Interview Skills

- Vishnu Tamrakar
 Interviews
Oral tool used to test a candidates suitability
for employment or admission to an institute
of learning.
 Types of Interview
Panel Interviews
Telephonic interviews
Lunch/Dinner Interviews
Preliminary Interviews
Sequential Interviews
Skill based Interviews
Academic Interviews
Personality Interviews
What does the job Interview assess??
Interviewers look for following attributes in
candidates:
Clarity
Academic subjects, career objectives, long term goals,
national and global issues and so on.
Depth
Depth of knowledge, understanding across wide range
of subjects and issues, demonstrate the candidates
academic excellence
 Personality
Attitude
Honesty
professionalism reflect his /her ability to work in an
organization and with other people
Self awareness and analysis of personal strength and
weakness
General awareness
Current issues of national and international concern
Application of concepts to real life problems
Initiative
Response to application based question
How far he/she has moved beyond classroom learning
 Communication skills
To predict Interviewees behavior in a particular job
environment
Ability to express his/her thought clearly
Listening and comprehension skills

Integrity
Consistency in what is written in the Resume and the
interviewees responses to the questions during
interview
 Focus of job Interviews
Technical competence
Academic background
Internship / Previous Job Profile
Application based questions

Motivation
Level of interest in a job
How strongly he/ she wants to fulfill his/ her goal
Judge by asking a complex question
Asking Stressful questions

Ability to handle situations where he or she does not know the answer
Admit It. sorry I dont know answer to that
Make an educated guess. I guess/ I think / Perhaps it could mean .
Always communicate positive state of mind by making eye contact and using
positive facial expressions, tone and volume of speech.
 Strategies for success at interview.
Know yourself
Who am I?
What are my skills and strengths? concentrate on what can I do well.
Clear goal and future career Plan
Skills , goals and career objectives should be align closely with jobs
requirement.
Determine what you value- things that are important to you and
influence your behavior
Be clear what motivates you
Status
Security
Power
Expertise
Material rewards
Creativity
Autonomy
Find out how you think
Logical
Intuitive
Creative
 Strategies for success at interview.
Know the company
Products and other details
Companys reports and website
Company culture and norms
Interact with companys employees to learn more
about work environment
Assess the companys size and systems of
company according to your ambition and career
plan.
 Strategies for success at interview.
Know the Job Profile
One should not be carried away by salary or
designation
Job should be considered in terms of
Its profile
Scope for growth
Ones personal goals and ambitions
Common & Tricky HR Interview
Questions
 Tell me about yourself?
How long can you commit to work with us?
Why do you consider yourself a suitable candidate for
this position?
What do you do to improve your knowledge?
Can you perform under pressure?
How do you rate your communication skills?
Do you know anyone who works for us?
Is there any particular kind of person you cannot
work with?
What qualities would you look for in your senior?
 What motivates you at work?
Will you be happy to work in night shifts or over
the weekends?
What position would you prefer while working
on a project?
Will you be happy to re-locate, if required?
What is your idea of an ideal company?
Tell us what do you know about our company?
Are you planning to go for further studies?
Tell us something about your hobbies ?
What is more important to you money or
success?
 What are your greatest strengths?
Do you have any blind spots?
How would you be an asset to our organization?
What makes you angry?
How could you have improved your career progress?
Who has inspired you in your life and why?
What was the toughest decision you ever had to make?
How do you feel about reporting to a younger person (minority, woman,
etc)?
Describe some projects of Ideas ( not necessarily your own) that were
implemented, or carried out successfully, primarily because of your
efforts.

Describe some times when you were not very satisfied or pleased with
your performance.
Describe a situation that required a number of things to be done at the
same time. How did you handle it? What was the result?

Tell of some situations in which you have to adjust yourself quickly to

changes over which you had no control.
Do you have any questions for me?
 Dos and Dont of Interview
Do take a practice run to the location where you are having the interview
or otherwise 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 encounter.
Do prepare and practice for the interview, but dont memorize or over-
rehearse your answers
Do dress the part for the job, the company, the industry
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 greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy and respect. This
situation is where you make your first impression with the employer.
Dont chew gum during the interview.
Do bring extra resumes to the interview.
Dont rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you. No
matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself
to the interviewer.
 Do greet the interviewer(s) by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name if
you are sure of the pronunciation. (If youre not sure, do ask the
receptionist about the pronunciation before going into the
interview.
Do shake hands firmly. Dont 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. Dont fidget or slouch.
Dont tell jokes during the interview.
Do make good eye contact with your interviewer(s).
Do show enthusiasm in the position and the company.
Do brush your teeth, use mouthwash, or have a breath mint before
the interview.
Do avoid using poor language, slang.
Dont be soft-spoken. A forceful voice projects confidence.
Do have a high confidence and energy level, but dont be overly
aggressive.
Dont act as though you would take any job or are desperate for
employment.
 Dont say anything negative about former colleagues, supervisors,
or employers.
Do make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer
in a factual, sincere manner.
Dont ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly.
And dont over-answer questions.
Do stress your achievements. And dont offer any negative
information about yourself.
Dont answer questions with a simple yes or no. Explain
whenever possible. Describe those things about yourself that
showcase your talents, skills, and determination. Give detailed
examples.
Do show off the research you have done on the company and
industry when responding to questions.
Dont bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems.
Do remember that the interview is also an important time for you
to evaluate the interviewer and the company she represents.
 Dont answer cell-phone calls during the interview,
and do turn off (or set to silent ring) your cell phone.
Do show what you can do for the company rather than
what the company can do for you.
Dont inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement,
or other benefits until after youve received an offer. Be
prepared for a question about your salary requirements,
but do try and delay salary talk until you have an offer.
Do ask intelligent questions about the job, company, or
industry.
Do close the interview by telling the interviewer(s) that
you want the job and asking about the next step in the
process. (Some experts even say you should close the
interview by asking for the job.)
Do try to get business cards from each person you
interviewed with.
Do immediately take down notes after the interview
concludes so you dont forget crucial details.
 Tell me about yourself?
How long can you commit to work with us?
Why do you consider yourself a suitable
candidate for this position?
What do you do to improve your
knowledge?
Can you perform under pressure?
How do you rate your communication
skills?
Do you know anyone who works for us?
Is there any particular kind of person you
cannot work with?
What qualities would you look for in your
senior?
What motivates you at work?
Will you be happy to work in night shifts or
over the weekends?
What position would you prefer while
working on a project?
Will you be happy to re-locate, if required?
What is your idea of an ideal company?
Are you planning to go for further studies?
What is more important to you money or
success?
What are your greatest strengths?
Do you have any blind spots?
How would you be an asset to our
organization?
What makes you angry?
How could you have improved your career
progress?
Who has inspired you in your life and why?
What was the toughest decision you ever
had to make?
How do you feel about reporting to a
younger person (minority, woman, etc)?
Describe some projects of Ideas ( not
necessarily your own) that were
implemented, or carried out successfully,
primarily because of your efforts.