A compilation to be shared with all the freshers across the country before they appear for Job Interviews

1. 1 G etting Ready for
Job Interview…
Dressing Right
Let’s say you are going for an interview tomorrow. You have prepared yourself well for
the occasion - anticipating the questions and getting ready the answers - but have you
given a thought to what you will wear?
The first impression your interviewer makes about you is based on the way you look, and
you know what they say about first impressions. “The way a person dresses is the single
biggest non-verbal communication you make about yourself.”
“Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job, a poor dress sense may
exclude you from further consideration,”, given two equally good applicants, the
company may choose to hire the person who is dressed more professionally.
Tips for men
• Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks - White is still the safest and the best
color for shirts. Also acceptable: pale shades such as beige, blue, and other
pastels. Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves. Never wear a short-
sleeved shirt to an interview or any business purpose as it destroys your executive
image.
• Ties - Optional. But if you do wear one, choose a conservative pattern. Solids,
small polka dots, diagonal stripes, small repeating shapes, subtle plaids and
paisleys are all acceptable.
• Belts - Belts should match your shoes. Those with smaller buckles with squared
lines look more professional.
• Socks - Black socks are the best, followed by blue or gray, depending on your
attire. Never wear white socks! Check your sock length, too—no skin should show
when you sit down or cross your legs.
• Shoes - Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them, because tassel
loafers are very casual. Other suitable colors are brown, cordovan and navy.
• Hair - Keep neat, short and preferably parted on the side. And shave off all those
facial hair.
• Jewellery - Wear no or little jewellery. The watch and wedding ring are the only
acceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire. Thin gold or leather-
strapped watches look professional but not digital watches. Also, avoid political
or religious insignias, necklaces or bracelets. Definitely no pierced body parts,
and covers up your tattoos!
• Accessories - As much as possible, use leather briefcases or folders to hold
copies of your resume. Use narrow briefcases and avoid plastic folders and plastic
ball pens as they are out of place.
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2. Tips for Women
Wear well fitting outfits, which give a formal look. And please, nothing flashy. Avoid
wearing sleeveless tops or shirts; short sleeves are acceptable if they are tailor made.
Long Skirts can be worn, provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee. Nothing too revealing,
please!
• Shoes - Closed shoes, pumps, or simple sandals with at least 1½-inch heels
suggest a more professional look. Dark colors are best.
• Hair - Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back. Don’t
let it fall in front of your face and don’t keep trying to fix it during the interview.
Avoid large hair ornaments and trendy hairstyles.
• Make-up - Be subtle; natural is the key word. Light shades of lip coloring and
nail polish are recommended.”
• Jewellery - Be conservative. Studs of gold, silver or pearls are best. Do away
with gaudy fashion jewellery, and those that clank and make noise when one
moves.
• Accessories - Folders and bags should blend well with the total professional
look. Women should match their purse with their shoe color
Tips for Job Seekers
Do’s and don’ts during job interviews:
Do’s
• Be specialized in an occupational field and have work experience in that field.
• Be precise and accurate when describing the nature of your previous job(s), use
technical terms and statistical figures as much as possible.
• Be honest with your work history, personal profile and especially your salary.
• Be multilingual; take up foreign language proficiency courses.
Don’ts
• Do not hop from one job to another frequently without good reasons.
• Do not badmouth about your previous boss or company.
• Do not judge a job only by the pay it offers.
• Do not hesitate to work for long hours.
Managing Interview Questions
Who has not felt nervous during an interview? Sometimes an applicant can become so
anxious about giving the right answer that he does not realize that he is being asked the
wrong question.
Illegal interview questions are queries that a person may refuse to answer as they violate
his rights as an applicant.
But with jobs scarce to come by on the local market, it may be more prudent to think of
how best to answer brash questions than to reject them outright. It may be that these
“unethical” questions are being asked to determine if an applicant meets specific
requirements for the position.
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3. Illegal questions?
The following are some questions that the employer need not ask but may do so
occasionally:
• Questions about one’s origins. These may include citizenship issues. They may be
applicable if the position will require travel to different areas. The interviewer
may be interested to know if you can speak a particular dialect.
