Successful Interviews

Making the most of the interview

Interviews

• Interview = A meeting with an objective

• Employer’s objective is to find the best person for the job
• Employer: reviews candidate’s experience and abilities
• Can you do the job? (skills, abilitie, qualifications)
• Will you do the job? (interest, attitude & motivation)
• How will you fit into the organisation? (personality)
• You: impress employer and assess position on offer
• What does this position offer me?
• How does it fit with my career plans?
• Congratulations - you have passed the first hurdle
• You must prove that you are the most suitable candidate for
this position
Telephone Interviews

• Prepare as thoroughly as for ‘real’ interview

• Select comfortable, private, quiet place
• Advise flatmates re answering phone
• Have copy of CV and company information
• Have pen and paper at hand
• Prepare for usual interview questions
• Practice on phone
• Record answers
• Try standing
• Smile and use gestures
• Avoid monotones
• Be yourself
Other Types Of Interviews

• Rotating
• Like one-to-one with different interviewers
• Group
• 6-8 candidates
• Group observed while discussing topic
• Be aware of group interaction
• Panel
• 2-5 interviewers, or as many as 13!!
• Try to identify different roles
• Respond to interviewer, include others through eye contact
• May involve presentation
Assessment Centres

• Company premises or neutral venue

• Includes social or informal events
• Meeting with recent graduates or managers
• Activities include:
• Group exercises
• Practical tasks and exercises
• Report writing
• Oral Presentations
• Psychometric assessments
• Interviews
• Simulates real work environment
Preparation is the key to success
• Review own skills, experiences and qualities
• Check CV
• Anticipate questions and identify relevant examples
• Prepare key selling points
• Research organisation
• Websites, reports, articles, company literature, etc
• Contacts with knowledge of organisation or sector
• Relevant articles in the press
• Personal visit or telephone call
• Research job and occupational area
• Job description – or similar
• Current issues
• Prepare your questions
• Practice
Watch the Body Language

• First impressions very powerful

• Halo effect or Devil effect
• Allow time to relax
• Dress appropriately
• Entrance, introductions & handshake
• Smile and make eye contact
• Be aware of own movements
• Watch body language of interviewer
Typical Questions

• About you
• Tell me about yourself - Bring me up to date with your CV?
• Why did you choose that particular degree programme?
• What experience have you had that is relevant to this post?
• What would you consider your major achievements to date?
• About the job
• What interests you about this job?
• What do you know about this organisation?
• What other options are you considering?
• How do you see your career developing – 5 years?
• If you were Head of Department, what would be your priorities?
• General knowledge
• What do you think of the New Education policy?
• What’s your opinion of the Farmers Bill 2020?
Other Type of Questions

• “What if” Questions

• No experience - how are you likely to respond to a
situation
• Probing Questions
• How exactly did you deal with the situation?
• How did you know it worked?
• How did you feel about the outcome?
• Could you have handled it differently?
Competency-based Interviews

• Company identifies key skills required for job

• Designs questions to elicit evidence of skills
• Emphasis on past behaviour as predictor of success
• Teamwork: Describe a team project you worked on. What problems arose?
How did you deal with them?
• Communication Skills: Describe situation when you had to persuade
others to support your view. Give an example of any reports you’ve written which
illustrate your writing skills
• Interpersonal skills: What kinds of people do you find it difficult to work
with? How do you handle those situations?
• Taking Responsibility: Describe a time when you took responsibility to
achieve a challenging goal
• Problem-solving:Tell about a time when you had several tasks to manage
at one time with conflicting deadlines.
Preparing for Competency Interview

• Identify the competencies required for job

• Review job description or ask for information
• Define each competency in behavioural terms
• Identify past experience to illustrate how you
demonstrated that behaviour
• Prepare examples for each competency
• Practice talking about your experience
• Try to give a complete answer - STAR
Responding to Competency Q

• Q Give me an example of a problem you encountered. How

did you approach it. What was the outcome?
• STAR response
• S: Describe the situation
• T: Explain the task/problem that arose
• A: What action did you take?
• R: What was the result or outcome?
• What did you learn from this experience?
Matching Skills to Requirements

Employer needs Your evidence

Communication Presentation to class
Team work Example from Coop
Leadership Class rep, Committee
Initiative Fundraising for charity
Customer Care Working in Superquinn
IT Designed website
Commercial awareness Business pages
Your Answers

