INVERVIEW T YPES Technical Interview

Move through Question Papers

Facing the technical interview of a company is an uphill task. It all depends on the mood of the interviewer and to an extent on your appearance. If he is in a bad mood, the interview can be really tough. Otherwise you might have a slight consideration. Be prepared for any questions from every section of your skill set. If the interviewer goes to a part of your skill, which you are not comfortable with, try to divert his attention to some other part in which you are an expert. Try to explain things in a simple way and be precise in your answers. If you don't know an answer admit it. DO NOT try to make up and answer. That might lessen your chances of getting through.

Here are some of the FAQ's that can be asked in the technical interview

C- QUESTIONS
1. What does static variable mean? 2. What is a pointer? 3. What is a structure? 4. What are the differences between structures and arrays? 5. In header files whether functions are declared or defined? 6. What are the differences between malloc() and calloc()? 7. What are macros? what are its advantages and disadvantages? 8. Difference between pass by reference and pass by value? 9. What is static identifier? 10. Where are the auto variables stored? 11. Where does global, static, local, register variables, free memory and C Program instructions get stored? 12. Difference between arrays and linked list? 13. What are enumerations? 14. Describe about storage allocation and scope of global, extern, static, local and register variables? 15. What are register variables? What are the advantage of using register variables? 16. What is the use of typedef? 17. Can we specify variable field width in a scanf() format string? If possible how? 18. Out of fgets() and gets() which function is safe to use and why?

19. Difference between strdup and strcpy? 20. What is recursion? 21. Differentiate between a for loop and a while loop? What are it uses? 22. What are the different storage classes in C? 23. Write down the equivalent pointer expression for referring the same element a[i][j][k][l]? 24. What is difference between Structure and Unions? 25. What the advantages of using Unions? 26. What are the advantages of using pointers in a program? 27. What is the difference between Strings and Arrays? 28. In a header file whether functions are declared or defined? 29. What is a far pointer? where we use it? 30. How will you declare an array of three function pointers where each function receives two ints and returns a float? 31. what is a NULL Pointer? Whether it is same as an uninitialized pointer? 32. What is a NULL Macro? What is the difference between a NULL Pointer and a NULL Macro? 33. What does the error 'Null Pointer Assignment' mean and what causes this error? 34. What is near, far and huge pointers? How many bytes are occupied by them? 35. How would you obtain segment and offset addresses from a far address of a memory location? 36. Are the expressions arr and &arr same for an array of integers? 37. Does mentioning the array name gives the base address in all the contexts? 38. Explain one method to process an entire string as one unit? 39. What is the similarity between a Structure, Union and enumeration? 40. Can a Structure contain a Pointer to itself? 41. How can we check whether the contents of two structure variables are same or not? 42. How are Structure passing and returning implemented by the complier? 43. How can we read/write Structures from/to data files? 44. What is the difference between an enumeration and a set of pre-processor # defines? 45. what do the 'c' and 'v' in argc and argv stand for? 46. Are the variables argc and argv are local to main?

47. What is the maximum combined length of command line arguments including the space between adjacent arguments? 48. If we want that any wildcard characters in the command line arguments should be appropriately expanded, are we required to make any special provision? If yes, which? 49. Does there exist any way to make the command line arguments available to other functions without passing them as arguments to the function? 50. What are bit fields? What is the use of bit fields in a Structure declaration? 51. To which numbering system can the binary number 1101100100111100 be easily converted to? 52. Which bit wise operator is suitable for checking whether a particular bit is on or off? 53. Which bit wise operator is suitable for turning off a particular bit in a number? 54. Which bit wise operator is suitable for putting on a particular bit in a number? 55. Which bit wise operator is suitable for checking whether a particular bit is on or off? 56. which one is equivalent to multiplying by 2:Left shifting a number by 1 or Left shifting an unsigned int or char by 1? 57. Write a program to compare two strings without using the strcmp() function. 58. Write a program to concatenate two strings. 59. Write a program to interchange 2 variables without using the third one. 60. Write programs for String Reversal & Palindrome check 61. Write a program to find the Factorial of a number 62. Write a program to generate the Fibinocci Series 63. Write a program which employs Recursion 64. Write a program which uses Command Line Arguments 65. Write a program which uses functions like strcmp(), strcpy()? etc 66. What are the advantages of using typedef in a program? 67. How would you dynamically allocate a one-dimensional and two-dimensional array of integers? 68. How can you increase the size of a dynamically allocated array? 69. How can you increase the size of a statically allocated array? 70. When reallocating memory if any other pointers point into the same piece of memory do you have to readjust these other pointers or do they get readjusted automatically? 71. Which function should be used to free the memory allocated by calloc()? 72. How much maximum can you allocate in a single call to malloc()?

73. Can you dynamically allocate arrays in expanded memory? 74. What is object file? How can you access object file? 75. Which header file should you include if you are to develop a function which can accept variable number of arguments? 76. Can you write a function similar to printf()? 77. How can a called function determine the number of arguments that have been passed to it? 78. Can there be at least some solution to determine the number of arguments passed to a variable argument list function? 79. How do you declare the following: o o o o o An array of three pointers to chars An array of three char pointers A pointer to array of three chars A pointer to function which receives an int pointer and returns a float pointer A pointer to a function which receives nothing and returns nothing

80. What do the functions atoi(), itoa() and gcvt() do? 81. Does there exist any other function which can be used to convert an integer or a float to a string? 82. How would you use qsort() function to sort an array of structures? 83. How would you use qsort() function to sort the name stored in an array of pointers to string? 84. How would you use bsearch() function to search a name stored in array of pointers to string? 85. How would you use the functions sin(), pow(), sqrt()? 86. How would you use the functions memcpy(), memset(), memmove()? 87. How would you use the functions fseek(), freed(), fwrite() and ftell()? 88. How would you obtain the current time and difference between two times? 89. How would you use the functions randomize() and random()? 90. How would you implement a substr() function that extracts a sub string from a given string? 91. What is the difference between the functions rand(), random(), srand() and randomize()? 92. What is the difference between the functions memmove() and memcpy()? 93. How do you print a string on the printer?

94. Can you use the function fprintf() to display the output on the screen?

C++- QUESTIONS

1. What is a class? 2. What is an object? 3. What is the difference between an object and a class? 4. What is the difference between class and structure? 5. What is public, protected, private? 6. What are virtual functions? 7. What is friend function? 8. What is a scope resolution operator? 9. What do you mean by inheritance? 10. What is abstraction? 11. What is polymorphism? Explain with an example. 12. What is encapsulation? 13. What do you mean by binding of data and functions? 14. What is function overloading and operator overloading? 15. What is virtual class and friend class? 16. What do you mean by inline function? 17. What do you mean by public, private, protected and friendly? 18. When is an object created and what is its lifetime? 19. What do you mean by multiple inheritance and multilevel inheritance? Differentiate between them. 20. Difference between realloc() and free? 21. What is a template? 22. What are the main differences between procedure oriented languages and object oriented languages? 23. What is R T T I ? 24. What are generic functions and generic classes? 25. What is namespace?

26. What is the difference between pass by reference and pass by value? 27. Why do we use virtual functions? 28. What do you mean by pure virtual functions? 29. What are virtual classes? 30. Does c++ support multilevel and multiple inheritance? 31. What are the advantages of inheritance? 32. When is a memory allocated to a class? 33. What is the difference between declaration and definition? 34. What is virtual constructors/destructors? 35. In c++ there is only virtual destructors, no constructors. Why? 36. What is late bound function call and early bound function call? Differentiate. 37. How is exception handling carried out in c++? 38. When will a constructor executed? 39. What is Dynamic Polymorphism? 40. Write a macro for swapping integers.

DATA STRUCTURE QUESTIONS

1. What is a data structure? 2. What does abstract data type means? 3. Evaluate the following prefix expression " ++ 26 + - 1324" (Similar types can be asked) 4. Convert the following infix expression to post fix notation ((a+2)*(b+4)) -1 (Similar types can be asked) 5. How is it possible to insert different type of elements in stack? 6. Stack can be described as a pointer. Explain. 7. Write a Binary Search program 8. Write programs for Bubble Sort, Quick sort 9. Explain about the types of linked lists 10. How would you sort a linked list? 11. Write the programs for Linked List (Insertion and Deletion) operations 12. What data structure would you mostly likely see in a non recursive implementation of a recursive algorithm?

