Tips to Crack Job Interviews : Tips to Crack Job Interviews
An overview of the session : An overview of the session The two hour session (two sessions of 1 hour each) will focus on:
Preparation prior to the interview
Reviewing your resume
Preparing your pitch
Updating yourself on the recent events / news / updates in your field.
Getting ready for the interview
Researching about the company
Researching about the interviewer
Dressing up for the interview
Facing the interview
Managing first impression
Establishing connection with the interviewer
Answering questions
Asking questions about the role and company
Closing the discussion
Follow-up of the interview
Writing a thank-you note
Providing the information promised during the interview et.c
Reviewing your resume : Reviewing your resume Typically a resume gets about 30 seconds of any recruiters attention at first glance.
Things to keep in mind:
Resume is a document that should tell about your strengths.
Resume should clearly highlight your education, experience / projects.
Resume should not contain anything that you can not explain well.
Reviewing your resume : Reviewing your resume Presenting your Resume:
Please use non-cursive fonts. Also do not use different kinds of fonts.
Do not use flowery language or unnecessary jargon. C:\Documents and Settings\abc\Desktop\wiziq\badresume.doc
The look and feel of the resume should be professional and mature. C:\Documents and Settings\abc\Desktop\wiziq\good resume.doc.rtf
Make sure that it is not giving a cluttered look.
Resume should not be more than 2-3 pages. Less is more.
Preparing your pitch : Preparing your pitch Answer the following questions for yourself:
Why should you be hired. What is special about you.
What is interesting about you
How would you contribute if you are hired.
What have you learnt in your past jobs that you will bring on table in the next one.
What ‘Professional Qualities’ are you committed to.
Updating yourself on the recent events / news / updates in your field : Updating yourself on the recent events / news / updates in your field Interviewers always favor a candidate who is updated and knows the latest about the field.
Try to be a member of a professional body.
Regularly Google your area of expertise.
Subscribe to professional magazines.
Join online discussion forums in your area of expertise.
Getting ready for the interview : Getting ready for the interview
Researching about the company : Researching about the company Never attend an interview without spending at least 4-5 hours on the company website.
Look for the following areas on the website:
About company’s mission and values.
About company’s products and services
About company’s clients.
Look at the balance sheet and see the trends. After all you are going to invest your precious ‘life’ in the company.
Look at the ‘career’ and ‘working at’ sections. These will give you clues about values of the company.
Researching about the interviewer : Researching about the interviewer Always try to find out as much information as possible about the interviewer
You can ask your consultant to tell you about the person who is going to interview you.
Find out about his/her role, designation, tenure in organization,
His/her concerns, values, what kind of people s/he has been rejecting
How long the position is open, how many people have been thru the interview
Google on the person.
Dressing up for the interview : Dressing up for the interview Remember the rule – first impression is the last one.
Most hiring decision happen at the moment you walk in the interview room, rest of the time is spent in validating the decision.
Dressing up for the interview : Dressing up for the interview The safest dress:
Dark formal trousers.
Light color formal shirt.
Matching shoes.
If interviewing with a non-IT company – wear a tie.
For women – formal Indian or Western
Don’ts:
Casual dressing of jeans and t-shirt , Chappls.
Unshaven, unkempt look.
Flowery or too jazzy dress of any kind. Sober is the rule.
Facing the interview : Facing the interview
Managing first impression : Managing first impression First impression must be of a person who is ‘Charming’ not ‘Alarming’.
Wear a pleasant smile.
Repeat ‘Great’ – five times before entering the room.
Walk steadily – no need to hurry.
Keep your papers handy – avoid any fumbling.
Sit straight – no slouch or too relaxed a posture.
Managing first impression : Managing first impression Some opening questions:
Was it difficult to find the place, or hope you did not have to wait too long.
Answer should be short and positive. No one is interested in long answer or your story on how you reached. Every one wants to get down to business.
Key rule maintain the pleasantness of interaction.
The first thing people assess ‘Are you a nice person to work with’
Establishing connection with the interviewer : Establishing connection with the interviewer Rule -1:People hire a person only if they ‘like’ the person.
Rule -2: the most likable person is one you see in the mirror every day.
Rule -3: the next likable person is who is similar to you.
Establishing connection with the interviewer : Establishing connection with the interviewer First connection is the exchange of greetings. Remain sharp but not overpowering.
To start the ball rolling you can appreciate office décor / location or the service quality you noticed while waiting etc.
If you are going late in the evening – appreciate the time interviewer has taken out to meet you.
Establishing connection with the interviewer : Establishing connection with the interviewer Your response to opening questions of the interviewer
Classic opening question – ‘tell me something about you’ – This question has two purposes – interviewer needs time to go over your profile, s/he want to know you as a person.
Response should be well rehearsed, it should include the following
Brief information about your native place, family members. Quickly move to:
Your education, your special interest etc.
Make the above information ‘Interesting’
Answering questions : Answering questions Listen and understand the question well before launching the response.
Remain pleasant and interested in the conversation.
Keep the attitude of ‘establishing a friendship’ with the interviewer.
Keep your answer to the point and do not go in circles.
Answering questions : Answering questions In case you do not know the answer, do not fake.
Accept that you do not know and let the interviewer know your area of expertise.
Answer questions with ‘Examples’ from your experience.
Share anecdotes from the past similar situations
Some classic questions : Some classic questions Why do you want to move from your current organization?
Why do you want to join us?
How would you describe your current supervisor?
How would you describe your current team?
What is your career aspiration?
Asking questions about the role and company : Asking questions about the role and company Most interviewer ask you ‘do you have any questions?’
Right questions to ask:
About companies future growth plans?
About key challenges in the ‘role’ that you are being interviewed for?
Wrong questions to ask:
Compensation, grade, promotion, benefits etc. – the time for these question is much later and with HR team.
Closing the discussion : Closing the discussion Typical closing statement from interviewer:
“Ok, we will get back to you”.
You must:
Ask ‘before we close, how would you rate me on your requirement?’ This gives you two things:
You get an assessment of how the interview went.
Gives you the opportunity to correct any inappropriate impressions.
Thank the person for the time taken out.
Follow-up on interview : Follow-up on interview
Writing a thank-you note : Writing a thank-you note Most interviewers give you their card.
Write a professionally worded thank-you note.
Providing the information promised during the interview etc : Providing the information promised during the interview etc Promptly send any information that you promised during the interview.