• Questions concerning one’s marital/family status or relationships. These include
those about your civil status - if you are married with children, or are a single
parent, or have a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Normally, questions of this nature are
intended to check out the applicant’s capacity to work long hours or do overtime
work.
• Questions concerning one’s personal attributes and background such as height,
weight, likes, etc. Again, such queries need not be asked unless relevant. Some
jobs obviously have special requirements, such as height for a basketball player.
Or you may be asked your musical preferences if you are applying with an audio
store.
• Questions regarding one’s disabilities. As with personal questions, these may be
asked with tact and only if necessary. Candidates for pilots, for instance, have to
have 20/20 vision.
• Questions regarding one’s social standing including any arrest record. This
information need not be asked, as it should already be included in the
requirements requested.
• Questions about one’s religious affiliation or beliefs. To discriminate against
one’s religion is against the law and related questions should not be asked.
• Questions concerning one’s age. Information on age should be available in your
resume and need not be asked.
Focus on the real issue
If you are thrown such posers, you could opt to give them the benefit of the
doubt: The employer may not be aware that they are inappropriate. According to
an HR manager: “These interviewers might not be aware that they’re asking
sensitive questions. Chances are, they want to hear something and sometimes,
they get too carried away to notice the discomfort of the interviewees.”
Rather than telling the employer that you are not comfortable with the questions
and that you feel they are irrelevant, try to determine first the intent of the
interviewer, the purpose behind the question, then answer in relation to the
responsibilities of the job.
In some cases, an interviewer may ask this type of questioning believing it would
put the interviewee at ease. Instead of starting the interview on a serious note, the
interviewer may pose light and personal questions first to break the ice. Again, it
is up to the jobseeker to phrase his or her answers in such a way as to show that
he or she is a professional who will be an asset to the company if hired.
Tell me about yourself
This is a question that most interviewees expect and it is the most difficult to
answer as well. Though one could answer this open-ended question in a myriad
of ways, the key to answering this question or any other interview question is to
offer a response that supports one’s career objective. This means that you should
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4. not respond with comments about your hobbies, spouse, or extra curricular
activities. Trust me, interviewers are not interested. To start with there is no
correct answer to this interview question. Its better to lean in the favor of a quick
reference to some personal traits that give a quick view of who you are. From
there one could move to a one sentence of any relevant education/qualification.
There should also be a mention of employment history.
Purpose of the Question:
There is a purpose to each and every question in the interview. One cannot ask
anything and everything. Again, a set of interview questions varies from industry
to industry and position to position. Interviewers use the interview process as a
vehicle to eliminate your candidacy. Every question they ask is used to
differentiate your skills, experience, and personality with that of other
candidates. They want to determine if what you have to offer will mesh with the
organization’s mission and goals.
What type of answer is expected?
Try to avoid this type of answer: “I am a hard-worker who is good with numbers.
After I worked as a financial analyst for a few years, I decided to go to law school.
I just finished and now am looking for a new challenge.”
Say something like this: “I began developing skills relevant to financial planning
when I worked as a financial analyst for three years. In that role, I succeeded in
multiplying the wealth of my clients by carefully analyzing the market for trends.
The return on the portfolios I managed was generally 2% more than most of the
portfolios managed by my company. My initiative, planning, and analytic skills
were rewarded by two promotions. As the manager of a team, I successfully led
them to develop a more efficient and profitable strategy for dealing with new
accounts. My subsequent training in the law, including tax law and estate law,
gives me an informed view of what types of investments and charitable gifts
would be most advantageous for your clients.”
Preparing for the answer:
Follow the following steps as outlined below to ensure your response will grab the
interviewer’s attention:
Provide a brief introduction.
Introduce attributes that are keys to the open position.
Provide a career summary of your most recent work history.
Your career summary is the “meat” of your response, so it must support your job
objective and it must be compelling. Keep your response limited to your current
experience. Don’t go back more than 10 years.
Tie your response to the needs of the hiring organization.
Do not assume that the interviewer will be able to connect all the dots. It is your
job as the interviewee to make sure the interviewer understands how your
experiences are transferable to the position they are seeking to fill.
