Polishing Your Interview Skills

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Preparation is the key

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. Colin Powell

How do you prepare? Anticipate questions. Think through answers 1.What is the interviewer looking for? 2. What questions do you expect?

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Polishing your interview skills

1. 2. 3. 4.
5.

Preparation Making a good impression your physical appearance and body language Dealing with nervousness Common questions asked and how to answer them Handling the stress interview

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1. Preparation
1.1 Preparing a sales pitch

1.2 Giving answers that convince 1.3 Homework about the organisation 1.4 Rehearsal

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1.1 Selling yourself in a job interview 1. Who is the salesman?

2. What is the product?

3. What do you have to prove?

On two levels

A fine person
Someone obviously able to do the job

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Fine Person?

Intelligent & smart Analytical & logical Goal oriented & a planner Leader, but also team player Healthy & well groomed Courteous & cultured Cheerful & optimistic
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The interview
1. How do interviewers get this

information?

2. What kind of questions are asked?

3. How do I ensure they get answers to these questions?

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Selling yourself
1. Develop your sales message into brief capsules

2. Ask yourself What are my selling points?

Achievement Experience Initiative Energy Enthusiasm Leadership Hard worker Persistence

Typical questions? Describe two major achievements Describe your strengths and weaknesses What are your special abilities A Dialog presentation What make you a good investment for an employer

Five fundamental questions 1. 2.

3.
Why do you want to work with us? (Have you done enough homework about this company?) What can you do for us? (or, what are your skills and knowledge base?)
What kind of person are you? (or, will your personality fit in our organization?)

4. 5.

What distinguishes you from all other candidates? (What is the extra something you have?)

How much will you cost us?

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1.2 Giving
answers that convince

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1.2 Giving answers that convince

Past behaviour potential indicator of your future behaviour on the job Use STAR Situation: describe setting/situation Task: what needed to be done? Action: what did you do? Result: what was the outcome?
Be specific If you later decided you would act differently, explain this!
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Tips on answering
1. Support answers with instances/ incidents

Relevant to job/ skill Should reflect effort put in/difficulties faced (STAR) Action words- designed, saved, increased, solved
project organized Magnum Opus-Techno Management festival summer job organized durga puja /Capt of hockey team stood for elections A Dialog presentation mess secretary 12

Tips on answering..Contd
2. Answer Newspaper Style Headline sums up article

1st para lays out entire story 1st sentence of every para tell what para is about
Major points earliest, details, trivial points at the end

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Tips on answering..Contd
3. Be honest 4. If finished answer, stop talking. Dont ramble. No monologue please! 5. Dont be negative How do you feel about the future of Civil Engg?
Would you live your life differently if you could?

Never criticize (faculty, system, etc)

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1.3 Homework about the organisation Research the Co & the position
Office locations Products & services Customers Competitors Philosophy/ history/ culture Recent news Financial information including salary & stock

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1.4 Rehearsal Fool-proof formula: P

prepare 15 mt capsule (key selling

points) Practice answers to common questions Rehearse with a friend List of questions for interviewer
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2. Making a good impression

your physical appearance and body language

2.1 Dress & appearance

2.2 Carrying to the interview 2.3 Avoiding negative body language

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2.1 Dress & appearance

Dress conservatively Clothes clean, well ironed, shoes shined Minimize make-up, cologne, jewelry Check before entering: hair, teeth, general appearance Hands & finger nails well groomed

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2.2 Carrying to the interview

folder/ file of good finish (no plastic carry bags please) list of key selling points list of questions for interviewer 3-4 copies of resume charts & figures (if questions get detailed) business journal (if u have to wait)

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2.3 Avoid negative body language

frequently touching mouth/ covering mouth closed position faking a cough to think about answer to a question gnawing on your lip tight or forced smile fiddling with fingers slouching shaking leg or foot avoiding eye contact picking at invisible bits of lint
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To sum up

1. Arrival: be on time 2. Confidence:

smile, firm handshake open body language eye-contact clear voice remember to listen 3. End with hand-shake, thanks

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3. Dealing with nervousness

Do you have to convince interviewer to hire you?

its a 2-way street like dating - both parties have to like each other

You are not the only one nervous Know the organization Take deep breaths P Be yourself

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4. Some common questions asked

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# 1 Tell me about yourself

1.Dont be wimpy and grasp for help
Well, what particular aspect would you like to know about?

2. Plunge in and cope!

3. No more than 2 mts; hit highlights 4. Broad-brush personal portrait

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2 # Special Achievements

1. Most recent 2. Should relate to job/

position/ trait 3. Instigator or soldier

in platoon?

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3 # Strengths & Weaknesses

1. Strengths are the heart of the sales pitch 2. More good than bad one (ratio 4 : 1)

3. Weakness: A strength carried to a fault -dont like routine....

-I like to do things myself.....

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# Weaknesses..contd
Interviewer is interested in knowing about gaps/ failures/ flaws

What has been your biggest mistake?

Disagreements with peers, teachers, etc.

Subjects you dont like Weaknesses

In what areas do you need to improve

Never happened/ Cant think

Be honest Balance positive with negative Strength carried to a fault Say what you learnt
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4 # What appeals to you about our job & our Company?

Study the Co prior to the interview

Annual reports/ latest Co publications Refer to specific Co goals & how you could contribute
I would like to part of this growth/ change/ project...

Would like to solve current problem... Reputable/ Multinational Co

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5 # What would you like to know about us?

Benefits & salary Can you tell me about the organization ? Key problems & opportunities to be addressed by the person At the same time, homework? Check for common view of such issues

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# 6. What do you know about our Co ?

Know: products, size, income, image, goals I dont know much... Say you would like to know more

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# 7 What do you look for in a job?

opportunity to perform; be recognized

# 8 How long will it take you to make a meaningful contribution?

be realistic 6-12 months

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#9 Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others

1. Flexibility 2. Give examples how you have worked in both

situations (be honest)

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#10 What are your career goals/future plans?

Show you are ambitious enough to plan ahead desire to learn more/ improve performance How you will meet your goals Are your plans and Co goals compatible? Want to see thought process/ criteria

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# 11. Ideal working environment?

Where people are treated as fairly as possible

# 12. Salary expectations?

Research on market value I dont know what are you planning to pay the best candidate? My understanding is the job may be in the range of...
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# 13. Any questions?

Important opportunity to learn & be evaluated Requires advance preparation Prepare 5 good questions
I read in ET/ Mint that... What do you guys do here? No Salary & benefits Will I be required to relocate?

# 14. What have I forgotten to ask?

Summarize characteristics-how they will benefit organization You understand job requirements & you can succeed
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# 15. Any interests outside work ?

Must mention something Active sports

Shouldnt take away significant time away from work

Books - comment knowledgeably

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5.

THE

INTERVIEW

How do u handle pressure? Interrupts u frequently/ asks u a question before u have finished contradicts/ argues with you

1. DON'T take things personally. Play the game. 2. Find creative ways of dong things 3. Pause briefly after question. Consider your answer and
deliver it pleasantly.

4. Requires good listening and giving a deliberate answer A Dialog presentation

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Thank You you can contact us at rashmi_dialog@yahoo.com 9810201297 (India)

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