Interview Skills

1
Interview
A structured meeting of minimum two
people.

Arranged to examine the suitability of
the candidate

The candidate is tested for subject
knowledge, skills and desired
behaviour in a very limited time
Interviewing is a two-way street
- Employers are
attempting to
determine if you are
an appropriate fit
for the job and their
culture
- You decide if the
environment is right
for you.
Types of Interviews
Phone: used as an initial screen of candidates or to
narrow the pool of applicants
One-on-One: most common interview style and
incorporates you with the potential employer
Panel or Group: allows many individuals to
interview you at once
Meal: used to see how you interact or function in a
social setting
On-site Interview: this allows one to get a tour of
the facility, meet the staff, and additional
questioning from different employees and/or
administration

Pre-Interview Preparation
Know yourself and be able to articulate
skills, strengths, accomplishments, and
career goals
Research position, company, & industry
Prepare necessary materials
Ask for directions and where to park

Interview preparation
Interviewers assess:
- Clarity
- Depth
- Personality
- Application of concepts to real-life situations

- Communication skills
- Attitude

Arriving
Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to arrive at
your destination (you may want to conduct a dry run
prior to your interview day)
Try to arrive 10-15 minutes early at the site to allow you
to park, walk to the interview, use the restroom, or just
gather yourself
Greeting & Introduction
Only 1 chance to make a good 1
st
impression
Dress appropriately
Perfumes
Smile
Maintain eye contact
Firm handshake
Remain poised and confident
Tone


Body Language:

Positive Signals
Leaning forward = interest
Smiling = friendly
Nodding = attentive and
alert
Eye contact = curious and
focused
Negative Signals
Crossed arms = defensive
Fidgeting hands or tapping
feet = nervous or bored
Lack of eye contact =
untrustworthy
Leaning back= discomfort

Types of Interview Questions
Standard or
traditional-
targeting your
education, work
experiences, and
career goals
Tell me about yourself?
What are your
strengths? Weakness?
Why did you choose to
interview with us?
What did you like most
about your last job?
Least?
What are your short
and long term career
goals?
Types of Interview Questions
Behavioral Questions
-These focus on your
actions and/or
behaviors in a
previous setting.
- Past behavior
provides clues to
future behavior
Sample Questions
Describe a time you had
to make a difficult
decision?
Tell me about a time you
worked under a
deadline?
What do you do when a
team member is not
pulling his/her weight?
Think about a time you
made a mistake. What
did you learn from it?
Types of Interview Questions
Inappropriate or
unethical questions
- Questions which probe
into your private life or
personal background
- Questions about your
ethnicity, religion,
sexual orientation,
disabilities, marital
status
Sample Questions
How old are you?
Do you have children?
Do you have a
disability?
What religion do you
practice?

Types of Interview Questions
Questions asked by
the interviewee
To determine if you
are an appropriate
fit for the company
and position,
prepare a list of
questions for the
interviewer

Sample Questions
What type of assignments
can I expect within the first
year?
What do you like most
about this company?
What is the biggest
challenge facing this
department right now?
What skills are you looking
for in this position?
What is the next course of
action?

Dos
If provided a form, fill out neatly.
Do greet the interviewer & do shake hands
firmly.
Do make good eye contact with your
interviewer(s)
Remain calm, relaxed, and be yourself
Do show enthusiasm
Do make sure that your good points come
across to the interviewer in a factual sincere
manner
Do stress your achievements
Donts
Dont ever lie. Answer questions truthfully,
frankly and to the point.
Dont answer questions with a simple yes
or no. Explain whenever possible. Give
examples.
Avoid negative statements or complaining.
Dont leave unfinished sentences.
Avoid indecisive phrases like: I think, I
guess, probably.
Avoid answering a question if you are not
clear.

Confidence

Interest

Initiative

Sincerity

Tact

Result Orientation

Positive Attitude

Aptitude

Team Player

General Ability
Interview Evaluation
General Interview Strategies
-Be prepared to talk about yourself and your experiences
-Master the art of storytelling
-Provide specific and concrete examples of your
results/accomplishments
-Remain positive, enthusiastic, poised, and confident throughout
the interview process
General Interview Strategies
Remember an interview is a formal conversation--avoid filler
words like Um, Ah, & You know
Avoid indecisive phrases like: I think, I guess, probably, or
pretty good
Think before speaking
Avoid long verbose answers--limit your response to 1-2 minutes
If you do not hear or understand a question, ask them to repeat
or clarify it for you
General Interview Strategies
Remain calm, relaxed, and be
yourself
Try to focus on the message
you are trying to convey--
NOT how well you are doing!


Suggestions
Conduct a test run the day before the interview
Practice! Practice! Practice!
Obtain a list of practice interview questions and
jot down short answers
Stand in front of a mirror and rehearse your
answers
Schedule an appointment for a mock interview
Get a good nights sleep-be well rested and alert for
the interview
Be relaxed and be yourself!









FOLLOW-UP
Ask good questions

Thank the interviewer

Inquire about next steps in the process
FOLLOW-UP
Send a thank you note within
24 hours
Letter may be handwritten or
typed; e-mail is also
acceptable
Tailor each one to the
individual.
Final Thoughts
Remember that only 15% of the success of an interview
is out of your control
Take some time to reflect
- Overall, how well did I do?
- What went well?
- What steps can I take next time to
improve?

Why I got Rejected?
Vague and irrelevant answers to the questions

Very fidgety: little eye contact; nervous mannerism, such as
playing with hair, nail biting etc.

Utter superficial remarks to impress the interviewer project
work