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5. Ask an insightful question.
By asking a question you gain control of the interview. Don’t ask a question for
the sake of asking. Be sure that the question will engage the interviewer in a
conversation. Doing so will alleviate the stress you may feel to perform.
There you have it: a response that meets the needs of the interviewer AND
supports your agenda.
When broken down into manageable pieces, the question “So, tell me about
yourself?” isn’t overwhelming. In fact, answering the question effectively gives
you the opportunity to talk about your strengths, achievements, and
qualifications for the position. So take this golden opportunity and run with it!
Conclusion:
The question is very tricky and being the first question of the interview…one needs to be
a bit more careful in answering the same. This question can make or break the
interviewer’s interest in you.
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6. 2 A ttending A Job Interview
A candidate is successful in job interview if he can convince the interviewer that he is
more capable of doing the job than any other candidates. Unless a candidate has
established personal networks with the company, a job is usually offered based on the
assessment of the candidate’s performance during the interview. This assessment places
great pressure, both mentally and emotionally, on the candidate who needs the job
desperately.
What then, are the criteria for selection in this process?
Successful candidates often manage to select key items from their own experience, which
show that they can do the job, and will do it better than any of the other candidates. They
are the ones who project themselves into the job by asking the right questions, knowing
the problems faced in that position, and even offering the solutions to such problems.
Successful interviewers, on the other hand, conduct an interview to find the right
applicant to fill a particular job vacancy. They are not trying to trick or trap the
candidates, nor are they going to penalize or find fault with the candidates. In fact, they
are most relieved if the candidate can convince them that he or she is the right person for
the job.
Whether you are leaving your present job, or fresh from campus or school, you should
always be prepared for the interview by anticipating questions that will be asked in the
interview. Challenging questions, apart from personal details and qualifications, asked
by an interviewer to facilitate the process of selection are:
• What are your career objectives?
• What courses did you take up and why?
• What do you do particularly well at school?
• Where does your main experience lie?
• What are your main responsibilities in your present job?
• How much time do you spend on each aspect of your job?
• Which aspects of the job do you like most?
• What are the main problem areas of your job?
• Do you have a solution for that problem?
• Why do you want to leave your present employer?
• What is expected in your first year if you are offered this job?
• What do you want to be doing in five years’ time?
• How will you benefit from this job?
• Are there any people you find difficulty working with?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• Why should the company hire you?
The above questions are not standard or model questions but preparing for them will build up your confidence before
and while attending a job interview. Avoid using “trial and error” in job interviews, by making mistakes in front of your
prospect employer. Tactful answers to the above questions will impress the interviewer and most importantly of all, you
will stand out among other candidates to get the job offer and also his confidence in doing the job.
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7. How do you beat the competition?
We have been receiving a deluge of queries about interviews and how to get it right the
past few months. We thought a logical way to attack the growing pile of question marks,
was to shed some light on that game– the Interview. It should arm you with the right
tactics and tools to make it happen for you! So, without further ado, let the games begin!
Out of 10 Eggs, Which Ones Make the Best
Omelet?
The interview is basically a tool used by employers/HR managers to select the right
candidate for the right position. Now, it seems pretty simple, but the mechanics behind
the process lends more than the eye can see. Most employers will start the recruitment
process by using objective minimum requirements - i.e. skill, education, experience,
expected salary etc. - to shortlist the candidates down to a manageable number out of the
confusion of applications.
So how do they pick from say, 10 equal candidates who match up to the
minimum requirements mentioned above? Even if you hit a match of 5 out
of 5 for job requirements, someone else may get the job instead of you.
And so your intrigue rises. This is where the interview steps in to siphon out those more
suitable based on “touchy feely” emotional aspects of the candidate.
Let’s Get Touchy Feely, Shall We?
The emotional aspects being selected in the interview are generally as follows: initial
impression, management potential, motivation/enthusiasm, personal chemistry, and
competence.
