Topic 1: Sample Outfits

A lot of what you should wear to an interview depends on what industry youre trying
to get a job in! Here are some ideas for what to wear to interviews in different
industries:

Women's Interview Attire

Solid color, conservative suit

Coordinated blouse
Moderate shoes
Limited jewelry
Neat, professional hairstyle
Tan or light hosiery
Sparse make-up & perfume
Manicured nails
Portfolio or briefcase

Men's Interview Attire

Solid color, conservative suit

White long sleeve shirt
Conservative tie
Dark socks, professional shoes
Very limited jewelry
Neat, professional hairstyle
Go easy on the aftershave
Neatly trimmed nails
Portfolio or briefcase

Topic 2: Effective Introduction of Oneself.

Prepare an effective introduction of oneself, highlighting ones suitability (motivation,
work preference, interpersonal skills, etc.) and eligibility (education, knowledge,
experiences and training etc.)
Interview questions are based on skills contained in the job criteria. Interviews are
designed to get a complete, integrated analysis of each candidate. Candidates are
expected to demonstrate their skills to the required standard for each of the job criteria
in their answers.
There are several classes of job interview questions:

Behavioral
Career Goals
Education
Skills & Abilities

Management/Supervisory
Motivation

Team Work
Work History & Experience

Salary & Benefits

Self Assessment

Behavioral
You should be looking at traits such as:

Critical thinking
Adaptability
Willingness to learn

Self-confidence
Time management
Professionalism

Risk taking
Courteous

- What has given you the greatest sense of achievement at work? Why?
- How will you handle a situation that requires you to do a number of things at the
same time?
- Can you describe some examples of work which frustrate you?
- Would you clearly voice your opinion if you disagreed with the views of your boss or
supervisor?
- How do you handle conflict?
- How would you describe your leadership style?
- What is the greatest risk that you've taken?
- Describe the biggest challenge you've had in your last job and how did you handle
it.
- Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or
achieve it.
- Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
- Tell me about a difficult decision that you've made in the last year.
- Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in
getting a job done.
- Tell me about a team project when you had to take the lead or take charge of the
project? What did you do?

Career Goals
These traits should be important:
Dedication
Involvement
Ambition
Loyalty

Planning & Strategy

Interest in self development

- What do you wish to gain from our company?

- Why do you think you would be good at this profession?
- What is your long-term employment or career objective?
- What career options do you have at the moment?
- What would you most like to accomplish if you had this job?
- If you could start your career again, what would you do differently?
- How would you describe the essence of success? How successful have you been so
far?

Education

Capability

Strengths

Interest in self development

- Why did you choose your major?

- Describe your academic strengths and weaknesses.
- What classes did you like the most in school? Why?
- What activities did you engage in at school?
- What special aspects of your education or training have prepared you for this job?
- What have you done outside of formal education to improve yourself?

Management/Supervisory

Leadership

Stability & maturity

Decisiveness

Planning & strategy

Flexibility

Work standards
Confidence

- Would you consider yourself a born leader?

- Do you consider yourself to be thoughtful, analytical or do you usually make up your
mind fast?
- Would you rather write a report or give a verbal report? Why?
- What approach do you take in getting your people to accept your ideas or
department goals?
- What factors or characteristics are most important to you when judging the
performance of your subordinate?
- How can a supervisor establish effective communications with staff?
- How do you deal with an unhappy or frustrated employee?
- What are the steps involved in disciplining an employee?

- What will you do if an employee continues to make careless mistakes?

- What will you do if an employee consistently turns in incomplete assignments?

Motivation
Traits such as these will be useful:
Finding a fit between the Tolerance for stress

individual and the job

Achievement of personal
Initiative
satisfaction

Ability to learn
Range of interests

- What motivates you?

- What is your career goal?
- How do you motivate yourself to complete unpleasant assignments?
- What can a supervisor do to enhance an employee's job and the employee's
motivation?
- Describe a time when you motivated an unmotivated person to do something you
wanted them to do.
- Can you give some examples of job experience that you felt were satisfying?
- How do you keep up with what's going on in your company, your industry and your
profession??

Salary & Benefits

Expectations
- What kind of salary do you think you are worth?
- When comparing one company offer to another, what factors will be important to
you besides salary?
- If you were offered this job, what factors will dictate whether you accept it or not?
- When would you expect your next promotion?
- What do you think it takes to be successful in an organisation like this?
- What challenges do you think you'll face in this job?

Self Assessment

Range of interests
Motivation
Decisiveness

Team style
Intelligence
Stress tolerance

Learning style
Work standards
Flexibility

- What do you like to do best and least?

- How would you describe yourself?
- Do you feel pressure in your job?
- How do you handle stress?
- What kind of things do you feel most confident in doing?

