Get Hired!

Ace that Job Interview

MALAYSIA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Unemployment Rate in Malaysia increased to 3.30 percent in January of 2014 from 3 percent
in December of 2013. Unemployment Rate in Malaysia is reported by the Department of
Statistics Malaysia. Unemployment Rate in Malaysia averaged 3.31 Percent from 1998 until
2014, reaching an all time high of 4.50 Percent in March of 1999 and a record low of 2.70
Percent in August of 2012. In Malaysia, the unemployment rate measures the number of
people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force

Outlin
e

Why Interview?
Types of Interview
Interview
Preparation

Plus Points +++++

Interview Success
What Next?

Why Interview?
CAN

Can (s)he
do the
job?
WILL

Will (s)he
fit in?

IS

Is (s)he
better than
the others?
DOES

Does (s)he
really
want the
job?

Types of
m
or
f
Interview al/In
al

Pa
ne
l

Panel interviews involve

having a group of hiring
stakeholders (3 to 6 is a
typical number) conduct
the interview jointly and
lob both prepared and
off-the-cuff questions at a
candidate.

Co
m
pe
t
e
nc
y

Telephone and Video

Employers use both as a
way
of identifying and recruit
candidates for
employment. Phone
interviews are often used
to screen candidates in
order to narrow the pool
of applicants who will be
invited for in-person
interviews. Both are also
used to minimize the
expenses involved in
interviewing out-of-town
candidates.

rm
o
F

one
h
p
Tele eo
/Vid
Link

Formal/Informal
Usually 1:1 or 1:2. They both
allow a candidate to
familiarize themselves with
the position. Prepared
questions and job information
are aimed at
the candidate.

Panel

Assessment
Centre
Assessment Centre

Competency
In a Competency Based
Interview, the questions
will all be Behavioral
Based and for this reason
these interviews are
referred to as
Behavioral Interviews.
Indeed they are
sometime referred to as
Structured Interviews
and this is because each
candidate is asked the
same questions in the
same order with no
deviation.

These are an extended period of interviews,

assessed tasks and assessment exercises,
organized and held by recruiters for small
groups of graduate level candidates (usually
between 6 and 20 people). Recruiters use
assessment centre to find out how candidates

Interview Presentation
numerical value to how people receive communication

Voice

Content

Body
language

Visual: What the listener sees

Body language, stance,
enthusiasm, dress, eye contact,
handshake, smile, warmth,
friendly greeting and confident
approach.
Vocal: How you say it
Tone of voice, hitting the right
spot, flow and confidence.
Verbal: What you say
The content of the message.

Interview Presentation
You never get a second chance to create a first impression

Greetings
Handshake
Eye contact
Smile

3
seconds

Small talk
Quick
acknowledgement

30 seconds

Calming down
Getting
comfortable

3
minutes

Crafting Your USP

Craft your USP into a statement
ofaround 10 to 20 words. Keep the
following rules in mind:

It is usually only one or two sentences long.

It is stated in clear terms, and is easily
understandable.
It is believable.
It emphasises some unique benefit that you
provide better than others.

Dont forget
the 3 Ps
Preparati
on

The
The more
more thorough
thorough
your
your preparation,
preparation,
the
the most
most likely
likely your
your
chance
of
being
chance of being
hired.
hired.

Practice
Practice answering
a list of anticipated
questions. Turn the
answers to illustrate
your skills.

Interview
Success Presentat
ion
Look to create a
lasting impression
that will get you
noticed and
remembered

Before the interview

RESEARC
H
RESEARCH the company: This includes
the companys products and services,
details of how the company was formed or
developed, the markets, turnover, plans for
the future, number of branches, people
employed, the companys values etc. Take
steps to obtain as much information as
possible.

REVIEW
REVIEW the job application: Read the job
specification carefully again. See if there are
any new points that were not apparent in the
advertisement or were not covered in your
original application. Go through each point
and tick off the requirements that you meet,
and note potential areas of weakness, do not
be discouraged about these areas. Think of
how to improve the areas of weakness just in
case they ask.

SHOWC
ASE

Look to SHOWCASE your Skills or

Prime Selling Points: Look at a copy of
your CV, consider your skillsthat are linked
to their requirements. Go through the
evidences that will showcase the skills.
Remember that the skills won you the
interview, now is your opportunity to use
them as part of the main agenda in your
interview.

PREPAR
E

PREPARE questions and practice

answers: It is a brilliant idea to prepare a
list of anticipated questions and suitable
answers. Look at ways of turning the
answers to further illustrate your skills.
Share your questions and answers with
your mentor, friend or family and know
how to answer all the question. Practice in
front of a mirror.

