Just received a phone call
from YZX Corporation. "I'm delighted to inform you that you have been
short-listed for interview.“ Adrenalin runs pumping, you become nervous
and tensed. Relax and take it easy!!! Cool down your nerves and prepare
an Interview Cheat Sheet. Cheat Sheet is in fact the planning of an
interview attendance. Interviews can be scary experiences and the only
way to quell your fears is to memorize the Cheat Sheet in a skilled
manner. In our country except few Executives, most of the job seekers
attend an interview without taking any serious preparation.
It's a good idea
to get some practice. When you prepare for an interview it's important
not just to practice what you have to say, but how you say it. The best
way to see how you appear to others is to practice in front of a mirror.
You can also videotape yourself and ask friends for feedback. The more
prepared you are, the more relaxed and confident you'll feel - and
appear.
Arrange a mock interview session with your friend and tell him
to give honest feedback on how you look and sound. You can rehearse the
details all you like, but you won't be able to disguise the facial
reddening, sweating and toe curling. Remember whatever preparation you
take, during the interview nothing can prevent the butterflies flying
in your stomach, the dryness in your throat and the pounding of your
heart. Most people have no idea how other people see them. They don't
see their habitual expressions and they can't tell if their words are
backed up by the tone of their voice and posture.
Remember one thing,
no one is going to kill you. The worst thing that can happen is that
you don't get the job. Take sensible precautions: wear something
comfortable, leave yourself plenty of time to get there, use the toilet
before you go in and ask for a glass of water in case your lips stick to
your teeth (not from the Board Members but the Clerk or
Receptionist!!!). A few quiet deep breathing exercises will make you
look and feel less agitated.
Before going to the interview,
visualize a successful interview. Just sit relaxed and imagine that you
are confidently and calmly replying to all questions one after another.
The idea is to make you feel more relaxed.
Don’t predict
that you'll be offered a job after just one interview, so you're
probably going to have to go through the process all over again. During
your long career, you’ll face many more nerve-racking interviews, unless
you opt to stay in the same job for life. The positive side is that you
will get better at it - practice doesn't make perfect, but it helps.
And comfort yourself with this thought: in a few years' time it might be
you sitting on the other side of the desk and conducting interview
sessions.
Days Before the Interview
•
Launch your preparation by finding out as much about the company as
possible. Try to find the company’s website (if any) which is likely to
be full of background information, history and up-to-date news. Drop the
information into conversation at your interview.
• Prepare your 60-second personal statement: Your answer to the, "Tell me about yourself," question.
•
Write at least five success stories to answer behavioral interview
questions. One way to do this is by mind mapping - write down a question
that occurs to you and think about how you'd answer it positively.
("Tell me about a time when…" or "Give me an example of a time…").
• List questions to ask the interviewer about the job, the company and the industry (Anything you want to know about us?)
• "What are the most enjoyable and the least enjoyable aspects of the role?"
• "Is there a chance for promotion in the future?"
• "Can you please tell me how the role relates to the overall structure of the organisation?"
• "In what way is performance measured and reviewed?"
•
"What are the most important issues that you think your organisation
will face?" or "You have recently introduced a new
product/service/division/project; how will this benefit the
organisation?"
• "May I tell you a little more about my particular
interest in communicating with clients/developing new ideas/implementing
better systems?"
• "Do you have any doubts about whether I am suited to this position?"
Here are two of my favorite Qs.
1.
"Is there a chance for promotion in the future?" This is a classic
question and it can emphasize a determination to make progress and to do
so over the long term.
2. "Can you please tell me how the role
relates to the overall structure of the organization?" With this
question you are drawing attention to a preference for teamwork. It
looks as though you want to know where you would fit in and how your
contribution would affect the rest of the company.
• Study the salary structure of the company and determine your worth.
• Determine your salary needs based on your living expenses -- what is your bottom line?
Mind
it, the company has already a salary structure in mind. Unless you
prove yourself exceptional, they wont change their stance. A little
lying helps sometimes, but its unwise to shoot any fantasy figure of the
current salary structure.
• Get permission from your references to use their names.
Before You Go to the Interview
1. Do you look professional? Check yourself in the mirror; part of your confidence will come from looking good.
2. Carry these items to the interview:
• Several copies of your resume on quality paper.
• A copy of your references.
• A pad of paper on which to take notes (notes are optional).
Prepare answers to the most common interview questions:
• Tell me about yourself.
• Why did you leave or are you leaving your last position?
• What do you know about this company?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• What has been your most significant achievement?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your salary expectations?
• If you were the boss, what would you change about this company?
Upon Arrival
1.
Arrive early -- enter the building 10 minutes before your appointment.
Start from your place with at least one hour in hand. Thanks to the
terrible street jams of this city.
2. Review your prepared stories and answers.
The
Recruitment Team’s sole responsibility is to ensure that each interview
serves a clearly defined and distinct purpose. A job-hunter has to face
a testing of his intellectual capacity and management skills and
personality. Think beforehand about the questions that are likely to
come up.