13. What do you mean by Base case, Recursive case, Binding Time, Run-Time Stack and Tail Recursion? 14. Explain quick sort and merge sort algorithms and derive the time-constraint relation for these. 15. Explain binary searching, Fibinocci search. 16. What is the maximum total number of nodes in a tree that has N levels? Note that the root is level (zero) 17. How many different binary trees and binary search trees can be made from three nodes that contain the key values 1, 2 & 3? 18. A list is ordered from smaller to largest when a sort is called. Which sort would take the longest time to execute? 19. A list is ordered from smaller to largest when a sort is called. Which sort would take the shortest time to execute? 20. When will you sort an array of pointers to list elements, rather than sorting the elements themselves? 21. The element being searched for is not found in an array of 100 elements. What is the average number of comparisons needed in a sequential search to determine that the element is not there, if the elements are completely unordered? 22. What is the average number of comparisons needed in a sequential search to determine the position of an element in an array of 100 elements, if the elements are ordered from largest to smallest? 23. Which sort show the best average behavior? 24. What is the average number of comparisons in a sequential search? 25. Which data structure is needed to convert infix notations to post fix notations? 26. What do you mean by: o o o Syntax Error Logical Error Runtime Error

How can you correct these errors? 27. In which data structure, elements can be added or removed at either end, but not in the middle? 28. How will inorder, preorder and postorder traversals print the elements of a tree? 29. Parenthesis are never needed in prefix or postfix expressions. Why? 30. Which one is faster? A binary search of an orderd set of elements in an array or a sequential search of the elements.

JAVA QUESTIONS
1. What is the difference between an Abstract class and Interface? 2. What is user defined exception? 3. What do you know about the garbage collector? 4. What is the difference between java and c++? 5. In an htm form I have a button which makes us to open another page in 15 seconds. How will you do that? 6. What is the difference between process and threads? 7. What is update method called? 8. Have you ever used HashTable and Directory? 9. What are statements in Java? 10. What is a JAR file? 11. What is JNI? 12. What is the base class for all swing components? 13. What is JFC? 14. What is the difference between AWT and Swing? 15. Considering notepad/IE or any other thing as process, What will happen if you start notepad or IE 3 times ? Where three processes are started or three threads are started? 16. How does thread synchronization occur in a monitor? 17. Is there any tag in htm to upload and download files? 18. Why do you canvas? 19. How can you know about drivers and database information ? 20. What is serialization? 21. Can you load the server object dynamically? If so what are the 3 major steps involved in it? 22. What is the layout for toolbar? 23. What is the difference between Grid and Gridbaglayout? 24. How will you add panel to a frame? 25. Where are the card layouts used? 26. What is the corresponding layout for card in swing? 27. What is light weight component?

28. Can you run the product development on all operating systems? 29. What are the benefits if Swing over AWT? 30. How can two threads be made to communicate with each other? 31. What are the files generated after using IDL to java compiler? 32. What is the protocol used by server and client? 33. What is the functionability stubs and skeletons? 34. What is the mapping mechanism used by java to identify IDL language? 35. What is serializable interface? 36. What is the use of interface? 37. Why is java not fully objective oriented? 38. Why does java not support multiple inheritance? 39. What is the root class for all java classes? 40. What is polymorphism? 41. Suppose if we have a variable 'I' in run method, if I can create one or more thread each thread will occupy a separate copy or same variable will be shared? 42. What are virtual functions? 43. Write down how will you create a Binary tree? 44. What are the traverses in binary tree? 45. Write a program for recursive traverse? 46. What are session variable in servlets? 47. What is client server computing? 48. What is constructor and virtual function? Can we call a virtual function in a constructor? 49. Why do we use oops concepts? What is its advantage? 50. What is middleware? What is the functionality of web server? 51. Why is java not 100% pure oops? 52. When will you use an interface and abstract class? 53. What is the exact difference in between Unicast and Multicast object? Where will it be used? 54. What is the main functionality of the remote reference layer? 55. How do you download stubs from Remote place? 56. I want to store more than 10 objects in a remote server? Which methodology will follow?

57. What is the main functionality of Prepared Statement? 58. What is meant by Static query and Dynamic query? 59. What are Normalization Rules? Define Normalization? 60. What is meant by Servelet? What are the parameters of service method? 61. What is meant by Session? Explain something about HTTP Session Class? 62. In a container there are 5 components. I want to display all the component names, how will you do that? 63. Why there are some null interface in JAVA? What does it mean? Give some null interface in JAVA? 64. Tell some latest versions in JAVA related areas? 65. What is meant by class loader? How many types are there? When will we use them? 66. What is meant by flickering? 67. What is meant by distributed application? Why are we using that in our application? 68. What is the functionality of the stub? 69. Explain about version control? 70. Explain 2-tier and 3-tier architecture? 71. What is the role of Web Server? 72. How can we do validation of the fields in a project? 73. What is meant by cookies? Explain the main features? 74. Why java is considered as platform independent? 75. What are the advantages of java over C++? 76. How java can be connected to a database? 77. What is thread? 78. What is difference between Process and Thread? 79. Does java support multiple inheritance? if not, what is the solution? 80. What are abstract classes? 81. What is an interface? 82. What is the difference abstract class and interface? 83. What are adapter classes? 84. what is meant wrapper classes? 85. What are JVM.JRE, J2EE, JNI?

86. What are swing components? 87. What do you mean by light weight and heavy weight components? 88. What is meant by function overloading and function overriding? 89. Does java support function overloading, pointers, structures, unions or linked lists? 90. What do you mean by multithreading? 91. What are byte codes? 92. What are streams? 93. What is user defined exception? 94. In an htm page form I have one button which makes us to open a new page in 15 seconds. How will you do that?

ADVANCED JAVA QUESTIONS

1. What is RMI? 2. Explain about RMI Architecture? 3. What are Servelets? 4. What is the use of servlets? 5. Explain RMI Architecture? 6. How will you pass values from htm page to the servlet? 7. How do you load an image in a Servelet? 8. What is purpose of applet programming? 9. How will you communicate between two applets? 10. What IS the difference between Servelets and Applets? 11. How do you communicate in between Applets and Servlets? 12. What is the difference between applet and application? 13. What is the difference between CGI and Servlet? 14. In the servlets, we are having a web page that is invoking servlets ,username and password? which is checks in database? Suppose the second page also if we want to verify the same information whether it will connect to the database or it will be used previous information? 15. What are the difference between RMI and Servelets? 16. How will you call an Applet using Java Script Function? 17. How can you push data from an Applet to a Servlet?

18. What are 4 drivers available in JDBC? At what situation are four of the drivers used? 19. If you are truncated using JDBC , how can you that how much data is truncated? 20. How will you perform truncation using JDBC? 21. What is the latest version of JDBC? What are the new features added in that? 22. What is the difference between RMI registry and OS Agent? 23. To a server method, the client wants to send a value 20, with this value exceeds to 20 a message should be sent to the client . What will you do for achieving this? 24. How do you invoke a Servelet? What is the difference between doPost method and doGet method? 25. What is difference between the HTTP Servelet and Generic Servelet? Explain about their methods and parameters? 26. Can we use threads in Servelets? 27. Write a program on RMI and JDBC using Stored Procedure? 28. How do you swing an applet? 29. How will you pass parameters in RMI? Why do you serialize? 30. In RMI ,server object is first loaded into memory and then the stub reference is sent to the client. true or false? 31. Suppose server object not loaded into the memory and the client request for it. What will happen? 32. What is the web server used for running the servelets? 33. What is Servlet API used for connecting database? 34. What is bean? Where can it be used? 35. What is the difference between java class and bean? 36. Can we sent objects using Sockets? 37. What is the RMI and Socket? 38. What is CORBA? 39. Can you modify an object in CORBA? 40. What is RMI and what are the services in RMI? 41. What are the difference between RMI and CORBA? 42. How will you initialize an Applet? 43. What is the order of method invocation in an Applet? 44. What is ODBC and JDBC? How do you connect the Database?

45. What do you mean by Socket Programming? 46. What is difference between Generic Servlet and HTTP Servelet? 47. What you mean by COM and DCOM? 48. what is e-commerce?

OPERATING SYSTEM QUESTIONS

1. What are the basic functions of an operating system? 2. Explain briefly about, processor, assembler, compiler, loader, linker and the functions executed by them. 3. What are the difference phases of software development? Explain briefly? 4. Differentiate between RAM and ROM? 5. What is DRAM? In which form does it store data? 6. What is cache memory? 7. What is hard disk and what is its purpose? 8. Differentiate between Complier and Interpreter? 9. What are the different tasks of Lexical analysis? 10. What are the different functions of Syntax phase, Sheduler? 11. What are the main difference between Micro-Controller and Micro- Processor? 12. Describe different job scheduling in operating systems. 13. What is a Real-Time System ? 14. What is the difference between Hard and Soft real-time systems ? 15. What is a mission critical system ? 16. What is the important aspect of a real-time system ? 17. If two processes which shares same system memory and system clock in a distributed system, What is it called? 18. What is the state of the processor, when a process is waiting for some event to occur? 19. What do you mean by deadlock? 20. Explain the difference between microkernel and macro kernel. 21. Give an example of microkernel. 22. When would you choose bottom up methodology? 23. When would you choose top down methodology?

