2. Learning Outcomes
Importance of interviews as a
psychological tool
Objectives, types, and modes of
interviews
Participate in job interview successfully
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4. Definition
• A planned interaction characterized by objectives.
• The word “interview” refers to any meeting
between two people.
• An interview is conversation where questions are
asked and answers are given. In common, the
word "interview" refers to a one-on-one
conversation between an interviewer (person
who asks questions) and an interviewee (a
person who answers the questions).
5. Definition
• The term interview has been derived from
the French word entre voir . Means to
glimpse or to see each other.
• Meeting for obtaining information by
questioning a person or persons.
6. Job Interviews
• Employer wants to learn about the
applicant’s abilities and experiences
• Initially formal and structured
• Later relatively spontaneous
7. Stages of Interview
• Appraisal of résumé
• Tests
• Presentations
• Face to Face Interview
• Negotiations
• Medical Test
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8. Face-to-face Interviews
A personal communication between the
interview panel and the interviewee.
Adequate scope for both the parties
Most commonly used form of interview
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9. Skills and attributes most
employers look for
Technical skills: The candidate’s subject
knowledge suitable for the post he/she has
applied for.
Analytical skills: The candidate’s ability to
examine and assess a situation.
Career objective: The candidate’s goals and
aspirations
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10. Skills and attributes most
employers look for
Communication skills: The candidate’s skills
in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Interpersonal skills: The candidate’s skills to
build relationships with colleagues, seniors,
and subordinates, and ability to move with
team members
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11. Skills and attributes most
employers look for
Flexibility/adaptability: The candidate’s multi
tasking skills or ability to adapt
himself/herself to the changing situations.
Management/leadership skills: Candidate’s
ability to plan, organize, motivate, inspire,
manage.....
Positive/can-do attitude: The candidate’s
positive way of looking at things.
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12. Skills and attributes most
employers look for
Honesty and integrity: The candidate’s
candidness and trustworthiness
Professionalism: The candidate’s maturity
and fairness in handling business activities
Inclination for learning: The candidate’s
willingness to learn with an open mind
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16. Preparation of résumé
• Résumé is a written record of a
candidate’s education, past and present
occupation.
• This document enables the employer to
judge the candidate’s potential fit for the
post.
• The résumé should be modified as per
the requirements of the job and the
organization.
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17. Personal Attributes
• Analyze hard and soft skills, strengths,
weaknesses......
• At least two unique strengths and
weaknesses
• Analyze yourself carefully and note down
your important strengths and
weaknesses.
• Knowing yourself or introspecting your
qualities and skills is a very important step
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18. Knowing the prospective
employer
know the company :
• Age of the company
• Services or products
• Competitors within the industry—
Reputation/where it stands in the industry
• Locations/length of time there
• Sales/assets/earnings
• Provision for career growth Ongoing projects
• Mission, culture, and values
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19. Subject fundamentals
• Go through basic courses done in the
college/ University
• Knowing your main subjects well before
an interview gives you immense
confidence
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20. Examples corroborating skills
• Interviewers assess the team skills, decision-
making ability, leadership skills, problem-solving
skills, etc.
• Pick up at least four or five such examples that
show the above-mentioned qualities.
• Then prepare the narration of these examples
using the STAR (situation, task, action, and
result) approach. Useful for behavioral
questions
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21. Appropriate dressing
• Good-quality clothes.
• They should be neat, clean, and ironed.
• Shoes should be conservative, clean, and
polished.
• Arrange all your documents systematically in a
neat folder and carry it with you.
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22. Questioning the employer
• Interviewers expect working knowledge of
the company
• Make up some questions ahead of time.
• They can be based on the job that you
are applying for or your prospects in that
job.
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24. Punctuality
• The waiting room is initial face-to-face
connection point with your potential
employer.
• Always arrive at least ten to fifteen
minutes early.
• Have a glass of water to avoid the ‘cotton
mouth’ syndrome.
• Ask how long the interview is scheduled
for
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25. Relaxing the nerves
• Get a good night’s sleep, eat well, and
take a relaxing walk beforehand.
• It is just a job interview.
• If you do not get it, it is not the end of the
world—
• take it as something better for you in the
future.
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26. Knowing the possible types of
interview questions
Open-ended questions allow one to give
more information
How good a manager are you?
Close-ended questions restrict the
responses to ‘yes’ and ‘no’.
Are you a good manager?
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27. Types of Questions
Experience questions
Objectively measure the features of your
background.
What is your C.G.P.A. (cumulative grade
point average)?
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28. Types of Questions
Credential questions
Subjectively evaluating the features of your
background.
What did you learn in your network
programming class?
What were your responsibilities in that
position?
