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HOW TO APPEAR IN AN
    INTERVIEW




           BY- ANJANA CHADDHA
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Definition Of Interview

 An interview is a conversation between two or more
 people (the interviewer and the interviewee) where
 questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain
 information from the interviewee.
Before The Interview

 Get your career goals in focus
 •   Identify your main strengths related to the job
 •   Gather specific accomplishments to back up your skills
Research the company

Find out the dress code in
advance and dress accordingly

Practice with yourself or with
a friend
Home Work TO Be Done

   Employers’ Web Sites
       Best place to “see” the company as it wants to be seen
       Check the annual report, look for press releases
       Look for the “head of R&D”
   Research Sources
       Get vital statistics and independent perspectives on the employer from
        On-line resources
       Look at financial data, list of competitors
   News Sources
       Find general interest web sites to see what they say about this
        employer
       Find hometown newspapers on-line to read about this employer
   Trade Journals
       Read these for new products, find its place in the industry.
Few Items You Should Bring On A Interview

 You should bring at least one spare copy of your resume.

 If you know that you will be interviewed by multiple
  people, you should bring a copy of your resume for each.

 If you are applying for a job that has specific certification
  or licensing requirements.

 you should bring proof of your eligibility.

 employers are more likely to choose a candidate whose
  paperwork is already in order.
Portfolio

 A portfolio could be as simple as examples of your
  work on past projects. Limit the number of pieces in
  your portfolio to your best.
 During an interview, you will have only a few
  minutes that you can devote to showing off your
  work. While you may make arrangements to leave
  your portfolio behind after the interview, you will
  want to be sure that your interviewer has already
  seen your best pieces.
 If it is on a CD or DVD, you may need to make
  arrangements to have some sort of player available.
Dress Code
Men's Interview Attire

 Suit (solid color – Navy, Black or Dark Grey)
 Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
 Belt
 Tie
 Dark socks, conservative leather shoes
 Little or no jewellery
 Neat, professional hairstyle
 Limit the after shave
 Neatly trimmed nails
 Portfolio or briefcase
Women's Interview Attire

 Suit (navy, black or dark grey)
 The suit skirt should be long enough so you can sit down
  comfortably
 Conservative shoes
 Limited jewellery (no dangling earrings or
  arms full of bracelets)
 Limited Jewelers
 Professional hairstyle
 Light make-up and perfume
 Neatly manicured clean nails
 Portfolio or briefcase
What Not to Bring to the Interview

 Gum
 Cell phone
 IPod
 Smoking or Tobacco
 If you have lots of piercings, leave some of your rings at
  home (ear rings only, is a good rule)
 Cover tattoos
STRESS


 Only a fool would tell you that looking for a job isn’t
 stressful even bigger fool to tell you that interviews
 will not produce stress.

 After all, you’re in an unfamiliar setting, meeting
  strangers, risking your ego
 Even a simple conversation can affect the rest of
  your life.
ABC Of Interview

 ABC ’s of the Job Interview
     A lways
     B eware of
     C rash and Burn
A- Always

   A lways
       Research the company with a focus on customers and
        competition
         Research can be done on the internet, by reading annual
          reports, and by talking with credible people in the industry
       Provide examples of when you have successfully worked in
        team environments
       Demonstrate creativity and responsibility
B- Beware

    B eware of
             Having an “I” attitude
          Don’t overstate your accomplishments - be honest
             Negotiating too early
          Doing this during the job interview sends a message that you
           are more interested in money than the job
             Being too casual with the interview
 Recognize that the job interview starts when you
 first arrive and does not end until you are out the
 door and on your way home
C- Crash & Burn

    C rash and Burn
        Displaying bad manners
          Poor etiquette and boorish manners send a message to the
           interviewer that you will behave that way with clients
        Demeaning your current or past employer
          It is a very small world, and reputations are made and broken
           on the basis of sometimes unknown relationships
        Being dishonest
 An interview is the time to put the best spin
 possible on your career, but not at the cost of your
 integrity
First Impression
 First impressions count!
 –   Be on time, or even a little bit early
 –   This allows you to relax and feel comfortable
 Start strong by beginning on a positive note
 –   Use open-ended questions as the opportunity to
     respond with your main strength
 Send the right body language
 –   Sit up straight, maintain good eye contact, 0use
     gestures if appropriate, and relax!
Types of interview

 One-on-One Interview
 Panel/Committee Interview
 Screening Interview
 Phone Interview
 On-Site Interview
 Off-Site Interview
 Second-Round Interview
Screening Interview


Typically a short interview used for the purpose of
 conducting a brief evaluation of a candidate.
 An example of this type of interview is a
 conversation with an employer at a career fair.
 From this conversation, an employer will decide if
 he or she wants to talk with the student further in a
 more formal interview.
Phone Interview


Rather than conduct an interview face-to-face, the
 interview will be conducted via telephone.
A phone interview is often a type of screening
 interview. Many times this is done when there is
 travel involved for a face-to-face interview.
For example, an employer might interview ten
 candidates over the phone and then choose three
 out for an on-site interview.
On-off site interview

 On-Site Interview
 An interview conducted the location of the company/organization. If
  the company location is not in the local area, and travel is involved, an
  on-site interview can be a second-round interview.