24. Write a small dc shell script to find number of FF in the design. 25. Why paging is used ? 26. Which is the best page replacement algorithm and Why? How much time is spent usually in each phases and why? 27. Difference between Primary storage and secondary storage? 28. What is multi tasking, multi programming, multi threading? 29. Difference between multi threading and multi tasking? 30. What is software life cycle? 31. Demand paging, page faults, replacement algorithms, thrashing, etc. 32. Explain about paged segmentation and segment paging 33. While running DOS on a PC, which command would be used to duplicate the entire diskette?

MICROPROCESSOR QUESTIONS
1. Which type of architecture 8085 has? 2. How many memory locations can be addressed by a microprocessor with 14 address lines? 3. 8085 is how many bit microprocessor? 4. Why is data bus bi-directional? 5. What is the function of accumulator? 6. What is flag, bus? 7. What are tri-state devices and why they are essential in a bus oriented system? 8. Why are program counter and stack pointer 16-bit registers? 9. What does it mean by embedded system? 10. What are the different addressing modes in 8085? 11. What is the difference between MOV and MVI? 12. What are the functions of RIM, SIM, IN? 13. What is the immediate addressing mode? 14. What are the different flags in 8085? 15. What happens during DMA transfer? 16. What do you mean by wait state? What is its need?

17. What is PSW? 18. What is ALE? Explain the functions of ALE in 8085. 19. What is a program counter? What is its use? 20. What is an interrupt? 21. Which line will be activated when an output device require attention from CPU?

ELECTRONICS QUESTIONS
1. What is meant by D-FF? 2. What is the basic difference between Latches and Flip flops? 3. What is a multiplexer? 4. How can you convert an SR Flip-flop to a JK Flip-flop? 5. How can you convert an JK Flip-flop to a D Flip-flop? 6. What is Race-around problem? How can you rectify it? 7. Which semiconductor device is used as a voltage regulator and why? 8. What do you mean by an ideal voltage source? 9. What do you mean by zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown? 10. What are the different types of filters? 11. What is the need of filtering ideal response of filters and actual response of filters? 12. What is sampling theorem? 13. What is impulse response? 14. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of FIR filters compared to IIR counterparts. 15. What is CMRR? Explain briefly. 16. What do you mean by half-duplex and full-duplex communication? Explain briefly. 17. Which range of signals are used for terrestrial transmission? 18. What is the need for modulation? 19. Which type of modulation is used in TV transmission? 20. Why we use vestigial side band (VSB-C3F) transmission for picture? 21. When transmitting digital signals is it necessary to transmit some harmonics in addition to fundamental frequency? 22. For asynchronous transmission, is it necessary to supply some synchronizing pulses additionally or to supply or to supply start and stop bit?

23. BPFSK is more efficient than BFSK in presence of noise. Why? 24. What is meant by pre-emphasis and de-emphasis? 25. What do you mean by 3 dB cutoff frequency? Why is it 3 dB, not 1 dB? 26. What do you mean by ASCII, EBCDIC?

J2ME QUESTIONS
1. what is CLDC? difference between cldc 1.0/1.1. 2.What r the difference b/w MIDP 1.0 & 2.0 3.What is recordstore? Can it be shared by two applications.? 3 do v need to synchronize recordstore if 2 applications r sharing data? 4.what r the JSR's u worked for? 5.Explain the latest project. 6.what r the devices u worked for. 7.diff of series40/series 60. 8.what is preverification and obfuscation? 9.how will u reduce the heap size utilization of ur application? 10. client / server programming/communication in J2ME (with code expample) 11. diff between canvas and form in J2ME 12. Manifest files / mmapi / wMAPI? 13. Whats a Midlet? 14.Life Cycle fo Midlet? 15. What is low-level API and whats High Level API? 16. Canvas details? How to display image on canvas? What is the method for internal switch between two canvases? 17. How to store image binaries into RMS and how to retrieve it? 18. What happens when some incoming call appears to the app? 19. How to specify in the project that it can handle http request/ response? 20. How to use ANT? 21. What is TimerTask, schedule () method? 22. Concept of push regertry? 23. Diff between sms push and wap push, Game API?

24. Whats the thing J2ME stands on? i.e. J2ME Architecture? 25. can v open multiple network connections from a single midlet? 26. No of ways to invoke threads n which one is better n why for your project? 27. Give some device specifications (Like nokia 40 n 60 series or whichever you have worked on or you know)? 28. Different Protocols? 29. is there any way to insert a text field onto a canvas?

BREW QUESTIONS

1) Collision technique (collision of two rectangles), Collision Detection Algorithm. 2) How to maintain states across the applications using data structure. 3) Will ask all about projects and problems faced. 4) API's like IMAGE, IFILE, and IWEB API. 5) What is the callback function? 6) What are the mobile devices that I used? 7) Difference series 40 mobile/series 60 mobile 8) Different canvas and form in Brew 9) Client / server programming in Brew 10) What is BID / MIF files, what r their uses 11) What is working of Socket mechanism? How do u open the socket? How many bytes of data can u write using isocket_write? 12) What is working of Stack? Can we implement stack programming in brew? How? 13) ARM Compiler and GNU Compiler? 14) How to download an image from the server via HTTP? 15) How do u store the response obtained from the server via HTTP? 16) Inheritance in Brew? 17) What r the files needed to compile? 18) How is true brew testing done? 19) .mod and TBT files uses? And differences? 20) What are the steps u followed to create a web application? 21) How do u create, write and read files?

22) What are the instances u has to create for files? 23) Difference between end key and clr button? 24) What is iTransform interface? 25) Difference between Heap and stack? Which would you prefer in what circumstance? 26) Implementation of Iweb in BREW 27) What are Device independent bitmaps?

WinCE QUESTIONS
Explain the windows Architecture What is Create Window API? What is the use of Create Window API? What is the use of Get Message? What is the use of Translate Message? What is the use of Dispatch Message? What is paint structure? What is Device context? What is Get DC and Release DC What is Window Procedure? What is Window class? Explain the working of a sample Hello World Application...

Panel Interview/Board Interview Candidates are interviewed by two or more individuals. This process is commonly used by governments and large organizations. It is important to maintain eye contact with the person asking the question and give an answer with an example to support it. Always acknowledge the other interviewers' presence by making eye contact while answering rotating questions. Direct your attention at the beginning and end of your response to the person who asked you that question. The questions asked in the interview are often set out in advance. The board may already have decided which answers they will accept/prefer for the questions. Ignore note-taking by board members. Obtain employers' names prior to the interview and use them during the conversation. One-On-One Interviews

Candidates are interviewed by one person. These interviews tend to be more informal, however, it always depends on the employer's style. The interviewer will often have a series of prepared questions, but may have some flexibility in their choices. It is important to maintain eye contact with the person interviewing you. Impromptu Interviews This interview commonly occurs when employers are approached directly and tends to be very informal and unstructured. Applicants should be prepared at all times for on-the-spot interviews, especially in situations such as a job fair or a cold call. It is an ideal time for employers to ask the candidate some basic questions to determine whether he/she may be interested in formally interviewing the candidate. Second Interviews or Follow-Up Interviews Employers invite those applicants they are seriously considering as an employee following a screening or initial interview. These interviews are generally conducted by middle or senior management, together or separately. Applicants can expect more in-depth questions, and the employer will be expecting a greater level of preparation on the part of the candidate. Applicants should continue to research the employer following the first interview, and be prepared to use any information gained through the previous interview to their advantage. Dinner Interviews The interviews may be structured, informal, or socially situated, such as in a restaurant. Don't be the only one at the table to order an alcoholic drink, and if you have an alcoholic drink, stop at one. Decide what to eat quickly, some interviewers will ask you to order first (don't appear indecisive). Avoid potentially messy foods, such as spaghetti. Be prepared for the conversation to abruptly change from 'friendly chat' to direct interview questions, however, don't underestimate the value of casual discussion, some employers place a great value on it. Telephone Interviews Have a copy of your resume and any points you want to remember to say nearby. If you are on your home telephone, make sure that all roommates or family members are aware of the interview (avoids loud stereos, etc.). Speak a bit slower than usual. It is crucial that you convey your enthusiasm verbally, since the interviewer cannot see your face. If there are pauses, don't worry, the interviewer is likely just making some notes. Group Interviews Employers bringing several candidates together in a group situation to solve a problem are testing your ability to work in a team environment. They want to know how you will present information to other people, offer suggestions, relate to other ideas, and work to solve a problem. In short, they are testing your interpersonal skills. It

is difficult to prepare for this type of interview except to remember what is being testing and to use the skills you have to be the best team player and/or leader you can be. Some employers will take you to meet the staff who would be your co-workers if hired. This is a very casual type of interview, but leaving a positive and friendly impression is no less critical.

