Art of Giving Interviews

Interview means the oral examination of a candidate to assess suitability for employment.
Appearing for an interview successfully needs meticulous preparation Managers are cost conscious and give high emphasis to smart hiring Retaining and training good employees

Process of interview
1. RESUME DESIGNING Should not be more than two pages for experienced candidates For fresher's, a single page would be good enough Must be neatly, legibly and attractively written and typed Laser print out is desirable

2. INTERVIEW CALL
Make the following preparations: Collect information about the organization viz. nature of business, no. of units, sales turnover, product profile, market position, culture, etc. from internet, friends, magazines, annual reports, etc. Sharpen your skill sets. Check your presentation skills.

 Make a brief outline of your 'Introduction' (surely you will be asked). e.g. begin with -"Thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to introduce myself ..Your personal details family ..background.Employment details. Carry a copy of updated resume

Colour passport size photograph, stapler, folder/ jacket and certificates/testimonials on the day of interview.

3. INTERVIEW
The objective of interview is to ensure that the right man, right job, fit at the potential vacancies.
A) PRE -INTERVIEW PROCESS

Dress in formals. In winter, wear a suit or blazer with neck tie and in summer, trouser (dark coloured) and shirt (white) with neck tie (contrast colour). Women should wear a Saree or Salwar suit that is formal and sober. They should not wear excessive jewellery or heavy make up. Your attire should speak well of you. Use pleasant light perfume/deodorant.

3. INTERVIEW A) PRE -INTERVIEW PROCESS.contd

Reach venue of interview with all essentials at least 15 minutes prior to appointed time. Introduce yourself at the front office politely with the purpose of your visit and then take a seat. Keep yourself composed and do not talk or interact with fellow aspirants too much. Keep it formal.

3. INTERVIEW B) DURING INTERVIEW PROCESS

Smartly enter the interview room with a soft and pleasant smile. Exhibit confidence and enthusiasm. Wish all the panel member(s). Take a seat as and when indicated and sit upright with both legs close to each other. Look alert but relaxed. Do not frown or smile too much.

The interviewer shall assess the following: > Your prior preparation for interview > Your basic necessary skills including soft skills e.g. ability to communicate effectively > Resume analysis (look for highlights)

3. INTERVIEW B) DURING INTERVIEW PROCESS

Try to reduce stress Try to eliminate bias Always keep interviewers. your Tone-Control vis-a-vis the

Do not dictate or be completely dictated.

3. INTERVIEW B) DURING INTERVIEW PROCESS

Structured and chronological questions will be asked to assess your qualities viz
Ambition (low/moderate/high) Communication skills Assertiveness and convincing attitude Initiative and drive Aptitude for the job Stability and clarity in thought process Growth path Relevant experience Sincerity Intelligence & dedication Personality i.e. in one word, looking for "STAR POTENTIAL,"

3. INTERVIEW B) DURING INTERVIEW PROCESS

Whether left previous job without sufficient reason or notice Can not spell out specific work achievements Was late for interview Not much aware of past employer's business No authentic references Overqualified or over confident Reveals confidential business information or critical of or bad mouths previous Management Lives in far off place. Difficult to commute. 30% of energy will be wasted for long journey. Independently wealthy Too questioning Take too much time to consider an offer Your cultural fitting with the company Can not offer remuneration to match your expectations/needs.

3. INTERVIEW B) DURING INTERVIEW PROCESS

Do proper self-selling with facts, figures, reasons and logic so as to appeal the interviewers. Make eye to eye contact with all the panel members while answering questions.

For companies belonging to countries where too much of eye contact is considered offensive in their cultures, refrain from doing so
Answer all questions, if possible, and seek clarification if you have not understood any question. Try to guess the mood and inclination of interviewer(s). Stay alert and attentive at all times.

Ascertain full information about Job responsibilities, reporting pattern, hours of work, place of posting, salary package, fringe benefits, transfer, growth prospects, any specific requirements.

Ascertain full information about Current market position, sales turnover and profit/loss statement for the last three years, number of employees, etc. Service bond, deposit of original certificates, surety, etc.

In a nut shell, you have been orally examined for Attitude Skills Emotions Aspirations If you have met the expectations of your potential employer on these parameters, you are likely to get a positive reply.

3. INTERVIEW

C) POST INTERVIEW PROCESS

At the end of the interview, close the interview pleasantly. e.g. " have a nice day sir/madam, Thank you." Seek feedback of interview after 2/3 days from HR department and try to know the reasons of your non selection. Every good organization has got such feedback mechanisms. This will prevent future failures.

Final Tips
We know you are great, but don't ever emphasize or exaggerate it. Don't lie about your salary, achievement or job profile. You can be caught easily. Don't over sell yourself -too hard. Accept politely and honestly if you do not know something. It is perfectly human. You are not expected to know every thing. Don't try to solve a difficult problem or issue that the interviewer might be facing in his job. It is not your job to do so. It is, therefore, best avoided diplomatically. Don't be disheartened, at least don't show it on your face, if you have not been selected/chosen.

Final Tips

Don't stare at your interviewer like a snake. Don't make a drooping face. Keep your personal problems, frustrations and failures at bay. Don't judge your interviewer. They may be dumb, but it won't help you to get the job.

