secrets of successful job interview

Secrets ofSuccessful Job Interview

EffectiveManagement Consultants

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Do some ground work

1) Visit the company’s website and understand their business2) Understand the job responsibilities (Job Description)3) Customize your resume (if necessary) to suit the requirements4) Carry out a mock-interview in front of a mirror one day prior to

the interview5) Imagine what questions would be asked and be prepared

to answer those accordingly.6) Get enough rest to make yourself feel fresh.

Tip No 1


Keep your interview kit ready consisting of the following:

1) Appropriate dress, suitable for the position2) Resume (two copies) with passport size photographs

Do not use Xerox copy of resume3) Separate file of certificates4) Good working pen, pencil, eraser, calculator, gum stick

small stapler etc.5) One small writing pad6) Fresh breath mint tablets7) Address of the company with map8) Tel. numbers of the company and name of contact person9) Details of your placement consultant10)Copy of your present pay-slip & appointment letter11)Make-up kit

Tip No 2


Power dressing:

1) Appropriate dress white shirt with dark colored trousersTie or scarf Black or navy blue blazer well shined shoesFor ladies, Salwar-Kameez or sari

2) Well shaved 3) Cut and file the nails – nail polish should be very light4) Jewellery – Less is better5) Perfumes – Use mild and avoid strong colognes 6) Proper hair cut7) Avoid using high heel shoes / sandals

Tip No 3


On interview day:

1) Ensure that, you reach the venue well on time. Try to be there 15 minutes before the scheduled time.

2) Introduce yourself to the reception gently and follow theguidelines

3) Use wash room to get fresh4) Be patient and wait for the call5) While at the reception, observe the culture of the company

through the routine of the company employees6) If possible, watch the displays to gather information

about the company.

Tip No 4


At the time of interview:

1) Enter the cabin only once permitted by the interviewer2) Maintain Eye Contact with Smiling face3) Shake-hands with greeting4) Exhibit your confidence at the fullest5) Sit on the chair with the permission of the interviewer6) Don’t put your bag, helmet or blazer on the table of the interviewer7) Keep your bag on the floor to your right side 8) Understand the question fully and then answer carefully9) In case, if you do not understand any question, do ask

again or get clarification10)If in doubt, get clarification immediately

Tip No 5


While speaking:

1) Be prepared to explain about yourself, your experiences etc.2) Think before speaking3) Don’t speak negative about any of your earlier organizations

or colleagues4) In support of your claim, provide specific and relevant

examples / achievements5) Be positive and enthusiastic throughout the process 6) Provide the only information, which is asked for7) Don’t worry about the outcomes of the interview8) Don’t use the words like ‘shall try’, ‘shall learn’ or ‘no’

Be firm and specific while answering.

Tip No 6


While speaking:

1) Ask good / guessing questions2) Request for the business card3) Ask about interview process4) Never ask about salary on your own.

In case, if the interviewer asks about your expectation,just tell him ‘as per your company’s policy’Never disclose your expectation. There is a high riskof rejection at this point.

5) Also don’t give expectation in range i.e. from 40 to 50 KOn giving range, you are sure to get the lowest.

6) Thank the interviewer

Tip No 7


Post Interview:

1) Wait for offer letter if asked for2) Check CTC offered, salary structure, grade, position,

Terms and conditions of the employment etc and thenacknowledge the offer letter.

3) Call your placement consultant to thank him and brief him about the developments

4) In case the decision is pending, request your consultantto give you feed-back of the interview

5) In case if something goes wrong, try to understandthe reasons through your consultants and ask forsuggestions to improve next time.

6) Write thanks giving e-mail to the interviewers7) Do not resign from your present job unless and until

you get official signed offer letter in your hands.8) Reconfirm your date of joining to the company

Tip No 8


Be readyTo face the following questions


Please tell us something about yourself:

This is a tricky question. Answer it in following manner.

