Personal Interview

or
Viva-Voce
1
AN INTRODUCTION

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Viva-Voce: A Spoken University Examination

2

In a Viva-Voce, they ask you the questions related to

your subject and/or sometimes the questions from the

related field/area only.
They try to put only those questions which cannot be
best judged through a writing test and examine your
hold over the subject orally.
The significance of conducting a Viva-Voce increases if
it is related to the spoken part of a language course.
In a Viva-Voce on Communication Skills, the examiner,
to test the speaking language competence of the
student, may include the questions which are not
related to the prescribed syllabus.
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Definition of
Interview
Oxford English
Dictionary defines
interview as a formal
meeting at which
somebody is asked
questions to see if s/he
is suitable for a
particular job or for a
course of study at a
college, university, etc.
Hence, it is a process of
two-way
communication that
not only promotes
interpersonal
relationship, but also
proves the worth of the
candidate.

Types of Interviews Held

for Several Purposes:
Job Interview
Persuasive Interview
Information Interview
Exit Interview
Evaluation Interview
Conflict-Resolution
Disciplinary Interview
Termination Interview
Counseling
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Preliminary Screening Interview:

Types of
Interviews
According to
Their Nature

Elimination of unqualified candidates

using almost the same criteria
Panel Interview: Meeting with
several interviewers who ask you
questions during a single session
Group Interview: To interview
several candidates simultaneously
Stress Interview: Designed to see
how well a candidate handles a
stressful situation
Telephonic Interview: An
interview for employment conducted
on the phone

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To enable the employer to ascertain the

Purposes of
an Interview

suitability of the candidate for his/her

organization
To empower the candidate to get a
glimpse of the organizations goals and
opportunities
To find out what exactly the candidate
can do for the organization by
exploiting the available resources
To recruit a right person for the
company who is good enough for the
company as well as repays the cost by
staying long enough
To judge whether the candidate has the
appropriate qualification on the basis of
the review of his/her resume
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Traits in
Terms of
Which You
are Tested

Principal personality traits: focus,

enthusiasm, common sense, ambition,

resourcefulness, analytical ability,
alertness, preferences, interpersonal
skills, oral communication,
perseverance, creativity,
self-confidence, motivation, adaptability,
integrity, intelligence, team-spirit,
logical and quick thinking, problemsolving and decision-making capabilities,
clarity of thought, maturity, openmindedness, good understanding of
fundamentals, etc.
Some other advantageous traits:
computer proficiency, knowledge of
some foreign language, effective writing,
good sense of humor, etc.
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Commonpla
7
ce
Questions
during Job
Interviews
1. Why?

1. 2. How?

Types of questions: Objective,

Subjective, Close Ended or Open
Ended
1. Why did you apply for this job?
Why did you choose this career?
Why should we hire you?
Why did you leave your last job?
Why did you get fired from your last
job?
2. How would you describe yourself?
How is your education or experience
related to this job?
How do you plan to reach your goals?
How much salary do you want?
How can you contribute to the progress
of the Company?
Continues
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3.
What?

3. What do you know about this job/company?

What would you like to tell us about yourself?
What are your major strengths/weaknesses?
What type of work do you like to do best/least?
What courses did you like best/least in your
school/college?
What did you like best/least in your last job?
What are your goals for your professional
career?
What do you plan to do in next five/ten years?
What are your interests outside work?
What would you like to change in your past
life?
What was your worst mistake?
What accomplishment did give you the
greatest satisfaction?
Continues

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Tell me a joke.
Do you have brothers and sisters?

4.
Miscellaneo
us
Questions

What are they into?

If given a choice, which place in India
would you prefer to live in?
What are your views about marriage?
What is the population of your town?
Do you prefer to lead or to follow?
How often do you lie?
What if you are not selected?
What is the major international event
taking place at present?
What makes you different from others
who have applied?
Do you like to work in a group?
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10

Do some ground work and basic

How to
Prepare for
a Job
Interview?
Or
How to Make
a Good
Impression
in an
Interview?

research
Think ahead about questions
Shore your confidence up
Polish your physical features such as
posture, eye-contact, facial
expression, voice (use of natural
tone, variation in pitch and volume),
smile, and other non-verbal signals
Dress to look good
Arrive on Time
Be ready when you arrive
Do not express emotionsnever
look at the watch
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11

Scan the newspapers headlines of

Continues

the day
Also, read the earlier two issues of
the paper
Maintain eye contactbe honest
and straightforward
Take time to think if needed
Smile at timesdo not get nervous
Say I dont know when you are
unable to answer a question
Accept coffee/tea if offered
Send a thank you note, but send
maximum of two follow-ups

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12

Questions
That You
Can Ask

How important is this job to the

company?
What training programs are
offered?
What advancement opportunities
are offered ?
May I meet the person who I would
report to?
Why did the last person leave the
job?
What is the greatest challenge of
this position?
Would I supervise anyone? May I
meet them?
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13

Source of the
Quotations:
Sharma, Sangeeta,
et al. (2010),
Communication Skills
for Engineers and
Scientists, PHI, New
Delhi.

An investigation may take six

months. A quick interview,

profile, a day.
-Paul Nurse

All the great speakers were

bad speakers at first.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson
(ANIL SINGHAL)
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