Interview Tips - 2016
Interview
201
- 2016
INTERVIEW TIPS--2016
Compiled by
Regional Staff Training College, Gurgaon
Interview Tips - 2016
Listen to the question carefully, before you react.
If you have not understood the question properly, you may ask the
board member to repeat the question politely with a sorry.
Tell the most important point of your answer first. Keep 2 or 3 extra
points in reserve and use them in case of need.
Give direct answers always.
Do not start from history unless asked specifically.
Do not reply a question with another question.
members may get offended.
Some board
Board may be interested in your body language also. Allow your
whole body to express.
If you dont know the answer: Adopt this => "Honesty is the best
policy".
Taking more than 30 seconds to answer / react or to just say "I do
not know" is not desirable.
Remember the questions, if any, posed by another member and
address them properly.
Argument type questions, if posed, should be answered without
losing your cool. (Eg: Profit or Priority Sector which one is more
important? You can also justify that both are important!)
Controversial items may be asked to test the patience level,
psychological reactions, etc. (Eg: Focusing on Financial Inclusion may
be waste of time and resources, in a situation, where the banker is
already over burdened. Isn't it?)
Interview Tips - 2016
If board starts asking about your weak areas: Smile first. Do not
answer them awkwardly / uncomfortably / with embarrassment.
If chocolate is offered in the beginning, will you eat one? Should the
board wait till you eat the same?
If chocolate is offered once again at the end of interview you should
pick not more than one. Or just say "No thanks". Do not say " Enough
Sir" // "Sorry sir I have diabetics"
Do not forget to say Have a nice day sir / madam at the end
separately for Gent and Lady Members of Interview Board. (Similarly
wishing them separately is also highly desirable instead of commonly
wishing them.)
Medium of Interview: In any language convenient to express
yourselves comfortably.
Most Important: Punctuality, Smiling Face & Positive Attitude.
(Target not achieved is negative. 90% achieved is positive).
Preparation checklist: Interview Call letter, Staff ID card, Tie for 3-4
interviews; Reading our APAS 2010-11 once again; Branch data;
Branch Profitability data; Sept 2010 results of our bank; CMD
messages; Mobile Switch off; Details about Top 5 parties in deposits
and Advances; Top 5 / 10 NPA accounts in branch; Current year
target Vs Achievement of branch; Proposals in pipe line; Proposals at
Circle/HO powers.
Things to be kept in Mind: Interview is not an examination to be
taken so seriously.
Things to be forgotten on the day of interview: Family problems and
worries. (Board gets the reply through this question: Where do you
Interview Tips - 2016
want to go after promotion? Or Will you go to place X after
promotion?)
This is a common question in most of the interviews: Justify
yourselves to the new post!
In an interview how does one handle the question "Tell us about
yourself?".
An often asked opening question. Perhaps the most frequently asked
question across interviews. Your opening statement needs to be a
summary of your goals, overall professional capabilities,
achievements, background (educational and family), strengths,
professional objectives and anything about your personality that is
relevant and interesting. This question represents an opportunity to
lead the interviewer in the direction you want him to go e.g., your
speciality or whatever else you may wish to highlight.
Your intention should be to try to subtly convince the interviewers
that you are a good candidate, you have proved that in the past, and
have a personality that fits the requirement.
Remember that the first impression you create will go a long way in
the ultimate selection. Keep in mind, most candidates who are asked
this question just blurt out their schooling, college, marks and
qualifications. All this is already there in the CV. Why tell the
interviewer something he already knows?
A final word on approaching this question. Once you have said what
you have to say - shut up. Don't drone on for the sake of speaking for
you just might say something foolish. Sometimes interviewers don't
interrupt in order to give the candidate the impression that he has
not spoken enough. This is just a stress inducing tactic. Don't fall for
it, if you feel you have spoken enough. In case the pause gets too
awkward for you just add something like, "Is there something
specific that you wish to know about me?"
