Cracking Interview: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet on Soft Skills

1. CRACKING
INTERVIEW
Training And Development
www.elewayte.com
THE ULTIMATE CHEAT SHEET
ON SOFT SKILLS

2. About Me
Chetna Sharma
Training Specialist at Cogneesol
• 6 years of experience in Soft Skills and English Language
Training.
• I am a certified CPD, SHRM, and HRCI Corporate Trainer
and Facilitator with a proven track record of delivering
impactful training solutions.
• My passion lies in creating inclusive, dynamic learning
environments, and I have successfully conducted Soft
Skills Training at renowned institutions like Chandigarh
University, LPU, and Cogneesol.
• Let me help elevate your team's potential through
transformative learning experiences.

3. Hard Skills & Soft Skills
Hard Skills Soft Skills
• Bilingual or multilingual
• Database Management
• Adobe Software Suite
• Network Security
• SEO/SEM Marketing
• Statistical Analysis
• Data Mining
• Mobile Development
• User Interface Design
• Marketing Campaign Management
• Storage Systems & Management
• Programming languages
(such as Perl, Python, Java & Ruby)
• Integrity
• Dependability
• Effective Communication
• Open - mindedness
• Teamwork
• Creativity
• Problem - Solving
• Critical Thinking
• Adaptability
• Organization
• Willingness to Learn
• Empathy

4. What Exactly Are Soft Skills
Soft skills are personal attributes needed for success in the
Job
Time
Management
Networkin
g
Team
Work
Creative
Thinking
Conflict
Resolution

5. Importance of Soft Skills in
Interviews and Job
Applications
Soft skills are essential in interviews and job
applications as they demonstrate a candidate's
ability to communicate, collaborate, and adapt in
a professional environment. These interpersonal
skills, such as communication, teamwork, and
problem-solving, are highly valued by employers
as they contribute to a harmonious and productive
workplace.

6. Analyzing a resume quickly and thoroughly to
assess qualifications, skills, experience, and
suitability for a job within a concise timeframe of
30 seconds.
Common Path Of
Placements
Resume Scrutiny
Group Discussions
Group discussions involve multiple participants
discussing a topic, sharing ideas, and
exchanging perspectives in an interactive setting
to reach a common understanding or make
decisions collaboratively.
Technical Rounds
Technical Rounds are interviews or assessments
in which candidates are evaluated on their
technical skills, knowledge, problem-solving
abilities, and expertise in a specific field or
domain.
Personal Interviews
Personal interviews are face-to-face or virtual
conversations between individuals, often
conducted for gathering information, assessing
qualifications, or making decisions, providing
insights into the interviewee's personality, skills,
and experiences.

7. Resume Scrutiny
Contact & Details
Career
Objective
Key
competencies
Academic
qualifications
Projects & Training
Academic
Achievements
Technical Skills
Extra Curricular Activities
Interpersonal Skills
Hobbies/ Interest

8. Tips for Resume making
Do Optimize for Applicant Tracking Systems
Don’t Steal the Job Description’s Exact Wording
Do Use Data
Don’t Include Anything Confidential
Do Include Soft Skills, Too!
Do Swap/ Copy Resumes
Don’t Include Random, Unrelated, or
Off-Putting Hobbies

10. Group
Discussions
Group discussions facilitate collaborative
communication where participants share diverse
ideas, opinions, and perspectives on a specific
topic. They promote teamwork, critical thinking,
and effective decision-making, proving valuable in
educational, professional, and social contexts,
encouraging a deeper understanding of complex
issues and fostering creative solutions.

11. Why Group Discussions are
conducted?
Brainstorming in groups allows diverse perspectives, leading to
a pool of innovative ideas and solutions.
Participants share insights, expertise, and experiences,
fostering a collective understanding of the topic.
Group discussions enable weighing pros and cons, reaching a
consensus, and making well-informed decisions.
Enhances communication, critical thinking, and teamwork
skills, benefiting individual growth.
Promotes bonding among participants, fostering a supportive
and collaborative environment.
Idea Generation:
Knowledge Sharing:
Decision Making:
Skill Development:
Building Relationships:

12. Skills assessed with
Group Discussions
Communication skills
Listening skills
Leadership skills
Analytical skills
Interpersonal skills
Technical Skills
Decision making skills
Problem solving skills

13. A positive and open-minded attitude is crucial
for nailing group discussions, as it fosters
collaboration, effective communication, and
respectful interactions.
Traits to nail Group
Discussions
Attitude
Open mindedness
Open-mindedness fosters receptive, non-
judgmental attitudes in group discussions,
promoting diverse perspectives, constructive
debates, and collaborative problem-solving.
Receptiveness
Receptiveness is crucial for successful group
discussions; it promotes active listening,
openness to new ideas, and respect for diverse
perspectives.
Confidence
Confidence is a crucial trait in nailing group
discussions. It helps convey ideas effectively,
engage others, and exude credibility, promoting
a positive impact on the discussion's outcome.

14. Basics of Group Discussions
The group summarizes the key takeaways
from the discussion, highlighting
agreements, disagreements, and potential
solutions, leading to a comprehensive
understanding of the topic.
Conclusion
Participants engage in a constructive
exchange of ideas, sharing viewpoints,
analyzing, and debating the topic while
respecting each other's opinions.
Discussion
Group discussion is a collaborative
communication exercise where participants
introduce themselves briefly, outlining their
perspectives on the given topic.
Introduction

15. Tips for Group
Discussions
Eye Contact
Initiate the GD
Allow others to speak
Bring the discussion on track
Positive attitude
Listen carefully to others
Formal dressing

16. Personal
Interview
A fearful word in itself

17. Types of interview questions
Resume-oriented interviews focus on
evaluating a candidate's qualifications,
skills, and experiences as presented in their
resume to assess their suitability for a
particular job role.
Resume Oriented
HR round in interviews assess candidates'
personality, communication skills, and
cultural fit. Questions focus on experience,
strengths, weaknesses, and why they want
the job.
HR Round
Assessment of candidates' expertise in
specific skills and knowledge related to the
job. Involves problem-solving, coding
challenges, and technical questions to
evaluate their ability to perform job-related
tasks effectively.
Technical Round

19. Do’s and Don’ts
Think before you speak
Remember interview is a
formal conversation , avoid
fillers like “Um”, “Ah”, “You
Know”
Avoid indecisive phrases like
“I think”, “I guess”,” probably”
or “pretty good”
Remain calm, relaxed and be
yourself
Avoid long verbose answers-
limit your answers to 1-2 minutes
If you don’t hear or understand a
question, ask them to repeat or
clarify
Try to focus on the message you
are trying to convey- NOT how
well you are doing!

20. Dress
Appropriately
Arrive in
good time
Body
Languag
e
Expect the
Unexpected
Ask
Questions

21. Additional Soft Skills
Required
Communication skills
(verbal and written)
Emotional
intelligence
Problem-solving and
critical thinking
Time management and
organization
Adaptability and
flexibility
Teamwork and
collaboration
Leadership and decision-
making
Conflict resolution and
negotiation

22. Active listening and
empathy
Methods to Improve Soft
Skills
Offer strategies and tips for students to enhance their soft
skills:
Participating in group
activities and workshops
Practicing effective
communication
Seeking feedback and
continuous improvement
Engaging in volunteer work or
extracurricular activities
Reading books and articles
on personal development

24. Thank You
For Your Attention
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