HR Interviews
How To face The Interview 1.Are your work practices similar or different from ours? (If Experienced) 2.Describe our (products/services). 3.Describe our company for me. 4.Describe our corporate environment for me. 5.Describe your work (methods/processes) in comparison to ours? (If Experienced) 6.Do our competitors do things that we should be doing? 7.Do you have any concerns about working here? 8.Do you have any questions about (our/this) company? 9.Do you know how long we have been in business? 10.Do you know what products we make? 11.How could you have prevented your (judgmental) errors? 12.How do you think our company determines success? 13.How does you present employer communicate with others in your deprtment? (If Experienced) 14.Tell me how you found out information about (our/this) company? 15.Tell me what you know about (our/this) company? 16.Was there anything your company could have done to be more successful? 17.What about our company do you like best? 18.What about your present employer (do/did) you like best? 19.What advantages do you think our competitors have over us? 20.What advantages do you think we have over our competitors? 21.What are the greatest challenges that this company faces? 22.What concerns do you have about this company? 23.What direction do you think this company is headed in? 24.What do you dislike about our company? 25.What do you know about (our/this) company? 26.What do you know about (our/this) operation? 27.What do you know about our competitors? 28.What do you know about our customers? 29.What do you know about our products? 30.What do you know about our products or services? 31.What do you know about our stock? 32.What do you know about our web site? 33.What do you know about the way our company (works/operates)? 34.What do you know about this position? 35.What do you think are the challenges facing this company? 36.What do you think are the greatest challenges facing this company in the near future? 37.What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like

ours? 38.What do you think it takes to be successful in our company? 39.What do you think the atmosphere here is like? 40.What is the financial stability of your last company? 41.What questions do you have about our organization? 42.What would make someone successful in our business? 43.What is the (best/worst) thing you have heard about (our/this) company? 44. What is the (best/worst) thing you have heard about (our/this) department? PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE-UP BEFORE YOU ENTER THE INTERVIEW ROOM For your first few interviews your background is important - your school, the medium and the place you studied in, all serve to give the interviewer an idea about you. Carry a copy of the bio-data that you have already sent, and the interview letter. Keep the extra copy with you, just in case. Show the interview letter to the receptionist/interviewer to establish your credentials, but keep this letter with you. This gives you, for your future reference, a time and date record of your interview, gives the official address of the company for further correspondence and clarifications, and may give you the name and designation of the person you are to report to. Carry everything you need for the interview in a neat folder - do not have loose papers cascading to the floor because you are desperately hunting for the degree certificate, while the interviewers drum their fingers impatiently. And don't carry your papers in a plastic or cloth shopping bag either: invest in a good folder, plastic or even leather. Incidentally, don't feel shy or hesitant about calling up the office and getting details about location, landmarks/bus routes/other information to help you reach the venue of the interview. Again, if it is not a "mass" interview, where lots of people are being interviewed on the same day, and you do have a genuine difficulty about reaching on the scheduled day/time, many employers will reschedule if you ask them nicely enough. The reverse is also true: a good impression is created if you take the trouble to inform the interviewer that you can/will not attend the interview. If you are in the same town go and "case the joint" - see where the office/interview centre is, and how long it will take you to get there. Always arrive at least fifteen minutes before your scheduled time that gives you time to catch your breath in case you climbed the stairs too fast, allows you to compose yourself and not be too nervous, and to check out the competition. If the interview is in the

offices of the company itself, this also allows you to get a "feel" of the company. See how comfortable you feel, how efficient the interview process is. Says a lot about what the rest of the company is.

Panel Interview
When you are facing a panel of interviewers, make your best moves. Whether you are searching for jobs, looking for career avenues or climbing the corporate ladder, you can't escape team interviews these days. The problem is that such interviews don't have a pattern to them. They come in different forms. You could be facing your prospective team members. Or you could be up against the top brassHR vice-president, the section head, the operations chief. Or you could also be sent to a recruitment assessment centre for multi-parametric evaluation (psychological tests for pressure-handling abilities, team-player skills and so on). Try these ten tips for surviving, and scoring, in a team interview. GIVE VARIETY TO YOUR ANSWERS Remember you might be interviewed by different panels. Don't give a stock answer to all of them. They'll be comparing notes. Repackage your skills so that they sound different. If you're showcasing project X as your major achievement in your present job before one team, talk about project B before another interview panel. A technical team will tune in to techie talk; an HR team would rather hear about your interpersonal skills. FINE-TUNE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS Pull out the stops on your group management and group presentation skills. Interviewers are people after all. Look for the personality type underscoring each interviewer.Then try and connect with each one of them without getting personal. Usually the best way to make contact is to project values that you feel you can share with your interviewers. DON'T QUAKE IN YOUR BOOTS Interviewers are not ogres. They are looking for excuses to hire you, not spill your guts. Don't be obsequious. That conveys low self-esteem. If you face your interviewers with fear in your eyes, they won't like what they see. They are NOT sadists.

PREPARE FOR STRESS You'll be up against a time crunch in a team interview.

In one-on-ones, the interviewer might be taking notes, allowing you little breathers. No such luck with four people firing questions at you. Use stress control techniques to soothe your nerves. You might even use the extra adrenaline to sharpen your responses.

SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANT THINGS List seven important things that fit the job description of the advertised post. Prepare to present skills that fit such traits. It helps to talk to friends familiar with the job description. You can even ask them to prepare tests that you can take from them.

REHEARSE WELL Put together three family members or friends with diverse personality traits. Recreate the formality of a team interview situation and ask them to fire nonstop questions at you. That will serve as a useful practice session. Ask for serious feedback, especially about weak areas in your answers. Questions about qualifications and work experience are usually generic, so what your mock team asks you is bound to be pretty close to the real stuff.

CREATE A MENTAL PICTURE OF YOURSELF Boost your self-confidence by seeing yourself as star performer who's a cut above. See yourself answering with elan the questions you expect. Then replay your answers and ask yourself these questions: How interesting were your observations? Did most of your responses begin the same way? Did you use 'we' often, suggesting team-player attributes? Are there traces of humour in your responses?

ASK GOOD QUESTIONS Research is integral to a good interview performance. Find out as much about you can about the company concerned. Browse the Net, check company reports, put together news clips. Armed with your background brief, ask relevant questions about the company. If you think you have a bright idea about any ongoing activity, try this: "Did the company consider this option ..."

LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS Your interview team has some core queries about you. It's these they want you to address. Try and look beyond the upfront questions to decipher their exact intent. Then respond to fill in what the team is really looking for.

Flesh out your answers to focus on the team's concerns. If they ask you about your perception of the company's ESOP policy, they want you to present your expectation from a stock option plan. Answer in sync with the general tenor of the interview. If your work involves individual research besides team work, don't go overboard about team-player abilities. Balance your answer. Mention how sometimes individual work is more productive though team work is needed to put into action ideas generated by individual research.

Team Interview
Nine Tips For Team Inter View....... Whether you are searching for jobs, looking for career avenues or climbing the corporate ladder, you can't escape team interviews these days. The problem is that such interviews don't have a pattern to them. They come in different forms. You could be facing your prospective team members. Or you could be up against the top brassHR vice-president, the section head, the operations chief. Or you could also be sent to a recruitment assessment centre for multi-parametric evaluation (psychological tests for pressure-handling abilities, team-player skills and so on). Try these ten tips for surviving, and scoring, in a team interview. GIVE VARIETY TO YOUR ANSWERS Remember you might be interviewed by different panels. Don't give a stock answer to all of them. They'll be comparing notes. Repackage your skills so that they sound different. If you're showcasing project X as your major achievement in your present job before one team, talk about project B before another interview panel. A technical team will tune in to techie talk; an HR team would rather hear about your interpersonal skills. FINE-TUNE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS Pull out the stops on your group management and group presentation skills. Interviewers are people after all. Look for the personality type underscoring each interviewer.Then try and connect with each one of them without getting personal. Usually the best way to make contact is to project values that you feel you can share with your interviewers. DON'T QUAKE IN YOUR BOOTS Interviewers are not ogres. They are looking for excuses to hire you, not spill your guts. Don't be obsequious. That conveys low self-esteem. If you face your interviewers with fear in your eyes, they won't like what they see. They are NOT sadists.

PREPARE FOR STRESS

You'll be up against a time crunch in a team interview. In one-on-ones, the interviewer might be taking notes, allowing you little breathers. No such luck with four people firing questions at you. Use stress control techniques to soothe your nerves. You might even use the extra adrenaline to sharpen your responses.

SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANT THINGS List seven important things that fit the job description of the advertised post. Prepare to present skills that fit such traits. It helps to talk to friends familiar with the job description. You can even ask them to prepare tests that you can take from them.

REHEARSE WELL Put together three family members or friends with diverse personality traits. Recreate the formality of a team interview situation and ask them to fire nonstop questions at you. That will serve as a useful practice session. Ask for serious feedback, especially about weak areas in your answers. Questions about qualifications and work experience are usually generic, so what your mock team asks you is bound to be pretty close to the real stuff.

CREATE A MENTAL PICTURE OF YOURSELF Boost your self-confidence by seeing yourself as star performer who's a cut above. See yourself answering with elan the questions you expect. Then replay your answers and ask yourself these questions: How interesting were your observations? Did most of your responses begin the same way? Did you use 'we' often, suggesting team-player attributes? Are there traces of humour in your responses?

