Interviews Types of Interviews Campus interviews Held at

Interviews

Types of Interviews • Campus interviews: Held at the institute’s campus • Onsite interviews: Office of the potential employer • Telephonic interviews: Over the phone

Telephonic Interviews • Have your notes organized, highlighted, and within easy access • Without non-verbal communication, be aware that it is difficult to “read” the interviewer • Make sure your voice conveys enthusiasm • If more than one person on the other end, have them identify themselves when asking their questions

Job Interviews Modes of Assessment • Interviews: face-to-face or through telephone • Psychometric/aptitude tests • Case studies/In-tray exercises • Presentations • Group activities

Preparing for the Interview Prepare well by • Being mentally prepared • Researching employers • Dressing appropriately

Appearance Matters a Lot! • Dress appropriately and conservatively • Make a good first impression • Pride in yourself implies pride in your work • Show your creativity in your work, not in your appearance • Be well groomed and clean

Don’t Forget the Details • Nicely styled hair • Apply natural, clean looking face/makeup • Clean your fingernails • Avoid heavy jewelry • Iron your clothes • Avoid strong perfumes or colognes

Mental Preparation Understand your • Skills, strengths, weaknesses, attitude • Likes and dislikes Review your resume thoroughly

Practise Your ‘Soft Skills’ • Greet people with a firm handshake • Stand up to meet people • Practice your dining etiquette • Remember ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ • Be good at chatting and small talk

Researching the Company What do you need to know? • Age of the company • Locations/length of time there • Services or products • Size • Competitors within the industry • Number of employees • Growth pattern • Sales/assets/earnings • Reputation • New products or projects • Divisions and subsidiaries • Culture and values

Research Tools • Internet • Human resource (HR)/public relations (PR) division • Network of contacts and friends • CD ROMs • Journals, magazines, newspapers

The D-Day

Acknowledge your Nervousness • Be composed • Advance preparation reduces nervousness • Practice answering the worst possible question they could ask • Practice positive visualization and relaxation techniques

Attitude It separates winners from losers • Be enthusiastic and eager • Practice good eye contact • Smile • Walk with confidence • Sit up straight • Adapt to your surroundings

Powerful Positive Words Use words such as accomplish, accommodate, achieve, attain, challenge, energy, enhance, enthusiastic, excellence, fulfill, goal, opportunity, passionate, perform, perseverance, satisfy, strength, strive, succeed, success, talent, vitality Avoid extreme words such as always, extremely, never, no one, every one, entire, completely

Professional Image for Women • Best choices • Salwar kameez in soothing colors • Trousers and full-sleeved shirt • Saris • Wear polished, low heeled shoes • Use minimal accessories

Professional Image for Men • Best choices • Business suit, dark colors (blues, greys, browns), white shirt • Trousers , full sleeve shirts, tie, belt, shoes • Button your jacket when you stand • Wear polished shoes • Socks: Appropriate colour and length

Employers Notice Good Manners • Be in time for the interview • Treat the receptionist with respect • Use Mr or Ms unless they ask you to use first names • Don’t sit until you’re invited to

What to bring to an interview • Several copies of your resume • Your portfolio, if applicable • New notebook and a nice pen • Briefcase or leather folder • Names, addresses, and phone numbers of references

Interviewing Techniques

Tell Us About Yourself Create a 60 -second sound byte by including: • Geographic origin • Reason for choosing major • Educational background • Two or three strengths relevant to the position • Specific expertise and accomplishments • Perceived ability to contribute to company • Career goals

Behaviour-based Interviewing • Previous behavior predicts future behaviour • Examples show the meaning you have made of education and experience • Provides insight on how your mind works

Types of Interview Questions • Experience/credentials: Quantifying features of background • Behavioral: Judging future behavior on the basis of past behavior • Leading: Checking consistency • Probing: Getting more information on a particular topic • Blind: Checking sportiveness/originality of ideas