Research and
and get
get
nterviewResearch
preparation
prepared
prepared
When
When Day,
Day, date
date and
and
time
time
What
What The
The position,
position, job
job
description
description and
and required
required
skills
skills
Where
Where -- Location,
Location, office,
office,
room.
room. Journey
Journey details
details
Who
Who Who
Who is
is
interviewing?
interviewing?
What
What to
to wear
wear Smart
Smart
business
business wear
wear
Know
Know all
all the
the companys
companys
information
information products,
products,
news
news updates
updates and
and
developments
developments
Re-read
Re-read the
the application
application
and
and CV
CV
Print
Print and
and take
take along
along
extra
extra copies
copies of
of your
your CV
CV
and
and any
any other
other necessary
necessary
documents.
documents.

Prepare,
Prepare, Plan
Plan and
and
Practice,
Practice,
Have
Have an
an elevator
elevator speech
speech
prepared,
practice
prepared, practice until
until it
it
rolls
rolls off
off your
your tongue.
tongue.
Prepare
Prepare aa list
list of
of likely
likely
questions
questions and
and answers,
answers, go
go
through
through until
until you
you remember
remember
how
how to
to answer
answer each
each question
question
Prepare
Prepare examples
examples to
to
demonstrate
demonstrate and
and showcase
showcase
your
skills
your skills
Prepare
Prepare aa list
list of
of questions
questions to
to
ask
ask
Prepare
Prepare and
and practice
practice saying
saying
your
your leaving
leaving statement
statement after
after
the
the interview
interview
Ask
Ask your
your friend,
friend, aa collegue
collegue
or
or aa mentor
mentor to
to conduct
conduct aa
mock
mock interview,
interview, record
record and
and
play
back.
Analyse,
refine,
play back. Analyse, refine,
repeat
repeat until
until perfect.
perfect.

+++++ Points
Tackling Your Weaknesses in an Interview

Be Honest
Offer Value
Dont Sweat
Be Positive

+++++
Points

Manipulate Through Mind Reading Advanced Interview Techniques

Answer the following questions:

What is 5 + 1?
What is 4 + 2?
What is 2 + 4?
What is 1 + 5?
What is 3 + 3?
Say out loud, Blue, Orange, Black
What is the first vegetable you can think off?

+++++
Points

Techniques Will Empower You

To Read The Interviewer

1. Pupil Sizes
2. Hand Gestures
3. Finger tapping
4. Nodding Dog
5. The Shoulder Shrug
6. Crossed Arms Across the
Body
7. Touching Lips
8. Hand Clench
9. Hand Supporting Head

* when reading body language it is best to look for clusters of body language and
gestures before creating an opinion as one single clue can be easily
misinterpreted as an interviewer may scratch their nose (which could be taken as
a cue that the interviewer is lying) because they had an itchy nose.

Dress code
No one likes to judge a book by its cover but
first impressions are best impressions

Think of grooming/dress as one more media for you to market

yourselves
You will not get the job just because you wore a suit but you might
certainly miss an opportunity if you dont

Groom well
Clipped nails, Clean shave, groomed hair etc.
Mild deodorant no cologne, minimal jewelry
Well pressed shirt and well polished shoes
Suit color should be black, dark blue or gray; white or off-white
shirt and dark tie with a good knot

d
n
a

s
r
o
l
o
c
d
u
o
s
l
e
i
t
d
i
y
h
s
Avo
fa

ew Do
Intervi

Do your rese
arch and kno
w the type o
will be encou
f job intervie
ntering. Prep
w you
a
r
e
interview
and practice
for the
Do take
a practice ru
n to the loca
having the in
tion where y
terview or
ou are
b
e sure you kn
where it is an
ow exactly
d how long it
Do dress
t
a
k
e
s
to
get there.
the part for t
h
e
jo
b
,
And do err on
the company
, the industry
the side of c
.
onservatism.
sure, you sho
If
y
u
o
ld
u
r
c
e
o
n
n
sider dressin
ot
Do plan
g conservati
to arrive abo
vely.
ut 15 minute
a job intervie
s
e
a
rl
y
. Late arrival
w is never ex
for
Do greet
cusable.
the reception
ist or assista
respect. This
nt with court
is where you
esy and
Do bring
m
a
k
e
y
o
u
r
first impress
extra CVs an
ion.
d your skills
interview.
Portfolio to t
he
Do greet
the interview
er(s) by title
last name if
(Ms., Mr., Dr.
you are sure
) and
of the pronu
not sure, do
nciation. (If y
ask the rece
oure
ptionist abou
pronunciatio
t the
n before goin
Do shake
g into the int
erview.
hands firmly.
D
o
n
t
have a limp o
handshake!
r sweaty
Do wait
until you are
offered a cha
do remembe
ir before sitti
r body langu
ng. And
a
g
e and postur
and look aler
e: sit upright
t and interes
Do make
ted at all tim
good eye con
es.
tact with you
Do show
r interviewer(
enthusiasm in
s) .
th
Do avoid
e position an
d the compa
using poor la
ny.
nguage, slan
(such as
g, a

