Secrets of
Successful Job Interview
By
Effective
Management Consultants
Tip No 1
Do some ground work
1)
2)
3)
4)
Visit the company’s website and understand their business
Understand the job responsibilities (Job Description)
Customize your resume (if necessary) to suit the requirements
Carry out a mock-interview in front of a mirror one day prior to
the interview
5) Imagine what questions would be asked and be prepared
to answer those accordingly.
6) Get enough rest to make yourself feel fresh.
Effective
Management Consultants
Tip No 2
Keep your interview kit ready consisting of the following:
1) Appropriate dress, suitable for the position
2) Resume (two copies) with passport size photographs
Do not use Xerox copy of resume
3) Separate file of certificates
4) Good working pen, pencil, eraser, calculator, gum stick
small stapler etc.
5) One small writing pad
6) Fresh breath mint tablets
7) Address of the company with map
8) Tel. numbers of the company and name of contact person
9) Details of your placement consultant
10)Copy of your present pay-slip & appointment letter
11)Make-up kit
Effective
Management Consultants
Tip No 3
Power dressing:
1) Appropriate dress
white shirt with dark colored trousers
Tie or scarf
Black or navy blue blazer
well shined shoes
For ladies, Salwar-Kameez or sari
2) Well shaved
3) Cut and file the nails – nail polish should be very light
4) Jewellery – Less is better
5) Perfumes – Use mild and avoid strong colognes
6) Proper hair cut
7) Avoid using high heel shoes / sandals
Effective
Management Consultants
Tip No 4
On interview day:
1) Ensure that, you reach the venue well on time.
Try to be there 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
2) Introduce yourself to the reception gently and follow the
guidelines
3) Use wash room to get fresh
4) Be patient and wait for the call
5) While at the reception, observe the culture of the company
through the routine of the company employees
6) If possible, watch the displays to gather information
about the company.
Effective
Management Consultants
Tip No 5
At the time of interview:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
Enter the cabin only once permitted by the interviewer
Maintain Eye Contact with Smiling face
Shake-hands with greeting
Exhibit your confidence at the fullest
Sit on the chair with the permission of the interviewer
Don’t put your bag, helmet or blazer on the table of the interviewer
Keep your bag on the floor to your right side
Understand the question fully and then answer carefully
In case, if you do not understand any question, do ask
again or get clarification
10)If in doubt, get clarification immediately
Effective
Management Consultants
Tip No 6
While speaking:
1) Be prepared to explain about yourself, your experiences etc.
2) Think before speaking
3) Don’t speak negative about any of your earlier organizations
or colleagues
4) In support of your claim, provide specific and relevant
examples / achievements
5) Be positive and enthusiastic throughout the process
6) Provide the only information, which is asked for
7) Don’t worry about the outcomes of the interview
8) Don’t use the words like ‘shall try’, ‘shall learn’ or ‘no’
Be firm and specific while answering.
Effective
Management Consultants
Tip No 7
While speaking:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Ask good / guessing questions
Request for the business card
Ask about interview process
Never ask about salary on your own.
In case, if the interviewer asks about your expectation,
just tell him ‘as per your company’s policy’
Never disclose your expectation. There is a high risk
of rejection at this point.
5) Also don’t give expectation in range i.e. from 40 to 50 K
On giving range, you are sure to get the lowest.
6) Thank the interviewer
Effective
Management Consultants
Tip No 8
Post Interview:
1) Wait for offer letter if asked for
2) Check CTC offered, salary structure, grade, position,
Terms and conditions of the employment etc and then
acknowledge the offer letter.
3) Call your placement consultant to thank him
and brief him about the developments
4) In case the decision is pending, request your consultant
to give you feed-back of the interview
5) In case if something goes wrong, try to understand
the reasons through your consultants and ask for
suggestions to improve next time.
6) Write thanks giving e-mail to the interviewers
7) Do not resign from your present job unless and until
you get official signed offer letter in your hands.