Divide your answer in following three parts- Academic background- Professional background- Personal backgroundTry to focus the points, which could support your candidature. Describe with suitable examples and try to convince the interviewer that you are the only candidate for whom he is Looking out for.

Don’t blame any one or situation.Don’t be negativeDon’t say that you need money to satisfy your family needs

Question No 1


Why you want to leave the present job:

Some times the interviewer don’t accept the stereotype answer ‘for better prospects’. In this situation try somefollowing answers

1) For higher responsibilities2) For challenging jobs3) For better experience in reputed company

Don’t give any negative answer as

1) The company is not doing well2) The management is not good3) I am not getting any increment / promotion etc.

Question No 2


What your co-workers say about yourself:

This question is asked to check out your leadership skills or to understand how you will function as a common team member in a specific situation.

Try to answer this question in following way.

1) If the position requires leadership skills, frame your answerexhibiting your leadership skills.

2) Try to exhibit yourself as a very good team memberwhenever the job requires just good relation orco-operation amongst the team members

Question No 3


What do you know about our organization:

This question requires some ground work. If answeredpositively, there are more chances of your getting the joboffer. To make it possible -

1) Visit company’s website2) Go through their product brochures etc3) Understand about their competitors4) Understand their strengths and weaknesses5) Read their policies6) Speak to your consultant to gather more information

about the company.

Co-relate this information with your functional area and try to convince the interviewer.

Question No 4


What is your ambition:

Try to answer this question very skillfully. Divide your answerin two parts: short term and long term.

Support your ambition statement with systematic efforts to achieve it. This may include –

1) Your plans to study further2) Any other actions to fulfill your dream

All your plans should be time bound. This will create your image as focused and realistic.

Question No 5


Do you know anyone who work for us:

Beware of such type of question. This may reflect in the followingway.

1) If the company is having the policy not to recruit any one from the relationship, you may miss the chance.

2) The company might use the person to do the backgroundcheck for you.

So, be careful answering this question.

Question No 6


Why do you want to work for us:

This is good question to expose yourself as the bestsuitable person for the position under consideration.

You can answer this question describing how your qualities,qualification and experience suits to their requirements.

You also can describe the positive points of the hiring company like size, turnover, people policies, professionalismetc., whichever you liked the most.

Question No 7


How much salary do you expect from us:

This is very dangerous question. People generally demandsalary at the beginning of the interview instead of telling what they can offer to the company and how the company would get benefited because of them.

Our advice is therefore not to specify any amount. Instead, show your openness to work on the scale according to the company’spolicy.

This will increase the chances of your getting the job offer. Of course, if the offer is not lucrative, you can any time negotiate or reject it. Generally people negotiate hard on the salary part once they understand that their name is under consideration.

However, if you do it in the beginning, you are always a loser.

Question No 8


Explain why we should hire you:

This question expects you to answer with your positive pointsmatching with the job requirements.

Your be prepared for this type of question and answer the question in a suitable way convincing the interviewer thatyou can be a best suitable candidate for the position.

Try to describe how you are different than others and tryto convince the interviewer about your uniqueness. You canfocus some points like below.

1) Your multi-tasking skills2) Your extraordinary technical skill (very high speed typing)3) Your special achievement (not regular exam percentage)

Question No 9


What irritates you about co-workers or work itself:

This is one more tricky question. The interviewer tries to putyou in a trap to find out your weaknesses.

It’s better not to go into detailing. This may pull into negativity.So, just avoid it by saying something like , ‘people are always good and they try to deliver as per their capacities…’

Work can be enjoyable if you feel so …

End up this question in your style with a positive note.

Question No 10


What are your strengths and weaknesses:

Give plenty of strengths and examples related to your strengths.

You can say something about your education, experience, skills,time management, positive attitude, leadership, ability to workunder pressure etc.

However, keep quite on the part of your weaknesses saying, ‘reallycan’t describe any…

Question No 11


Tell us something about your dream job:

Keep yourself away from specifying any particular job.

It may happen that the interviewer might not have disclosed thejob which he is looking out for and in this situation, your choicemay go against your chance to succeed.