- What are your standards of success in your job? How successful have you been so
far?
- What was the most significant change made in your company in the last six months
which directly affected you?
- How did you handle situation when mistake was made and what was the resolution?

Team Work

Delegation
Confidence
Integrity

Problem solving
Leadership

Motivation
Interpersonal skills

- What things make a good team member?

- Do you work better by yourself or as part of a team?
- How do you maintain an effective working relationship with your coworkers?
- What actions can a supervisor take to establish teamwork in the organization?
- Describe a situation in which your work was criticized and how did you respond to
the criticism.
- What would you do if one of your team members was affecting the performance of
the team and would you work overtime to complete a team project?
- How do you handle disagreement with coworker?

Work History & Experience

Knowledgeable
Accomplishments

Responsibilities
Job performance

Decision-making

- Why do you want to change jobs?

- How are you qualified for this job?
- What makes you more qualified than the other candidates?
- What type of decisions do you make in your current position?
- What were your greatest accomplishments on your last job?
- What is the most difficult assignment you have had?
- What are some things you particularly liked about your last job?
- What are the areas that you need improvement on?
- Describe a challenging work issue you had to face, and how you dealt with it?
- What kind of people do you find it most difficult to work with? Why?

EXAMPLE OF JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Anticipate interview questions and prepare responses that relate to companys

requirements.
Ice breaking questions
The first question is often a "breaking the ice" (establish a rapport) type of question.
Don't be surprised if the interviewer asks you something like:

How are you today?

Did you have any trouble finding us?

What do you think of the weather lately?

Don't be surprised by the friendly tone. The interviewer wants to put you at ease (help
you relax). Answer the question without going into too much detail. The language you
use should be simple but polite, for example;
How are you today?
GOOD
I'm fine thank you, and you?
I'm well thank you.
BAD
So, so
OK
Not so well
The best way to respond is in a short, friendly manner without going into too much
detail. Here is some examples of correct responses:
Interviewer: How are you today?
You: I'm fine, thank you. And you?
OR
Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?
You: No, the office isn't too difficult to find.
OR
Interviewer: Isn't this great weather we're having?
You: Yes, it's wonderful. I love this time of year.
Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?

You: No, the office isn't too difficult to find.

Here are some examples of incorrect responses:
How are you today?
So, so. I'm rather nervous actually.
OR
Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?
You: As a matter of fact it was very difficult. I missed the exit and had to return via the
highway. I was afraid I was going to be late for the interview.
OR
Interviewer: Isn't this great weather we're having?
You: Yes, it's wonderful. I can remember this time last year. Wasn't it awful! I thought it
would never stop raining!
Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?
You: Yes, the office is too difficult to find.

Getting Down to Business (Core Questions )

Once the pleasant beginnings have finished, it's time to begin the real interview. Here
are a number of the most common questions that are asked during the interview. There
are two examples of excellent replies given for each question. Following the examples,
you will find a comment describing the type of question and important things to
remember when answering that type of question.
Question 1
Interviewer: Tell me about yourself.

Candidate : I was born and raised in Gambang, Kuantan. I attended the University
College of Engineering and Technology Malaysia and received my degree in
Electrical Engineering. I enjoy playing tennis in my free time and reading magazines
and books.
Candidate : I've just graduated from the University of Lancaster with a degree in
Computers. During the summers, I worked as a systems administrator for a small
company to help pay for my education.

Comment: This question is meant as an introduction. Do not focus too specifically on

any one area. The above question will often be used to help the interviewer choose
what h/she would like to ask next. While it is important to give an overall impression of
who you are, make sure to concentrate on work related experience. Work related
experience should always be the central focus of any interview (work experience is
more important than education in most English speaking countries).
Question 2
Interviewer: What type of position are you looking for

Candidate : I'm interested in an entry level (beginning) position.

Candidate: I would like any position for which I qualify.
Candidate : I'm looking for a position in which I can utilize my skills
Comment:You should be willing to take an entry level position.
Question 3
Interviewer: Are you interested in a full-time or part-time position?

Candidate: I am more interested in a full-time position. However, I would

also consider a part-time position.
Comment: Make sure to leave open as many possibilities as possible. Say you are willing
to take any job, once the job has been offered you can always refuse if the job does
not appeal (not interest) to you.
Question 4
Interviewer: Can you tell me about your responsibilities at your last job?