• Listen carefully, seek clarification

• Illustrate answers with real examples and
evidence
• Be positive – constructive criticism
• Keep answers specific and succinct
• Take time to respond
• Be alert to interviewer’s body language
• Speak clearly, smile and show enthusiasm
• Know what you want to say, and find the
opportunity
Do’s

• Do take a practice run to the location where you are having the
interview
• If presented with a job application, do fill it out neatly, completely
and accurately
• Do bring extra resumes to the interview
• Do greet the interviewer & do shake hands firmly
• Do wait until you are offered a chair before sitting.
Do’s

• Do make good eye contact with your interviewer(s)

• Do show enthusiasm in the position and the company
• Do make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer
in a factual sincere manner
• Do stress your achievements
DON’TS

• Do avoid controversial topics

• Don’t ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly
and succinctly
• Don’t say anything negative about former
colleagues, supervisors, or employers
• Don’t answer questions with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Explain whenever possible. Describe those things
about yourself that showcase your talents, skills
and determination. Give examples
Don'ts

• Don’t inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement, or other

benefits until after you’ve received an offer
• Don’t bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems
• Don’t say your past history, hence it is available in the C.V. itself
 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Tell me about yourself
Why did you leave your previous job?
What sort of job you are looking for?
What appeals to you about this job?
Why do you think you’d be good at this job?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
Would you accept this job if it were offered to you?
What do you know about this company?
If you take this job, how long would you stay?
Don’t you think you may be too
old/young/inexperienced?
 Tell me about yourself
The most often asked question in interviews
Tell your academic record
Your skills
Your qualification etc.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position
you are interviewing for
Time: 3 minutes
Prepare written answer for this question and rehearse
What do you think you do be good at this
job?
• The best is to say general and say something like: A job where I love
to work, like the people, can contribute more to the company
• A job which is challenging, a job which gives me opportunities to
prove knowledge and skills
What appeals to you about this job?

• To achieve through heights and also to learn, work hard and quench
my thirst of knowledge in the related field, which I am going to work
• To be unique in decision making skills in the future
What are your strengths ?
• Strength of your subject knowledge
• Your ability to prioritize,
• Your problem –solving skills,
• Your ability to work under pressure,
• Your ability to focus on projects,
• Your professional expertise,
• Your leadership skills and
• your positive attitude.
What are your weakness ?

• Here you have to tell your weakness As strength

• E.g. Always I will be committed to the assigned work, which I expect
from my co-workers, this leads to affects the interpersonal
relationship but the outcome of the work will be satisfied.
This example suits to the team leader.
Would accept this job, if were offered to you ?

• Yes, certainly I will accept this job do the best to the company or
organization.

• No, you have give reason.

 What do you know about this company ?

• You have to go to the website and look for the details like company,
products, services, year of starting the company, their annual reports,
agenda.
• How many workers are working in that company, volume of the business
future plan of business and other specific details .
If you take this job,how long would you
stay ?

• You set high standards for yourself and meet them.

• Your outcomes are a success and tell them about you stay in that
company.
Don’t you think you may be too old/
young/inexperienced ?

• Admit that you have no experience. However explain your academic

strength.
Qualities Employers Seek

• Good all-round intelligence

• Enthusiasm, commitment and motivation
• Good communication skills
• Team work ability
• Ability to solve problems
• Capacity to work hard
• Initiative and self-reliance
• Balanced personality
Copmpetencies required by X Company

• Adaptability
• Integrity
• Innovation
• Teamwork
• Initiative
• Drive for Results
• Know the Business
• Open Exchange of Information
• Makes Difficult Decisions
Your Questions

• Training programmes
• Career development opportunities
• Types of projects & responsibilities
• Reporting structure
• Performance appraisal
• Profile of staff
• Questions about topics raised in interview
• What happens next?
What creates a bad impression

• Poor personal appearance

• Negative attitude – evasive, using excuses
• Lack of interest and enthusiasm
• Lack of preparation
• Poor knowledge of role
• Failure to give concrete examples of skills
• Over emphasis on money/rewards
• Lack of career plan
 After the Interview
• Review & analyze your performance. Take notes, modify
any items to improve your next interview.
• Send a thank you note to the manager immediately after
the interview. Don’t put this off!
• Make a return visit or a telephone call two or three days
after your interview.
• Reintroduce yourself and remind which job you interviewed for.
• Add any additional thoughts you may not have covered when
interviewed.
• Emphasize your strengths for the job.
• Find out if a hiring decision has been made. If decision has been
made and you’re not it, ask for suggestions for creating a better
impression.
• Thank the interviewer for speaking to you & for his time.
After the Interview

