previous job. In a way, you need to convince
the interviewer that you're the answer to the company's needs.

Look for ways to sell yourself. Seize opportunities to tell the prospective employer how
good you are. Be careful not to boast, but speak confidently about your skills.

Don't overdo it. Choose your words carefully and don't talk too much. Most people only
retain 20 percent of what they hear. Select your words, speak clearly and get to the point.

Avoid fear by visualizing the interview. It's just an interview, not the gallows, so
imagine the experience in advance. Try to visualize various things like your clothing,
items to bring, physical presentation, eye contact, body language, etc.

Listen carefully. Pause briefly after each question before you respond to be sure the
interviewer has finished speaking. Answer questions directly and concisely. If you don't
understand, ask for clarification.

Bring your questions. You also are interviewing the company, too. Start with questions
about the organization and move to career growth, working conditions, etc. Save benefits
and compensation for last.

Write down important data. Get the names and titles of the people with whom you
interview. Be sure the spelling is correct, as you may need the information later.
 Don't run away. After the interview, don't just hop up and head down the hall. Try to
leave a good final impression by letting the interviewer know you really want the job and
that you're ready to move to the next step in the employment process. If that doesn't feel
right, simply ask about the next step in the process.

Obtain resources. Grab an annual report, product information or other data that will give
you a better picture of the company and the kind of work you might be doing.

Don't become invisible. Following the interview there is a way in which you can be
contacted, even if you are out of town.

TYPICAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

Here is a list of the repeated questions that relate to almost any type of job. Please note that
an interviewer may also ask questions that relate to the specific position that you are applying
for.

1. Tell something about yourself. The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not
sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about
things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are
interviewing for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present. Since
this is often the opening question in an interview, be extra careful that you don't run
off at the mouth. Keep your answer to a minute or two at most. Cover five topics
including personal introduction, early years, education, work history, and recent
career experience. Emphasize this last subject. Remember that this is likely to be a
warm-up question. Don't waste your best points on it.

2. What is your greatest / best strength? Or, what is your strength? For this question
numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples may be a) Your
ability to prioritize, b) Your problem-solving skills, c) Your ability to work under
pressure, d) Your ability to focus on projects, e) your professional expertise, f) your
leadership skills, g) your positive attitude towards works etc., in addition to your
strong academic background.

3. Tell something about your weakness. Or what are your weakness? The
interviewer who asks this question is looking to see how honest you are with yourself,
and how well you deal with your own shortcomings. Bit of a tricky question this, after
all no one wants to show their weaknesses but we all have them. Don't pretend you
don't have weaknesses, and don't avoid answering the question. This is your chance to
show that you are honest and take responsibility for your actions. A good way to
answer this question is to mention your weakness, then tell what you have done to
overcome that weakness. If you have been disorganized in the past, you could say, "I
used to be very disorganized, always forgetting assignments and birthdays. But I
managed to work out a computerized system of to-do lists and reminders that keeps
me on top of everything. "You could also say, I don't have straight way transport or
bus service from my residence to the office. So, during the rainy days I had
difficulties in finding a rickshaw to reach the bus stop and I would get late,
 occasionally. Now on the raining days, I get up earlier in the morning and rush out to
my office to reach on time." The most comprehensive way of dealing with this
question is to try and turn it into a "positive" from a "negative".

4. Do you consider yourself successful? You should always answer yes and briefly
explain why. A good explanation is that you have set goals, and you have met some
and are on track to achieve the others.

5. What do you know about this organization? This question is one reason to do some
research on the organization before the interview. Find out where they have been and
where they are going. You should be able to discuss products or services, revenues,
reputation, image, goals, problems, management style, people, history and philosophy.
But don't act as if you know everything about the place. Let your answer show that
you have taken the time to do some research, but don't try to overwhelm the
interviewer, and make it clear that you wish to learn more. You might start your
answer in this manner: "In my job search, I've investigated a number of companies.
Yours is one of the few that interests me, for these reasons..." Give your answer a
positive tone. Don't say, "Well, everyone tells me that you're in all sorts of trouble,
and that's why I'm here", even if that is why you're there.

6. Are you applying for other jobs? Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area. Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for this organization. Anything
else is a distraction.

7. Why do you want to work for this organization? This may take some thought and
certainly, should be based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-
term career goals.

8. Your resume suggests that you may be over-qualified or too experienced for this
position. What's your opinion? Emphasize your interest in establishing a long-term
association with the organization, and say that you assume that if you perform well in
his job, new opportunities will open up for you. Mention that a strong company needs
a strong staff. Observe that experienced executives are always at a premium. Suggest
that since you are so well qualified, the employer will get a fast return on his
investment. Say that a growing, energetic company can never have too much talent.

9. What important trends do you see in our industry? Be prepared with two or three
trends that illustrate how well you understand your industry. You might consider
technological challenges or opportunities, economic conditions, or even regulatory
demands as you collect your thoughts about the direction in which your business is
heading.