Initial Impression:
Making the right first impression on your interviewer is vital to setting the scene for the
rest of the interview. Humans naturally make a judgment about another by the way they
look, act, speak etc. So the first few minutes in the interview are crucial to get
across your nonverbal factors such as: vocal quality, body posture, eye
contact, and facial expressions. Project self-confidence, professionalism, and eager
interest in the company through your actions and demeanor, and you will make an
effective initial impression.
Management Potential:
Employers hire people with potential to advance in the company, as they usually prefer
to grow their own management team. They look for people who have the
capacity to take on more responsibilities, lead their team members and
manage projects. Typically, this evaluation is based on a gut feel and the onus falls on
you to point out relevant experiences that indicate your potential to adapt to a changing
environment and growing roles.
Motivation/Enthusiasm:
This translates into the positive drive to accomplish a task/goal. Employers want to hire
people who are genuinely excited about working for them and developing their product.
They are trained to spot phony enthusiasm a mile away, so don’t go trying to fake it.
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8. Research the company and its product before you apply to make sure that you have an
honest enthusiasm for what you will be doing with the company if they hire you, and
project this during your interview.
Personal Chemistry:
Know how you feel when you “click” or don’t “click” with someone you meet? The same
theory applies during an interview.
It sounds logical that employers prefer to hire people they like over those they don’t feel
comfortable with. This is personal chemistry. The reason for this is simply…simple. It is
easier to work with and accomplish tasks effectively in a team with people you genuinely
like. Whilst this hypothesis seems a little “vague”, it is human behavior and that, my
friends, is the world we work in. Do note though, that it is difficult to “make” personal
chemistry happen. Eye of newt and a bag of bat wings are useless, I am afraid. But if you
step out of the interview feeling like you connected with the interviewer, your chances
definitely shine brighter.
Competence:
This element is colored a slight shade of gray. While it should be measurable, it is more
subjective than objective. This has to do with characteristics like adaptability to change,
lateral thinking and people management skills. Employers want people who can
contribute in a variety of ways, not only directly to the task they are working on. It could
mean brainstorming on innovative ideas, helping to manage a team for a project or
dealing with problems on your feet. If you can highlight competencies gained through
your own past experiences in your interview, you can add one more point to your
interview score!
In ending, understand that fulfilling the minimum requirements stated in the job
advertisement is not the “end all be all” that determines if you get the job. The “hidden”
emotional factors that are determined in the interview play a very strong role in deciding
who wins the prize at the end of the day. So even if you don’t have strong qualifications,
you may still be able to leverage the interview to your advantage by laying up your
“emotional” strengths. You’re in the last quarter and the game depends on your next
shot. You’ve got the talent. You’ve got the skills. Now go out there and score that killer
interview!
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9. 3 F requently Asked QUESTIONS:
In Job Interviews
This article is probably what most of you out there are waiting for. So, wait no more! The
“Interviewer’s Top 10 Hits” Best Compilation record is out! Here, you’ll find a list of the
10 most popular questions used by those faithful interviewers worldwide. We do want to
caution everyone though, that this is only to provide you with an overall guide to what
they want to know, and it should not be treated as textbook answers, because there are
none. If everyone started answering the same questions with the same answers, there
would be (a) very bored interviewers, and (b) absolutely no selection process. But let us
not digress.
And the Top 10 are...
Tell me something about yourself.
Now, this is a golden classic used at the start of interviews to break the ice and to
get you to give them a good initial run down of who you are and your “hidden”
characteristics, demonstrated in the way you present this self-story.
You should prepare a 2 to 3 minute presentation that briefly introduces your self
(where you’re from), your personal interests (hobbies, community involvement
etc), your work history, and recent career experience. The most time should be
spent on the accomplishments in the last two areas.
Interviewers look out for three things:
If you are able to give a brief, sequential summary of your life and career that
relates to the job for which you’re interviewing. Don’t ramble on aimlessly on
irrelevant nitty gritty details though. If you find yourself at the 5-minute mark
talking about your high school days, you are WAY off the mark!
Your conversational style, your confidence level, your ability to organize and
present information.
An idea of the person you are behind the suit.
Why do you want to join this company?
