Job Interview Basics

 

Job Interview Basics - In two days time you have an interview lined up for a company you have dreaming for the past few months. In two days you are not sure what you can do apart from brushing up you basic knowledge. 

Well this post will help you in that direction. This post along with the previous post about avoiding blunders during an interview will help you in cracking that dream job.

1. Get the beginning right

Most of the interview will start with the interviewer asking “Tell me something about yourself”. The interviewer does that to make you comfortable. He may also want to know you a bit before moving with the process. Still, many people fumble on this part only. 

The beginning is going to set the pace for the remaining process. So it is advisable to prepare this part very thoroughly. Rehearse it many times to be comfortable with your answer. Prepare the introduction part for nearly 60-90 seconds. 

Include in it your education details giving more stress on your work experience if any. Then in a subtle manner try to highlight some qualities you possess that might help in your current job.

2. Know you resume well

Treat whatever is written in your resume as your bible and prepare each and every point very thoroughly. Prepare 2-3 questions for each point that you have mentioned in your resume. 

If you have mentioned that you were the general secretary of your college society, then be very clear about the roles, challenges and responsibilities of that position. Try to bring out qualities based on your resume. Like in this case it will be a strong leadership role.

3. Know the company and why you have applied to it

The interview panel won’t like it if you are not fully aware of the company you are applying for. Go through the company’s website, their annual repots, any research reports for the company, blogs and user review websites. 

If possible try to contact some people already working in the organization. In modern era most company stress on their culture along with the profit lines. Try to find out about the culture of the company. This will help in explaining how you can fit into the company and why you are choosing the particular company.

4. Know about the industry

Read reports on the industry. Some points you can look upon are the growth trends, growth cycle of the industry, major players, markets and the correlation with the GDP.

5. Anticipate the recruiter’s questions

Go through your resume and see if there are any discrepancies that he might pick up. Are there any gaps in education and/or employment? Be ready to explain. If you have been switching job at a high frequency then be ready with an answer, as the recruiter might feel insecure about hiring you.

Checklist

• Get the beginning right
• Know your resume well
• Know the company and why you have applied to it
• Know about the industry
• Anticipate the recruiter’s questions
• Know why you want to change the job
• Why should we hire you
• Tell me about your areas of improvements
• Be honest
• Be confident

6. Know why you want to change the job

You cannot say that the next job is offering you higher salary and that is the reason for changing the job. You need to have valid reasons about why you want to change the job.

7. Why should we hire you

This question can be both a boon and a bane for you. It gives you the freedom to shamelessly talk about your qualities. But it can be counter productive if you are not able to back up your qualities with some examples. 

It is better to cite strengths and weakness that shows how you will be suitable for the job and how your qualities are helping the job profile. Keep your own personal aspirations in brief.

8. Tell me about your areas of improvements

Imagine a perfect person with all the good qualities and no weakness. Possible! Not in this world. Similarly it can’t be you. So don’t answer that you don’t have any weakness. Similarly never answer that you don’t know about your weakness. 

It will give a impression that you can’t even judge yourself. A good response is where you mention concrete areas for improvement. Follow it up with what you are doing to improve them.

9. Be honest

An interviewee prepares for interview keeping in mind what the panel would like to hear. In my opinion they want to hear the ‘real you’. The problem with lies is that you have to remember it. Imagine doing it in the tense situation of the interview room. Honesty works as a better policy and helps you maintain consistency.

10. Be confident

Appear confident while answering the questions. If you are not clear about some point ask the interviewer to explain it. Proper attire helps you in being comfortable and confident. Don’t fidget with your file, paper or pens while answering the question.

If you are appearing for an interview there are few points that should be kept in mind while approaching the panel.

a. Wearing something inappropriate

It is really amazing how simple the fact is and yet many people still fumble on their attire. Although a jeans and formal shirt may be treated as formal in an office environment, it is not advisable while appearing for an interview. 

If possible, dress in a business suit or complete formal attire completed with proper footwear (it does not include half-cut sandals). I have been on the interviewer side of the table, and believe me nothing pleases the eyes more than a well-dressed person on the other side. 

It immediately fetches a few points with the panel as it gives a sense of seriousness on the part of interviewee. For girls depending upon their comfort and occasion, saree, salwar suit or western formals are fine. If it is not an absolute necessity then avoid skirts with shirts, as they sometime might look like a little informal.

b. Not doing your homework

I will explain this point by citing a funny example. One of my friends was sitting in front of HLL interview panel. They ask, “Why do you want to join HLL?” My friend replies, “Sir, because HLL is a part of my life every moment of the day. I wake up and use Colgate, I wash my clothes using surf, and so on….” 

Not knowing about the company is a big blunder. In my friends case, Colgate and surf are not HLL products but are from Colgate-Palmolive and Procter and Gamble respectively. In the world of Internet, you cannot reply that you could not find enough sources about the company. 

Before appearing for an interview, visit the company’s website, talk to people already working there, surf the Internet. If the company is publicly listed than you can go through the balance sheet, equity reports of the company and other such sources.

c. Not knowing the job you are applying for

You might be excellent in the skills that you possess but you are not sure what you are supposed to do in your job is a big mistake. Probably you have great skill set but they don’t match with the job profile, then there is no point of your skill set. 

