A Human Resource Professionals perspective as why people fail in the job interviews and how to succeed.

1. Job Interviews
Getting the Job Successfully
or
Missing the Boat
Presented in Nov 2012
Rohin Chawla
Golden Opportunities Pvt. Ltd.
www.GoldenOpportunities.biz
Rohin@GOjobs.biz

2. You think that you have:
 The Right Skills
 Education & Certifications
 Experience
 Caliber
 Your salary expectation also is in line with
the Company’s salary band

3. And you have been called for the
interview
 Yes! You do have the prerequisites for the
Job and based on your resume you have
been called for the interview. Technically
you should get the job
But……
 It is a regret

4. What went wrong? - Your profile
perfectly fits the requirement!
 Many things can go wrong (Most of them are
minor and can be avoided)
 Few are under your control and few are not
 Will see some of these aspects……

5. A Common Question –
Tell me something about our
Company?
 I forgot to visit the company website.
 Did not do enough research about my
potential employer.
 Hiring Manager doesn't like it.
 It shows lack of interest on your part.

6. What do you expect from this job?
 I read the job description but….
 I was in a hurry so I did not go through the
details.
 I did not go through the advertisement.
 I Did not speak to the Consultant who sent me
here.
 So why are you here?

7. Were you dressed properly for the
interview?
 People can get rejected on appearance
and the dress code etc. It shows your
seriousness for the job.
 Many Hiring Managers judge people
based on the appearance - Try to be
formally dressed (based on the company
culture and need etc).
 Have a clean look and be well-groomed.

8. Body language and inappropriate
manners
 Restlessness, constant movement, playing
with hair, constantly opening and closing
files, holding your bag in your lap during an
interview, avoiding eye contact with Hiring
Manager etc. could lead to rejection.
 A positive body language shows interest,
confidence and helps in creating a
positive impression which is necessary for
selection.

9. Know your Stuff
 You have been doing your current job for long
and you know it but now during the interview
you need to make sure the Hiring Manager
also gets to know the same – Just prepare
well.
 Make notes, have your answers ready for any
question related to your job and studies.
 List your accomplishments and share with the Hiring
Manager.
 Not able to answer the questions or giving
vague answers to the questions which are
related to work or education can be a reason
for rejection.

10. Enthusiasm for the Company & the
new Job
 Show it!
 If your Hiring Manager feels that you are not
keen for the job or joining the Company then it
could be the end of the road!
 Don’t let the Boredom take over you.
 It’s Show Time Folks!

11. Spoke ill about your previous
employer or supervisor
 Speaking negative about the previous
employer may lead to rejection as the
Hiring Manager may get a feeling that you
may also speak similarly about this
Company also

12. Job Shopping
 Are you serious about the job?
 Make sure that this gets conveyed to the Hiring
Manager.
 At no point any message or indication
should be given which may make them
think that you are not serious about the job
and will be considering other options or
you are there only for the salary hike.

13. Late for Interview
 Being late for the interview without any
valid reason may lead to rejection.
 “I got late due to traffic” is not a valid
reason – You should have started early.

14. Salary Discussions
 Needs to be discussed very carefully
 If you are fixed on some figure or are looking at an
unrealistic hike – you may not be considered for the
position.
 Remember all companies have a budget and they
do not like to be on the upper limit or out side the
budget.
 Be open and see what best can be offered
and negotiated.
 Don’t be too rigid.
 Speak to the Recruitment Consultant and take
advise. Most of the times Consultant knows more.

15. Being Dishonest or Evading
Questions
 If there are Gaps in your resume or you have
had issues or problems with your previous
work/employer or have failed some subjects
during your studies etc.
 Hiding, Evading questions about them or faking
can lead to rejection.
 Be honest and inform the Hiring Manager
when asked about those.
 Do not evade questions.
 Do not hide facts.
 Remember the facts and the truth can not be
hidden for long.
 Many Companies conduct background
verification.

16. Other Soft Factors
 If the Hiring Manager feels that you are
arrogant or immature or can not take the
right decisions to do the job he is likely to
reject you.
 Take care of these soft factors, they show your
attitude
 Being humble and polite helps.
 Show your Judgment qualities, explain the
decisions taken by you in the previous
organization/school and how they helped in
improving the situation.

17. Just a Resume
 Repeating word by word from resume may
not help you in getting the job.
 Have a lot more to say apart from what is
there in your Resume.
 Make notes (mental) about each aspect of the
resume and discuss these with the Hiring
Manager when appropriate.

18. Some one knows you!
 An old College classmate, Boss or Peer or
junior who did not like you, recognized you
and works with the new company.
 He may have influenced the Hiring Manager to
reject you by giving a bad reference.
 Be positive in each job.
 Keep every job exit positive.

19. No Budget
 A lot of times the company starts the
recruitment activity before the project or
the new client is signed or the budgets are
sanctioned.
 If the projects or the budgets do not get
cleared and sanctioned then all the
candidates get rejected for no fault of
theirs.

20. Commuting time
 In rare occasions this can be a reason for
rejection as some employers do not want
employees to spend too much of their time
commuting from home to office as they
feel the employee may get tired during the
travel and may not be able give their best
to the job!

21. Asking wrong questions:
 Think before you ask a question to the
Hiring Manager. Many a times asking
questions like below can get you a regret
letter:
 What is your leave policy?
 Do you work on Saturdays?
 When will I get my next hike?
 When can I shift to another function or the job
in your organization?

22. Culturally Misfit
 Your hiring Manager knows more about the
organization than you do.
 He will judge you and try to see if you fit in with
the organization’s culture and prospective
reporting manager will be comfortable working
with you.
 If he feels there is going to be a gap then you
may not get the job even after having the right
qualifications.
 And that is not your fault!

23. May not be your fault
 The Job could have been filled by an
internal move
 The job may have been filled by a better
candidate or at a lower salary

24. Just Take Care
Wish you all the Best!
Rohin Chawla
Golden Opportunities Pvt. Ltd.
www.GoldenOpportunities.biz
Rohin@GOjobs.biz
http://in.linkedin.com/in/rohinchawla