The job interview is an unusual situation: You're put in a room you've never been in,

with a person you've never met, to talk about a company you don't work at, in order to
persuade somebody that you'll be excellent at a job you don't have. No wonder it feels
awkward, artificial and anxious.
So here's what you need to know for making your job interviews a lot less nerve-
wracking and a lot more effective.

 Before – PREPARE! PRACTICE!

o Research the company. It is not just important to read the websites, annual reports
and publications, but how you can relate that information to your skills and
qualifications and demonstrate your ability to add value to the organization based on
your findings. It also helps if you can research the hiring manager’s profile on LinkedIn
or other social media websites as it will help you build rapport during your interview.
Do read the Job Description carefully and see how your resume, skills and knowledge
can be valuable to the role.

o Maintain a Question bank of typically asked interview questions. This will also help
you be prepared with answers to some basic behavioural and technical questions.
Prepare details about your internship, projects etc. and how they add value to your
experience which can benefit the hiring organization. Prepare some life experiences
and stories that can be articulated systematically during behavioural questions.
PRACTICE! With friends and in front of the mirror.

o Prepare your attire and work on your grooming and appearance. Prepare a complete
portfolio with few extra copies of your resume as well as all your certificates and other
print outs, showcasing qualifications, achievements, skills and interests. Use a good
quality folder to carry everything. Keep a good pen handy. Have a plan to reach at
least 10 – 15 mins before scheduled time.
 During – FIRST IMPRESSION MATTERS!
o Arrive on time, in well-groomed attire with attention to detail. Always walk into the room
confidently. First 7 seconds count the most!
o Prepare to greet and engage in small talk with the interviewer. Always be ready to
answer the basic question “Tell me about yourself”. Customize this answer for every
interview based on the organization’s requirement and culture. Let the interviewer
know your relevant achievements and also an interesting fact about you that will leave
a positive impression.
o Try to plant a hook in your answer that will lead the interviewer to ask you questions
relevant to your strengths throughout the interview and steer clear of responses that
trap you into things you don’t know or cannot speak about.
o Stay calm. Listen Carefully. Paraphrase. Ask them to repeat or clarify a question if
you do not understand. Do not bluff the answer. It’s ok to be honest and say you don’t
know.
o Pick three points and stick to them. It's called "staying on message". Write down
"talking points" that have the keywords (something like your exam answers). And
whatever else happens, make sure to get your talking points across. In order to ace
your interviews, you'll want to have your own talking points. When you are setting up
the interview, ask the recruiter or HR person: What are the three key things you're
looking for in this position? And why are they important to the company?
They might say this position is for a new initiative, or this role is critical for the
implementation of the strategy, or the boss needs an expert to help assist them in this
area.

Whatever the three key needs for the role are, write down beforehand how you can
accomplish those needs. Don't over-practice, just make sure that you know their three
needs by heart, and you've got a reasonable argument for why you can help them.
Then during the interview, if conversation gets steered away, you just make sure that
you steer it back to how you can contribute on the three key needs.

Stay on message and when you walk out, your message with stay behind with your
future boss.

It's not about you - If you think about the interview from your future boss' point of
view, the interview is not about you. It's about how well you fit into his or her needs.
Yes, you need to discuss your career goals, but only in the context of how they match
up with what your boss is looking for. And, yes, you need to discuss your prior
performance and successes, but only to the extent that it supports how you match the
three key needs the company has for the open position.

A job interview is a sales call — it's about selling you and your experiences and skills
and talent for the role. It's not your Autobiography, it's a discussion about the
company, their needs, the role, and how well you do, or don't, fit into the plans.

o Use the STAR technique- Situation, Task, Action, Result. When you are given a
behavioural question like “tell us about a time when you….” Pre plan some brief stories
 from your experience which you can use during the interview. Articulate your answer
and reply assertively. Apply the KISS rule- Keep It Short and Simple!
o Keep a few questions ready to ask at the end. They should be relevant to the
organization and your interview.
Some questions you can ask

1. What's the biggest change your group has gone through in the last year?
2. What are the key accomplishments you'd like to see in this role over the
next year?
3. What's your (or my future boss') leadership style?
4. How do your sales / marketing / technology / operations work here?
5. What's one thing that's key to your success that somebody from outside the
company wouldn't know about?
6. How did you get your start in this industry? Why do you stay?

 After – FOLLOW UP!

o Thank the interviewer. If possible, send a thank you note/email within 24 hours. This
will remind him of his interaction with you and also give you the opportunity to follow
up.
o Log each interview with date and all details of the company, contact person, resume,
questions, etc for future reference.
o Debrief with friends and prepare a log of questions that were asked and discuss how
they could have been better answered.
o Feel motivated, you have gained experience of giving an interview. Use this to
improve your performance for the next one.

DECODING THE QUESTION BANK

:

1. Pre Interview Small Talk (Opening Question) – eg. Tell me about yourself? – A key question,
as it can decide the direction your interview takes. Keep your response brief yet customize
it for the position/organization. The Employer wants to know you as an individual and is
interested in your recent and relevant past. Say something that shows your individuality,
talks about your relevant past experience and qualification and displays self- awareness.

