INTERVIEW PREPARATION : -- Do's & Don'ts In an Interview

DO'S  &  DON'TS  IN  AN  INTERVIEW 

What to do:

• dress smartly, look bright and attentive, and speak clearly and confidently. First impressions really do count - studies show that employers make a decision about whether to hire you within the first seven minutes on average
• find out where the venue is beforehand, how to get there and how long it takes
• get your outfit ready the night before
• find out what kind of interview it will be so you can prepare
• examine the person specification and your CV/application form, and think about what type of questions they will ask you
• prepare answers for the main questions - for example, why do you want the job, what are your strengths and weaknesses, what are the main tasks in this job?
• make about three or four points in each answer
• quote real examples of when you've used certain skills - just saying you've got a skill isn't enough
• take your time when answering the questions: make sure you understand the question and take your time if you need to think
• sell yourself: no one else is going to! Be positive about yourself and your experiences
• prepare some questions to ask at the end of the interview - use it as an opportunity to find out more about the role and the company. (Don't ask about money or perks just yet!)
• when discussing salary, know your market worth and start by quoting a little higher than this
• get feedback on your performance, whether you were successful or not
• turn off your mobile phone: treat the interviewers with respect and give them your undivided attention
• keep your answers focused on what you can do for the employer, not what they can do for you

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What not to do:

• don't be late
• don't swear or use slang words
• don't slouch in your seat or do anything that makes you look uninterested
• don't smoke
• don't lie: the interviewer may see through you. Even if you get the job, your employer can dismiss you if they find out that you have not been honest
• don't let your nerves show too much; a few nerves are normal but extreme nerves will affect your performance. Use breathing techniques and try to remember that it's not a life and death situation - there are plenty of jobs out there!
• don't be arrogant and assume you've got the job. Nothing turns off employers more than someone who is disrespectful and over-confident
• don't discuss controversial topics such as religion, politics and gender relations
• don't read from notes or your CV — you should be familiar enough with your own history to be able to talk about it unprompted
• don't criticise former employers or colleagues. Interviewers may mark you down as a troublemaker and a gossip
• don't argue with the interviewer, no matter what. Remember to keep things positive!

These rules apply for most jobs. However, employers in some industries can use more relaxed and informal interviewing techniques. In some creative fields (design and media for example) it may be expected that you turn up for the interview in casual clothes, as that is the dress code in the office. However, smart casual is better than very casual. If you're in any doubt, do some research on typical interview techniques in your line of work.

Above all, preparation is the key to performing well in interviews. Research the role and organisation, and prepare evidence and examples of your skills and competencies.

INTERVIEW PREPARATION : 10 Most Commonly Asked Questions

Common Interview Questions 

With Answers

1. 1.           Tell me about yourself?
   2.           Why have you applied for this job?
   OR Why are you interested in this job/sector/field?
   3.           Why are you better than other candidates?
   OR Why should I select you rather than other candidates?
   4.           If I reject you, what would you do?
   5.           What are your major strengths and justify them?
   6.           What is your major weakness and what are you doing to overcome it?
   7.           Where do you see yourself in 5 years or 10 years?
   8.           Who is your role model / Source of inspiration & what three things do you learn from them?
   9.           What has been your greatest achievement till now & why?
   10.        What has been your greatest failure and what do you learn from it?
   11.        What is the definition of success for you?

                 

ANSWERS :- 

       1. Tell me something about yourself ?

            

           This is the first and the most common & important question of most of the interviews

        

Interviewer’s Intention

 By this question Interviewer checks mainly 3 things

a)     Basic Communication Skills

b)    Confidence in self-description

c)     Preparation & seriousness of the interviewee for this first & common question

Interviewee’s Approach

Interviewee must prepare this question perfectly because

a)     This first question’s answer puts his first impression which becomes the last impression in most of the cases.

b)    If the interviewee fails to answer this question properly, then it puts an impression in the mind of the interviewer that – A person who is not able to describe oneself properly, how can he describe other areas.

c)     This first question’s answer contains many details which give birth to many other questions during the interview. So interviewer must answer this question properly                                     38

d)    Interviewee’s job is to explain how your skills, experience, background, knowledge, qualifications & personality match their requirements.

e)     Keep your information professional avoiding anything personal unless it directly relates to the job itself. Stay focused.

