Interview Skills,Self-evaluation,Before the Interview,During the Interview,After the Interview,Additional tips,Interview Questions,Types of interviews
Interview Skills
An interview is a conversation where questions are asked and answers are given. The traditional one-on-one interview permits direct questions and followups, which enables an inter viewer to better gauge the occuracy of responses. It is a flexible arrangement in the sense that following questions can be tailored to clarify earlier answers. Further, it eliminates any possible distortion by having third parties present.
There are some easy steps that you can take that will increase your chances of success at interviews. First, remember that job interviews should be a process of two-way communication. Not only are they a tool for employers to use to evaluate you, but they are also an opportunity for you to assess the job, the organization, and to see if there is a "fit."
The keys to a successful interview are preparation and practice. The following suggestions will help you prepare for an interview:
Self-evaluation
It is important for you to think about yourself and your past experiences in order to be ready to articulate what you have to offer an employer.
Consider the following topics:
- Past experiences you want to highlight such as volunteer work, hobbies, travel.
Before the Interview
1. Research the Company
A company's website is an excellent place to begin. It usually gives you information on whether it is international or domestic, what its revenues are, how many locations it has, and the nature of its major products. Most companies are very proud of their websites. Don't be surprised if one of the first questions interviewers ask when you arrive is. "Have you have had a chance to look at our website?"
2. Practice interviews
Write down a list of possible questions that you think may be asked, then have a friend act as an interviewer and direct them to you in a practice interview situation. Don't stop until you feel comfortable answering each question. Practicing beforehand will make you feel more comfortable and relaxed during the interview.
3. Dress Professionally
In today's environment, wearing a suit isn't always necessary. Contact the HR Manager of the company or your recruiter, and find out what the dress code is for the company at which you are going to appear for an interview. Then dress one level above. For instance, if it is business casual, men can wear dress pants, dress shirt, and sport coat. Women can wear a pantsuit, salwar suit or saree. Visual impressions are very important. Therefore, if in doubt, always dress on the conservative side.
4. Arrive well in Time
Try to arrive at the interview location a little early. This gives you time to determine where you need to go, and will give you a few minutes to collect your thoughts. Do not arrive late. Nothing destroys your chance at impressing an employer more than arriving late and offering no explanation. If you learn at the last minute that you are going to be arriving late at the interview, call and let the interviewer know. Interviewers understand that things can come up suddenly. You are never considered late if you call and make them aware of the fact.
During the Interview
1. First impressions
First impressions take only thirty seconds. Establishing rapport, direct and sustained eye contact, a firm handshake, a warm smile, good posture, and introducing yourself in a confident manner are important ingredients. A well-groomed, professional appearance is critical. Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, whether it is a woman or a man. (No one likes a weak handshake.) Always maintain eye contact while shaking hands.
2. Smile
A smile denotes confidence in a candidate. Try to smile often. Also, don't be afraid to use some hand animation while answering questions. This suggests enthusiasm in a candidate.
3. Body Language
Use good posture, and look the interviewer right in the eye. Sit up straight. Never slouch.
4. Speak Clearly
Don't mumble. It portrays a lack of confidence. Speak with assurance. This indicates confidence.
5. Listen Before Answering
Allow the employer to begin the interview, but be prepared with some opening statements or questions such as, "I understand that this position involves...," or "What are you looking for in a job candidate?" Make sure you understand the question. If not, ask the interviewer to clarify it. Don't be afraid to take sometime to think before answering. Interviewers are impressed with someone who thinks out an answer before speaking.
6. Give Brief Answers
Make your answer concise and to the point. Rambling tends to suggest that you really don't have the answer to the question(s) asked.
7. Previous Employers
Never, ever say anything negative about your present or previous employers. No matter how much you may have disliked someone, find a way to give your experiences a positive spin.
8. Be Truthful
Don't lie when asked about something you haven't done. The next question will be "tell us about it."
9. Know Your Resume
Be prepared to talk about every fact that is on your resume. Many people embellish their accomplishments on their resumes. Avoid this, since the only point of reference an interviewer has about you is the resume you provide to him/her beforehand.
10. Keep things at a professional level
Sometimes near the end of an interview, the two parties start feeling comfortable with each other. Don't let this comfortable feeling lead you to telling them something about yourself that they really shouldn't know. Always keep things at a professional level.
11. Look for Something in Common
This is something that has given us an edge in the past. Try to find a common bond between yourself and your interviewer. If you are being interviewed in an office, look at how the office is decorated. Look for something you can identify with. Is his/her college degree hanging on the wall? Did you attend a nearby school, or perhaps one in the same City? If so, make a quick comment about it. Interviewers sometimes feel more comfortable with people with whom they have something in common. This approach has helped several candidates obtain a position over other qualified candidates.
Above all, be sincere.
After the Interview
1. Get Back in Touch
Ask the interviewer when s/he expects to get back to you on her/his decision.
2. Get Everyone's Business Card
Before you leave, be sure to get the business cards of all of the people with whom you conversed. If you cannot do that, ask a secretary for their names and e-mail addresses.
3. Thank the Interviewer
Verbally thank the interviewer for taking the time to interview you, before leaving. Within day, send thank-you letters to all of the interviewers with whom you spoke. This does not need o consist of a handwritten letter sent via snail mail; an e-mailed thank-you works just as well.