8) Reconfirm your date of joining to the company
Effective
Management Consultants
Be ready
To face the following questions
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 1
Please tell us something about yourself:
This is a tricky question. Answer it in following manner.
Divide your answer in following three parts
- Academic background
- Professional background
- Personal background
Try to focus the points, which could support your candidature.
Describe with suitable examples and try to convince the
interviewer that you are the only candidate for whom he is
Looking out for.
Don’t blame any one or situation.
Don’t be negative
Don’t say that you need money to satisfy your family needs
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 2
Why you want to leave the present job:
Some times the interviewer don’t accept the stereotype
answer ‘for better prospects’. In this situation try some
following answers
1) For higher responsibilities
2) For challenging jobs
3) For better experience in reputed company
Don’t give any negative answer as
1) The company is not doing well
2) The management is not good
3) I am not getting any increment / promotion etc.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 3
What your co-workers say about yourself:
This question is asked to check out your leadership skills or
to understand how you will function as a common team
member in a specific situation.
Try to answer this question in following way.
1) If the position requires leadership skills, frame your answer
exhibiting your leadership skills.
2) Try to exhibit yourself as a very good team member
whenever the job requires just good relation or
co-operation amongst the team members
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 4
What do you know about our organization:
This question requires some ground work. If answered
positively, there are more chances of your getting the job
offer. To make it possible 1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Visit company’s website
Go through their product brochures etc
Understand about their competitors
Understand their strengths and weaknesses
Read their policies
Speak to your consultant to gather more information
about the company.
Co-relate this information with your functional area and
try to convince the interviewer.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 5
What is your ambition:
Try to answer this question very skillfully. Divide your answer
in two parts: short term and long term.
Support your ambition statement with systematic efforts to
achieve it. This may include –
1) Your plans to study further
2) Any other actions to fulfill your dream
All your plans should be time bound. This will create your
image as focused and realistic.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 6
Do you know anyone who work for us:
Beware of such type of question. This may reflect in the following
way.
1) If the company is having the policy not to recruit any one
from the relationship, you may miss the chance.
2) The company might use the person to do the background
check for you.
So, be careful answering this question.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 7
Why do you want to work for us:
This is good question to expose yourself as the best
suitable person for the position under consideration.
You can answer this question describing how your qualities,
qualification and experience suits to their requirements.
You also can describe the positive points of the hiring
company like size, turnover, people policies, professionalism
etc., whichever you liked the most.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 8
How much salary do you expect from us:
This is very dangerous question. People generally demand
salary at the beginning of the interview instead of telling what they
can offer to the company and how the company would get
benefited because of them.
Our advice is therefore not to specify any amount. Instead, show
your openness to work on the scale according to the company’s
policy.
This will increase the chances of your getting the job offer. Of
course, if the offer is not lucrative, you can any time negotiate or
reject it. Generally people negotiate hard on the salary part once
they understand that their name is under consideration.
However, if you do it in the beginning, you are always a loser.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 9
Explain why we should hire you:
This question expects you to answer with your positive points
matching with the job requirements.
Your be prepared for this type of question and answer the
question in a suitable way convincing the interviewer that
you can be a best suitable candidate for the position.
Try to describe how you are different than others and try
to convince the interviewer about your uniqueness. You can
focus some points like below.
1) Your multi-tasking skills
2) Your extraordinary technical skill (very high speed typing)
3) Your special achievement (not regular exam percentage)
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 10
What irritates you about co-workers or work itself:
This is one more tricky question. The interviewer tries to put
you in a trap to find out your weaknesses.
It’s better not to go into detailing. This may pull into negativity.
So, just avoid it by saying something like , ‘people are always
good and they try to deliver as per their capacities…’
Work can be enjoyable if you feel so …
End up this question in your style with a positive note.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 11
What are your strengths and weaknesses:
Give plenty of strengths and examples related to your strengths.
You can say something about your education, experience, skills,
time management, positive attitude, leadership, ability to work
under pressure etc.
