Purpose of Interviews
Provides the opportunity for two-way communication and interaction to determine fit between candidate and employer
Preparing for the Interview
v Identify your strengths
v Conduct research on position and employer
v Tailor and review your resume
v Conduct a practice interview
v Attend to your grooming and carefully select your wardrobe
How to Dress for an Interview:
Men
· Suit (solid color - navy or dark grey)
· Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
· Belt
· Tie
· Dark socks, Formal leather shoes
· Little or no jewelry
· Neat, professional hairstyle
· Neatly trimmed nails
Women
· Suit (navy, black or dark grey)
· Coordinated blouse
· Formal shoes
· Limited jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets)
· Professional hairstyle
· Light make-up and perfume
· Neatly manicured clean nails
Body Language during the interviewYour body language provides a number of messages to interviewers. Be confident. When you greet the interviewer smile and give a confident handshake.
Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Keep your gestures, body and face open.
Lean forward slightly to give the appearance of confidence and interest. Position yourself so that you are sitting right back into the chair, so that your lower-back is fully supported. Relax your shoulders and upper torso.
Maintain appropriate eye contact throughout the interview. (Do not stare or look away too much. Look at them).
Listen to what the interviewer is telling you about the organisation and your likely role within it, use appropriate listing cues such as nodding, saying aha etc. Try to look interested at all times.
Some of the frequently asked questions-
Tell me about yourself.
Answer in about two minutes. Avoid details, don’t ramble. Touch on these four areas:
How many years, doing what function
Education – credentials
Major responsibility and accomplishments
Personal summary of work style (plus career goals if applicable)
Prepare in advance using this formula:
“My name is…”
“I’ve worked for X years as a [title]“
“Currently, I’m a [title] at [company]“
“Before that, I was a [title] at [company]“
“I love the challenge of my work, especially the major strengths it allows me to offer, including [A, B, and C]“.
Second, help the interviewer by focusing the question with a question of your own: “What about me would be most relevant to you and what this company needs?”
What do you know about our organization?
Research the target company before the interview. Basic research is the only way to prepare for this question. Do your homework, and you’ll score big on this question. Talk about products, services, history and people, especially any friends that work there. “But I would love to know more, particularly from your point of view. Do we have time to cover that now?
.
What are your strong points?
Present three. Relate them to that particular company and job opening. Be positive and honest. “My greatest strength is that I am an efficient team player. Many times, I have successfully lead numerous teams on difficult projects.
What are your weak points?
Don’t say you have one, but give one that is really a “positive in disguise.” I am sometimes impatient and provide much work to myself when we are working against tight deadlines.”
Don't you think that you are over qualified for this job?(This question is put to you to puzzle a candidate. Be calm and answer the question with a positive and confident approach)My experience and qualification will just help me to do the job better. Moreover I am at establishing a long term relationship which my qualification will favor me to handle more responsibilities and help me to rise to your expectations
What do you look for in a job?
Flip this one over. Despite the question, the employer isn’t really interested in what you are looking for. He’s interested in what he is looking for. Address his interests, rather than yours. Use words like “contribute,” “enhance,” “improve,” and “team environment.” Fit your answer to their needs Relate your preferences and satisfiers/dissatisfies to the job opening.
How do you manage stress in your daily work?You can describe a situation of how you had managed stress in your previous work if you had one or narrate how you can find time in your busy schedule to relax a bit.
Why do you want to work for us?
You feel you can help achieve the companies objectives, especially in the short run. You like what you’ve learned about the company, its policies, goals and management: “I’ve researched the company and people tell me it’s a good place to work.”
What position do you expect to have in two years?
Just say you wish to exceed objectives so well that you will be on a promotable track.
.
Why should we hire you?
This may sound suspicious, negative, or just plain harsh. Actually, it’s a call for help. The employer wants you to help him/her hire you. Keep your response brief. Recap any job requirements the interviewer may have mentioned earlier in the interview, then, point by point, match your skills, abilities and qualifications to those items. Relate a past experience which represents success in achieving objectives which may be similar to those of the prospective employer.
How much do you expect if we offer this position to you?
Be careful. If you don’t know the market value, return the question by saying that you would expect a fair salary based on the job responsibilities, your experience and skills and the market value of the job. Express your interest in the job because it fits your career goals – Receptive to a reasonable and competitive offer – don’t talk. It’s always best to put off discussing salary .
ANSWER: I’m open to a competitive offer. I’d prefer to discuss the opportunity and allow my recruiter to handle any salary questions
Closing the Interview
v Closing
– Reiterate why you are the best candidate
– Re-assert interest
– Recovery
v Thank each interviewer by name
v Request business cards or contact information of all interviewers
Negotiating
v Research (i.e., your worth, the industry, the market, opportunity for increase)
v Calculate the worth of the entire package (benefits & perks)
v Calculate cost-of-living factors (i.e., commute, housing)
Be realistic about expectations!
If You Don’t Get the Offer…
v Analyze your interview performance
v Ask for feedback from interviewer
v Continue to enhance your interviewing skills
v Do not burn bridges (express appreciation and continued interest in future positions)
v Stay positive!