4. Do not give up
Sometimes, within ten minutes of the start of an interview, you will know that the job is not one you want to pursue. If you begin to feel this way, don't give up on the interview. Continue to interview as if the job was the most important thing in the world. This provides you with practice for your next interview, which may be for your dream job! Not all interviews will lead to offers of employment, but, if you approach every interview as if it's the most important interview you ever had, you will come out a winner!
Additional tips
-Focus on presenting a positive, enthusiastic tone.
-If you are asked to describe a weakness, mention lessons learned, and steer away from negative descriptions.
-Think about three or four key points that you want to make about your personal characteristics, skills you have learned, and relevant experiences that demonstrate that you could perform the job well.
-Find specific, rather than general, examples from your experience that illustrate important points about yourself.
-When answering questions, focus on experiences that demonstrate flexibility, adaptability, responsibility, progress, achievement, creativity, initiative, and leadership.
-If the employer signals the end of the interview and asks you for questions, and you haven't discussed some key points, say: "There are a couple of points I would like to mention."
-After the interview, write a brief thank you letter. Express your appreciation for the opportunity to get an interview and learn about the organization, re-confirm your interest, and re emphasize how your background and skills might be of interest to the organization.
Some Interview Questions
You can expect to be asked some of the following types of questions in an interview.
Case Questions are often used by consulting companies to assess analytical and problem solving skills. The interviewer presents a situation and asks you to discuss possible solutions. A sample case question is, "Describe an insurance company that you think is successful and explain why. What do they do that works? What are their potential problems? What is your outlook for their future? What suggestions do you have for their future?"
Behavioral or situational questions are used to assess how you would behave in different circumstances and to predict your behaviour in future, similar situations. An interviewer may ask, "Tell me about a time when a team you were working on was unable to proceed due to some interpersonal conflict. How did you respond, and what role did you play in the team?"
Role-play questions entail the interviewer asking you to put yourself in another role and decide how you would handle a specific problem.
Industry-specific questions are questions regarding the latest trends or issues in the industry. An interviewer may ask, "If you were a CEO of Microsoft's main competitor, what actions would you take in the on-line services market?"
Brainteasers are quick questions where the obvious answer is not necessarily the right answer such as, "Which would you rather receive: fifty thousand 5 rupee coins or a 10x10x10 room filled with 5 rupee coins?"
Types of interviews
1. Informational Interview
The objective of this interview is to ask for advice and learn more about a particular career field, employer or particular job. Interviewing experts in their field is one more way to become more occupationally literate. The knowledge that you gain here will make you sharper and more informed. You will also make a new contact and further develop your network.
2. Screening or Telephone Interview
A phone interview is a very cost effective way to screen candidates. These can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. You should prepare for it like an open book exam. It is recommended that you have in front of you your resume, the job description, a list of references, some prepared answers to challenging questions and perhaps something about the company. The vast majority of communication is non-verbal. Because they can't see your body language, it is critically important to have positive and polished answers with energetic tone and inflection. Be sure to ask what the next step is.
3. Individual Interview
This is the most common type and often called a "personal interview." It is typically a one on-one exchange at the organization's office. In order to best prepare you will want to know the length of the interview which can usually range from 30 to 90 minutes. If the interview is 30 minutes you have to be concise and have a high impact with your answers. If it is 60 or 90 minutes you will want to go into much more depth and use specific examples to support your generalizations.
4. Small Group or Committee Interview
This is where you will be meeting several decision-makers at once. This can be an intimidating experience if you are not prepared. It's an efficient way to interview candidates and allows for different interpretations or perceptions of the same answer. Be sure to make eye contact with everyone, no matter who asked the question. It's important to establish rapport with each member of the interview team. Try to find out the names and job titles of the team members.
5. The Second or On-Site Interview
After your first interview, you may be asked back again for a "second date." They like you enough that you made the first round of cuts, but they would like to know more about you before making their final decision. Second Interviews can last either a half or full-day so it is best to check again and get an agenda. You may be meeting three to five individuals. This may include a representative from Human Resources, the department head, the office staff and the department head's supervisor. Be alert and enthusiastic at all times! The more you know about the structure of the process, the less anxious you are going to feel and the better you will perform. This is the last step before an offer is made.
6. Behavioral-Based Interview
The theory behind Critical Behavioural Interviewing (CBI) is that past performance in a similar situation is the best predictor of future performance. CBI probes much deeper than traditional interviewing techniques. You should prepare by thinking of specific examples that demonstrate your competence in core behaviours such as teamwork, problem-solving, communication, creativity, flexibility and organizational skills. You will want to tell your story and structure it by stating your answers in terms of the situation, the task, what action you took, and what was the result or outcome.
7. Task Oriented or Testing Interview
This is a problem-solving interview where you will be given some exercises to demonstrate your creative and analytical abilities. A company may ask you to take a short test to evaluate your technical knowledge and skills. Sometimes a presentation to a group is necessary to determine your communication skills. Try to relax as much as possible. Confidence comes from being well prepared.
8. Stress Interview
During this rare type, the interviewer tries to bait you, to see how you will respond. The objective is to find your weaknesses and test how you hold up to pressure. Such tactics as weird silences, constant interruptions and challenging interrogation with antagonistic questions are de signed to push your boundaries. The question you have to ask yourself is: Do I want to work for a company that treats me this way even before the offer is made? Rethink the corporate culture.
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