OK, now they want to know your motivations for joining the company. And this is
usually where they can read between the lines in your answer, so think carefully
when answering.
First, do your research on the company, its culture and market. Not enough job
seekers do enough or ANY of this, which is a real no-no! Make sure you
understand who is interviewing you.
Second, DON’T give answers such as “Oh, because its such a cool place to work!”
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10. “I like your salary and benefits package,” or “My friends are already there and it
makes it easier for us to hang out together.” OK, so maybe its exaggerate a little
bit, but you should get the picture.
These answers seem “give-me” oriented and do not show the interviewer how
your skills and experience deliver what the company needs.
Third, DO demonstrate to them how you can contribute to the company’s goals
and how your skills and experience match their requirements. Use concrete
examples as if you were already working there. If research shows that the
company is trying to be market leader, tell them how your experience/skills will
be able to let you contribute to adding market share for the company.
Why are you looking for a new job?
This may seem like a straightforward question to answer, but look again. It is
very easy to slip up here if you are unprepared. Most people seek another job
because they are unhappy/unsatisfied with their current employment. But
relating ANYTHING in a negative light at an interview is bad form. Most
interviewers don’t look so much for the reason you left, but they way you deliver
your response. So, always be honest and positive.
Even if you got fired from your last job, try to keep it brief yet honest. If you start
ranting on about how your ex boss/company was a terrible employer, they may
be thinking “Is he still dealing with bitter or sad feelings, or has he been able to
focus his energy on the future and the next position? Does she place total blame
on others for her situation or does she accept at least some responsibility for it?”
Further, most terminations happen because of an ill fit between company and
employee, not so much performance. So, try to take this angle.
If you left voluntarily, don’t dwell on the negative reasons for leaving, and focus
on how you can contribute better to your new company/role.
Some examples of answers that would work are below. But again, don’t just
memorize these answers and throw them out again without being really honest.
Interviews never work if you approach them like textbook exams.
I wanted to move my career in a new direction. (Make sure you mention what this
new direction is.)
My company was restructuring and I chose to seek better opportunities
elsewhere.
I want to keep developing new skills but was unable to pursue this in my previous
company. I decided to make a change to allow this to happen.
What kind of position are you looking for?
Avoid vague answers such as “I want an exciting job” or “I want to grow my skills
in this area.” It shows lack of focus and motivation for your career objective.
Instead, focus on your desired position and how your skills and experience can
help you be an asset within that position. For example, “I have a strong ability to
communicate and market a product as proven in my 2 years experience as
marketing officer at University or company A. I believe that I understand the
consumer industry and can add value to your company’s marketing efforts.”
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11. What do you consider your strengths and weaknesses?
This is a time to be honest, but don’t go to extremes either way. You don’t want to
start telling them that you are really terrible at organizing and can never be on
time. Neither do you make yourself out to be the next best thing since sliced
bread. Instead, be clear and concise about qualities that demonstrate you take
responsibility for your work ethic, actions, and experiences learned (or failures)
on the job, problem-solving ability, and values.
What do you know about our company?
This is where your research has come in handy. It is a way to demonstrate that
you are serious about joining the company and was motivated enough to learn
about it before the interview. Don’t respond by repeating each and every fact you
learnt about the company, because it can seem arrogant and memorized. Do
mention its major product, markets and latest development. Keep things
positive. Also try to show your eagerness to learn more about the
company by asking some questions to the interviewer him/herself.
What do you consider your greatest achievements?
Try to mention about 2-3 achievements. This is a way for interviewers to gauge
how you managed people/projects/yourself in a successful manner - which can
translate into how you may be able to succeed in the company if they hire you.
Try to choose a set of achievements that allow you to display a variety of
strengths. i.e. A successful event that you set up showing your organizational
skills, successfully resolving a situation at work which demonstrates your
problem solving skills and delivering an important report under difficult
circumstances which shows your ability to handle pressure.
Where do you see yourself one / five years from now?
Respond to reflect your confidence and drive to reach a level of work that will be
rewarded for your success. State realistic expectations and propose a real plan of
where you intend to go within the company. Never sound overly confident, fearful
or confused.