SAMPLE ANSWER

SELF – INTRODUCTION

(Most Important in English Speaking)

Contents in Self-Introduction

1. Name : - 
                   My name is Hari Om Sharma / I am Hari Om Sharma
( अगर नाम में दो या तीन words हो , तो तीनो words को clearly और loudly pronounce करें )

2. Area of Living :-
                  Presently I am living in Dehradun (अगर आप थोड़े समय के लिए रह रहे हो )
                        And I belong to Uttarkashi

3. Present Doing :-

                              a)  Study / Job :- 
                                   I am doing /pursuing B.Sc from DAV PG College Dehradun
                           OR  I am doing a Job in the given company or organization

                              b)  Extra skill improvement :- 
                                      I am also improving my communication Skills (learning English)
                                     OR I am also improving my technical skills (computer learning)
                                     OR  I am also taking coaching for SSC / Bank PO / any Exam



4. Family Details :- 

                 About My Family

                a)  Father's Name & Profession :-
                 My father's name is Mr. Ravi Om Sharma (नाम को clearly & loudly pronounce करें )
                      & He is a Goverment Employee / Private Employee
           OR   He is Self Employed  or He is in Agriculture Sector (Farmer)
                 b)  Mother's Name & Profession
                 My mother's name is Mrs. Sharmila Sharma
                 & She is a Home-Maker / House Manager
              Or  She is a Private /Govt. Employee
                c)  Number of Brothers & Sisters
                 I have 2 brothers & 1 Sister.                                                                                               39

5.  Job Experience :--
                                      I have a Job Experience of 6 years in a given Sector

6.  Aim / Goal / Objective  of  Life or Career :-- 
                                           
                              I want to become a successful Army Officer/Bank Officer
                              I want to become a successful English Teacher

   I want to have a successful career in the field of Marketing or any desired field              

7.  Achievements:-- 
                            a) Academic Achievements :-   
                                Got Distinction in Science & Maths in 10th Class
                                Got Distinction in PCM / Accounts in 12th Class
                            b) Non-Academic Achievements :- 
                              Certificates / Prizes in either Sports / Drama /Debate Competitions
                               Promotions or increments in earlier or present Job 

8.  Past Education:--  From recently passed class to 10th passed class 

                                  I passed B.A from D.A.V P.G College with 73%
                                  I passed 12th from Govt. Inter College with 76%
                                  I passed 10th from Govt. Inter College with 68%

9.  Strengths  :-- 
                  (Mention any 4 strengths among 10 given strengths )
              Hard working 
                     Good Communication Skills 
                     Positive Attitude 
                     Quick Learner 
                     Ambitious 
                     Friendly 
                     Helpful 
                     Self-Confident 
                    Team Worker 
                     Patience & Flexible 

Hobbies

                    Listening to Music
                    Playing cricket
                    Net surfing
                    Travelling
                    Cooking
                    Reading Books/Novels

   
10. Role Model of Life:--

                    Role model can be your Father / Mother or any that person from whom
                    you learn so much in your life and you also want to become like him or her ...               40

2. Why have you applied for this job?

                         OR

2. Why are you interested in this job / Sector?

                         OR

2. Why do you want to become XYZ?

Interviewer’s Intention

 By this question Interviewer checks mainly 2 things

d)    Interviewee’s knowledge about the sector or job

e)     How Interviewee justifies that he is a perfect match for this sector/job

Interviewee’s Approach

a)     Interviewee should mention his strengths that suit the requirement of the job/sector.

b)    Type of life that the interviewee wants to live which is possible only in that sector

c)     Interviewee should describe the sector/job in Facts & figures

d)    Interviewee should tell little bit about PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE of the sector

e)     Interviewee should tell the responsibility & career graph in that particular job.

SAMPLE ANSWER :-  Suppose you are appearing in a Defense Interview and you are interested to become an army officer. Then you can answer like this :----

I want to become an army officer because of these three major reasons

1.     I have all the required strengths & expertise which are required to be an officer like

Leadership Quality

Disciplined & Good Communication Skills

Adventure and challenge Loving

Good in physical & mental fitness.

2.     This sector/job/opportunity provides that life which I have always wanted to live like

Overall personality Development

Full of Bravery & Challenges

Great Learning & Career

The most Prestigious job

3.     I know about this sector & job responsibilities the most as this sector have always inspired & motivated me since childhood.