2. Past Behavior Question/ Hypothetical Questions/ Stress questions – eg. Tell me about a
time when you had to….?, What would you do if you were asked by your Manager to…..? –
Use the STAR Technique ( Situation Task Action Result). Prepare brief stories based on
your experience that answer the question. They want to test your analytical skills, ability to
organize thoughts, think and act under pressure, maturity to manage complex situations.

3. Personal Attribute Questions – eg. What are your strengths?, What are your Weaknesses?,
What is your leadership Style? What are your Hobbies? Goals? Etc. – The interviewer may
 be assessing you as a person, to find if you fit into their Organizational culture. It may also
be a test of your integrity and loyalty, interpersonal and team work ability, learning
orientation, adaptability or any other qualities essential for the role.

4. Closing Questions- “Do you have any questions you would like to ask us?”- Here you need
to prepare some questions you can ask based on your research about the Company and
your aspirations to join the Organization. Employer wants to ascertain your interest in the
role being offered and their Organization. NEVER ask details about Salary or perks here!
The questions could be related to the Organizations work culture, vision, employee’s career
path, professional development. Take cues from the interviewer’s body language and if they
are not comfortable answering your question, refrain from probing further. Leave with a
closing statement “It was a pleasure to meet you”..”Thank you for the opportunity…” “It was
a pleasure learning from you about your Organization, I look forward to hearing from you”,
“Thank you for taking out the time to share..…”

TIPS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN A GROUP DISCUSSION

A Group Discussion is one of the important steps in the selection process during your
Campus interviews. The Organization is assessing you on the below given characteristics as
they moderate your group discussion (GD):

1. Communication Skills- Expressing your thoughts clearly, speaking extempore,

confidence
2. Knowledge- Thinking on the spot
3. Convincing ability- Assertiveness
4. Interpersonal skills- Team work
5. Problem solving skills
6. Conceptualizing skills
7. Leadership Skills- are your able to bring the group to a consensus
8. Body Language- Appearance included, First Impressions.
9. Creativity- Openness to new ideas and flexibility.
10. Listening Skills – Alertness for cues and opinion expressed by all participants.

So it is very important that you:

A. Come across as a team player and not self-centered focused on individual success.
B. Put across your point clearly, without interrupting and using appropriate power
words
C. Stay alert, Listen carefully and contribute to an appropriate closing of the GD.

Positive Participant Negative Participant

Confident and Polite Shy or Nervous
Analytical and Fact Oriented Interrupts Constantly
Uses appropriate language Aggressive, does not allow others to speak
Initiator Speaks to the moderator
Summarizer Engages in conversations with the sub
Seeks Opinions groups
 Expresses Opinions Repeats points
Ask Questions Makes irrelevant points
Listens Carefully, Stays alert Makes fun of other participants
Displays Leadership Uses controversial or sensitive situations to
Maximizes participation express opinions
Accepts others point of view Reacts rudely to contradictions

Remember: It’s not a Debate….It is a Discussion!

ART OF CONVERSATION

1. INITIATE A CONVERSATION: Shows interest in the person and you come across
as friendly. If you are confident, like to exhibit initiative and have a positive attitude,
then starting a conversation can help you build and maintain relationships.
How to initiate a conversation?
 You could start with an appropriate greeting. Appropriate body language,
smile, hand shake, gesture etc.
 If you need to interrupt someone to seek information it is important to say
“Excuse Me”, “ May I interrupt for a moment?”.
 Allow the person in conversation to complete what they are saying.
 Never interrupt if someone is on the telephone. Its polite to wait or indicate
with a gesture that your are waiting to speak to them.
It helps make some “Small Talk” ! Talk about the weather, sports or any non-
controversial and simple topic to ease the person and yourself, also build rapport in a
conversation. In an interview you could read details about the organization and the
interviewer and use that to build rapport.

2. EXPRESSING YOUR OPINION: A fact is based on something true, whereas an

opinion is a belief or thought. Different ideas and opinions make your workplace
better and your team more successful. So it is important to express opinion or
provide feedback when asked for, to share new information or to find a better
solution in some cases. Sometimes opinions can be expressed in a brainstorming
session, to help resolve issues, or in a conversation. Steer away from any personal
questions or opinions on anyone’s private life or sensitive topics like politics or
religion.

How to express an opinion?? You can use a list of expressions or phrases:

I think that maybe……, Perhaps we could…., From my point of view…., This is a
good idea, however I feel….., I figure that….,It seems to me that…..,I would like
to….,
I’m not sure if I agree with this idea….I believe….
Always use positive statements. Make it sound like a suggestion based on the facts
that you know.

3. LISTEN CAREFULLY: Listening and not just hearing can help you understand the
discussion or questions being asked, give you time to formulate your thoughts and
also sometimes negotiate smartly and come across as more convincing. Just like
we read between the lines, very important to take cues from the speaker’s words
as well as body language as you listen.

4. ASKING QUESTIONS: Why do we ask questions??

 To check if you have understood correctly
  When you need facts or information
 When you need to understand need or expectations
 To help resolve a situation
 To initiate a conversation
 To provide a solution
Try to ask open ended questions to help you gather more information. Keep your
questions relevant and short.

POWER WORDS
THANK YOU CERTAINLY SORRY EXCUSE ME
PLEASE MAY I