The document provides guidance on how to prepare for and face an interview. It discusses dressing appropriately, maintaining good posture and confidence, being mentally prepared through research, not guessing but admitting what you don't know, asking clarifying questions, and thanking the interviewers before leaving. Potential interview questions are also listed to help candidates prepare responses that highlight their relevant qualifications and fit for the position. The interview aims to assess candidates' skills, abilities, qualities and determine if they should be appointed to benefit the organization.
The document provides guidance on how to prepare for and face an interview. It discusses dressing appropriately, maintaining good posture and confidence, being mentally prepared through research, not guessing but admitting what you don't know, asking clarifying questions, and thanking the interviewers before leaving. Potential interview questions are also listed to help candidates prepare responses that highlight their relevant qualifications and fit for the position. The interview aims to assess candidates' skills, abilities, qualities and determine if they should be appointed to benefit the organization.
The document provides guidance on how to prepare for and face an interview. It discusses dressing appropriately, maintaining good posture and confidence, being mentally prepared through research, not guessing but admitting what you don't know, asking clarifying questions, and thanking the interviewers before leaving. Potential interview questions are also listed to help candidates prepare responses that highlight their relevant qualifications and fit for the position. The interview aims to assess candidates' skills, abilities, qualities and determine if they should be appointed to benefit the organization.
The document provides guidance on how to prepare for and face an interview. It discusses dressing appropriately, maintaining good posture and confidence, being mentally prepared through research, not guessing but admitting what you don't know, asking clarifying questions, and thanking the interviewers before leaving. Potential interview questions are also listed to help candidates prepare responses that highlight their relevant qualifications and fit for the position. The interview aims to assess candidates' skills, abilities, qualities and determine if they should be appointed to benefit the organization.
An interview can be defined as a face to face oral communication between the interviewer and the interviewee in order to assess the views, attitudes and ideas of the interviewee. However the interview process also enables the interviewee and observers to assess the skill and ability of the interviewer. Thus, an interview is a test of both the communicants and parties engaged in the interaction. Intelligence, knowledge, personal qualities and character are revealed and both parties are required to be well prepared. The process allows everyone involved to make some important decisions. The candidate decides whether he should accept the position and the interviewer decides whether the candidate should be appointed; this decision may affect the organizational interests.
The following suggestions are advisable when
faced with an interview: 1) Dress appropriately – A well dressed and groomed appearance can do wonders for that first impression. 2) Posture and Carriage - The way in which the candidate carries himself while walking and sitting tells the interviewer about your confidence. Good “carriage” and posture have to be developed over a period of time and are essential in distinguishing a shoddy and careless attitude from a sharp and alert one. 3) Be confident - Self confidence, or the lack of it, is observed through your behavior, right from the way you sit to how you speak. Good manners and proper behavior are obviously necessary. Suitable greetings for the time of the day and other formalities must be known to the interviewee; for example, sit down only after being told to; elbows must not be put on the table; the brief case or bag should be kept on the floor beside the chair and do not play with any of your accessories or clothes. Nervous movements betray show a lack of confidence and concentration. 4) Mental Preparation - The candidate should be well informed about current events, domestic and international, and topics of general interest. Regular reading of newspapers, listening to radio and TV discussions, participating in group discussions and general reading habits are helpful activities in developing the required mental status for an interview. a. Information about the organization, its directors, turnover, share capital and other relevant information which are available in its annual report, is expected of candidates by public limited companies. A candidate must know as much as possible about the prospective employer company. 5) No guessing games - In situations where the candidate does not know the answer to a question it is always better to state ones inability to answer than to make a guess. No one is expected to know everything; admitting that one does not know the answer reflectshonesty. 6) Be clear - A candidate must have clarity of purpose and determination enough to want to know his prospects in the organization. He/she must be able to ask questions about the nature of duties, employee benefits, future prospects and other things which he may want to know about the organization before taking any decision. 7) Know your own worth - It is advisable to talk about salary without appearing to be bargaining and without being driven or defeated. This requires careful prior thinking; if possible this topic should be discussed with the family and with experienced elders or friends 8) At the end, candidate’s are usually not sure when to leave. If the interviewers indicate that the interview is over, collect your bag, wish them and thank them for their friendly attitude and leave. Some candidates, due to nervousness, seem to be in a hurry to leave and forget to wish or thank the interviewers. Always remember that your parting movements are also closely .
