The following tips have been created to assist in successful interviews! Here are some suggestions to help in preparation for your interviews. We ask that you review them carefully. Feel free to print these lists out to review at your convenience. We hope that you find something here that will help make your interviews more successful. The Five “P’s”: For successful career development, always be: • • • • • Punctual Polite Professional Positive Pro-Active
Telephone Interviews:
Telephone interviews help the employer to determine who they should take their time to sit down with at length, but if you're local to the job, you should attempt to schedule personal interviews to give a better first impression than they can possibly get from talking to you over the phone. A telephone interview is similar to an open book test. Notes are mandatory, not optional. In order to do a good telephone interview, six things are required: • A resume or a written data sheet on yourself (including key accomplishments and achievements) • A list of your strengths • A list of your weaknesses • A list of your specific qualifications for THE POSITION being discussed • A list of questions about the interviewer, the interview process, and the company • A written-down closing statement The resume or data sheet is important so you have a chronological listing of all of employment data, including specific job duties in front of you. Under pressure, people have even forgotten their own names! Luckily, it's right on the resume! Key accomplishments are past achievements which single you out, such as: employee of the month, scholarship, high school/college honors, a significant work project you completed, etc. Write them down! Write down your top five strengths. If the hiring authority only asks for three, that's okay, but you are prepared if he asks for five. Write down your weaknesses. If asked, your weaknesses should be stated like this, "I feel the areas that I would like to improve on are..." Prepare a list of 5 to 10 specific qualifications you have for the particular position being discussed. Do a comparative analysis of your background and THIS position’s job description. Prepare a few questions to ask the hiring authority regarding the company. Write down things that are important to you, i.e., the size of the company, growth potential, future opportunity, how long your potential boss has been with the company, where his or her next step is and why he or she likes the company, etc. Do not discuss salary. Do not bring
up benefits. If salary is brought up by the interviewer, state that you are willing to entertain their best offer. Closing Statements. This is very important. Have something written down so if the telephone interviewer says something in closing that catches you off guard you can close out your interview with a positive ending, such as: “Thanks for giving me the opportunity to discuss this position with you. What’s the next step in the interview process?” “I am very interested in joining your team in this position. Do you need any additional information from me or from Custom Staffing?” “I know I can do a good job for you. Is it possible to discuss this in person soon?"
Before The Face-To-Face Interview:
Do the following ahead of time: • Determine your long term career goals (2/5/10 years) • Research the company by visiting their website, going to the library, etc. • Prepare your QUALIFICATION list of 5 to 10 specific qualifications you have for the position being discussed. Do a comparative analysis of your background and THIS position. • Prepare your business clothes the night before • Prepare a folder with copies of your current resume and your professional reference list (including daytime phone numbers) the day before the interview • Plan to arrive 15 minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable Here are some topics that you might consider addressing during the interview: • • • • • • A detailed description of the position The reason the position is available Anticipated indoctrination and training programs Advanced training programs available for those who demonstrate outstanding abilities Company growth plans Your potential career path within the company
Arrive 15 minutes early. Observe the company’s “personality” while you wait. Be on your BEST manners. If asked to fill out an application form, fill it out in its entirety. Do NOT write “see resume” anywhere on the form. Put “Negotiable” in the salary requirement blank. Greet the interviewer by surname if you are sure of the pronunciation. If you are not, ask for it to be repeated. Shake hands firmly. Smile genuinely. Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright in your chair; look alert and interested at all times. Be a good listener as well as a good talker. Never smoke even if the interviewer smokes and offers you a cigarette. Do not chew gum during your interview. Maintain good eye contact with the employer and don't fidget. Follow the interviewer's leads, but try to get the interviewer to describe the position and the duties to you early in the interview so that you can relate your background and skills to the position. Never answer questions with a simple "yes" or "no." Explain your answers whenever possible. Tell those things about yourself which relate to the situation. Make sure that your good points get across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner. Keep in mind that you alone can sell yourself to an interviewer. Make the interviewer realize the need for you in the organization. Be prepared to answer typical questions like: What kind of job are you looking for? What are your strengths? Your weaknesses? What do you know about our company? Why did you choose your particular vocation? What are your qualifications? Who has been your favorite supervisor? Why? Who has been your least favorite supervisor? Why? Never lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and as "to the point" as possible. Never, ever make derogatory remarks about your present or former employers or companies. Never "over answer" questions. The interviewer may steer the conversation into politics or economics. Since this can become a sticky situation, it is best to answer the questions honestly, trying not to say any more than is necessary. Always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. Never close the door on
opportunity. It is better to be in the position where you can choose rather than the company saying no.
