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General
Tips To Overcome An Interview
Campus
So what if you are not a mountaineer. Or a
keen hiker. You still cannot treat your
interview like a careless morning trot along
a jogger's path. Your jaw-jaw at the
interview table is nothing less than a
cautious climb up a mountain trail--which
begins around your early childhood and
meanders through the years at the academia
before reaching a new summit in your
career.And as you retrace your steps down
memory lane make sure that you post flags at
important landmarks of your life and career,
so that you can pop them before the
interview panel scoops them out of you. You
don't want to be at the receiving end, do
you?
Face
the panel, but don't fall of the chair in a
headlong rush-and-skid attempt to tell your
story. Take one step at a time. If you place
your foot on slippery ground, you could be
ejecting out on a free fall.
So
prepare, fortify your thoughts, re-jig your
memory, and script and design your story
(without frills and falsity). Without the
right preparation and storyboard, you could
be a loser at the interview. Here are a few
preparation tips that books on interviews
sometimes overlook.
Before
the interview
1.
Chronological
Outline of Career and Education Divide your
life into "segments" defining your
university, first job, second job. For each
stage, jot down :
The
reason for opting certain course or
profession; Your job responsibilities in
your previous/current job; Reason of leaving
your earlier/current job. You should be
clear in your mind where you want to be in
the short and long term and ask yourself the
reason why you would be appropriate for the
job you are being interviewed for and how it
will give shape to your future course.
2. Strengths
and Weaknesses
You
should keep a regular check on your
strengths and weaknesses. Write down three
(3) technical and three (3) non-technical
personal strengths. Most importantly, show
examples of your skills. This proves more
effective than simply talking about them. So
if you're asked about a general skill,
provide a specific example to help you
fulfil the interviewer's expectations. It
isn't enough to say you've got
"excellent leadership skills".
Instead, try saying:
"I
think I have excellent leaderships skills
which I have acquired through a combination
of effective communication, delegation and
personal interaction. This has helped my
team achieve its goals."
As
compared to strengths, the area of
weaknesses is difficult to handle. Put
across your weakness in such a way that it
at leaset seems to be a positive virtue to
the interviewer. Describe a weakness or area
for development that you have worked on and
have now overcome.
3. Questions
you should be prepared for
Tell
us about yourself.
What do you know about our company?
Why do you want to join our company?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Where do you see yourself in the next five
years?
How have you improved the nature of your job
in the past years of your working? Why
should we hire you?
What contributions to profits have you made
in your present or former company? Why are
you looking for a change?
Answers to some difficult questions :
Tell
me about yourself ?
Start from your education and give a brief
coverage of previous experiences. Emphasise
more on your recent experience explaining
your job profile.
What
do you think of your boss?
Put across a positive image, but don't
exaggerate.
Why
should we hire you? Or why are you
interested in this job?
Sum up your work experiences with your
abilities and emphasise your strongest
qualities and achievements. Let your
interviewer know that you will prove to be
an asset to the company.
How
much money do you want?
Indicate your present salary and emphasise
that the opportunity is the most important
consideration.
Do
you prefer to work in a group?
Be honest and give examples how you've
worked by yourself and also with others.
Prove your flexibility.
4.
Questions
to As
At
the end of the interview, most interviewers
generally ask if you have any questions.
Therefore, you should be prepared beforehand
with 2-3 technical and 2-3 non-technical
questions and commit them to your memory
before the interview.
Do
not ask queries related to your salary,
vacation, bonuses, or other benefits. This
information should be discussed at the time
of getting your joining letter. Here we are
giving few sample questions that you can ask
at the time of your interview.
Sample
Questions
Could
you tell me the growth plans and goals for
the company?
What skills are important to be successful
in this position?
Why did you join this company? (optional)
What's the criteria your company uses for
performance appraisal?
With whom will I be interacting most
frequently and what are their
responsibilities and the nature of our
interaction?
What is the time frame for making a decision
at this position?
What made the previous persons in this
position successful/unsuccessful?
5. Do
your homework
Before
going for an interview, find out as much
information on the company (go to JobsAhead
Company Q and A) as possible. The best
sources are the public library, the Internet
(you can check out the company's site), and
can even call the company and get the
required information. The information gives
you a one-up in the interview besides
proving your content company or position.
Clearing
the interview isn't necessarily a solitary
attempt. Seek assistance from individuals
who are in the profession and whose counsel
you value most. Be confident in your
approach and attitude; let the panel feel it
through your demeanour, body language and
dressing.
Getting
prepared for your interview is the best way
to dig deep and know yourself. You will be
surprised that it would breed a new
familiarity become more familiar with your
own qualifications that will be make you
present yourself better. All the best and
get ready to give a treat.
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