Don't promise your potential employer something, which you know that you can't get done for them.

Remember
Interview is a human process of choosing the most suitable person and not necessarily the most meritorious person. You may be Einstein, but if you do not fit into their profile, you will not be hired. Your employer is not hiring you, but he is hiring your SERVICES. So, please render service with utmost' commitment, devotion, honesty and sincerity. Master the formula for success: Speed, Quality, Innovation and integration. Be pro-active and focus on own points rather than blaming others. Think Win -Win.

Phone Interviewing Success

Many people do not think of phone interviewing as interviewing. "It wasn't an interview, it was just a phone call." It was still an interview. And it could affect your potential career with an employer. So treat it with all the respect due a full interview.

Three Types of Telephone Interviews You initiate a call to the Hiring Manager and he or she is interested in your background. The call from that point forward is an interview. A company calls you based upon a previous contact. You will likely be unprepared for the call, but it is still an interview. You have a pre-set time with a company representative to speak further on the phone. Also an interview.

Telephone Interview Preparation

The Phone Personality Matching Technique The Open and Available Technique The Stand and Deliver Technique The Vanity Technique

Telephone Interview Preparation

In preparing for your phone interview, there are several things you can do. To prepare for an unexpected contact: Tape your resume to a wall in view of the phone. It will be there for the call and will be a constant reminder for your job search.

Keep all of your employer research materials within easy reach of the phone.
Have a notepad handy to take notes.

Keep a mirror nearby

Telephone Interview Preparation

If the phone interview will occur at a set time, there are additional steps you can take:
Place a "Do Not Disturb" note on your door. Turn off your stereo, TV, and any other potential distraction. Warm up your voice while waiting for the call. Sing an uplifting song to yourself. Have a glass of water handy, since you will not have a chance to take a break during the call. Speaking of breaks, if your phone interview is at a set time, make sure you answer nature's call first. Turn off call waiting on your phone.

The Phone Personality Matching Technique Although you obviously cannot match the interviewer's physical characteristics, try to match the interviewer's speaking rate and pitch. Remember to stay within your personality range, but venture toward that portion of your range which most closely matches that of your interviewer - an excellent way to establish rapport quickly over distance and phone lines.

The Open and Available Technique

You have a major advantage in a phone interview which does not exist in a face-to-face interview. Namely, that you cannot be seen. Use this to your advantage. Have all of your materials on yourself and the employer open and available on your desk as you are speaking on the phone. This includes not only your resume, but also a "cheat sheet" of compelling story subjects which you would like to introduce. It can also include a "cheat sheet" about the employer, including specific critical points describing the employer and their products. It is preparation, pure and simple. Have your materials open and available when you are preparing for a phone interview. They are there to support you and enhance your value to the employer, who will greatly respect your ability to answer questions with focus and meaningful content.

The Stand and Deliver Technique

Here is a simple technique to increase the enthusiasm and positive image that you project over the telephone: stand up. Whenever you are talking with a potential employer on the phone, stand up. It gets your blood flowing, improves your posture, and improves your response time. Many telemarketing companies have come to realize that standing can actually improve their sales, so they often provide the telemarketers with hands-free headsets that allow them to stand and pace back and forth. It helps give an action perspective to an otherwise passive activity. So apply this same technique to improve your telephone presence.

The Vanity Technique

In preparation for a telephone interview (or any telephone contact), make sure that you have a mirror within view. Remember, you are standing, so a wall mirror usually works best.

Fifty Standard Interview Questions Tell me about yourself. What do you want to do with your life? Do you have any actual work experience? How would you describe your ideal job? Why did you choose this career? When did you decide on this career? What goals do you have in your career? How do you plan to achieve these goals? How do you evaluate success? Describe a situation in which you were successful. What do you think it takes to be successful in this career? What accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction in your life? If you had to live your life over again, what would you change? Would your rather work with information or with people? Are you a team player? What motivates you? Why should I hire you? Are you a goal-oriented person? Tell me about some of your recent goals and what you did to achieve them. What are your short-term goals? What is your long-range objective? What do you see yourself doing five years from now? Where do you want to be ten years from now?

Do you handle conflict well? Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How did you resolve it? What major problem have you had to deal with recently? Do you handle pressure well? What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness? If I were to ask one of your professors to describe you, what would he or she say? Why did you choose to attend your college? What changes would you make at your college? How has your education prepared you for your career? What were your favorite classes? Why? Do you enjoy doing independent research? Who were your favorite professors? Why? Why is your GPA not higher? Do you have any plans for further education? How much training do you think you'll need to become a productive employee? What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have? Why do you want to work in the _____ industry? What do you know about our company? Why are you interested in our company? Do you have any location preferences? How familiar are you with the community that we're located in? Will you relocate? In the future? Are you willing to travel? How much? Is money important to you? How much money do you need to make to be happy? What kind of salary are you looking for?

Top Ten Critical Success Factors

Positive attitude toward work Proficiency in field of study Communication skills (oral and written) Interpersonal skills Confidence Critical thinking and problem solving skills Flexibility Self-motivation Leadership Teamwork
Show your competence in as many of the above critical success factors as possible and you will rise above the competition.