Candidate : I advised customers on financial matters. After I consulted the

customer, I completed a customer inquiry form and catalogued the
information in our database. I then collaborated with colleagues to
prepare the best possible package for the client. The clients were then
presented with a summarized report on their financial activities that I
formulated on a quarterly basis.
Comment: Notice the amount of detail necessary when you are talking about your
experience. The employer wants to know exactly what you did and how you did it; the
more detail you can give the more the interviewer knows that you understand the type
of work. Remember to vary your vocabulary when talking about your responsibilities.
Also, do not begin every sentence with "I". Use the passive voice, or an introductory
clause to help you add variety to your presentation.
Question 5
Interviewer: What is your greatest strength?

Candidate: I work well under pressure. When there is a deadline (a time by

which the work must be finished), I can focus on the task at hand (current
project) and structure my work schedule well. I remember one week when I
had to get 6 new customer reports out by Friday at 5. I finished all the reports
ahead of time without having to work overtime.

Candidate: I am an excellent communicator. People trust me and come to me

for advice. One afternoon, my colleague was involved with a troublesome
(difficult) customer who felt he was not being served well. I made the customer
a cup of coffee and invited both my colleague and the client to my desk
where we solved the problem together.
Candidate: I am a trouble shooter. When there was a problem at my last job,
the manager would always ask me to solve it. Last summer, the LAN server at
work crashed. The manager was desperate and called me in (requested my
help) to get the LAN back online. After taking a look at the daily backup, I
detected the problem and the LAN was up and running (working) within the
hour.
Comment: This is not the time to be modest! Be confident and always give examples.
Examples show that you are not only repeating words you have learned, but actually do
possess that strength.
Question 6
Interviewer: What is your greatest weakness?

Candidate: I am a trouble shooter. When there was a problem at my last job, the
manager would always ask me to solve it. Last summer, the LAN server at work
crashed. The manager was desperate and called me in (requested my help) to
get the LAN back online. After taking a look at the daily backup, I detected the
problem and the LAN was up and running (working) within the hour.
Candidate: I am overzealous (work too hard) and become nervous when my coworkers are not pulling their weight (doing their job). However, I am aware of this
problem, and before I say anything to anyone, I ask myself why the colleague is
having difficulties.
Candidate: I tend to spend too much time making sure the customer is satisfied.
However, I began setting time-limits for myself If I noticed this happening.
Comment: This is a difficult question. You need to mention a weakness that is actually a
str. Make sure that you always mention how you try to improve the weakness.
Question 7
Interviewer: Why do you want to work for Matshisita Electronics?

Candidate : After following your firms progress for the last 3 years, I am
convinced that Smith and Sons are becoming one of the market leaders and I
would like to be part of the team.
Candidate : I am impressed by the quality of your products. I am sure that I
would be a convincing salesman because I truly believe that the Matshisita
Electronics is the best product in the market today.

Comment: Prepare yourself for this question by becoming informed about the
company. The more detail you can give, the better you show the interviewer that you
understand the company.

Question 8
Interviewer: When can you begin?

Candidate: Immediately.
Candidate: As soon as you would like me to begin.
Comment: Show your willingness to work!

Education
Remember that your education took place in the past. Therefore you need to use the
past tenses, for example:
I attended the Polytechnic from 2001 to 2005.
I graduated with a diploma in Electrical Engineering
If you are currently a student you should use the following present tenses:
I am currently studying at the Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah and will
graduate with a diploma in Electrical Engineering in December.
I am studying Civil Engineering at Politeknik Sultan SalahuddinAbdul Aziz Shah

Past training
Remember to include any training you may have had when talking about your
education. This includes any computer training, correspondence courses, etc.
Make sure to mention your English studies.
This is very important as English is not your first language and the employer may be
concerned about this fact. Assure the employer that you are continuing to improve
your English skills by any courses you may be taking, or by saying that you study a
certain number of hours a week to improve your skills.

Experience and Qualifications

Work experience is by far the most important topic of any job interview Therefore, it is
important to explain what experience you have in detail. Generally, employers want to
know exactly what you did and how well you accomplished your tasks. This is not the
time to be modest. Be confident, and talk freely about your accomplishments in past
employment.

The tenses you should use are the following:

When talking about current employment be careful to use the present perfect or
present perfect continuous. This signals that you are still performing these tasks at your
current job, for example:
Smith and Co. have employed me for the last 3 years as a salesperson.
I have been creating customer contacts for 6months.
When talking about past employers use the past tenses to signal that you are no longer
working for that company, for example:
I was employed by Jackson's from 1989 to 1992 as a clerk.
I worked as a receptionist at the Ritz while I was living in New York