Again go through the job listing by the company, talk to some person already working in a similar or same profile and try to know your job. If I am confused about a job profile, I ask a simple question “I reach the office on Wednesday, what will be the typical day look like for me?” 

Believe me, this question looks like a simple one, but it really helps clear the doubts as far as job description is concerned.

d. Going on and on about your family

The most common question that an interviewer asks before is to describe/introduce yourself. You should mention about yourself and your achievements in details and your family should get a passing mention in it, if at all.  It is advisable to prepare the “introduce yourself” part for 60-90 seconds.

It should include facts about your education, qualification and work experience if any. Then mention in a subtle manner about some qualities that you possess for the current job. You can mention “I worked for XYZ Company after passing out from college. 

There as a part of my job responsibility I was supposed to travel a lot in North India and meet clients on a regular basis.” The interviewer is interested in taking you for the job, and not your brother, father or sister. 

So don’t go on rambling about your family achievements. If the interviewer asks to explain something using your experience then try to think of a professional example rather than a personal one.

e. Straying away from the point

Nothing irritates a interviewer more than a meaningless rambling by the candidate. Try to answer any question in a specific manner. By meandering and not answering to the point you are wasting yours as well as interviewer’s time.

Checklist

• Wearing something inappropriate
• Not doing your homework
• Not knowing the job you are applying for
• Going on and on about your family
• Straying away from the point
• Not watching out for non-verbal cues
• Taking up on the tea/coffee offer
• I learnt it in my first year of college
• Not carrying a copy of CV
• I know so-and-so working in your company
• Not knowing your CV
• No I don’t have any questions

f. Not watching out for non-verbal cues

Communication is both verbal and non-verbal. An interviewer will give non-verbal cues during an interview. Try to understand them and work accordingly. Always maintain an eye contact with the panel. If there are more than one person then never let someone in the panel feel left away. 

A person getting bored with shift restlessly in her chair, or try to look in other direction. Try to pick up these cues and stop at this point. Job interview in not a one-sided war front where you have to fire a machine gun at the panel. Try to make the job interview a conversation.

g. Taking u on the tea/coffee offer

If the interviewer offers you tea or coffee, there are both upsides and downsides in taking the offer. If you take the tea, and out of nervousness your hands are shaking then it will leave a bad impression on the other side. It might also happen that your tea or coffee has lasted more than the interview. 

Again this is a situation you would not like to happen. So the ideal answer to this question is ‘Thank you. I have just freshened up and would like to carry on with the interview. But you please carry on’. In this manner you don’t make the interviewer feel guilty.

h.  I learnt it in my first year of college

Every interview panel expects you to be familiar with your basics. You cannot say that I worked on it a long time back and so I cant remember it. Before appearing for an interview, brush up on your basics. Still there might be a situation where you don’t know the answer. 

In this scenario, tell them that you don’t remember it right now, but will make it a point to look it up. This shows that you are willing to go back to your basics.

i. Not carrying a copy of CV

Even if you have submitted the CV to the interview panel, always keep 2-3 copies of CV handy with you. There might be a case where the interviewer has misplaced your CV. If you are prepared with your CV, then it will help in gaining some extra brownie points. 

Don’t carry 2-3 versions of your CV, as it will leave an impression that you are more concerned with preparing CVs than actual work.

j. I know so-and-so working in your company

Never mention that you know someone in the company. If they ask about the company, tell them “I enquired with one of my friends working in your company and he told me so and so about your company.” Stop over there and don’t take names. If the panel asks for a name then you can answer them.

k. Not knowing your CV

Many people are concerned before an interview what the panel might ask. Please remember that interviewer hardly knows you so there are chances that a bulk of the interview will be based on your CV. 

Read each and every line of your CV and than prepare answers for probable questions. For example you have written “Represented state basketball team at National level.” 

The interviewer might ask few questions related to basketball rules or state of basketball in a cricket crazy country like India, about NBA and so on. So be well prepared with your CV.

l.  No I don’t have any questions

There are two mistakes that you can commit at this part of interview. A. Saying straight ‘no’. b. Trying to come up with a question you think interviewer would like to hear. This part can actually turn the interview in your favor. Here the tables have turned and you can actually ask intelligent questions. 

There are no hard and fast rules about the number of questions you should ask. But try to clear any doubts you have regarding the job profile or the company. Before the interview if you have researched well enough you will something to ask about the company. 

Try to sound enthusiastic and eager about the job. You can ask “how soon can I join, if selected”, “do I need to learn some special skills before joining”, “what are the working hours and if I need to work on weekends than do I need to take some permissions”.

In the end please remember that you need to be honest and consistent with the whole process. The people conducting the interview are usually very experienced and they can spot any inconsistency with your answers.

You might impress the interviewer by quoting some strengths and skills they would like to hear. But if you are not honest than you might get caught at a later stage. 

If you are telling about some qualities of yours then be prepared with some instances that support you. Remember be yourself and don’t try to become something that you are not.

Share :