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29. Types of Questions
Opinion questions
Subjectively how you would respond in a
series of scenarios.
What would you do in this situation?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
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30. Types of Questions
Questions Requiring Innovative Answers
To find out if you are capable of an original
thought
Can you sell this pen to me in one minute?
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31. Types of Questions
Behavioral Questions
To anticipate future responses based upon
your past behavior.
Can you give me a specific example of how
you did that?
What were the steps you followed to
accomplish that task?
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32. Process of Interview
• Establishing rapport
• Closing
• Gathering information
• Using body language effectively
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33. Establishing Rapport
• The vital first impressions.
• Decision in thirty seconds or less.
• Establish eye contact.
• Greet Warmly.
• Address as ‘Sir/Madam’
• Use surnames if you know correctly.
• Do not call first names.
• Your initial responses will greatly affect
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34. Information gathering
• Employers will match your answers
against their expectations.
• Honesty and sincerity
• Most interviewers are keenly aware of
when they are being deceived or tricked.
• You will be judged on attitude, work ethics
intelligence, and honesty.
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35. Closing
• Close the interview by establishing
continuity of the process.
• Ensure that you understand the next step
and be prepared to follow up from your
side.
• Always pursue each interview as if it were
your last.
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36. Using Body Language
• Personal appearance
• Facial expression
• Posture
• Gesture
• Eye contact
• Personal space
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37. Personal appearance
• Take care of your attire, accessories, and
personal hygiene.
• Keep at least two sets of neat, well-ironed
formal attire
• Clip your nails.
• Avoid loud colors,
• Clunky jewelry
• Excess perfume.
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38. Facial expressions
• Face reveals sincerity and enthusiasm.
• Wear a smile
• Don’t show your dislike
• Be happy and sporting
• Answer the questions patiently
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39. Posture
• Do not sit on the edge of the chair
• Do not lean on the chair either.
• Sit in a straight posture
• Be natural
• Control nervousness by resting your
hands on the arms of the chair.
•
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42. Maintain eye contact--- time you meet them
till you leave the interview room.
Answering a question, look first at the
member who posed the question and then
at other members as well.
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Eye contact
43. Do not bend too much or stretch your hands
on the table.
Observe the interviewers’ body language.
You can understand their intention and
interest in asking the question and also their
reaction to your answers
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Personal Space
44. Behavioral answering technique
• Talk about how you have done rather than
how you would do.
• Be prepared to use examples from your
work
• Be ready to offer not just any example, but
your own example.
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Answering techniques
45. Personality matching/mirroring technique
• Take your cue from the interviewer in
terms of tone and approach.
• do not be too casual
• Bring under control the ‘too much’ area in
your own personality.
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Answering techniques
46. Parroting Technique
Do not assume or make a ‘best guess’ of
what the interviewer is looking for.
If a question is unclear to you, it is
absolutely appropriate to ‘parrot back’ the
question in your own words to make sure
you have understood the correct meaning.
Use it as a temporary stall when you do not
have a ready answer. You will get some
time to think and answer.
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Answering techniques
47. Reframing Technique
• Always as straightforwardly as possible,
initially.
• Reframe the original question to illustrate
an area of your background that can
further enhance your overall image.
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Answering techniques
48. • Confirm the date and time
• Send all the necessary documents
• Assume an in-person interview.
• Wear a formal
• Reach the venue early
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Tips for Videoconferencing
Interviews
49. • Face the camera and speak a few words to test
the focus and your voice.
• Do not clutter your table with papers.
• Try not to be conscious of the camera
Concentrate on the questions
• Listen very carefully.
• Any technical problem, inform the interviewer
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Tips for Videoconferencing
Interviews
52. Communication skills during
interview
i. Ability to use non-verbal signals
ii. Listen actively and attentively
iii. Skill to Read between the lines
iv. Skills to put others at ease
v. Learn how to be diplomatic
vi. Ability to provide right level of information
60. Common Interview Questions
• Why Do you Want This Job?
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/why-
do-you-want-this-job-2061202
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61. Common Interview Questions
• How do you handle stress pressure?
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-
do-you-handle-stress-2061246
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62. Common Interview Questions
• "What Are the Most Difficult Decisions to
Make?“
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-
are-the-most-difficult-decisions-to-make-
2061256
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63. Common Interview Questions
• Decisions I have to make within a team are difficult, only
because these decisions take more time and require
deliberate communication between team members. For
example, I was working on a team project, and my
colleagues and I had to make a number of choices
about how to use our limited budget. Because these
decisions involved group conversations, our team
learned how to communicate effectively with one
another, and I believe we ultimately made the best
decisions for the team.
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64. Common Interview Questions
What are your salary expectations?
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/interview-questions-about-your-salary-
expectations-2061235
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