Review own performance

what went well
what went badly
what you wished you had said
prepare for next stage
Invitation to second / final round interviews
assessment centre
psychometric testing
panel interview
Rejection letter / email
if you can request feedback - use it
After Interview

• Thank them for calling you for the interview through a letter
• Indicate that you look forward to hear from them
Interviewer’s Worst Fear
1. If hired, you’ll be incompetent. Or, you’ll need too much
time to learn the job.
2. You won’t take your work seriously and someone must
constantly check your work.
3. That you’ll be lazy, giving only the minimum effort and
have to be told when to do everything.
4. That you’ll frequently call in sick, arrive late, leave early
and constantly ask for raises.
5. That you’re a quitter and you’ll walk out when they need
you.
6. That you’re a constant complainer, a braggart, or
someone who blames others for your mistakes, sloppy
work, etc.
7. That you’re arrogant, rude, pushy, broody, or moody.
8. That you show no pride in your work or appearance.
 Think Like the Interviewer
What kinds of questions will the
What does the manager want to manager ask?
know? That:
• All interviews are different.
• You are the best person to
accomplish his/her 3 goals. • However, since most
interviews are routine,
• You will NOT become his/her there are some routine
“worst fear”. questions you can expect.
• You will make • Areas the manager needs to
• the company better, know about you
• the manager’s life easier, • Education Experience
• the manager become more • General intelligence Skills
successful & look better. • Attitudes Personality
Common Questions/ Answers

• Tell me about yourself. • Tell me about a problem you

Highlight your background as solved on your previous job.
it relates to particular job. Provide information that
• In what ways will your includes problems you have
education or training help you handled, actions you have
in this position? taken and the results- premise
Demonstrate your capacity that past behavior predicts
to make practical application future behavior.
of formal knowledge & Do you prefer to work alone,
training. or do you to prefer to work as
• Why did you specialize in your part of a group?
particular field? Double-edged sword; work
alone could be self starter,
Solicits clues about basic work in group could be team
value system. player. Stress both attributes.
Common Questions/ Answers
• What do you know about our • In a job, what interests you
company? most/least?
Use company research. Relate to the position
• Why are you interested in • Describe your best/worst
working for this company? boss.
Relate your skills to what you Keep it positive.
know about the company. • How do others describe you?
• How does this position fit into • Personal traits &
your future plans? characteristics adjectives
• Where do you see yourself in • What do you consider your
three years? single most noteworthy
Demonstrate ambition, accomplishment in your last
potential and flexibility. job?
Questions
• Give me one good reason I • Give me two good reasons I
should hire you. should not hire you.
• What qualifications do you • What would you most like
have for this job? to improve about yourself?
• If you were hired, what • What could you have done
ideas/talents could you better on your last job?
contribute to this position? • What can you tell me that
• What do you consider your best illustrates your
most outstanding quality? personal drive and
• What evidence can you cite motivation.
that demonstrates your job
effectiveness?
 “Hey, I’ve Got A Job Interview!”

• What’s going to happen during the interview?

• Who is conducting the interview?
• What is the interview intended to accomplish?
• How long will the interview last?
• Where will the interview be conducted?
• How will I be evaluated?
 Answers