In case of an experience man/ woman you need to tell your experience & learning in this field and how you can benefit the employer’s company by your experience & learning

3.    Why should we select you rather than other candidates?

OR Why are you better than other candidates?

INTERVIEWER’S  INTENTION

By this question, Interviewer wants to know the following things

a)    Interviewee’s way of treating other candidates                                      41

b)    Interviewee’s ability to prove himself the best candidate for this job by telling his strengths matching this job

c)     Interviewee’s ability to prove himself better than others by focussing on some specific outstanding qualities / strengths / skills which you can boast of.

INTERVIEWEE’S APPROACH

a)     Interviewee should not show other candidates inferior as he doesn’t know about other candidates

b)    Interviewee should focus on his strengths which he can justify

c)     Interviewee should start working & enhancing one of his strengths so that he can prove himself better than others on that strength.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Sir First thing, I don’t know about other candidates’ abilities as I don’t know about them.

Second, I know about my abilities and strengths completely and my all abilities perfectly match this job and I can meet all the requirements of this job on the basis of my strengths.

Moreover , I have two major strengths positive attitude & good communication skills which I can always boast of and I have always proved myself better than others in my life on the basis of these two strengths and I can guarantee you that you will get more than 100% output after selecting me.

4.     If I reject you, what would you do?

INTERVIEWER’S  INTENTION

By this question, Interviewer wants to know the following things in you

a)     Your commitment & confidence towards your success

b)    Your attitude of handling failures.

INTERVIEWEE’S APPROACH

a)     Interviewee should maintain calm & confidence on his face after listening to the question.

b)    Interviewee should focus on getting success in the interview while giving his answer.

c)     Interviewee should talk about learning in the case of rejection.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Sir, I have never thought about any other option other than defense in my life till date , as I have been completely focusing on getting selected in Defense.

I have been putting my blood, sweat and soul in getting selected, but even if I get rejected somehow, then I would work on my weak areas after discussing with my teachers and mentor and would get selected in the next attempt.

5.   What are your major strengths and justify them?

INTERVIEWER’S  INTENTION

By this question, Interviewer wants to see the following things in you

c)     How much you know about your strengths

d)    How many strengths you have that suits the required job or field.                     42

e)     How you prove that you really possess those strengths or you are just bluffing.

INTERVIEWEE’S APPROACH

d)    Interviewee should remember at least 10 strengths and should mention his 4 to 5 strengths confidently.

e)     Interviewee should focus on telling professional strengths that really match the job’s requirements.

f)      Interviewee should be able to associate & describe at least one incident of his life with the mentioned strengths.

g)    While justifying your strengths always tell your Academic & Non Academic achievements quantifiably (IN NUMBERS) to prove your strengths.

SAMPLE ANSWER

I have following strengths (For Example in order to become an army officer)

1.    Leadership 

(I was the house captain/ Class monitor / sports team captain)

2.    Hard working

(My consistent percentage in all the classes and certificates / trophies)

3.    Disciplined

(My academic as well as non academic performance show that I am a disciplined in my life)

4.     Team Worker

(I participated in many group activities & competitions in School time – Mention some activities name)  

5.    Positive Attitude

(Mention any failure of your life where you failed initially but then you remained positive and got success in the second attempt)

6.    Good Communication Skills

(Mention this strength only when you speak English confidently, if you don’t speak good English , then don’t mention this strength as this strength does not demand any justification)

Q.6. What is your major weakness and what are you doing to overcome it?

INTERVIEWER’S  INTENTION

By this question, Interviewer wants to see the following things in you

a)       How do you rate yourself – A perfectionist or A learner. An interviewer always expect a learning attitude from an interviewer

b)       How much you know about your weakness.

c)       Which type of weakness you mention – personal life or professional life weakness

d)       Whether you are working to remove that weakness or not.

43

INTERVIEWEE’S APPROACH

a)     Interviewee should never say – “Sir, I have no weakness” OR  “I don’t have any weakness” because such type of answers show that you don’t want to improve yourself which always go against you.

b)    Interviewee should introspect (self-examination)  his weakness related to his personal and professional life.

c)     Interviewee should mention his professional weakness and not personal life weakness which can be removed.

d)    Interviewee should mention his action plan to remove that weakness.

 SAMPLE ANSWER

Sir, I have one weakness – I am not very good at communication skills and that’s why sometimes I am not able to express my knowledge or performance at the time of requirement.