 Off-Site Interview
 An interview that occurs outside of an organization.
Second-Round Interview


An interview conducted after a formal, initial
 interview. The rest interview has conformed that you
 may be a good match for the job and the
 organization;
The second is designed to enter deeply into your
 skills and interests, and to allow others in the
 organization to meet and evaluate you.
Methods OF INTERVIEWS

 Traditional
 Behavioral/Emotional /Story Telling
 Case-Method, Cased-Based.
Traditional

 Requires you to relay factual information
 Employer is taking your word at face value
 Sample Questions:
Tell me about yourself.
Why did you choose your major?
What is a weakness you have?
Why are you interested in this position?
Behavioral/Emotional/Story Telling

Recommendation:
"STAR" framework to structure your responses:
What was the SITUATION?
What was your TASK?
What ACTION did you take?
What was the RESULT?
Case-Method/Case-Based

Commonly used interview method in business
  and consulting fields.
 Interviewee is requested to analyze a
  problem/situation and present a solution.
 Employer assesses analytical ability /thought
 process, not the accurateness of the response.
Body Language in Interview Room
 First one should ask permission for entering the room.
 Then one should greet the interviewer/examiner.
 Once he offers you a seat, then only you should seat. This shows that one has
    respect for them.
   Sit with back straight. Don't bend. Show confidence & smile on your face.
   Have a look at all the people who are supposed to conduct interview.
   Look into their eyes. Don't look down or away from their eyes.
   One can fold his or her hands to prevent any unnecessary gestures.
   Don't argue with interviewer. Be polite & answer properly. Your voice should be
    clear & loud.
   If you can't hear interviewer's voice, say "Pardon or sorry" & request him to talk
    loudly.
   Don't show "hurry, worry, curry" nature. Have presence of mind. You can take a
    few seconds before answering a question.
   Be firm about your opinion. Interviewer will try to change your mind & test you.
    Interviewer will check all these things.
At The Time Of Interview

   List the specific qualifications and requirements sought by
    the employer.
   Match these qualifications with the accomplishments that
    you already wrote down
   In order to support this, identify and list specific examples
    (quantify if possible) of your past accomplishments
   Know the Specifics of the Job
During the Interview
 Speak clearly and concisely
 –   Keep your responses specific


 Ask relevant questions to increase your
 understanding of the job
 –   This also shows the interviewer that you have done your
     research on the company as well.
 –   Become very familiar with the job description and the
     requirements for the position
 –   Be prepared to answer questions regarding gaps in your skill
     level
Questions To Ask

 “What’s Your Ideal Employee Like?”
    This question will give you an idea as to the working style
     of your boss, and whether or not your styles are similar
 “How Do You Measure Success on the Job?”
    If you want to excel at this job, you need to know how that
     will be determined by your boss.
        You may also want to ask about the typical career path for
         successful employees (you want to work for a manager who
         recognizes and rewards excellence).
Sample Questions

 How to prepare for the questions you know
 you will have to answer:


    What is your greatest strength?

    This is a great question to show your employability.
     Talk about being a team member, being able to
     research and organize information, being able to
     use various computer software etc.
Sample Questions


   What is your greatest weakness?

     Always choose a weakness that you are striving to
     improve or a weakness that can also be a strength.
     (Ex. I am emotional, Or, I am a perfectionist,
     which at times may bother people who work for
     me but I feel nothing should leave this office until
     it is perfect since it is a direct reflection of the
     quality of our work.)
Sample Questions
   If you and all the other potential employees
    had the same background in education and
    experience what would make me hire you over
    the others?

     The employer wants proof that you are the best
     potential employee. (Ex. I know how an
     organization such as your works. I understand the
     right procedures and paths to follow to get the
     work accomplished efficiently and professionally.
     I am also a team player who can work well with
     all personalities and use these unique
     personalities to get the best results.)
Sample Questions


   If you were hiring somebody for this position,
    what qualities would you look for?

     Somebody that can communicate well and work
     both as an individual and as part of a team.
     Someone that understands how this organization
     works and how to get the best results the quickest
     way. Someone who is up to date on technology,
     that knows what software would help this
     company to attain its goals.
Sample Questions
   Are you more comfortable working as a part
    of a team or individually?

     Be honest. If you are a person who would rather
     work alone and you get frustrated when you have
     to rely on a team to get results, then you do not
     want a position that requires you to be a part of a
     team that always works together. You will very
     quickly become frustrated and unhappy in your
     job. Many companies want team players, so if you
     are comfortable working both as an individual
     and as part of a team, now is a good time to state
     this.
Tough Questions

 How to prepare for the tough questions you
 know you will have to answer:
    ‘Future’ Question
        Don’t focus on specific career plans, but talk about
         things that are professionally important to you and
         how you will achieve them
    ‘Why’ Question
        It may be hard to praise yourself, so practice in front of
         a mirror
        Be confident, not boastful
Close Positively


Thank You
&
A Firm Handshake
How to appear in an interview