INTERVIEWS

CONTENT

5.1 Preparing for an Interview

‘Mutual respect is the keynote of any civilised job interview’. It is a courtesy at
the interview to demonstrate that it is this job you are after, rather than just a job.
You need to sell yourself during the interview. You need to prepare to speak in
concise term about relevant experiences that reflect positively on your skills and
your character.

In attending the interview, there are several points that you should consider:
1. Know your audience.
2. Know the exact location and time of interview.
3. Assemble relevant personal information.
4. Be enthusiastic, but sincere.
5. Plan on arriving at least fifteen minutes before
the interview.
6. Bring a pen and notebook with you.
7. Prepare some questions to ask during the
interview.
8. Prepare some answers for the obvious
questions.

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5.2 Appearance Manner
This is very important as the first impression may give you the opportunity to get
the job. Dress in a manner that is compatible with the culture of the organisation.
Therefore, you need to know the culture of the organisation in order to choose
the best attire for attending the interview. It is always preferable to dress up and
wear professional clothing. In choosing the attire, you should make sure the
image that you are going to project. Furthermore, ensure that your clothes are
clean and neat, shoes should be clean and polished, and nails must be clean
and well manicured.

5.3 Pre-Interview Checklist

1. A few days before the interview
What to do?
Find out all you can about the company:
a. What is the company doing?
b. What is the company’s vision and mission?
c. What is the company’s values and culture?
d. Any valuable information.

2. The day before your big day

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 What to do?
a. Decide what to wear.
b. Iron the clothes and place them
aside.
c. Put aside suitable & comfortable
undergarments.
d. Select and polish suitable shoes.
e. Make sure your fingernails are
trimmed, clean and neat.
f. Minimal, tasteful and matching jewellery.
g. Put aside copies of I/C, certificates, and a set of passport size
photos.
h. Remove or trim facial hair.
i. Map to the interviewer’s office.
j. Have a good night sleep.

5.4 Checklist for the Day of the Interview

1. On the interview day
What to do?
a. Good oral hygiene.
b. Have a good shower.
c. Hairstyle must be neat and well groomed.
d. Use minimal fragrance.
e. A light touch or natural make up.
f. Make sure the tie is neat.
g. Final check: Go to the rest room before your interview session to
ensure you look the best.
h. Create a good impression.

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2. During the Interview Session
a. Walking
i. Exude confidence.
ii. Don’t drag your feet.
iii. Shoulder rolled back, chest out, tummy tucked in, eyes
look forward.
iv. Be enthusiastic and positive!
v. Be on time!

b. Standing
i. Stand evenly and firmly on your feet.
ii. Maintain good posture.

c. Handshake
i. Firm and assuring.
ii. Greet your interviewer!

b. Responding to questions
i. Listen carefully and take time to think!
ii. Do not make up answers!
iii. If you don’t understand the question you may ask the
interviewer to repeat the question.
iv. Just relax and be confident with your answers!

c. Sitting
i. Sit only when you are told.
ii. Place you handbag / document bag at
the side of the chair.
iii. Back must be straight and lean
against the chair.

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 iv. Legs and feet closer together.
v. Do not shake your leg or feet.
vi. Sit comfortably, maintain good body posture!
vii. May lean forward from time to time.

d. Hands
i. Nicely place them on your thighs.
ii. Movement must be limited and relevant.
iii. Don’t fiddle with anything.
iv. Do not smoke or chew gum!

e. Eyes
i. Look the interviewer in the eye.
ii. Maintain good eye contact!
iii. If more than one interviewer is present, ensure you maintain
eye contact with all of them.

Below is a checklist that you should consider before going to the interview:
1. Is hair neat and tidy?
2. Are hands and nails well groomed?
3. Check for loose hairs or dandruff on shoulders.
4. Make sure your attire is unwrinkled.
5. Double check that make-up/shave is perfect.
6. Go to the toilet.

5.5 Post-Interview Checklist

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 1. After the Interview session
What to do?
a. Note of appreciation
i. Thank the interviewer by sending them an appreciation letter.
ii. Follow up on application status via a phone call.

5.6 Time Planning

Other than the aspect of appearance, the time management is also important.
You should know the exact time of the interview. Do not be late for the interview
as this is to prove that you are a punctual person. Plan to arrive fifteen minutes
early. You need to relax yourself before entering the room. Arrange your
transportation carefully in order to be at the area of the interview on time.
Allocate enough time; find out the approximate length of the interview. Once you
enter the room, wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. You have to sit
upright and look alert and interested at all times.

5.7 Types of Interviews

Applicants generally go through two kinds of employment
interviews. They are screening and hiring or placement
interviews.

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 Screening interview is the first phase interview to identify the applicant
who meets the standard of the job requirements. The interview is not necessarily
conducted by having face-to-face meeting process but it can also be a 5-minute
telephone call to ask about your details, interests and experiences. As the
interview can be accomplished as simple as a brief and short telephone call, you
should take some precautions such as:

1. keeping the list of numbers for the companies you are applying for as
near or reachable as possible.

2. having your resume, references, a calendar or note pad handy for easy
reference.

3. preparing yourself for responses if you are not ready like “I am driving at
the moment,” or “ We are just about to have our meal at a restaurant.
May I call you back in ten minutes?”

4. having in your mind that you need to sell your qualifications and make
your answers sound enthusiastic and confident.
Another kind of interview is hiring or placement. This is the traditional
type of interview. Hiring or placement interviews are conducted in depth and
proper. The interviews may take many forms. The interviews can be in the forms
of:

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1. one-to-one interviews – You are interviewed by a representative of the
company to discuss the job and your history of experience.