Closing The Face-To-Face Interview:
Ask for the position if you are interested in it. Ask for the next interview if the situation demands. If the position is offered to you and you want it, then accept it on the spot. If you wish some time to think it over, be courteous and tactful in asking for that time. Set a definite date when you can provide an answer. Never be too discouraged if no definite offer is made or a specific salary is discussed. The interviewer will probably want to communicate with the office first, or interview more applicants, before making a final decision. If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that you have already been rejected, don't let your discouragement show. Once in a while an interviewer who is genuinely interested in your possibilities may seem to discourage you in order to test your reaction. Express thanks for the interviewer's time and consideration of you. Ask for the interviewer's business card so you can write a thank you letter as soon as possible.
How to Dress for Work and Interviews
Unless your job requires you to wear a uniform, choosing clothing for work can be difficult. Of course there are industry standards, such as the navy blue suit for accountants and bankers. What do you wear, however, if you work in an industry where there really isn't a typical style of dress? Complicating the matter further are companies that allow more casual attire. How do you keep from crossing over the line from casual to sloppy? What about the job interview? You want to look your professional best, but you also want to appear as if you "fit in". Here are some pointers:
• • • • • •
First and foremost, no matter what you wear, your clothes should be neat and clean. Keep your shoes in good condition. Your hair should be neatly styled. For women: makeup should be subtle. Nails should be clean and neat and of reasonable length. Dress for the job you want.
If you aspire to be a manager, dress like managers in your company do. Although in theory most people love the idea of not having to wear a suit to work, they are often confused by the casual dress policies some employers have instituted over the last few years. Here are some simple rules:
• • •
Casual doesn't mean sloppy. Your clothing should still be neat and clean. You can't go wrong with khakis and a sport shirt or a nice sweater. If you are going to a meeting or making a presentation, may be in order.
When you go on a job interview you want to give the impression that you fit in. One way of doing this is to dress like employees of the company do. If you can, "case the joint" prior to showing up for an interview. By this I mean, hang out in the parking lot or in
front of the building when employees are arriving for or leaving work in order to observe what they are wearing. If you see people dressed in casual attire, remember to take it up a notch. An interview requires more formal dress. While you may not have to wear a suit and tie, you should wear dress pants and a blazer or sport jacket. Why Appearance Matters Maybe it's unjust to judge a book by it's cover, but we all do it. It's human nature. While the person in jeans may be as competent and as intelligent as the one wearing the formal suit, or more so, we do assess these attributes based on appearance. That's not to say you can forget about preparing for a presentation, put on a nice suit, and you'll wow 'em. All the ingredients -- knowledge, preparation, and appearance -- are necessary to make a good impression When you work at home or in an office where casual attire is the norm, it's difficult to get out of that role and into the role of the professional in front of the audience or in front of a television camera. But, if you want to make a good impression, it's worth the effort. Here's what you need to do.