3. Go to the restroom and check your appearance one last time.
4. Announce yourself to the receptionist in a professional manner.
5. Stand and greet your interviewer with a hearty -- not bone-crushing -- handshake.
6. Smile and look into the interviewer's eyes.
During the Interview
1. Try to focus on the points you have prepared without sounding rehearsed or stiff.
2. Relax and enjoy the conversation. Learn what you can about the company.
3. Ask questions and listen; read between the lines.
4. At the conclusion, thank the interviewer and determine the next steps.
Final Tips
Let
me share one of the interviews I attended. I had done some homework and
was confident that I could answer any questions the interviewer might
throw at me. Then fate took a hand and it all went horribly wrong:
"I
knocked firmly on the door, walked in, smiled and sat down. The
interview was going brilliantly until I glanced down and noticed that
blue inks had rushed out my fountain pen and the cuff was wet with the
blue color. The ink of the fountain pen had spilled. I froze: had the
interviewer seen? Have I an awkward shape? I shuffled my pocket for a
tissue while continuing to answer his questions. The interviewer
pretended not to notice, but I could tell he wasn't impressed. Needless
to say, I didn't get the job."
However
qualified, experienced and well rehearsed you are, you won't impress an
interviewer if your body lets you down. It wont help if you have the
eloquence of a politician and a strong vocabulary in British accent but
your body language tells different stories.
In
the interview, implement an open posture. Sit up comfortably and lean
slightly forwards so you look alert and attentive. Breathe slowly. And
make sure your clothes aren't too tight: it won't give a good impression
if you make a gesture and your buttons fly off and your tie starts
swaying. Just remember the mnemonic 'ROLE', which stands for Relaxed,
Open, Leaning and Eye contact.
You
have more control of your body language above the waist, so beware of
'leakage' lower down - such as picking your fingers or twitching your
feet. This type of behavior can make you look unconfident.
Just
be you. Don’t make any attempt to lie, overact - or exaggerate - in an
interview. If you say what you mean and mean what you say your verbal
and non-verbal communication will match. Any interviewer is in fact
interested to know whether you can make it.
Tough questions
Some
questions will simply nail you down. No matter how much preparation
you've taken, there are interview questions, which will turn your
well-modulated voice into a gibbering babble. There are some members of
the Board who just enjoy asking silly and irrelevant questions.
The
key to tackle interview questionnaires is remembering that all
interviewers - however fiendishly mean their questions - want to hire
you. They want to fill the post and they want to reassure themselves
they've picked the right person.
Interview pressure can be worse than
anything they throw at you on the job. Some questions tend to pop up
again and again and "Tell me something about yourself”. Resist the urge
to tell them personal dreams! Focus on the three or four key things on
your CV you want them to remember and talk about those.
"One
would ask me something about my degree course, while the other would
leap forward and say something like 'do you mean to say the course
contained no business communication? How will you be able to do this job
without it!' The feelings will be like integrity being challenged and
the candidate will become quite defensive, crossing arms and almost
start arguing. In fact it’s a testing of the candidate under pressure -
and it works."
Many questions will leave you gaping and blank. Keep
in mind that the motivation for all questions boils down to three basic
creeds: Can you do the job, will you do the job and will you fit in
here? Satisfy them with the first by telling them about your skills and
abilities, the second by demonstrating enthusiasm and the third with
your track record of teamwork will help keep you focused under pressure.
Here's how to answer two of the deadliest interview questions.
1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What not to say:
Complete
honesty is not advisable (admitting you have a drink problem won't win
you any points). Say you have no weaknesses and you'll appear arrogant
and devoid of self-awareness. And reciting a long, obviously prepared
list of your admirable qualities won't do you any favors either.
What to say:
The
interviewer is looking for someone who is realistic about his or her
strengths and candid about his or her weaknesses. You need to come up
with examples to back up your claims of strengths and be able to
describe the actions you take to prevent your weaknesses from
manifesting themselves. So, if for example, being disorganized is your
problem, explain how you've learnt to make lists and prioritize.
2. What achievement are you most proud of?
What not to say:
Acting
in a school drama might be your proudest moment. But the interviewer
doesn't really want to know that. The general rule is: if it isn't a
skill relevant to the job you're going for (or it portrays you in a bad
light), leave it out.
What to say:
Think
of something you achieved using skills you can transfer to the
workplace. Have you ever worked under pressure to meet a deadline or
organize an event? Or have you managed a budget, however tiny, either at
university or during a job? Show off the skills you have. Save
sentiment for your family members.
After the Interview
So
now what will you do? Mutter prayers, silently weep with the feelings
in your mind, “all are lost “, or have confidence about the next call-up
and keep on applying to other prospective vacancies. By the way don’t
forget to write a follow-up thank-you letter, reminding the interviewer
of your qualities.
Source: Internet
