Training

1. Talking about oneself
Most interviews begin the interview by
asking such questions as:
Tell us something about yourself.
What is a typical day in your life?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?

2.  These kind of questions in fact foxes (confuses)
many candidates.
 What to include?
How to include?
How much to include?
 What to avoid?
 Should I talk about my native place?
 Is it necessary to tell the them if my parents
haven’t attended college.

3.  If I tell my brother-in-law is an IAS Officer, will it
be an advantage or disadvantage?
 What if I tell that sometimes I’m lazy.
 What if I tell that I am ambitious, is it strength or
weakness?
 Is it alright to lie just to impress the interviewer?
SUCH QUESTIONS HAVE PLAGUED
CANDIDATES TIME AND AGAIN.

4. 1. FAMILY BACKGROUND
Don’t go at length about family.
Don’t tire the interviewer by telling about
unnecessary things.
Otherwise the interviewer will get tired by
the time you reach the most important
things about you.

5. YOU COULD SAY:
 I am Rajesh Savanur
 I am from Savanur
My dad is a Police Officer
My dad is an agriculturist (Farmer)
My dad is a jeweler (goldsmith)
My dad works for the State Bank of India
My dad works for the Railways.
 (What is applicable in your case)

6. My mom is a homemaker
My mom works for the Post & Telegraph
Department.
My mom works for the Railways
My mom is a Bank Eemployee.
 (What is applicable in your case)

7.  I have two brothers and a sister
 I have a sister who is married
 I have a younger sister who is pursuing her
Engineering
 I have a older brother who works for the Indian Air
Force
 I have an older brother who works for the Armed
forces
 I have an older brother who is married and settled
in the States
 I have an older brother who is working for a MNC.
 (What is applicable in your case)

8. 2. ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
 Start with your schooling or Highest Degree
 It is better to give your highest degree first
DON’T TELL:
 Your Grades
 Percentage of Marks
How many attempts you took to pass.

9.  Give the interviewer a positive image about
yourself.
Remember not a negative one
However, if the interviewer asks your grades do
tell him.
 If your achievement is outstanding do tell him.
 Merit scholarship / college topper / gold medalist
– its an advantage.

10.  I did my schooling from St. Mary’s High School,
Hubli.
 I graduated in Arts with English Literature as
Major and Political Science as Minor.
 I did my Masters in Arts in English Literature from
Karnatak University.
 I did my Masters in Business Communication
from Institute of Business Management and
Research, affiliated to Karnatak University.

11. You can tell about your specialization:
I did my Masters in Business
Administration from Institute of Business
Administration specializing in
Finance/Marketing/Human Resources
Whatever is applicable in your case.

12. 3. COMPUTER SKILLS:
 These days everyone looking for a job is
expected to be computer literate.
 I have done a Post Graduate Diploma in
Computer Application from APTECH.
 I am familiar with C, C++ and JAVA.
 I very good at SAP.
 I am comfortable with MS Word, Excel and
Power Point.

13. 4. ACCOMPLISHMENTS / ACHIEVEMENTS
 Never underestimate yourself – This is very
important.
 You don’t have to be Sachin Tendulkar or for that
matter an Abdul Kalam.
 Write or say if you have won a prize at Quiz
Competition.
 Paper presented at a Seminar.

14.  Ability to organize funds for flood victims
(Victims of a natural calamity)
 Coordinate and conduct inter collegiate
Chess/Cricket Tournament.
 But sincerity and honesty is important.
 You may have a certificate to prove something
but you many not have.
 The interviewer is very experienced and he will
immediately know.

15. You can say
 I organized cultural programs for Republic
Day/Annual Day Celebrations.
 I was selected as the Best Boy/Girl at the
School/College.
 Raised funds for Tsunami Victims.
 Edited College Miscellany.
 Won Gold Medal for chess at the Inter-University
Competitions.
 Got sponsors for Sports Day Functions.
 Contributed Articles for College Magazine.

16. 5. HOBBIES/SPECIAL INTERESTS:
 Organizations and Interviewers are looking for
multi-faceted personalities.
 Only Academics is not enough.
 It is an advantage to have another dimension to
your personality.
 Hobbies like stamp collecting, photography,
trekking, painting.
 Special interest like Reading books on
Psychology, Autobiographies.
 Listening to Hindustani Music.
 Reading to the Blind, Stargazing, Bird-watching.

17.  Remember a person who participates in games
or sports is a better team member/Leader and
organizer.
 Good at Decision Making and Interpersonal
Skills.
My Hobbies are Stamp collecting and Gardening.
 I enjoy reading auto-biographies and books on
psychology.
 I practice yoga everyday.

18. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
 Many of don’t know what are strengths and
weaknesses.
 Do a SWOT ANALYSIS
 Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, Threats.
 You look at yourself objectively and work
towards overcoming your weakness and
converting them into strengths.

19. STRENGTHS COULD BE:
Ambitious, Sincere, Confident
 A Good Listener
 Hard working
 Honest
Good Team Leader
 Trustworthy
 Punctual
 Patient
 Optimist

20. WEAKNESSES COULD BE:
Procrastination
Pessimist
Nervous
Short Tempered

21. MODEL PRESENTATION:
Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen.
My name is Rajesh Savanur
I am from Savanur
My dad was a Police Officer
My mother is a homemaker

22. I am married and my wife is a homemaker
I have three children – two boys and a girl
(ONE GIRL???)
All the three are pursuing their Engineering
Degrees at BVB College of Engineering,
Hubli.

23. I hold a Masters Degree in English
Literature from Karnatak University,
Dharwad.
I also hold a Masters Degree in Business
Administration from Institute of Business
Management and Research, affiliated to
Sikkim Manipal University. I have
specialized in Marketing and HR.

24. I have done my schooling from St. Mary’s
High School, Hubli.
I hold a Post Graduate Diploma in
computers from APTECH.
I am well versed with computers and can
give presentations on Power Point.
I have been working for two years on SAP
and very good at it.
I am also good at C & C++.

25. During College days I have taken a very
active part in extra-curricular activities.
I was the captain of the Cricket Team and
we won the Inter-collegiate Tourney in the
year 2005.
When Tsunami struck India I was
instrumental in raising funds of Rs. 10 lacs
for the victims.
I was the Sub-Editor of the College
Miscellany.

26. For relaxing I Listen to Hindustani Music
and do Yoga to keep myself fit.
I visit the Home for the Aged and spend
sometime there every week. It makes me
feel better.
I love nature and am a member of the
Dharwad Bird-Watching Club.

27. Regarding my STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
I am hard working, Sincere, Good Team
Leader.
I realized my greatest strength is my
patience, Optimism and determination.
I realized this while we were working on the
Tsunami Fund Raising. We organized a
cultural even and I was the organizer.

28. Regarding my WEAKNESSES
• I have really not given a very serious
thought about them:
• Sometimes I am a bit Short Tempered and
rush up with things. I have realized that
this is not very good for my success hence
I am working on that.
• Sometimes I overeat and especially sweets
are my weakness.
• That’s it, thank you for listening.

29. CONCLUSION
You are like a product
Pack it up and market it impressively.
If you don’t, none will do it.
Whoever listens to you, tell him what a fine
person you are – confident, smart, fine and
human.
Keep aiming at excellence, working
towards it, you will be a winner.