ASK GOOD QUESTIONS Research is integral to a good interview performance. Find out as much about you can about the company concerned. Browse the Net, check company reports, put together news clips. Armed with your background brief, ask relevant questions about the company. If you think you have a bright idea about any ongoing activity, try this: "Did the company consider this option ..."

LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

Your interview team has some core queries about you. It's these they want you to address. Try and look beyond the upfront questions to decipher their exact intent. Then respond to fill in what the team is really looking for. Flesh out your answers to focus on the team's concerns. If they ask you about your perception of the company's ESOP policy, they want you to present your expectation from a stock option plan. Answer in sync with the general tenor of the interview. If your work involves individual research besides team work, don't go overboard about team-player abilities. Balance your answer. Mention how sometimes individual work is more productive though team work is needed to put into action ideas generated by individual research.

Campus Interview
7 Commandments for Success in Campus Interviews :
Campus Interview Hmm is what one looks forward to with enthusiasm , fear and excitement towards the beginning of the final year .

For some it's a make or break, atleast that's the way it's looked at and for some it's a matter of pride. The constant thought in one's mind is - what shall make this click! What is it that the interviewer is looking in me! Here's what we look for when we visit the various campuses. This by no means is an exhaustive list but is a good indication of the expectations and the mean s to meet these. We present you the 7-Commandments. 1. Know Thyself! Not everyone is good in each and every field. Each one of us has our fortes and weaknesses too. But that's not a stumbling block! What we look for are people who know their area of specialization and are an expert in it. Therefore, it pays to be a master in some fields if not the jack of all. The most common mistakes many make is to profess knowing a field of which they know little about. Remember that huge and bulky resumes are as tough to read as they are to make. So, identify your skill set, and keep your resumes simple and straight. Know your limits and polish on your strengths. 2. Testing What You Know and NOT What You Don't. Many interviewers may ask the student the subjects that she/he wishes to be interviewed upon. Eureka !! Here's a golden opportunity. Answer this wisely! Never end up choosing a difficult subject that you know only little about, rather choose the one you are most confident of. 3. Rack Your Brain - Analyze

The interview is not just limited to testing your knowledge base, but we are also interested in knowing your ability to apply it. Often questions that need to be solved then and there are asked. Now keep in mind - the right answer is not the only thing being looked at. The focus area is also the way in which you attack the problem i.e. approach to problem solving is equally important. So, remember to put your thinking caps on! 4. Ask for Help! Murphy chooses to strike at the appropriate time! Inspite of the fact that you may know something very well, it might just slip your mind. After all, heavy preparation does takes its toll. Who better to ask for help than the poser of the question (of course, don't try this too often!)! Remember the interviewer is not there to grill the confidence out of you, but to bring forth the best in. Just in case you are stuck, ask for a hint. Things might just click. Also, stay alert for clues. 5. What are your biggest accomplishments You may like to begin your reply with: "Although I feel my biggest achievements are still ahead of me, I am proud of my involvement withI made my contribution as part of that team and learnt a lot in the process". It will be a good idea to close your answer with also specifying what attributes and circumstances made you succeed. 6. Be Calm, have Clear Verbal and Sound Non-Verbal Communication Calmness shows emotional maturity. True, being calm in a job interview is a difficult proposition, but then that is where it is required! Calmness does not imply being unenthusiastic or apathetic during the interview, but knowing that you are nervous and not letting it come in the way. A clear verbal communication implies clarity of the thought process. One should also watch out for the impressions made in non-verbal communication. Body language and facial expressions can assist you in establishing a good rapport with the interviewer. Pauses, silences and gestures may all indicate what you mean, understand, or would like to emphasize. 7. Two-Way Exchange Process The interview process is a two-way exchange of information. Make sure you also understand about the company, its activities, job requirements. The company is in need for good candidates and you need a good company to launch your career. Interview is an opportunity to present yourself and your skills to your best advantage. Make sure you make the most out of it. And YOU are the best one to do it!!

BASIC

The Basic Things In addition to doing research and practicing your answers to common interview questions, you should be aware of general interview etiquette. Remember the following points when preparing for an interview: Review your resume, and make sure that you can explain everything on it. Arrive at the interview ten minutes early to give yourself an opportunity to collect your thoughts and relax. Be aware that many employers will have their receptionists record the time you came in. If you rush in at the last minute, an employer may have serious concerns about your ability to arrive on time for a normal day at work. Get a good night's sleep before your interview. You will think more effectively in the interview if you are rested. Also, yawning will not impress anyone. Eat something before the interview. If you are worried about your stomach growling, you will not be able to concentrate on the questions. Dress appropriately for the position that you are applying to. Try to dress like the people who work there would dress if they were representing their organization at some function. If you are unsure about what to wear, always err on the side of being too dressed up. Make sure that you are clean, neat, and well-groomed. Interviewers do notice your appearance, and first impressions are critical in an interview situation. Take a copy of your resume, transcript, references and perhaps a portfolio or work samples with you. Also take a pen and paper, as you may wan to record some important information.

PREPRATION
The Interview Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather information. The employer wants to know if you, the applicant, have the skills, knowledge, self-confidence, and motivation necessary for the job. At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume. He or she also wants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organization's current employees and philosophy. Similarly, you will want to evaluate the position and the organization, and determine if they will fit into your career plans. The interview is a two-way exchange of information. It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselves. The employer is selling the organization to you, and you are marketing your skills, knowledge, and personality to the employer. Interview Preparation

Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview. If you haven't done your homework, it is going to be obvious. Spend time researching and thinking about yourself, the occupation, the organization, and questions you might ask at the end of the interview.

Step 1: Know Yourself

The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough selfassessment so that you will know what you have to offer an employer. It is very important to develop a complete inventory of skills, experience, and personal attributes that you can use to market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process. In developing this inventory, it is easiest to start with experience. Once you have a detailed list of activities that you have done (past jobs, extra-curricular involvements, volunteer work, school projects, etc.), it is fairly easy to identify your skills. Simply go through the list, and for each item ask yourself "What could I have learned by doing this?" "What skills did I develop?" "What issues/circumstances have I learned to deal with?" Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic. Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job. For a laboratory assistant, technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures, slide preparation, and scientific report writing. For an outreach worker, technical skills might include counselling skills, case management skills, or program design and evaluation skills Generic skills are those which are transferable to many work settings. Following is a list of the ten most marketable skills. You will notice that they are all generic. Analytical/Problem Solving Flexibility/Versatility Interpersonal Oral/Written Communication Organization/Planning Time Management Motivation Leadership Self-Starter/Initiative Team Player

Often when people think of skills, they tend to think of those they have developed in the workplace. However, skills are developed in a variety of settings. If you have ever researched and written a paper for a course, you probably have written communication skills. Team sports

or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of a team player and leader. Don't overlook any abilities you may have When doing the research on yourself, identifying your experience and skills is important, but it is not all that you need to know. Consider the answers to other questions such as: How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position? What are my strong points and weak points? What are my short term and long term goals? What can I offer this particular employer?

What kind of environment do I like? (i.e. How do I like to be supervised? Do I like a fast pace?) What do I like doing?

Apart from my skills and experience, what can I bring to this job?

Step 2: Know the Occupation

The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation. This is necessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the experience and skills required for that occupation, you must first know what those requirements and duties are. With this information uncovered, you can then match the skills you have (using the complete skills/experience inventory you have just prepared) with the skills you know people in that occupational field need. The resulting "shortlist" will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interview. It is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position, or those similar. There are several ways to find out about an occupation: Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human Resources/Personnel) or check with Student Employment Services. If you are responding to an advertisement, this may also supply some details. The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations. Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupation. If you belong to a professional association related to the occupation, use its resources. These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars. It is also a good way to meet people working in the field. Conduct information interviews with people working in the field. Read articles about people in the occupation, and articles written by people

in the occupation. Sources include newspapers, magazines and the internet. Find out what the future trends are in the area. Is technology changing the job?

Step 3: Know the Organization

The more you know about an organization, the better prepared you will be to discuss how you can meet its needs. Some of the characteristics that you should know about an organization are: Where is it located? How big is it? What are its products and who does it serve? How is the organization structured? What is its history?

Have there been any recent changes, new developments? There are a number of ways in which you can access this information. Most medium- to large-sized organizations publish information about themselves. You can access this a number of ways: On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by searching by industry and company name Finally, you can visit or phone the organization and request some information on their products, services or areas of research If the organization is fairly small, or fairly new, there may not be much information published. In this case, it will be necessary to do an information interview. Contact someone within the organization, introduce yourself, explain that you are considering moving into the field, and ask if it would be possible to meet with him/her to inquire about the company/organization and about what exactly the position would involve.