Dressing Your Professional Best
Should you go out and purchase a suit for the one or two times a year you'll have to make a presentation? It's probably a good idea. You should buy something classic. After all, if you're only going to wear the suit a couple of times a year, you don't want it to go out of style too quickly. Women can probably get away with a nice skirt and jacket, while men can wear dress trousers and a jacket. There's also nothing wrong with a pant suit for women. If you're going to be in front of the camera, some special rules apply. Wear neutral colors -- dark blue or grey are good, don't wear large or glitzy jewelry, and wear a button down shirt or a jacket so they have somewhere to clip a microphone. Now about your hair. Your hair should be neat and clean. Try to keep it out of your face. As for makeup (for you women out there), keep it simple. If you're going to be on camera, you should stay away from anything iridescent, frosted, or glittery -- matte is best. As your mother may have told you, sit up straight. When you slouch you look bored. If you're bored, how do you expect your audience to feel? You'll also look more confident if you're sitting or standing up straight. Look like you're happy to be there. Put a smile on your face. Don't fidget, bite your nails, or play with any jewelry you are wearing. Oh yeah -- don't forget to breathe.
Questions the Candidate May Ask in an Interview
1. Why is this position available? (If result of a termination, ask why the person was terminated). 2. What are the most important characteristics you are looking for in a candidate to satisfy this position? 3. What exactly will I be doing? Would you break the position into specific functions? Would you indicate the relative importance of each function by priority? 4. What are some of the common characteristics of employees in this environment? 5. Would you please comment on your style of management and the reporting structure? 6. What is your policy and record regarding promotions from within versus parachuting to fill supervisory/management positions? 7. What other positions exist or are planned with which this position interacts? 8. What is your position regarding financial and other corporations? What is unique and different about this position? 9. Why would a well qualified person chose this position over similar ones in other corporations? What is unique and different about this position? 10. How will you measure my performance? How often? 11. Will my remuneration be tied to performance? 12. Based on the amount of time we have discussed the company, this opportunity and my suitability to it, I find myself interested in taking the next step. What is you assessment of my status for the position? When could we meet again?
QUESTIONS TO EXPECT DURING YOUR INTERVIEW
Below are the list of frequently asked interview questions.
1. Tell me about yourself 2. Why do you want to work for me? 3. What do you expect to be doing ten years from today? 4. How many close friends do you have? 5. Did you like school? 6. Which course did you like best? Why? 7. Which course did you like least? Why? 8. Why do you want to be a ...? 9. Are you willing to relocate? 10. Are you willing to work overtime? 11. What duties do you think this job has? 12. What does your father do for a living? 13. What does your mother do? 14. What problems do you think you'll have in this job? 15. Tell me about your last job. 16. Tell me about your boss. 17. Ever have an argument with your boss? Why not? 18. Why did you leave your last job?
19. Can I call your boss and ask some questions? 20. Can you give me the names of three people I can call for recommendations? 21. Are you good at math? 22. What were your grades in English - can you write clearly? 23. What salary do you expect to earn at age 30, 40, 50 ? 24. How many dependents do you have? 25. Tell me about your childhood. 26. Who do you like best, you mom or dad? 27. Why did you choose my company? 28. How many other companies have your approach? 29. What was your greatest accomplishment? 30. What was your greatest failure? 31. What was you greatest disappointment? 32. What kind of people do you dislike? 33. How much money do you owe? 34. Have you ever been arrested? 35. Do you like to be praised? Why? 36. What do you do on weekends? 37. Do you fear criticism? Why? 38. Would you accept a job in sales? Why? 39. Do you have any friends or relatives who work for us? 40. How did you hear about us? 41. How long have you been looking for work? 42. What kind of salary do you expect? 43. What's you favorite color? 44. What kind of car do you drive? 45. What was the last book you read? 46. Would you like to go back to school? 47. What time do you get up in the morning? 48. What is your favorite TV program? 49. What is your all-time favorite movie? 50. What sports do you participate in? 51. Have you ever tried drugs? 52. At what age would you like to retire? 53. What do you usually drink? 54. Give me two reasons why I should NOT hire you. 55. Give me two reasons why I should hire you. 56. Are you always so nervous? 57. What makes you angry? 58. Got any questions for me?
Regards Rohitkumar Ratilal Patil
Best Of Luck