2. group interviews – Usually, there are more than one candidate. One
question will be asked at once and candidates are required to answer the
question one by one. The interviewer will choose the best candidates by
identifying the sense of leadership among them. If you are chosen to
involve in group interviews, make sure you perform the best as the
competition is tough and the pressure is more
difficult to handle.

3. panel interviews – These interviews usually

involve a panel that consists of three to six
members. Among the interviewers, they could be a supervisor, a person
from the human resource department and a co-worker. Since they are
from different positions or departments, the questions will cover various
skills and knowledge.

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5.8 The Do’s

1. Notify the company if you cannot make the interview or will be more
than 10 minutes late.
2. Smile, be confident and polite.
3. Make frequent eye contact as this is very important.
4. Follow the interviewer’s leads.
5. Answer questions as factually, completely and to the point as
possible.
6. Explain wherever possible and tell things about yourself which relate
to the position.

5.9 The Don’ts

During the interview do not enquire about salary, vacations, and bonuses in the
initial interview. Do not be disappointed if no definite offer is made or salary
discussed. Furthermore, do not show disappointment if you get the impression
that the interview is not going well.

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5.10 Traditional Interview Questions

These traditional questions may be helpful for you to prepare the answers for
the questions that are usually being asked during the interview:

1. Tell me about yourself (in two minutes).

2. Why do you feel that you will be successful in …?
3. Why did you decide to interview with our organisation?
4. Are you willing to relocate?
5. Tell me about your scholastic record.
6. Why did you choose your major?
7. What courses did you like best? Least? Why?
8. Tell me about your extra-curricular activities and interests.
9. What have been your most satisfying and most disappointing school
or work experiences?
10. What supervisory or leadership roles have you held?
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11. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Do you have plans for graduate study?
12. How do you spend your spare time?
13. Why should we hire you?
14. How would your last supervisor describe you?
15. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
16. How do you work under pressure?
17. Why do you want to leave your current job?
18. In what ways would you contribute to our organisation?

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5.11 Behavioural Interview Questions
Behavioural questions are questions to test your behaviour. When they ask you
this type of questions, they try to understand your behaviour indirectly. Below
are some behavioural questions:

1. Tell me more about a time when you ….

a. worked effectively under pressure.
b. handled a difficult situation with a co-worker.
c. were creative in solving a problem.
d. were unable to complete a project on time.
e. persuaded team members to do things your way.
f. wrote a report that was well received.
g. anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.
h. had to make an important decision with limited facts.
i. were forced to make an unpopular decision.
j. were tolerant of an opinion that was different from yours.
k. were disappointed with your behaviour
l. delegated a project effectively.
m. made a bad decision.
n. lost (or won) an important contract.
o. had to fire a friend.
p. hired (or fired) the wrong person.
q. turned down a good job.
r. set your sights too high (or too low).
s. had to deal with an irate customer.

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Activity 1
Find out the appropriate dress code for attending a job interview. Provide some
pictures as well.
a. Two-piece attire
b. Three-piece attire
c. Appropriate number of accessories (brooch, tie, handbag, etc.)

Activity 2
Based on the questions below, write down your answers in replying to a member
of an interview panel.

a. We prefer our employees to start from the bottom including someone

who has high qualifications like you. In your opinion, how would you
react if you need to perform a quite routine, dull work for the first few
months?

b. We have had in the past well-qualified employees using superior

tones when dealing with lower level staff, such as receptionists, car
park attendants etc. What is your opinion on this situation? Do you
think that you would do the same and have difficulties to deal with
such situation?

c. If we hire you, we shall allocate a huge sum of money to provide

necessary trainings related to your work. If you leave us, it will cost us
our time and money. How loyal do you think you are to our company
if we offer you a position?

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d. As you know, our company has several branches all over the country
including overseas. Are you willing to be located to one of these
branches? We will provide the accommodation, moving expenses
and other facilities.

e. You are here to apply for the post of an accountant. If we offer you a
different position, do you think you will accept our offer?

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Activity 3
Fill in the table below with the checklists of pre-interview, during interview, and
post-interview.

Pre-interview During interview Post-interview

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Activity 4
Work in a group of 3 to 5 people. Role play a mock interview and take turns to
answer the questions below. Choose a position to be applied before you begin
the interview. Try different types of interviews for different experience.

a. Please tell us your area of specialization when you were in college. Did
you like what you study and why?

b. What extracurricular activities were you involved in when you were in

college/school? Share with us the experiences and what you learned
from them.

c. Tell me/us about your life in college.

d. Which one do you prefer: to work individually or in groups? Give reason/s

for your answer.

e. What are your strengths?

f. Tell me/us about your working experience.

g. Why did you change jobs?

h. What were some of your accomplishments?

i. What do you expect of yourself in five years to come?

j. If you get the job, what are the improvements that you will make?

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REFERENCES

Cheesebro,T, O’Connor, L. & Rios, F. (2007). Communication Skills: Preparing

for Career Success (3rd ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

David & Geoffrey, W. (1993). Correspondence about Employment in English for

Business. Oxford: Made Simple Books.

Foo, K., Nor Azni, A., Noorzan, H.M.N., & Seng, T. C. (2008). Communication
Skills for the Workplace. Selangor: August Publishing.

Salbiah, S., Zaidah, Z., Hadina,H., Tina, A., Fauziah, I.,Abdul Rahim, S., &
Zairus, N.A. (2005). English Communication for Learners in Engineering.
Malaysia: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Zulida Kadir (2006). Technical Communication II: Teaching Module 1122. Batu
Pahat: Kuittho.

__________ ( ). Module: English for Professional Purposes. Sarawak:

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

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