Step 4: Prepare Questions

Having completed your background research, you are now ready to prepare questions to ask the

interviewer(s). Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily available in company literature. Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate your genuine interest in the position. Be careful how many questions you ask, however, as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run. Pick your questions with care - this is your chance to gather information, so ask about what you really want to know. Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you may have discovered. This is one of the most effective ways to compare different employers, so for issues of particular importance to you (for example, whether they support staff upgrading), you should ask the same questions of each employer. Some sample questions are: What are the most significant factors affecting your business today? How have changes in technology most affected your business today? How has your business/industry been affected by the recession? How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years? What future direction do you see the company taking? Where is the greatest demand for your services or product? Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company? Which department feels it the most? How do you differ from your competitors? How much responsibility will I be given in this position? What do you like about working with this organization? Can you tell me more about the training program? Have any new product lines been introduced recently? How much travel is normally expected? What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance? Will I work independently or as part of a team? How did you advance to your position? What are the career paths available in this organization?

When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position? It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to demonstrate interest on your part. Exercise judgement when asking questions to an employer. When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile, one would not ask the question "What is the history of your company and how was your company started?" You can find the answer to this question in the company's annual report or articles in magazines/newspapers. However, smalland medium-sized companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may be difficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry. This question is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer.

DRESSING
PREPARATIONS

Let's say you are going for an interview tomorrow. You have prepared yourself well for the occasion - anticipating the questions and getting ready the answers - but have you given a thought to what you will wear? If you have not peeked into your wardrobe yet, it's time to take a real hard look now. Your application's fate depends not just on how well you answer the interview questions, but also on how well you project yourself physically. The first impression your interviewer makes about you is based on the way you look, and you know what they say about first impressions. According to Joe Hodowanes, J.M. Wanes and Associates career strategy advisor, "The way a person dresses is the single biggest non-verbal communication you make about yourself." The right dressing is a measure of the seriousness that you place on the position, as a person normally spends time on his looks if he considers an event important enough. "Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job, a poor dress sense may exclude you from further consideration," warns Gerry Ditching, managing partner of Filgifts.com. Besides, given two equally good applicants, the company may choose to hire the person who is dressed more professionally. Here are some tips to give you a headstart.

MEN
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks. White is still the safest and the best color for shirts. The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather. Also acceptable: pale shades such as beige, blue, and other pastels. Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves. Never wear a shortsleeved shirt to an interview or any business purpose. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your executive image. Ties. Optional. But if you do wear one, choose a conservative pattern. Solids, small polka dots, diagonal stripes, small repeating shapes, subtle plaids and paisleys are all acceptable. Belts. Belts should match your shoes. Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look more professional. Socks. Black socks are the best, followed by blue or gray, depending on your attire. Never wear white socks! Check your sock length, too-no skin should show when you sit down or cross your legs. Shoes. Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them, because tassel loafers are very casual. Other suitable colors are brown, cordovan and navy. Hair. Keep neat, short and preferably parted on the side. And shave off all those facial hair. Jewellery. Wear no or little jewellery. The watch and wedding ring are the only acceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire. Thin gold or leather-strapped watches look professional but not digital watches. Also, avoid political or religious insignias, necklaces or bracelets. Definitely no pierced body parts, and cover up your tattoos! Accessories. As much as possible, use leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume. Use narrow briefcases and avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place.

WOMEN
Three-piece business suits, blouse and skirt or slacks, and cardigan twin-sets. Sleeveless shirts should be rejected. Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like look. Skirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee. Nothing too revealing, please! Panty-hose or stockings. A must for professional grooming, but nothing with overly fussy patterns. Bring an extra pair, just in case the ones you are wearing run. Shoes. Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1-inch heels suggest a more professional look. Dark colors are best.

Hair. Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back. Don't let it fall in front of your face and don't keep trying to fix it during the interview. Avoid large hair ornaments and trendy hairstyles. Make-up. Be subtle; natural is the key word. Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish are recommended. Jewellery. Be conservative. Studs of gold, silver or pearls are best. Do away with gaudy fashion jewelers, and those that clank and make noise when one moves. Accessories. Folders and bags should blend well with the total professional look. Women should match their purse with their shoe colour.

Etiquette
Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table Hone your interview etiquette................ Churn the right mix of deportment, attitude and dressingskills for a great job talk ! Never make the big mistake of treating an interview lightly. It's not an impromptu thing where you depend on your improvisation skills. An interview requires careful thought and planning before you take it. Keeping in mind some basic attitudes and presentation techniques will help you sail through it with panache. So if you thought that going for an interview just meant pulling your best suit out of the wardrobe and updating your resume, please think again. You are forgetting the other essentials: body language, basic etiquette and attitude. Remember that you are actually selling an entire package and the packaging, in this case, is as relevant as the product inside. Ultimately you are presenting yourself as a valuable professional to a new job environment. And you can't do that without minding the basic interview etiquette to get you ahead of the rest of the pack. An interview is the sum total of many parts. It's not just what you say but how you say it that matters equally. So it's good to brush up on more than just your training skills when you do go in for an interview.

ATTIRE How you dress for an interview is perhaps as relevant as the way you lay out your resume. Says Nina Kochar of Upgrade Management Services, an organisation which coaches' executives in the basic rules of corporate etiquette: "A person who is sloppy in appearance shows a sloppy personality, so you have to be decently dressed." Of course, decently dressed does not necessarily mean being dressed to the gills. In most cases, this would mean you would wear long sleeved shirts and a pair of formal trousers. In fact, Nina Kochar does not recommend suits, especially for younger people. "A lot of young people do not have the money to invest in suits, consequently, they wear illfitting or borrowed suits and that looks even worse. A tie, shirt and pant should do the trick for most junior level positions." Most HR experts would also tell you to mind the accessories like ties, belts and shoes. To be sure, badly matched shoes and ties can have a jarring effect on an interviewer. Similarly, please avoid heavy jewellery or personal accessories as they would look incongruous on you. ENTRANCE AND INTRODUCTION Even though most of us are primed for the basic grilling that we would face during the interview, we seldom pay attention to the way we enter an interview room or how we introduce ourselves. Says Subhashish Mitra, deputy manager, Essar Cellphones: "A lot of people do not think it important to knock properly while entering the interview room. They assume that as an interview is taking place, the panel will be expecting them. To my mind this is a very major faux pas which really jars." In fact, the best way to enter an interview is to knock, ask for permission to enter and then wait for a while before you actually sit down. Few interviewees know this but the interview panel needs a little quiet time to discuss the previous candidate before they get around to the next one. So your silence till you actually get seated would be very valuable. Try and keep a bag with you for all your papers and certificates; make sure this bag is an unobtrusive as possible. ATTITUDE AND RESPONSE This is a grey area for most interview candidates. While dressing up and resume writing are skills you can Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table handle with a little practice, cultivating the right attitude as an interviewee requires a lot of patience and reading between the lines. The usual complaint of most interviewers is that few interviewees are able to stri perhaps the best thing you can do for getting your answer right. Most interviewers like to give a lead to the candidate in the way they ask the question, so it's entirely up to you to note facial expressions and the tone of the words. Do you show your certificates immediately to the interview panel?

Not till you are asked actually. You might already have sent in your resume, so you shouldn't try and offload all your achievements and skills onto the panel till a turn in the interview leads to such a situation. Try and take cues form the tonal variations, facial expressions and thrust of questions from the interview panel. That in itself will give you a clue as to where this interview is heading. TEN THINGS THAT AN INTERVIEWER LOOKS IN YOU! 1. Family Background 2. Education 3. Experience 4. Stability 5. Initiative 6. General Ability 7. Interpersonal Skills 8. Confidence 9. Aptitude 10. Pleasant Looks How one wished that an interview were a simple meeting of minds and hearts. Just one casual meeting where an employee's future gets sealed. Unfortunately, it's not something as pre-ordained as you would like it to be; it's a pre-meditated exercise which fetches you dividends only if your homework is done right.

Resume Preparation
Your resume is the first interface you have with your employer
Your resume is the first interface you have with your employer. Make the most of this opportunity............. The employment market is changing all the time and so have resumes, evolving from a one-sizefits-all standard. Here are our tips to convert your resume into a catching one. Follow These Basic Standards.... Don't overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space. Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.

 Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum -- two at the most. well. Use a font that is easy to read. Times Roman works

Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of the page to "rag." Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features. Make sure your name, address, and a phone number appear on your resume and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page. Print your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality printer. Second- and third-generation photocopies must be avoided Print on one side of the paper only.

Avoid Mistakes:
SPELLING MISTAKES: To avoid spelling mistakes: Don't use words with which you aren't familiar. Use a dictionary as you write. Perform a spell check on your finished resume. Carefully read every word in your resume. Have a friend or two proof read your resume for you.

PUNCTUATION MISTAKES: Things to look for: Periods at the end of all full sentences. Be consistent in your use of punctuation. Always put periods and commas within quotation marks. Avoid using exclamation points.