Ask appropriate questions in a job interview

Just as with questions asked by the interviewer to the candidate:
Good questions are open-ended, and thus cannot be answered with a "yes" or "no."
Better questions are behavioral: they ask how things are done or have happened in
the past, because current and past behavior is the best predictor of future
behavior.
It is important to have some questions prepared and here are a few that could really
help:
1. What exactly would my day-to-day responsibilities be? It is essential that you clearly
understand your role and the tasks that you would be expected to undertake. If the
interviewer cannot give a clear answer then this is a worrying sign, so politely follow up
with more questions.
2. What are the opportunities for training and career advancement? This question serves
two purposes. It helps you to understand where the job might lead and what skills you
might acquire. It also signals that you are ambitious and thinking ahead.
3. What is the biggest challenge facing the organization today? This sort of question
takes the interview away from the detail and towards strategic issues. It allows to you
see and discuss the bigger picture. It proves that you are interested in more than just
the 9 to 5 aspects of the job. It can lead to interesting discussions that can show you in
a good light

4. What are the criteria that you are looking for in the successful candidate for this
position? The job advertisement may have listed what was wanted in a candidate but
it is very useful to hear the criteria directly from the interviewer.
Many candidates take a passive role at the interview. They competently answer the
questions that are put to them but they never take the initiative by asking intelligent
questions that steer the interview in a helpful direction. If you are a proactive
candidate who asks the sorts of questions given above then you will be seen as more
dynamic and you will significantly increase your chances of being offered the job.

Do not ask questions that are clearly answered on the employer's web site and/or in
any literature provided by the employer to you in advance.
This would simply reveal that you did not prepare for the interview, and you are
wasting the employer's time by asking these questions.
Never ask about salary and benefits issues until those subjects are raised by the
employer.
Respond appropriately, fluently, audibly and confidently to ask questions in a job
interview.
Be enthusiastic and confident when responding to questions. Don't rush your answers.
Try to, um, avoid, like, using unnecessary words, right? And um, repeating yourself or,
like, annoying phrases, you know?
A good technique is to write out your answers to the questions you anticipate, then edit
them to make them more concise. Then practice your polished answers out loud, over
and over. If you can have someone help you do a "mock interview," that would be the
best way to do this.
Take the time to prepare your interview technique including knowing what's on your
resume, being able to present why you are qualified for the job, why you are interested
in the company, and practicing staying calm and focused. It's important to remember
that the image the interviewer has of you when he first meets you is the one that is
going to last.

Know the Facts

Review your qualification/work history - and make sure what you say matches what's on
your resume. Take the time to learn about the company and about the job you're
applying for.
What You Do Say
Your verbal communications are important. Speak clearly and definitely. If you need to
think about a response to an interview question, that's fine. It's better to think before
you talk than to stumble over your words. Practice answering some interview
questions so you're comfortable responding the basics.
Listen
It can be easy to get distracted during a job interview. It's stressful and you're in the hot
seat when it comes to having to respond to questions. That said, if you do your best to
listen to what the interviewer is asking, it will be easier to frame appropriate responses.

TASK: ANSWERING INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Write your own answers. Practice to answer all your answer in front of the mirror or with
your friend.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

What are your greatest strengths?

Why should I hire you?
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
What is more important to you, the money or the job?
What is your greatest weakness?
What kind of people do you find it hard to work with?
In what kind of environment are you most comfortable?
Do you prefer to work alone or with others?
What are you looking for in a position?
Describe your ideal job.
What do you know about the job?
What are your 5-year goals?
Do you consider yourself successful?
Tell me about a work situation you had that required excellent communication skills.
What was more important on your job, written or oral communication?
What is the most difficult work situation you have faced?
What do you do when you're having trouble with your job?
What types of people have trouble getting along with you?
Define cooperation.
What do you do when you're having trouble with a boss

Use the Right Word

Below is a list of great verbs to help you express just exactly what you did with
impressive vocabulary. These verbs are used to express responsibilities and tasks
performed:
acted
accomplished
adapted
administered
advanced
advised
allocated
analyzed
applied
approved
arbitrated
arranged
assisted
attained
blended
brought
built
carried out
catalogued
changed
classified
collaborated
compared
completed
computed
conceived
conducted
constructed
consulted
contracted
controlled
cooperated
coordinated
corrected
counseled
created
dealt
decided
decreased

defined
delegated
derived
designated
detected
developed
devised
directed
discovered
distributed
documented
doubled
edited
encouraged
engineered
enlarged
escalated
established
estimated
evaluated
examined
expanded
experienced
explored
facilitated
finalized
formulated
founded
functioned
governed
grouped
guided
handled
harmonized
harnessed
headed
identified
implemented
improved

increased
indexed
initiated
inspected
installed
instituted
interpreted
introduced
invented
investigated
justified
led
localized
located
made
managed
maintained
mechanized
merged
moderated
motivated
negotiated
opened
operated
organized
originated
overcame
perceived
performed
pioneered
planned
prepared
presented
presided
processed
programmed
promoted
provided
purchased