However, keep quite on the part of your weaknesses saying, ‘really
can’t describe any…
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 12
Tell us something about your dream job:
Keep yourself away from specifying any particular job.
It may happen that the interviewer might not have disclosed the
job which he is looking out for and in this situation, your choice
may go against your chance to succeed.
For example, if you answer saying, ‘I am looking out for a job,
where I can exercise my leadership skills’ and if the
interview is for the position of a specialist like ‘chemist’ or
‘research professional’, where there is no need of interaction
with the people, you may lose.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 13
If given a chance, which game would you like to play
The choices are computer game and cricket:
At the outset, this question sounds to be very casual. However
from the back end the interviewer is checking your personality.
If you select the cricket, you are open minded and would like
to mix in people. You are not shy and suitable person for the
sales & marketing, where interaction with people is must.
If you select the computer game, you are shy or timid and
would like to work on your own without interacting with the
people. This type of person will do wonder in the back office
if given the calm and cool workplace.
Think of such questions and then answer.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 14
What is more important to you – the money or work:
Of course, we work for money but the work is also equally
important.
According to me, after certain level the person should enjoy
his work without thinking about money, power, fame or position
etc. If someone works religiously, these all will follow him
without asking for.
This type of answer will surely impress the employer.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 15
Tell us about a problem you had with your superior:
Beware of such question. You may fell into another trap of
negativity laid by the interviewer.
Never speak negative about your manager, organization
or any one else.
Always stay positive.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 16
Are you ready to work extra hours:
This question is asked to check your readiness to do hard work.
Be open to answer this question.
Do not sound like a philosopher saying, ‘I believe in smart work
than hard work’. This answer may hurt the interviewer.
Try to gather some more information by asking counter
questions as to why the interviewer is asking such question.
Always agree for emergency situations. But if it is a regular
business, then the decision is yours.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 17
Are you ready to relocate or travel extensively:
Be ready for such type of questions and answer these
questions in consultation with your family members only.
Don’t rush to close the answer without giving any deep
thinking and taking your family members into confidence.
If necessary buy out some time, discuss and then answer.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 18
Tell us something how you manage :
This question is to guess your leadership style or managerial
skills.
Do not specify yourself by saying something like democratic or
autocratic etc. You may not be knowing what the interviewer
is looking out for.
Try to tell them that you consider the prevailing and expected
business environment and take decisions accordingly.
Always remember that, the interviewer likes the person, who
has broader vision and acts keeping the situation in mind.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 19
How will you work without any experience:
While answering this question, highlight your following traits.
-
Quick learner
Hard worker
Keen observation
Some experience as trainee
However, don’t show any over confidence saying that the
job is simple and I can manage it very well.
Always remember that no job is so simple. But answering in this
manner will imply that you are very casual or you don’t know
the depth of the subject.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 20
Would you like to ask anything to me:
Before appearing for the interview not down some questions and
if given a chance, ask those to the interviewer.
The sample questions could be What are the Key Result Areas for this position
What is the system of Performance Management
How quickly the person gets recognized with your organization
However, do not ask the following questions.
How much will you pay for this job
What are your office timings
How many paid leave do you have
With such type of questions, you will get exposed as materialistic
who keeps an eye on the benefits rather than deliveries.
Effective
Management Consultants
Question No 21
Dealing with difficult question / situation:
Some time you may come across some funny or irrelevant questions.
To give you an example, the interviewer will ask about the history
of Mumbai city to the candidate appearing for data-entry.
The question may not be relevant to the position. However, you
don’t know the intention. It’s possible that the interviewer might
be checking your temperament.
So don’t get irritated with such questions. Keep calm and say I don’t
know, if you really don’t know.
Some times purposely you are kept waiting for a longer just to
understand how needy you are or how much patient you are.
You can’t guess the intention and hence exhibit your maturity.
Effective
Management Consultants
With Best Wishes
From
Effective Management Consultants
MUMBAI 400 083
For any doubt, clarification or further assistance
contact us at
www.myhrconsultants.com
gajanan@myhrconsultants.com
9022160540