GRAMMATICAL MISTAKES: Grammar hang-ups to watch for:

Do not switch tenses within your resume.

The duties you currently perform should be in present tense (i.e., write reports) Duties you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense (i.e., wrote reports). Capitalize all proper nouns.

When expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and nine (i.e., one, five, seven), but use numerals for all numbers 10 and above (i.e., 10, 25, 108). If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral (e.g. Eleven service awards won while employed.). Make sure your date formats are consistent (i.e.11/22/01 or Nov. 22, 2001, or 11.22.01. Choose one and stick with it.). Choose Your Words Carefully: Phrase yourself well:

Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words: accept (to receive), except (to exclude) all right (correct), alright (this is not a word) affect (to bring about change), effect (result) personal (private), personnel (staff members)

role (a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve). Use action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed staff). REFERENCES: In most instances it is not necessary to include names and address of references on the resume. If you include a reference, make it sure that the referenced person knows very well about you. It is also advisable to add the persons as references, whom the employer can contact easily. If possible add the phone number and e-mail ID of the reference. Never add a person as a reference, about whom you know nothing STICK TO THE POINT

Employers have a busy schedule, so don't expect them to read through a long resume. Ideally, resumes should be of one page, or of two pages only if absolutely necessary, to describe relevant work experience. WORDS COUNT Use of language is extremely important; you need to sell yourself to an employer quickly and efficiently. Address your potential employer's needs with a clearly written, compelling resume. Avoid large paragraphs (five or six lines). If you provide small, digestible pieces of information, your resume will be read. Use action verbs. Verbs such as "developed", "managed", and "designed" emphasise your accomplishments. Don't use declarative sentences like "I developed the ..." or "I assisted in ...", leave out the "I". Avoid passive constructions, such as "was responsible for managing". Just say, "managed": that sounds stronger and more active. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE Employers need to know what you have accomplished to have an idea of what you can do for them. Don't be vague. Telling someone that you "improved the company's efficiency" doesn't say much. But if you say that you "cut overhead costs by 20 per cent and saved the company Rs 20 lakh during the last fiscal year", you are more specific. HONESTY IS A GOOD POLICY Employers will feel more comfortable hiring you if they can verify your accomplishments. There is a difference between making the most of your experience and exaggerating or falsifying it. A falsified resume can cost you the job later. DOUBLE-CHECK FOR MISTAKES Check your resume for correct grammar and spelling - evidence of good communication skills and attention to detail. Nothing can ruin your chances of getting a job faster than submitting a resume filled with preventable mistakes. Make your resume easy on the eye. Use normal margins (1" on the top and bottom, 1.25" on the sides) and don't cram your text on the page. Allow for some space between the different sections. Avoid unusual or exotic fonts. Preferred fonts: Arial and Times Roman

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Type of Questions Interviewers use five different types of questions - directive, nondirective, hypothetical, behavior descriptive, and stress. Being aware of the different types can help you in the preparation stage as you build your skills inventory. It may also help you focus in on exactly

what is being asked and what the employer is looking for in specific questions.

Directive Questions
The interviewer determines the focus of your answer. The information that the interviewer wants is very clear. If you have completed the research on yourself, this type of question should be easy to answer. Example: "What skills do you have that relate to this position?" "I have very good communication and interpersonal skills that I have refined through several summer and part-time jobs working with the public. In addition, I am fluent in both English and French."

Non-Directive Questions
You determine the focus of your answer. The interviewer asks a general question and does not ask for specific information. The most common non-directive question is "Tell me about yourself." When answering the question, keep in mind that the employer is interested in knowing how your background and personality qualify you for the job. In your answer, you should cover four areas: your education, related experience, skills and abilities, and personal attributes. As you talk about these areas, relate them to the job you are seeking. Decide what your response will be before starting to speak, this helps to keep responses concise. Example: " Tell me about yourself." "I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, and have recently completed the course in Volunteer Management through the Volunteer Center of Winnipeg. These have given me a strong background in many of the principles of human behavior and the recruitment, training, and supervision of volunteers. I have experience in working with young adults in a helping capacity, both through my position as a Peer Advisor at the University of Manitoba, and as a camp counselor at a camp for behaviorally troubled adolescents. Both of these positions involved individual counseling, facilitating discussion groups, and teaching young people about health issues - all of which relate directly to the services which I would be training volunteers to provide within your organization. In addition, I thoroughly enjoy working with young people, and can establish rapport with them easily."

Hypothetical or Scenario Questions

When asking a hypothetical question, the interviewer describes a situation, which you may encounter in the position and asks how you would react in a similar situation. This is a good way to test problemsolving abilities. When answering this type of question, try applying a

simple problem solving model to it gather information, evaluate the information, priories the information, seek advice, weigh the alternatives, make a decision, communicate the decision, monitor the results and modify if necessary. Example: "Suppose you are working your first day in our laboratory, and a fire at a nearby work station breaks out. What would you do?" "Before I start working in any laboratory, I always locate the emergency equipment, such as eye washes, fire blankets and alarms. I would also review the safety protocols. So in this situation, I would be aware of these. As soon as I noticed the fire, I would shut down my experiment and if the fire is significant, I would pull the firm alarm and help to evacuate the lab. In the case of very small flame, I would ask the staff member at the station what I could do to help, Which would vary with the type of substances involved.

Behavior Descriptive or Behavioral Questions

This type of question is becoming increasingly popular in interview situations. It asks what you did in a particular situation rather than what you would do. Situations chosen usually follow the job description fairly closely. Some employers feel that examples of past performance will help them to predict future performance in similar situations. There is no right or wrong answer to this type of question, but keep in mind that you should relate the answer to the position. If you are interviewing for a research position, talk about a research project you completed. Example: "Give me an example of a work situation in which you were proud of your performance." "While working as a sales representative for XYZ Company for the summer, I called on Prospective clients and persuaded them of the ecological and economic benefits of Recycling. I also followed up on clients to ensure that they were satisfied with the service They received. This involved both telephone and in-person contacts. I increased sales 34% over the same period in the previous year." When preparing for this type of questioning, it is crucial that you review the skills and qualities that the position would require and identify specific examples from your past which demonstrated those traits.

Stress Questions
Some questions will surprise you and possibly make you feel uncomfortable during an interview. For Example:" Which do you prefer, fruits or vegetables?" There are many reasons why an interviewer might ask such questions. They may want to see how you react in difficult situations, or they may simply be trying to test your sense of humor. Such questions may directly challenge an opinion that you have just stated or say something negative about you or a reference. Sometimes they ask seemingly irrelevant questions such as,

"If you were an animal, what type of animal would you be?" The best way to deal with this type of question is to recognize what is happening. The interviewer is trying to elicit a reaction from you. Stay calm, and do not become defensive. If humour comes naturally to you, you might try using it in your response, but it is important to respond to the question. What you say is not nearly as important as maintaining your composure. Example: "Which do you like better, Lions or Tigers?" "Oh, lions definitely. They appear so majestic and are very sociable. To be honest, I think that seeing The Lion King four times has probably contributed to this!"

WAY OF ANSWERING
Way of Answering Regardless of what type of question you are asked, you will find it easier to respond effectively if you keep in mind some basic question answering strategies: You can never predict every question that you will encounter, so approach the interview with an inventory of important points. Make a list of the points about yourself that you want the interviewer to know. For example, if you were to apply for a job as a Sales Representative, you might want to list the products you have sold before, types of customers (by industry, age, etc.), languages spoken, personal experience in that industry and related knowledge (perhaps from your academic program). Consider each question an opportunity to provide some of this information. Don't assume anything. You will be evaluated on your answers, not your resume. Therefore, ensure you incorporate the relevant information from your resume in your answers. Pause a couple of seconds before you respond to each question, even if you know exactly what you want to say. Take this time to quickly plan your answer, this helps to avoid misunderstandings and produces much more concise answers. If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification. This is expected and is preferable to providing an unsuitable answer. If you need time to collect your thoughts - take it. When people are nervous they tend either to "draw a blank" or to babble. It is better to think for a few moments and make sure that your answer is doing you justice and that there is a point to what you are saying. Always expand. Never answer a question with a "yes" or "no." The interview is an opportunity for you to sell yourself. Don't be afraid to 'blow your own horn.' As long as you can back up what you are saying with examples which demonstrate that what you are saying is true, you are not bragging. Third party observations can also be mentioned. For example, "My

last employer told me that I was promoted because of how I handled conflicts with clients." Be very positive. Don't complain about anything - from your former employer to the weather - and don't apologize for experience that you don't have. Just sell what you do have and let the employer decide if you have what he/she is looking for. Also, avoid negative words. For example, you would not say "I have a little experience...," you would say "I have experience......" Don't be afraid to repeat important points. In fact, it is a good idea to do this.