Provides the opportunity for two-way communication and interaction to determine fit between candidate and employer
Preparing for the Interview
v Identify your strengths
v Conduct research on position and employer
v Tailor and review your resume
v Conduct a practice interview
v Attend to your grooming and carefully select your wardrobe
How to Dress for an Interview:
Men
· Suit (solid color - navy or dark grey)
· Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
· Belt
· Tie
· Dark socks, Formal leather shoes
· Little or no jewelry
· Neat, professional hairstyle
· Neatly trimmed nails
Women
· Suit (navy, black or dark grey)
· Coordinated blouse
· Formal shoes
· Limited jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets)
· Professional hairstyle
· Light make-up and perfume
· Neatly manicured clean nails
Body Language during the interviewYour body language provides a number of messages to interviewers. Be confident. When you greet the interviewer smile and give a confident handshake.
Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Keep your gestures, body and face open.
Lean forward slightly to give the appearance of confidence and interest. Position yourself so that you are sitting right back into the chair, so that your lower-back is fully supported. Relax your shoulders and upper torso.
Maintain appropriate eye contact throughout the interview. (Do not stare or look away too much. Look at them).
Listen to what the interviewer is telling you about the organisation and your likely role within it, use appropriate listing cues such as nodding, saying aha etc. Try to look interested at all times.
Some of the frequently asked questions-
Tell me about yourself.
Answer in about two minutes. Avoid details, don’t ramble. Touch on these four areas:
How many years, doing what function
Education – credentials
Major responsibility and accomplishments
Personal summary of work style (plus career goals if applicable)
Prepare in advance using this formula:
“My name is…”
“I’ve worked for X years as a [title]“
“Currently, I’m a [title] at [company]“
“Before that, I was a [title] at [company]“
“I love the challenge of my work, especially the major strengths it allows me to offer, including [A, B, and C]“.
Second, help the interviewer by focusing the question with a question of your own: “What about me would be most relevant to you and what this company needs?”
What do you know about our organization?
Research the target company before the interview. Basic research is the only way to prepare for this question. Do your homework, and you’ll score big on this question. Talk about products, services, history and people, especially any friends that work there. “But I would love to know more, particularly from your point of view. Do we have time to cover that now?
.
What are your strong points?
Present three. Relate them to that particular company and job opening. Be positive and honest. “My greatest strength is that I am an efficient team player. Many times, I have successfully lead numerous teams on difficult projects.
What are your weak points?
Don’t say you have one, but give one that is really a “positive in disguise.” I am sometimes impatient and provide much work to myself when we are working against tight deadlines.”
Don't you think that you are over qualified for this job?(This question is put to you to puzzle a candidate. Be calm and answer the question with a positive and confident approach)My experience and qualification will just help me to do the job better. Moreover I am at establishing a long term relationship which my qualification will favor me to handle more responsibilities and help me to rise to your expectations
What do you look for in a job?
Flip this one over. Despite the question, the employer isn’t really interested in what you are looking for. He’s interested in what he is looking for. Address his interests, rather than yours. Use words like “contribute,” “enhance,” “improve,” and “team environment.” Fit your answer to their needs Relate your preferences and satisfiers/dissatisfies to the job opening.
How do you manage stress in your daily work?You can describe a situation of how you had managed stress in your previous work if you had one or narrate how you can find time in your busy schedule to relax a bit.
Why do you want to work for us?
You feel you can help achieve the companies objectives, especially in the short run. You like what you’ve learned about the company, its policies, goals and management: “I’ve researched the company and people tell me it’s a good place to work.”
What position do you expect to have in two years?
Just say you wish to exceed objectives so well that you will be on a promotable track.
.
Why should we hire you?
This may sound suspicious, negative, or just plain harsh. Actually, it’s a call for help. The employer wants you to help him/her hire you. Keep your response brief. Recap any job requirements the interviewer may have mentioned earlier in the interview, then, point by point, match your skills, abilities and qualifications to those items. Relate a past experience which represents success in achieving objectives which may be similar to those of the prospective employer.
How much do you expect if we offer this position to you?
Be careful. If you don’t know the market value, return the question by saying that you would expect a fair salary based on the job responsibilities, your experience and skills and the market value of the job. Express your interest in the job because it fits your career goals – Receptive to a reasonable and competitive offer – don’t talk. It’s always best to put off discussing salary .
ANSWER: I’m open to a competitive offer. I’d prefer to discuss the opportunity and allow my recruiter to handle any salary questions
Closing the Interview
v Closing
– Reiterate why you are the best candidate
– Re-assert interest
– Recovery
v Thank each interviewer by name
v Request business cards or contact information of all interviewers
Negotiating
v Research (i.e., your worth, the industry, the market, opportunity for increase)
v Calculate the worth of the entire package (benefits & perks)
v Calculate cost-of-living factors (i.e., commute, housing)
Be realistic about expectations!
If You Don’t Get the Offer…
v Analyze your interview performance
v Ask for feedback from interviewer
v Continue to enhance your interviewing skills
v Do not burn bridges (express appreciation and continued interest in future positions)
v Stay positive!
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