For example, if you answer saying, ‘I am looking out for a job, where I can exercise my leadership skills’ and if the interview is for the position of a specialist like ‘chemist’ or ‘research professional’, where there is no need of interaction with the people, you may lose.

Question No 12


If given a chance, which game would you like to playThe choices are computer game and cricket:

At the outset, this question sounds to be very casual. Howeverfrom the back end the interviewer is checking your personality.

If you select the cricket, you are open minded and would liketo mix in people. You are not shy and suitable person for the sales & marketing, where interaction with people is must.

If you select the computer game, you are shy or timid and would like to work on your own without interacting with the people. This type of person will do wonder in the back officeif given the calm and cool workplace.

Think of such questions and then answer.

Question No 13


What is more important to you – the money or work:

Of course, we work for money but the work is also equallyimportant.

According to me, after certain level the person should enjoyhis work without thinking about money, power, fame or positionetc. If someone works religiously, these all will follow himwithout asking for.

This type of answer will surely impress the employer.

Question No 14


Tell us about a problem you had with your superior:

Beware of such question. You may fell into another trap ofnegativity laid by the interviewer.

Never speak negative about your manager, organizationor any one else.

Always stay positive.

Question No 15


Are you ready to work extra hours:

This question is asked to check your readiness to do hard work. Be open to answer this question.

Do not sound like a philosopher saying, ‘I believe in smart work than hard work’. This answer may hurt the interviewer.

Try to gather some more information by asking counterquestions as to why the interviewer is asking such question. Always agree for emergency situations. But if it is a regular business, then the decision is yours.

Question No 16


Are you ready to relocate or travel extensively:

Be ready for such type of questions and answer these questions in consultation with your family members only.

Don’t rush to close the answer without giving any deepthinking and taking your family members into confidence.

If necessary buy out some time, discuss and then answer.

Question No 17


Tell us something how you manage :

This question is to guess your leadership style or managerial skills.

Do not specify yourself by saying something like democratic orautocratic etc. You may not be knowing what the intervieweris looking out for.

Try to tell them that you consider the prevailing and expectedbusiness environment and take decisions accordingly.

Always remember that, the interviewer likes the person, who has broader vision and acts keeping the situation in mind.

Question No 18


How will you work without any experience:

While answering this question, highlight your following traits.

- Quick learner- Hard worker- Keen observation- Some experience as trainee

However, don’t show any over confidence saying that thejob is simple and I can manage it very well.

Always remember that no job is so simple. But answering in this manner will imply that you are very casual or you don’t knowthe depth of the subject.

Question No 19


Would you like to ask anything to me:

Before appearing for the interview not down some questions and if given a chance, ask those to the interviewer. The sample questions could be -

What are the Key Result Areas for this positionWhat is the system of Performance ManagementHow quickly the person gets recognized with your organization

However, do not ask the following questions.

How much will you pay for this jobWhat are your office timingsHow many paid leave do you have

With such type of questions, you will get exposed as materialisticwho keeps an eye on the benefits rather than deliveries.

Question No 20


Dealing with difficult question / situation:

Some time you may come across some funny or irrelevant questions.To give you an example, the interviewer will ask about the historyof Mumbai city to the candidate appearing for data-entry.

The question may not be relevant to the position. However, you don’t know the intention. It’s possible that the interviewer mightbe checking your temperament.

So don’t get irritated with such questions. Keep calm and say I don’t know, if you really don’t know.

Some times purposely you are kept waiting for a longer just to understand how needy you are or how much patient you are.

You can’t guess the intention and hence exhibit your maturity.

Question No 21


With Best Wishes

Effective Management ConsultantsMUMBAI 400 083

From

For any doubt, clarification or further assistance contact us at

[email protected]

9022160540

http://www.myhrconsultants.com/

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secrets of successful job interview

Documents

time of interview

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interview processnever

interview kit ready

company employeesif

scheduled time

appropriate dress white

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