But I have been working on it for last 6 months and I have improved a lot. I took communication skills & personality development training for 3 months and developed new improved habits during that course which are now improving my communication skills & confidence day by day.

Q.7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years or 10 years?

INTERVIEWER’S  INTENTION

a)     Interviewer wants to see that how much the interviewee is concerned, knowledgeable & committed towards his goal

b)    Interviewer wants to check the long term thinking & visionary approach of the Interviewer.

c)     Interviewer wants to see that how much the interviewee know about his career after 5 years or 10 years.

INTERVIEWEE’S APPROACH

a)     Interviewee should have complete knowledge of his career.

b)    Interviewee should mention three areas in the answer

(1)   Handling the Department after 5 or 10 years

(2)   Post / Designation after 5 or 10 years

(3)   Handling the responsibilities after 5 or 10 years..

SAMPLE  ANSWER

After 5 years, I see myself at the post of a Lieutenant learning & understanding all the required knowledge, skills & abilities from my seniors for giving 100% to the country & becoming a role model officer for the youngsters.

OR

After 10 years, I see myself at the post of a captain in Indian Army learning & understanding all the required knowledge, skills & abilities from my seniors for giving 100% to the country & becoming a role model officer for the youngsters.

OR                                                                                                                                        44

After 5 years, I see myself at the post a marketing manager handling the distribution channel of an FMCG or a Consumer durable company.

Q.8. who is your role model / Source of inspiration & what three things do you learn from them?

INTERVIEWER’S  INTENTION

a)     Interviewer wants to see that whether you have a learning attitude or not. He wants to see that whether you observe others’ strengths or not.

b)    Interviewer also wants to see that how much you know about the person whom you take your role model. He also wants to see that whether you want improvement in your personality or life by imbibing or bringing the strengths of your role model in your life.

INTERVIEWEE’S APPROACH

a)     Interviewee should mention that person as a role model about whom he knows personally and professionally. He should have knowledge of role model’s personal and professional life.

b)    Interviewee should read either biography or autobiography of his role model if his role model is a famous person like APJ Abdul Kalam,  Swami Vivekanand , Nelson Mandela or Mother Teressa.

c)     In case if an Interviewee doesn’t have a role model, then even in that case he should mention the name of that person who is the closest person in the life of the interviewee, For example can be PARENTS, UNCLE OR A TEACHER.

d)    Interviewee should know at least five strengths of his Role model.

SAMPLE  ANSWER

Sir, My role model is my Father , because he is the person who influences my life the most.

My father has the following strengths.

1)    Good Guide

2)    Disciplined

3)    Helping Nature

4)    Hard working

5)    Clear Minded.

Q.9. What has been your greatest achievement of your life and why?

INTERVIEWER’S  INTENTION

a)     Interviewer wants to see that how much you value the incidents of your past life.

b)    Interviewer also wants to see that whether you made any goals in your past life that you achieved or not. It means whether you are a goal oriented person or not.

c)     He also wants to see that whether you have something to feel proud of in your life or not. 

45

INTERVIEWEE’S APPROACH

d)    Interviewee should do a complete introspection of his past life before appearing in the interview.

e)     During past introspection, She/he should divide his past life into two types of Self- Acts   – Self-Acts brought cheer in the life (Achievements)  & Self-Acts brought sadness in the life (Failures).

f)     Interviewee should consider that acts as an achievement which added Cheer, Positivity & improvement in the life of the interviewee.

g)    Interviewee should not compare his/her achievements with any other person’s achievements and should not compare the degree or largeness of his/her achievements. Because An Achievement is an Achievement irrespective of the degree, field or place.

 

SAMPLE  ANSWER

ACHIEVEMENTS	LEARNINGS / ABILITIES
I was the class monitor from class 3rd to class 6th	It gave me the confidence of good coordinator & a good leader
I was the school captain in class 11th & 12th	It helped me to learn the leadership because I used to conduct meetings with house captains & teachers.
I scored 90% in the 12th class	It strengthened my confidence more that  I am a goal achiever and a hard working & committed person.
I helped my father in organizing & completing my sister marriage successfully	It made me feel  that I am a responsible person and can handle big & important tasks successfully
I got 2 promotions in 1 year of 1st job	It strengthened my confidence more that I am a quick learner & a highly productive person.
I won Man of the Match Prize in the final of Inter School Cricket Tournament.	It shows that I have the ability of performing superbly under pressure & deciding situation.