Answer Questions using the Star Approach • Situation • Task • Action • Results

Star Approach Situation • Give the situation for your answer • Choose a professional example from your job experience, course work, volunteer work, or student activities • Set the stage so the interviewer can relate to your answer

Star Approach Task • Explain the task at hand • Dwell on the positive; do not blame or point fingers elsewhere

Star Approach Action • Describe the action you took to resolve the problem or bring about the success • Explain your role in the action • Identify specific skills you used

Star Approach Results • Explain the results • Provide details, amounts, success • Apply these results to the position for which you are applying

Star Provides an Outline • Helps you answer completely so you give enough information • Lets you know when to stop • Allows the interviewer to see you as a problem solver and decision maker

Difficult Situations

Tricky Questions • Imagine you are dead. You’ve lived a long happy life. What would your obituary say? • How will you want people to remember you when you’ve gone? (family, friends, etc. ) • What is your ideal organization? • What is the one question you don’t want to ask me? • What is the salary range that you expect?

Questions You can Ask • Could you describe a typical day at work for me? • Is there on-site training for new employees? • Does this position involve travel? • Are there opportunities for continuing education? • When will I learn my status? • What are the typical opportunities for advancement in this position?

Listen Carefully • It is important to understand the questions correctly • Ask for clarification • Do not be afraid to ask if you can take a few seconds to think about your answer

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s • Research the company • Have a good attitude, be positive • Prepare for tough questions • Show confidence • Greet interviewer enthusiastically • Be professional • Focus on what you have to offer, not what you want • Follow up with a note or phone call • Know your rights as an interviewee

Don’ts • discuss salary, benefits, or vacations until an offer is made • display personal habits, i. e. smoking, chewing gum, tapping a pencil, stretching, or jiggling a foot • Lie • get too chatty about non-job topics • blame others or disparage employers

Kinesics at the Interview • Eye Contact • Facial Expressions • Postures • Gestures • Space-distancing • Voice • Time

Eye Contact • It is important to look at the interviewers • By looking at them directly you are sending a signal of trust • While answering a question look first at the person who posed the question, but take turns looking at the others • When you want to emphasize, look at the questioner • Maintain sincere, continuous eye contact

Facial Expressions • Have a true, genuine smile • Look relaxed • Be cheerful, dynamic, and enthusiastic • While narrating, use appropriate expression • Don’t show your dislike even if you don’t like some questions • Practice your expressions

Postures The posture should show interest but still come across as relaxed: • Sit up straight at the beginning with back against the back of the chair • Don’t slouch or hang sideways; don’t sit at the edge • Can change during interview leaning forward) • Emphasize by tilting head a little (turning shoulders,

Gestures • Keep to a minimum • Let your hands lie loosely on your lap or place them on the armrests of your chair • Support your words with appropriate gestures • Add hand movements slowly during interview; pay attention to your interviewers • Tune your movements to those of others • Don’t shuffle with your feet or kick against the leg of the table • Don’t drum with your fingers or click with a pen

Space • Given a choice, select a seat from where you can see all interviewers • Don’t bend keeping both your hands on the table • Recognize the boundaries of personal space • If the interviewer pats you, accept it gracefully

Voice • Do express yourself clearly with a strong voice • Adopt a moderate pitch • Articulate well, don’t mince words • Keep appropriate pace, volume • Bring in modulations • Your voice should exhibit your confidence, not arrogance

Time • Arrive well before • Your attitude towards time will send non-verbal messages • Keep in mind the interviewers’ time too; be precise and direct in your answers

Ten Most Common Reasons for Rejection • • • Arrogance Apathy Uninhibited nervousness Evasive answers Lack of concentration Lack of crispness Lack of social skills Lack of firmness Inadequate quantitative skills • Unsuitable personality

Evaluate/Retrain Review your performance: • How did you do overall? • What were your strengths? • What needs improvement? • Develop a follow-up chart for tracking REPLAY