What Type Of Job Assignments Did You Perform In Your Last Job?
Be honest and to the point answering this, even if the assignments performed
don’t exactly match those required in the new position. However, also take the
opportunity to mention any projects your volunteered for, special projects you
took on outside your work scope or elected positions held in committees in other
past jobs/university. The key point here is to try to tell them about
experience gained in areas that might be relevant to your new
position.
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12. When You Start A New Job, How Do You Establish Good relationships With
Your New Colleagues and Supervisors?
It is important here to be enthusiastic and positive. Tell them how you worked
well with your past colleagues or peers in projects etc. Networking skills is
important so show how you used yours in your past to good stead.
So that wraps out the countdown! The bottom line is, be prepared, do your
research, and understand the job you are being interviewed for and how your
skills / personality / experience match the job’s requirements. Close the interview
with any last questions, pass on your name card if you have one, thank them for
their time and give a firm handshake before smiling and saying good bye.
The first interview is just a lead into the second interview or offer to a job. Not
everyone is suited for the job or the company. So don’t be discouraged if you were
not offered a position right away. Keep your chin up and your cool, and don’t give
up on yourself!
How to improve your job interviewing skills
Whether you’re a student job seeker or a polished and proven executive, the first
thing you must come to terms with is, “Regardless of the position you seek, you
are now in sales!” The product you are selling is YOU! The interview is your
opportunity to differentiate yourself in the eyes of your customer [the
interviewer] when compared to your competitors [other job applicants].
Successful companies today, are focused on building what’s known as, corporate
“Unique Value-Add Propositions.” Simply put, a unique value proposition is
designed to differentiate companies / products and services, by making a
decision to do business with you, an easy one. This is accomplished by means of
removing the risk in customer’s minds through obvious value-add.
So before you go into an interview, ask yourself, “What is my unique Value-add
for this company? What can I say, do, or show, that will separate me from all
other candidates?” And, “How convincing am I?”
There is no secret that in many cases today, the most qualified are not always the
ones hired. Sadly, many qualified individuals lose out on opportunities expressly
due to their inability to distinguish themselves [in the interview] by showing
unique value-add. You may then ask, “How does one construct a value-add
interview?” The process is surprisingly simple.
Number 1:
As quickly as you can, write down all the words that describe your unique
strengths that relate to the position to which you’re applying. [Note: Five words
are not enough. Try for at least fifteen / you may also ask others for their input].
Number 2:
As quickly as you can, write down all the words that describe your potential
weaknesses as they relate to the position to which you’re applying.
Number 3:
Turn each word into a sentence or statement. It does not have to be complicated.
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13. For example, if one of your strength-words was, “experience” - you could simply
say, “I am experienced.” [Note: Do the same for your weaknesses list as well].
Number 4:
Take each sentence / statement, and turn them into a question. “I am
experienced” becomes, “Why am I experienced?”
To answer the question, “Why am I experienced?” inexorably brings to light your
real Value-Add. From a selling point of view, ‘being experienced’ may be true, but
it is only, however, a fact. “How specifically, am I experienced, and, How it will
therefore benefit the new company,” is the real Risk-Removing, Unique-Value-
Add-Information needed to showcase your talents.
Knowing the answers, ahead of time, to questions like, “Why is [this] a potential
weakness for me - for this position?” is equally integral to the success of any
interview.
Remember that in business, “The degree to which you cannot provide a unique
Value-Add Proposition is in direct proportion to the degree you hurt yourself,
your company and your industry.” In any job interview, “You are the company.
The product you’re selling is YOU!”
How important is it to stand apart from others in an interview and how difficult is
it?
Any professionally trained interviewer can verify these questions are the most asked by
people involved with job-hunting. How important is it? Absolutely vital! … How difficult
is it? Not hard at all.
Although it is easy to see the task of standing apart in an interview is a little daunting, it
is, nevertheless, absolutely integral to anyone’s success in today’s Unique Value-Add
driven marketplace, whether it is products, services and/or especially when it relates to
the interviewers. In the end, we are all trying to make a sale. Potential employers must
buy-off on the value and uniqueness of us.
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