Personal Interview 020909
- 2. NOTE: use these skills with caution… you could end up getting every job you apply for !
- 3. Interview goals: Job candidate Obtain information about position and organization Determine whether position is suitable for you Communicate important information about yourself Favorably impress the employer
- 4. Tailoring your curriculum vitae: What does the company need? You may need to make the dates a little vague if there are gaps in your career Summarize ambitions and key achievements at the top ; keep personal details to a minimum Employment details in date order with the most recent at the top List your personal selling points (punctuality, honesty, ability to communicate ,loyalty, efficiency-consciousness)
- 5. Before the interview Research Job / Company/Product Practice! Practice! Practice! Prepare and Anticipate Questions Know Your Resume Contents
- 6. Before the interview Know Who You’re Meeting Confirm Date / Time / Location Be Well Rested
- 7. Day of the interview Appropriate Professional Attire Good Grooming / Personal Hygiene Arrive on Time / Correct Location
- 8. Day of the interview Turn Off Cell Phone! Leave Kids / Relatives / Friends at Home Bring Extra Resumes / Reference List
- 9. Establishing rapport with the interviewer:( things that really matter) Who do they choose? At the end of the day, they choose the guy they like best. Are you comfortable with people who are senior to you in status? Do you find it difficult to relax and be open with authority figures? Are you stiff and even sometimes a little aggressive? Or excessively quiet and unassertive?
- 10. Opening moves: Be aware of your surroundings and people waiting for you Take you out of yourself and be less self conscious You are a “celebrity” for whom people are waiting for, so walk with confidence
- 11. Opening moves: Smile Make eye contact Wait to be invited to sit Address the interviewer formally unless invited to use first names Speak clearly ( don’t be nervous)
- 12. Pacing and leading: Don’t assume that the interviewer controls your pace Take it to a level which enables you to make your best impression Match the speed of your gestures and voice and ease down to a manageable speed Interviewer’s level of interest will rise with your own if you can moderate the pace
- 13. During the interview Speak Directly to Interviewer Make Eye Contact Open Body Language Be Confident / Professional
- 14. During the interview Answer Questions Completely Provide Relevant Information Use Action Words Give Specific Examples
- 15. During the interview State How You Can Contribute Focus on Employer’s Needs Avoid topics: Time Off / Salary Ask the right Questions
- 16. Thinking on your feet
- 17. Buying signals: The interviewer is trying to fit you into a slot in the organisation Demonstrate that you are the right size and shape for that particular slot Analyze the job criteria and decide what to sell
- 18. Asking questions: Asking right questions are as important as answering the questions right Asking questions gives you control and breathing space Eg: What kind of performance appraisal questions do you have? What would be the opportunities of growth in the organisation? Save the worst till the last (about pay, conditions, equal rights, benefits etc) There is no rule against asking direct questions and no prize for being unnecessarily devious
- 19. Controlling the content: Focus your mind on your strong points Let go the part of your experience, which is irrelevant to your potential employer A well written CV gives you lots of hooks for focus on your good points and achievements Make sure you at least have an informed opinion on any books, films that you may refer to in the interview
- 20. Listening skills: Your interviewer will tell you exactly what they want to hear-if u listen carefully Active listening prompts the person you are listening to and help them relax It builds rapport You can use the following carefully: Nodding Interested facial expression Attentive body language, leaning forward, alert
- 21. Being remembered for right reasons: Looking good Feeling good Sounding good Seeing eye to eye
- 22. Looking good: Concentrate on looking clean and smart than glamorous Make sure you are: Clean: shower and wear clean clothes and shoes, minimize perfume and aftershave Covered Checked: for smudges and dandruff creaseless: do not wear linen
- 23. Feeling good: Charm is the quality in others that makes us more satisfied with ourselves Smile If you find yourself in an interview situation where stress or an aggressive interviewer is winding you up like a spring then you may use the following: Breath deeply and slowly Imagine your interviewer as a cartoon character (use this only if someone is seriously threatening)
- 25. Seeing eye to eye: Don’t gaze for too long and make the interviewer uncomfortable Don’t be too shifty Don’t look directly at the person’s eyes (focusing on their nose or forehead may be comfortable) The sincerity triangle runs between the eyes and down to the nose Avoid the triangle which includes the nose and mouth
- 26. After the interview Send Thank You Letter Emphasize Your Interest Follow Up With Phone Call
- 27. Interview mistakes Arrive Late / Wrong Time / Place Too Much Cologne / Makeup Monotone Voice
- 28. Interview mistakes Use Interviewer’s First Name Without Permission Talk About Personal Problems Use Street Slang
- 29. Interview mistakes Talk Badly About Former Employer / Company / Products / Co-workers Talk Too Much / Too Little Lie / Exaggerate / Arrogance
- 30. Interview mistakes Set Limitations / Make Demands Say You’re Desperate to Find a Job Rush to Talk About Salary / Benefits
- 31. Common dreaded questions What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses? Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? Why Should I Hire You? Why Do You Want to Work Here?