Through Interview Process

Go Through The Process
There are many different types of interviews designed to serve different purposes or situations. Regardless of the type of interview, most will incorporate the following stages: establishing rapport, exchanging information, and closing the interview. Pay attention to the job titles of the interviewer(s). This can help you decide how much technical detail to provide in your responses. Establishing Rapport This is a very important part of the interview because while establishing rapport, first impressions are made, and the tone of the interview is set. Some people suggest that the decision to hire is greatly influenced by the first five minutes of the interview. A good interviewer will introduce him/herself, and take the lead. Follow his or her lead - if they are chatty, be chatty; if they are formal, be formal. Some employers use what seems to be casual conversation to get to know you on a more personal level this may be crucial to a hiring decision! Tips: Smile and maintain eye contact. This is one way of communicating confidence, even if you don't feel it. If the interviewer offers his or her hand, shake it firmly. If they don't, it is appropriate to offer yours. Wait until the interviewer sits or offers you a seat before sitting down. If the interviewer is making small talk, participate. Keep your answers short and positive. Exchange of Information

This is the bulk of the interview. It is your opportunity to let the interviewer know what you have to offer, and your chance to learn more about the organization. Tips: eye. When you answer a question, look the interviewer in the

Be aware of the interviewer's reactions. If he or she looks confused, ask if you can clarify anything. Be aware of what your body is saying. Avoid closed postures. Sit upright, but not stiffly. Try to find a comfortable position as that will make you feel more relaxed. Control your nervous habits. Don't swing your foot, talk with your hands (to an extreme), or fiddle with jewelers, buttons, pens, etc. Show that you are interested in the job by asking questions. Try not to appear bored or anxious. Don't look at your watch. Closing the Interview When the interviewer is done gathering the information that is needed, he or she will ask if you have anything to add, or if you have any questions. This is your opportunity to mentally review your inventory of skills and make sure that you have communicated everything that you wanted to. If any of your questions have not been addressed during the course of the interview, now is the time to ask them. Tips: Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration. Ask when you can expect to hear from him/her. If it is not known when a decision will be reached, ask if you can phone in a week's time to inquire about the progress. If the interviewer offers his/her hand, shake it firmly. Otherwise, it is fine to offer yours first. If not already discussed, you can offer to leave a sample of your work, or portfolio if you have

one.

MISTAKES THAT COST PEOPLE JOBS

Think about the following points. Do any of them apply to you? Oversell Trying too hard to impress; bragging; acting aggressively. Undersell Failing to emphasize the fact that you have related skills; discussing experience using negative qualifiers (i.e. "I have a little experience..."). Body Language It is easy to create a negative impression without even realizing that you are doing it. Are you staring at your feet, or talking to the interviewer's shoulder? Be aware of what your actions say about you. Lack of Honesty The slightest stretching of the truth may result in you being screened out. Negative Attitude The interview is not an opportunity for you to complain about your current supervisor or co-workers (or even about 'little' things, such as the weather). Lack of Preparation You have to know about the organization and the occupation. If you don't, it will appear as though you are not interested in the position.

Lack of Enthusiasm If you are not excited about the work at the interview, the employer will not assume that your attitude will improve when hired.

Top Ten Interview Tips -Note it

Great interviews arise from careful groundwork. You can ace your next interview if you: 1. Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the state from which great basketball players or Olympic skaters operate. You'll need to quiet the negative self chatter in your head through meditation or visualization prior to sitting down in the meeting. You'll focus on the present moment and will be less apt to experience lapses in concentration, nervousness, self-doubt and self-condemnation. Act spontaneous, but be well prepared. Be your authentic self, professional yet real. Engage in true conversation with your interviewer, resting on the preparation you did prior to coming to the meeting. Conduct several trial runs with another person simulating the interview before it actually occurs. It's the same as anticipating the questions you'll be asked on a final exam. Set goals for the interview. It is your job to leave the meeting feeling secure that the interviewer knows as much as he or she possibly can about your skills, abilities, experience and achievements. If you sense there are misconceptions, clear them up before leaving. If the interviewer doesn't get around to asking you important questions, pose them yourself (diplomatically) and answer them. Don't leave the meeting without getting your own questions answered so that you have a clear idea of what you would be getting yourself into. If possible, try to get further interviews, especially with other key players. Know the question behind the question. Ultimately, every question boils down to, "Why should we hire you?" Be sure you answer that completely. If there is a question about your meeting deadlines, consider whether the interviewer is probing delicately about your personal life, careful not to ask you whether your family responsibilities will interfere with your work. Find away to address fears if you sense they are present. Follow up with an effective "thank you" letter. Don't write this letter lightly. It is another opportunity to market yourself. Find some areas discussed in the meeting and expand upon them in your letter. Writing a letter after a meeting is a very minimum. Standing out among the other candidates will occur if you thoughtfully consider this follow up letter as an additional interview in which you get to do all the talking. Propose useful ideas that demonstrate your added value to the team. Consider the interviewer's agenda. Much is on the shoulders of the interviewer. He or she has the responsibility of hiring the right candidate. Your ability to do the job will need to be justified. "Are there additional pluses here?" "Will this person fit the culture of this organization?" These as well as other questions will be heavily on the interviewer's mind. Find ways to demonstrate your qualities above and beyond just doing the job. Expect to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." This is a pet question of prepared and even unprepared interviewers. Everything you include should answer the question, "Why should we hire you?" Carefully prepare your answer to include examples of achievements from your work life that closely

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

match the elements of the job before you. Obviously, you'll want to know as much about the job description as you can before you respond to the question. 8. Watch those nonverbal clues. Experts estimate that words express only 30% to 35% of what people actually communicate; facial expressions and body movements and actions convey the rest. Make and keep eye contact. Walk and sit with a confident air. Lean toward an interviewer to show interest and enthusiasm. Speak with a well-modulated voice that supports appropriate excitement for the opportunity before you. Be smart about money questions. Don't fall into the trap of telling the interviewer your financial expectations. You may be asking for too little or too much money and in each case ruin your chances of being offered the job. Instead, ask what salary range the job falls in. Attempt to postpone a money discussion until you have a better understanding of the scope of responsibilities of the job.

9.

10. Don't hang out your dirty laundry. Be careful not to bare your soul and tell tales that are inappropriate or beyond the scope of the interview. State your previous experience in the most positive terms. Even if you disagreed with a former employer, express your enthusiasm for earlier situations as much as you can. Whenever you speak negatively about another person or situation in which you were directly involved, you run the risk (early in the relationship) of appearing like a troubled person who may have difficulty working with others.

How to handle telephone interview

By Neetu Ahuja These days employers are conducting more telephone interviews especially for candidates who are not from the same city. It has its pros and cons. During a telephone interview you have to sell yourself only through your voice and not with your expensive suit. But if you are well prepared for the interview, then you have the advantage of taking control of your surroundings. You have to take some extra effort to handle a telephone interview. Be organized - Keep a pen and paper with you before the call so that you can jot down the gist of your conversation. The information gathered will be helpful during your face-face interview. Also during the course of your interview, if your interviewer is interrupted you can note the topic under discussion. When he/she gets back on line, you can help recap, " We were discussing" It will be appreciated and will set you apart from other candidates. Do not eat or smoke - There is nothing more irritating than hearing a person munch into the telephone or smoke. Am sure you wouldn't do that at a face-to-face interview, so why do it over he phone.

Background cacophony - The telephones are very sensitive to all the sounds near you. Prior to the interview, please lock yourself in a room if you have to. If the call comes unexpectedly, excuse yourself and lock the door of your room or go to another room if you have to. Mock Interview - Always conduct a mock interview with the help of somebody at home before your actual interview. Rehearse some of the questions that you are very sure will be expected. Record this mock interview and check your fluency in answering the questions and your voice modulation. Both are equally important, as it is your answers and voice and ability to modulate your voice that will take your to your next round of interview. Be short and precise with your answers - Short sentences are easily understood over the phone than long monologues. This also gives more opportunity for interchange between you and your interviewer, which helps both of you to maintain your interest. Answer questions politely - A note of frustration or anxiousness is easily noticed over a telephone conversation. So be calm and confident. Dress appropriately and sit straight. You mind set is very important. You are more likely to talk like a professional if you are sitting well dressed rather than while lying over a couch in your pajamas. Ask intelligent questions that may help you understand your job profile better. Ask questions like - three most important aspects of the job, the kind of projects that you will be put on, the organizations vision, mission and USP and so on. By discovering them now, you will have time before the face-to-face meeting to package your skills to the needs at hand, and to create the appropriate Executive Briefing. But under no circumstances ask questions, related to remuneration. At the close of the meeting take the initiative of telling the interviewer that it is a very interesting opportunity and that you would definitely be able to make some value addition to the position at hand. Finally ask the when the interviewer when you can get together again. This allows you to call again to satisfy any curiosity and it will also enable you to increase rapport. Don't take too much advantage of it, though: One intelligent phone call that contains two or three precise questions will be appreciated; four or five phone calls will not. It is very difficult to judge a telephone interview. Nevertheless, it prepares you for the final face-to-face interview