In order to succeed in an interview each individual must make an honest self-assessment and find out one’s areas of strength and weakness. Knowledge of one’s deficiencies is useful in overcoming weaknesses and unconscious bad habits of posture or speech can be improved by effort. Shortcomings which cannot be overcome can be accepted and acknowledged so that they do not lead to depression and embarrassment when others notice them. Therefore, coming to terms with oneself and knowing how to deal with one’s faults, and how to make the best use of one’s knowledge and skills, is another vital element in preparing for an interview.
Potential interview questions
Technically, not every item is a question; some are statements; but all are intended to prompt you for a response.
Better questions are not those that can be answered with a "yes" or "no," but are open-ended questions that invite thoughtful response. Even if you are asked a question that can be answered with a "yes" or "no," (e.g. "Are you comfortable with the amount of travel this job involves?"), you can certainly add a word of explanation to back up your answer (e.g., "Yes. I actually look forward to the opportunity to travel and to work with the staff members in some of the other offices.)
Not every interviewer will ask you every one of these questions. However, if you are prepared to address these questions, you will leave the impression that you were prepared for your job interview, even if additional questions take you by surprise.
• Describe yourself. / What five adjectives describe you best?
• What are your achievements so far ? • Tell me what "success" means to you. Do you consider yourself successful? • What does "failure" mean to you? • What are your strengths, weaknesses, and interests? • What are your long-range goals and objectives for the next seven to ten years? • How do you plan to achieve your career goals? • Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing? • What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort? Describe a situation in which you did so. • In what ways have your college experiences prepared you for a career? • In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization? • What qualities should a successful manager/leader/supervisor/etc. possess? • Describe your most rewarding college experience. • What led you to choose your major or field of study? • What college subjects did you like best/ least ? Why? • Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement? • What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activities? • In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable? • How do you work under pressure? • How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation? • Why did you decide to seek a position with our organization? / What interests you most about this position? • What two or three things would be most important to you in your job? • What criteria are you using to evaluate the organization for which you hope to work? • What is your expected salary ? • Why should I consider you for this position? • Why are you the best candidate for this position?
What the interview is looking for:
1) Interviewer says: Tell me about yourself.
Remember, this is a job interview, not a psychological or personal interview. The interviewer is interested in the information about you that relates to your qualifications for employment, such as education, work experiences and extracurricular activities.
2) Interviewer says: 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 rather than minutely specific descriptions. The interviewer wants to see your thought process and the criteria that are important to you. The interviewer is not looking for information about your personal life.
3) Interviewer says: Why should I hire you?
Stress what you have to offer the employer as relates to the position for which you are interviewing, not how nice it would be to work there or what you want from the employer. Remember that you are being compared to other candidates, and in fact more than one candidate might be a very good employee. Deliver to the employer reasons to see that you are a good fit (show you know yourself, know the field/industry, know the organization, and know the position).
4) Interviewer says: What are your ideas about salary?
Research salaries in your field before your interviews so that you know the current salary range for the type of position you are seeking.
5) Interviewer says: Why do you want to work for our company/organization?
Not having an answer is a good way to get crossed off the candidate list, and is a common pet peeve of interviewers. Research the employer before your interview; attempt to find out about the organization's products, locations, clients, philosophy, goals, previous growth record and growth plans, how they value employees and customers, etc. Unfortunately, it's very common for job-seekers to directly state, "I really want to work for your company/agency/organization/firm," but then to be unable to answer the question "why?" Without the answer to "why?" the initial statement becomes meaningless.