10. How do you handle stress and pressure? A typical interview question, asked to get a
sense of how you handle on-the-job stress, is "How do you handle pressure?"
Examples of good responses include:

o Stress is very important to me. With stress, I do the best possible job. The
appropriate way to deal with stress is to make sure I have the correct balance
 between good stress and bad stress. I need good stress to stay motivated and
productive.

o I react to situations, rather than to stress. That way, the situation is handled and
doesn't become stressful.

o I actually work better under pressure and I've found that I enjoy working in a
challenging environment.

o From a personal perspective, I manage stress by visiting the gym/ walking a

mile every evening. It's a great stress reducer.

o Prioritizing my responsibilities so I have a clear idea of what needs to be done

when has helped me effectively manage pressure on the job.

o If the people I am managing are contributing to my stress level, I discuss

options for better handling difficult situations with them.

11. Why did you leave your last job? Stay positive regardless of the circumstances.
Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors,
co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance
to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.

12. What experience do you have in this field? Speak about specifics that relate to the
position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as
you can.

13. What kind of salary do you need? A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something
like, "that's a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position?" In most
cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on
the details of the job. Then give a wide range. If you are asked the question during an
initial screening interview, you might say that you feel you need to know more about
the position's responsibilities before you could give a meaningful answer to that
question. Here, too, either by asking the interviewer or 'Executive Search firm' (if one
is involved), or in research done as part of your homework, you can try to find out
whether there is a salary grade attached to the job. If there is, and if you can live with
it, say that the range seems right to you. But whenever possible, say as little as you
can about salary until you reach the "final" stage of the interview process. At that
point, you know that the company is genuinely interested in you and that it is likely to
be flexible in salary negotiations.

14. Are you a team player? You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples
ready. Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for
yourself are good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a matter-
of-fact tone. This is a key point.
15. Explain how you would be an asset to this organization. You should be anxious for
this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the
position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

16. Tell me about your dream job. Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If
you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another
job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like: A job where I love the work, like
the people, can contribute and can't wait to get to work.

17. What is more important to you: the money or the work? Money is always
important, but the work is the most important. There is no better answer.

18. What has disappointed you about a job? Don't get trivial or negative. Safe areas are
few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did not win a
contract, which would have given you more responsibility.

19. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure. You may say that you thrive
under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position
applied for.

20. What motivates you to do your best on the job? This is a personal trait that only
you can say, but good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

21. Would you be willing to relocate if required? You should be clear on this with your
family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say
"yes" just to get the job if the real answer is "no". This can create a lot of problems
later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

22. What have you learned from mistakes on the job? Here you have to come up with
something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a
positive lesson learned. An example would be "working too far ahead of colleagues
on a project and thus throwing coordination off".

23. What do you look for when You hire people? Think in terms of skills, initiative, and
the adaptability to be able to work comfortably and effectively with others. Mention
that you like to hire people who appear capable of moving up in the organization.

24. What do you think is the most difficult thing about being a manager or
executive? Mention planning, execution, and cost-control. The most difficult task is
to motivate and manage employees to get something planned and completed on time
and within the budget.

25. Why are you leaving (did you leave) your present (last) job? (if there is one) Be
brief, to the point, and as honest as you can without hurting yourself. Refer back to
the planning phase of your job search. Where you considered this topic as you set
your reference statements. If you were laid off in an across-the-board cutback, say so;
otherwise, indicate that the move was your decision, the result of your action. Do not
 mention personality conflicts. The interviewer may spend some time probing you on
this issue, particularly if it is clear that you were terminated. The "We agreed to
disagree" approach may be useful. Remember that your references are likely to be
checked, so don't make-up a story for an interview.

26. In your current (last) position, what features do (did) you like the most? The
least? Be careful and be positive. Describe more features that you liked than disliked.
Don't cite personality problems. If you make your last job sound terrible, an
interviewer may wonder why you remained there until now.

27. What do you think of your boss? Be as positive as you can. A potential boss is likely
to wonder if you might talk about him in similar terms at some point in the future.

28. What are your long-range goals? Refer back to the planning phase of your job
search. Don't answer, "I want the job you've advertised." Relate your goals to the
company you are interviewing: 'in a firm like yours, I would like to..."

29. Do you have any questions for me? Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How
soon will I be able to be productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist
on? Are examples.

30. Where do you expect your career to be in 10 years? (Be careful here. You do not
want to give the impression that you're simply using this company as a stepping-stone
to another career. Think of a related managerial position within the company that
would interest you.)
There is a story about a young accountant who was asked this question by a CPA
(Certified Public Accountant) firm during an interview. The young accountant replied
that he saw himself as the comptroller of a large corporation. In other words, "I'm just
using your firm to teach me and then after you spend your resources training me, I
will leave to go work for someone else." Needless to say, he was not offered a
position with the CPA firm. They know that 75% of the people they hire will leave
within 10 years, but they do not want to hire someone who comes in with that plan.

31. Describe your Management style. Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common
labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you listen to. The situational
style is safe, because it says you will manage according to the situation, instead of one
size fits all.

FINAL NOTE:

You can never be sure exactly what will happen at an interview, but you can be prepared for
common interview questions. Take time to think about your answers now. You might even
write them down to clarify your thinking. The key to all interview questions is to be honest,
and to be positive. Focus your answers on skills and abilities that apply to the job you are
seeking. BEST OF LUCK.