Strengths Weaknesses - probing

• Identify your key strengths • technical shortcomings
related to job description (knowledge & skills to perform
• Provide evidence of strength job)
utilization (as demonstrated in • interpersonal shortcomings
major contributions, job (ability to relate to others)
success) • personal shortcomings
• Compare yourself with peers (personal traits that influence
(co-workers, other applicants) your effectiveness)
Pretend you’re the employer, Weakness control: turn into
what qualities match job positive
demands.
 Your Questions ??
• Interview is a two-way process. • Company Questions
Prepare questions. • Is there a career path? Or Where
• Managers want to hear intelligent, can I go from here, assuming that I
perform the job’s responsibilities?
well-thought questions. • What is the overall structure of the
• Company Questions department where this position is
• What are the plans of the company located?
for the future? • What are some of the challenges
• How would someone with my and priorities of the company?
background fit into the company
plan?
 Your Questions ??
• Job Questions • Job Questions
• Were there any questions I didn’t • To whom does this position
provide an adequate answer? report?
• Is this a new or replacement job? • What is the background of my
• As you think about this position, potential boss?
what aspects of this job could be • What qualifications does your ideal
performed better? candidate need?
• What do you visualize as the major • What are the opportunities for
opportunity areas for this position? personal growth? Or If you were to
offer me this job, where could I
expect to be in 5 years?
 Your Questions
Compensation Issues
• Never ask about salary. The company will discuss salary when
appropriate; usually reserved for the second interview or
when there is a firm offer. When the offer is made, ask: Is
there a sign-on bonus or commission in addition to salary?
How often are the reviews?
• Benefits questions. Company benefits are often worth 25% to
50% or more of cash salary offered. Ask: When am I eligible
for the plan? Do I have a choice of benefits available?
• Negotiations. Everything can be negotiated after you have
received an offer. Know the market and request
consideration in terms of salary, benefits and perks.
 Legal Questions
Item Can be asked Cannot be asked
Age Whether you are above Age, birth date, birth
minimum or maximum age certificate, high-school
graduation date
Criminal Conviction record, if it Arrest record
Record relates to ability to do job

Disabilities Anything that relates to Anything that does not

ability to do the job relate to ability to do job
Marital/ Nothing Anything
Family Status
National Whether candidate can Anything
Origin legally work in the US
Race, Religion, Nothing Anything
Sex
 Tips
• Bathe and use deodorant-antiperspirant before
the interview.
• Bring only essential items to the interview (resume, references,
portfolio, datebook, transcripts of college work, licenses, etc.).
Organize items so can refer to them readily in interview.
• Know location of office and how to get there. Make a trial trip
getting to the interview.
• Arrive 15 minutes early for actual interview.
• Be pleasant, polite and friendly but businesslike to everyone you
meet, including office staff.
• Check your appearance before going in.
• If you have bad breath, take a breath mint.
 Professional Dressing
Dress Up even if Casual Environment

For women For men

• Wear a suit, skirt and tailored jacket, • Wear a suit, blue or gray, in
dress with sleeves, or dress with conservative style. Blazer, slacks
jacket in conservative style, color and shirt with collar but w/o tie
and fabric. Be feminine, but are acceptable in few instances.
business-like. Do not dress sensually Freshly pressed.
unless sex appeal is part of the job. • Shirts solid color; ties
• Hair in conservative style; nails conservative.
manicured, short to mid-length, • Eliminate earrings, flashy jewelry
clear or light color polish. or strong after-shave.
• Keep make-up and accessories to • Conservative style hair, beard.
minimum; less is more.
• Dress style shoes, polished and
repaired.
 Non-verbal

• Always offer your hand; use a firm, but not

crushing handshake.
• Use eye contact without staring; avoiding contact is a sign of
deception, disinterest, or lack of confidence.
• If a place of sitting is not indicated, choose a chair closest to
the interviewer.
• Sit relaxed, but do not slouch. Leaning slightly forward shows
interest, but do not lean on desk or knees.
• Use hands naturally to emphasize a point; do not cover
mouth, hold your head or twist hands.
Summary Deadly Interview Mistakes
1. Arrives late for the interview.
2. Indicates he is late because the directions he was given
were not good.
3. Looks disheveled and inappropriately dressed.
4. Slouches in his seat.
5. Does not maintain good eye contact with interviewer.
6. Assumes he will find out about the company in the
interview. Asks interviewer “What do you do here?”
7. Does not link what he can do with the needs of the
employer.
8. Brags about how great he is , but cites no evidence.
Summary Deadly Interview Mistakes
9. Responses have no clear focus, seem disorganized and
rambling.
10. Is low-key; does not project enthusiasm nor appear to
want the job; what are you going to do for me attitude.
11. Answers most questions with short “yes” and “no”.
12. Appears desperate for a job – any job.
13. Calls the interviewer by his first name repeatedly or uses
the wrong name.
14. Badmouths his former boss and the company.
15. Gives memorized responses and forgets parts.
16. Asks “How am I doing? Are you going to hire me?”