w Don

Intervie

Don
t just r
ely
selling
for you on your appli
cation,
.
will ne
cover l
ed to s No matter ho
e
ell you
w qual
Don
rself/sk
ified yo tter or CV to
t excus
do the
ills to t
u are f
e yours
coffee
or the
he inte
elf to g
unless
positio
rviewe
of
y
Don
n, you
r.
t tell jo ou are offere or a cigarette
d.
kes du
a
Don
n
d dont
ring th
t sm o k
ask for
e inter
e befor
your te
tea or
view a
ehand
eth, us
nd don
s
o
e
t
h
intervi
t do a
mouth
at you
ew.
ny imp
wash,
smell l
o
ression
i
Don
r
k
e
h
a
s
ve a br
moke.
s.
t be to
eath m
And do
o softconfide
i
nt befo
brush
spoken
nce.
re the
. A mild
Don
ly force
t ac
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employ t as though y
e proje
ment.
ou wou
cts
Don
ld take
t say a
a
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nything
or are
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desper
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e abou
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Don
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Don
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Describ
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things
a
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nd det
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Don
inctly.
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t bring
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howcas
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Don
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iscuss
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or by s
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omethi
r famil
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Don
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turn it
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if you m ell phone ca
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Getting Desperate In Your Job Search? DON'T!

IT CAN BE SAD....
Reading some applications is quite sad. There are clearly some bright
people who have been ground down. Their spirit's shot, and they're just
going through the motions. You get the sense they've been at this for
months, and rather than try something new, they're recycling old ideas in
the vain hope that if you throw enough 'stuff' at the wall, eventually
something will stick...|
I know people will be finding it difficult to get a new job, and I don't wish
to just give them a hard time, but they're not making themselves look
attractive in the job market. I can imagine things at home might not be
easy, so reporting"Been busy today dear. I've applied for 21
jobs"might give them a sense of purpose, and perhaps even relief that
their partner will see them in a positive light, but I get the clear sense of
people stuck on a treadmill and no way of knowing how to get off.

Getting Desperate In Your Job Search? DON'T!

HOW TO AVOID

DESPERATION:

STOP IT.Take a day off and give yourself a good talking to. What do you want
and are you being realistic? Break the cycle. Freshen your mind.

Don't chase everything. You'll just get knackered and disillusioned.

Define what you want. Bring some focus and WORK ON IT. Dig around. Look on
new websites. Write to potential employers directly (why don't more people do
that?). Use the Advanced Job Search tool on LinkedIn (come on, you do know
where that is? It's your job to know).

Personalise your approach. You can cut and paste, but then insert a name and
a paragraph that's specific to the job for which you're applying. At least make it
LOOK like you're trying.

Focus your efforts on getting the job you want. Don't just apply so you can tell
everybody down the pub on a Friday night that "I've applied for over a hundred
jobs this week, but not got a reply from anybody. Those recruiters are a waste
of time".

Getting Desperate In Your Job Search? DON'T!

Do something different.Don't laugh !!

Build a PowerPoint CV

Start a Blog

Change
Change
your
your
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
photo
photo

Go for
for a
a
Go
long walk
walk
long

STOP. Have
STOP.
Have
a word
word with
with
a
yourself
yourself

Get
Get a
a
haircut
haircut

Use
Use Hashtags
Hashtags to
to your
your
advantage
advantage

Totally
Totally re-write
re-write your
your
CV/resume
CV/resume

Nothing I suggest here is difficult for anybody. Nor does

it need to costs anything (Except the haircut but you
need the professional help). You just have to make an
effort. Its down to you.

nterview Questions

he ones to prepare for

Tell me about yourself

What do you know about our organisation?
Why are you the right person for the job?
Strengths?
Weaknesses or areas of improvement?
Ambition?
What values can you add?
Your past achievements and examples?
Technical details?
A difficult work problem that you solved?
Your own questions to the hiring managers?
Leaving statement?

emonstrate Your Skills

se the STAR method
Situation: give an example of a
situation you were involved in
that resulted in a positive
outcome
Task: describe the tasks
involved in that situation
Action: talk about the various
actions involved in the situations
task
Results: what results directly
followed because of your actions

Answers to most asked

questions:
Tell me something about yourself

What are your strengths?

within seconds of your arrival in the

interview room.
Do not be caught unawares so that you
do not provide a waffling or muffled
response. This is a wonderful
opportunity to set the scene and fully
outline your capabilities and attributes.
So, write a two-minute sales pitch that
embodies each of your skills. Keep your
message to the point and do not
include unnecessary information.
Practice aloud until it rolls off your
tongue!