Is it better to have a longer selection interview or a shorter one?
Interview Tips - 2016
The length of an interview in no way is an indicator of how well an
interview went. This is especially so when there are a number of
candidates to be interviewed for example in the civil services
interview or the MBA entrance interview. In the past a number of
candidates have reported varying lengths of interviews. Nothing
positive or negative should be read into this. An interview is only a
device whereby the panel seeks information about the candidate.
Information that will help the panel decide whether or not the
candidate should be selected. If the panel feels that it has gathered
enough information about the candidate in 15 minutes of the
interview commencing and that it has no further questions to ask the
interview will be terminated in 15 minutes. If on the other hand the
panel takes an hour to gather the information required to take a
decision the interview will last for an hour. In either case the decision
could be positive or negative. It is a fallacy to believe that interview
panels take longer interviews of candidates whom they are more
interested in. No panel likes to waste its time. If an interview is
lasting longer than usual then it only means that the panel is seeking
more information about the candidate in order to take a decision.
Interview Tips - 2016
BAD BODY LANGUAGE FOR INTERVIEW
TOP 10 BODY LANGUAGE MISTAKES THAT WILL TURN
POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS OFF.
1. Failure to make eye contact
2. Weak handshake
3. Failure to smile
4. Crossing arms over chest
5. Playing with something on the table
6. Playing with hair or touching the face
7. Fidgeting too much
8. Bad posture
9. Using too many hand gestures
10. A handshake that is too strong
You can manage nerves by giving yourself plenty of time
to get to the interview, avoiding caffeine and by taking
deep breaths.
But, what will help you impress
INTERVIEWER? 1. Having a good
sense of humour
2. Being well dressed
3. Being involved in your local community
4. Being up to date with current affairs
and pop culture 5. Being physically fit
6. Being up to speed with social media
Interview Tips - 2016
COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS :
Review these typical interview questions and think about
how you would answer them. Read the questions listed;
you will also find some strategy suggestions with it.
1. Tell me about yourself:
The most often asked question in interviews. You need
to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be
careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to
work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk
about things you have done and jobs you have held that
relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with
the item farthest back and work up to the present.
2. Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A
good explanation is that you have set goals, and you
have met some and are on track to achieve the others.
3. What do co-workers say about you?
Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work. Jill Clark,
a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was the
hardest workers she had ever known. It is as powerful
as Jill having said it at the interview herself.
4. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the
last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate to the
job. A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy
to mention.
5.
Are
you
a
team
player?
You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have
examples ready. Specifics that show you often perform
for the good of the team rather than for yourself are
good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just
say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.
Interview Tips - 2016
6. What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here. Do you have strong feelings that the
job gets done? Yes. That's the type of answer that works
best here. Short and positive, showing a benefit to the
organization. .
7. Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization.
You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a
chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the
position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to
this relationship.
8. Tell me about a suggestion you have made.
Have a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion
that was accepted and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.
9. What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come
up with anything that irritates you. A short statement
that you seem to get along with folks is great.
10. What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few
good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Your problemsolving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your
ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude
11. Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say
the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that
you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The
best is to stay genetic and say something like: A job
where I love the work, like the people, can contribute
and can't wait to get to work.
Interview Tips - 2016
12. Why do you think you would do well at this job?
Give several reasons and include skills, experience
and interest.
13. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.
14. Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common labels,
like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have
several meanings or descriptions depending on which
management expert you listen to. The situational style is
safe, because it says you will manage according to the
situation, instead of one size fits all.
15. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a
positive lesson learned. An example would be working
too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus
throwing coordination off.
16. Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question. If you know about blind spots, they are
no longer blind spots. Do not reveal any personal areas
of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on
your bad points. Do not hand it to them.
17. Describe your work ethic.
Emphasize benefits to the organization. Things like,
determination to get the job done and work hard but
enjoy your work are good.
Good Luck
Interview Tips - 2016
(Study material attached)