- 32. Common dreaded questions Why Does Your Resume Show a Gap in Employment? Why Did You Leave Your Last Position? Tell Me About a Time When You Made a Bad Decision / What Did You Do About it?
- 33. Human resources tips: Be prepared Location and punctuality Be professional Be polite Be positive Be practical
- 34. Typical questions and suggested answers: Tell me about yourself? I am down-to-earth, smart, creative, industrious, and thorough Prepare a customized write up based on what kind of interview you are about to appear for and rehearse it many times
- 35. Why should we employ you? I have good co-ordination skills Good analytical skills Ability to motivate people I don’t lose my cool even during emergencies Good entrepreneurial skills Good team player Ability to work in difficult conditions (try to give appropriate examples)
- 36. What do you know about our company? Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of the company
- 37. Why should we choose you over someone else? Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your College/Project Team and highlight the quality required
- 38. How much do you think you are worth? you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid. Quote the range upfront If you can bring some extra skills to the table, do not hesitate to ask for more than the market value
- 39. Which is more important to you-salary, perks or growth opportunities? be true to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move, then say clearly that you will never sell yourself short
- 40. What do you expect to be doing five years from now? Ten years from now? The interviewer is looking for evidence of career goals and ambitions The interviewer wants to see your thought process and the criteria that are important to you
- 41. Criteria based questions: These are the likely criteria for which the interviewer may be looking for: Initiative Stress tolerance Adaptability Leadership Problem analysis Interpersonal skills Team attitude Reliability Persuasiveness Innovation
- 42. How do you plan your day? By asking this question the interviewer might be trying to find how well organised you are “I review the day before I go to sleep at night and make some final notes in my diary about anything that’s left over. Then in the morning I am always on the early train, so I go through my detailed list. I prioritise my tasks and estimate how long each one is likely to take, allowing some leeway for emergencies. The last thing I do before I go home at night is review what’s been done and what hasn’t.”
- 43. Do’s of an interview: Do take a practice run to the location where you are having the interview -- or be sure you know exactly where it is and how long it takes to get there Do your research and know the type of job interview you will be encountering do prepare and practice for the interview, but don't memorize or over-rehearse your answers Do dress the part for the job, the company, the industry. And do err on the side of conservatism
- 44. Do’s of an interview: Do plan to arrive about 10 minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable. If you are running late, do phone the company Do bring extra resumes to the interview Do shake hands firmly. Don't have a limp or clammy handshake! Do wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. And do remember body language and posture: sit upright and look alert and interested at all times. Don't fidget or slouch Do make good eye contact with your interviewers
- 45. Do’s of an interview: Do show enthusiasm in the post and the company Do avoid using poor language, slang, and pause words (such as "like," "uh," and "um") Do have a high confidence and energy level, but don't be overly aggressive Do avoid controversial topics Do make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner
- 46. Do’s of an interview: Do stress your achievements. And don't offer any negative information about yourself Do show off the research you have done on the company and industry when responding to questions Do always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. Never close the door on an opportunity until you are sure about it Do show what you can do for the company rather than what the company can do for you
- 47. Don’ts of an interview: Don't rely on your application or resume alone to do the selling for you. No matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself to the interviewer Don't be soft-spoken. A forceful voice projects confidence Don't act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment Don't say anything negative about former colleagues, supervisors, or employers
- 48. Don’ts of an interview: Don't ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly. And don't over-answer questions Don't bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems Don't go to extremes with your posture; don't slouch, and don't sit rigidly on the edge of your chair Don't assume that a female interviewer is "Mrs." or "Miss." Address her as "Ms." unless told otherwise
- 49. “Being the best you can be in three quarters of an hour isn’t easy but…planning and practice can work out miracles for you”
- 50. Thank you & All the Best