What are your strengths? This is

another popular, almost an inevitable
question. It may come in a variety of
other guises, but they all mean the
same thing.
Using the information you have
prepared regarding your skills, the
answer should be obvious.
Give your answers without any
hesitation, list your skills in order of
importance for the job you are after
one after the other and provide each
with evidence using the STAR
method.

Part
1
The invitation question often comes

Answers to most asked

questions:
Possible weaknesses or areas
Your own questions for the
of improvements:
Part
2

There are both positive and

negative aspects to any interviews
tactic. As expected, the first will
explore your strengths to see why
you are the right person for the job
while the second will probe your
weakness or areas of
improvements to see if you are not
a suitable candidate.
The strategy here is to quickly
satisfy the recruiters doubts, but
also to immediately direct the
interviewer to a relevant Prime
Selling Point that should diffuse the
perceived weakness.

hiring manager(s):
Interviewers will always ask if
you have questions for them.
Create the right impression by
preparing at least one question
for them.
Waste no further opportunities to
promote your keenness at
securing the job. Get a question
from your research into the
company and its activities, and
strongly connect it to your skills.
Your question can concern future
training, technical matters, new
products or anything to
demonstrate your ability and
illustrate your skills.

Answers to most asked

questions:
Part 3
What do co-workers say about you?
Be prepared with a quote or two from
co-workers. Either a specific
statement or a paraphrase will work.
Jill Clark, a co-worker at Smith
Company, always said I was the hardest
workers she had ever known.
It is as powerful as Jill having said it at
the interview herself.

Why do you want to work for this

organization?
This may take some thought and
certainly, should be based on the
research you have done on the
organization. Sincerity is extremely
important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term
career goals.

What kind of salary do you

need?
A loaded question. A nasty little
game that you will probably lose if
you ask or answer first. So, do not
answer it. Instead, say something
like,
Thats a tough question. Can you
tell me the range for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer,
taken off guard, will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on
the details of the job. Then give a
wide
range.

Answers to most asked

questions:
Explain how you would be an
asset to this organization

Leaving statement after the

interview:

You should not be anxious for this

question. It gives you a chance to
highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being
discussed. Give a little advance
thought to this relationship.

It is important to prepare the scene

for getting off the interview chair.
Visualize gathering your
belongings, rising with a smile, a
firm handshake with a friendly but
business like parting statement:
Thank you for your time. I have
enjoyed the interview and feel that
it is been very useful. It has
increased my interest in the job
and confirmed my ability to be of
value to your company.
Remember that you are still
creating a lasting impression that
will get you noticed and
remembered.

Part 4

What motivates you to do your

best on the job?
This is a personal trait that only you
can say, but good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

ever say these 10 things

1. How much does the job pay?
2. What does your company make (or do)?
3. Do not use SLANG words or phrases in
your job interview.
4. What can you do for me; what are the
benefits like vacations, promotions and
bonuses?
5. No profanity or cursing of any kind.
6. No stereotypical language
7. Do not criticize any former employer.
8. If you are asked if you have any questions
dont say No.
9. I dont have any weaknesses
10.Dont tell them your life story.

Your own question

Do you have any questions for us/me?
Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will be an asset
to the organization are good.

How soon will I be able to be productive?

What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
What are my key objectives for this role in the first 6 months?
What opportunities are there for me to utilize and develop my skills
further
What are the challenges of this role?
Do you have any reservation about my ability to do the job?
What is expected of me in the first 3 months?
What is the next step after this interview?

teps to Success
Plan, prepare, prepare and prepare
Dress the part
Get your message across perfectly
practice, practice, practice
Be enthusiastic
Be positive
Be ready to impress
Review, learn and improve

ter the interview action plan

w and Learn
What went well, list them and congratulate yourself
What were the questions you werent prepared for and
how could you have answered them?
Are there any improvements you can make?
How can you work on these areas of improvements?
Document all of the findings and while you wait to hear
back, get prepared for the next interview.

te
o
n
u s
o
y ur
k
n ho
a
th 24
a in
d
n ith
e
S
w

ACE THE INTERVIEW

If you think you can, or think
you cannot, you are absolutely
right!

Questions
Speaker : Anila Chandra Kuppthan