how to face the interview

8/6/2019 How to Face the Interview

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How to reply in Interview?

Tell me about yourself

Start with the present and tell why you are well qualified for the position.

Remember that the key to all successful interviewing is to match your

qualifications to what the interviewer is looking for. In other words you must

sell what the buyer is buying. This is the single most important strategy in

job hunting. So, before you answer this or any question it’s imperative that

you try to uncover your interviewer’s greatest need, want, problem or goal.

To do so, make you take these two steps:

1. Do all the homework you can before the interview to uncover this

person’s wants and needs (not the generalized needs of the industry or

company)

2. As early as you can in the interview, ask for a more complete description

of what the position entails. You might say: “I have a number of

accomplishments I’d like to tell you about, but I want to make the best use

of our time together and talk directly to your needs. To help me do, that,

could you tell me more about the most important priorities of this position?

All I know is what I heard from the recruiter, read in the classified ad,etc.”

Then, ALWAYS follow-up with a second and possibly, third question, to draw

out his needs even more. Surprisingly, it’s usually this second or third

question that unearths what the interviewer is most looking for.

You might ask simply, “And in addition to that?…” or, “Is there anything else

you see as essential to success in this position?: This process will not feel

easy or natural at first, because it is easier simply to answer questions, but

only if you uncover the employer’s wants and needs will your answers make

the most sense. Practice asking these key questions before giving your

answers, the process will feel more natural and you will be light years ahead

of the other job candidates you’re competing with. After uncovering what the

employer is looking for, describe why the needs of this job bear striking

parallels to tasks you’ve succeeded at before. Be sure to illustrate with

specific examples of your responsibilities and especially your achievements,



all of which are geared to present yourself as a perfect match for the needs

he has just described

What are your greatest strengths?

You know that your key strategy is to first uncover your interviewer’s

greatest wants and needs before you answer questions. And from Question

1, you know how to do this. Prior to any interview, you should have a list

mentally prepared of your greatest strengths. You should also have, a

specific example or two, which illustrates each strength, an example chosen

from your most recent and most impressive achievements.You should, have

this list of your greatest strengths and corresponding examples from your

achievements so well committed to memory that you can recite them cold

after being shaken awake at 2:30AM.Then, once you uncover your

interviewer’s greatest wants and needs, you can choose those achievements

from your list that best match up. As a general guideline, the 10 most

desirable traits that all employers love to see in their employees are:

A proven track record as an achiever…especially if your achievements match

up with the employer’s greatest wants and needs.

. Intelligence…management “savvy”.

. Honesty…integrity…a decent human being.

. Good fit with corporate culture…someone to feel comfortable with…a teamplayer who meshes well with interviewer’s team.

. Likeability…positive attitude…sense of humor.

. Good communication skills.

. Dedication…willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.

. Definiteness of purpose…clear goals.

. Enthusiasm…high level of motivation.

. Confident…healthy…a leader

What are your greatest weaknesses?

BEST ANSWER: (and another reason it’s so important to get a thorough

description of your interviewer’s needs before you answer questions): Assure

the interviewer that you can think of nothing that would stand in the way of

your performing in this position with excellence. Then, quickly review you

strongest qualifications.



Example: “Nobody’s perfect, but based on what you’ve told me about this

position, I believe I’ d make an outstanding match. I know that when I hire

people, I look for two things most of all. Do they have the qualifications to

do the job well, and the motivation to do it well? Everything in my

background shows I have both the qualifications and a strong desire toachieve excellence in whatever I take on. So I can say in all honesty that I

see nothing that would cause you even a small concern about my ability or

my strong desire to perform this job with excellence.”Alternate strategy (if

you don’t yet know enough about the position to talk

about such a perfect fit): Instead of confessing a weakness, describe what

you like most and like least, making sure that what you like

most matches up with the most important qualification for success in the

position, and what you like least is not essential.

Example: Let’s say you’re applying for a teaching position. “If given a

choice, I like to spend as much time as possible in front of my prospects

selling, as opposed to shuffling paperwork back at the office. Of course, I

long ago learned the importance of filing paperwork properly, and I do it

conscientiously. But what I really love to do is sell (if your interviewer were a

sales manager, this should be music to his ears.)

Tell me about something you did – or failed to do – that you nowfeel a little ashamed of.

As with faults and weaknesses, never confess a regret. But don’t

seem as if you’re stonewalling either.

Best strategy: Say you harbor no regrets, then add a principle or habit you

practice regularly for healthy human relations.

Example: Pause for reflection, as if the question never occurred to you.

Then say, “You know, I really can’t think of anything.” (Pause again, then

add): “I would add that as a general management principle, I’ve found that

the best way to avoid regrets is to avoid causing them in the first place. I

practice one habit that helps me a great deal in this regard.At the end of



each day, I mentally review the day’s events and conversations to take a

second look at the people and developments I’m involved with and do a

doublecheck of what they’re likely to be feeling. Sometimes I’ll see things

that do need more follow-up, whether a pat on the back, or maybe a five

minute chat in someone’s office to make sure we’re clear on things…whatever.”

“I also like to make each person feel like a member of an elite team, like the

Boston Celtics or LA Lakers in their prime. I’ve found that if you let each

team member know you expect excellence in their performance…if you work

hard to set an example yourself…and if you let people know you appreciate

and respect their feelings, you wind up with a highly motivated group, a

team that’s having fun at work because they’re striving for excellence rather

than brooding over slights or regrets.”

Why are you leaving (or did you leave) this position?

If you’re not yet 100% committed to leaving your present post, don’t be

afraid to say so. Since you have a job, you are in a stronger position than

someone who does not. But don’t be coy either. State honestly what you’d

be hoping to find in a new spot. Of course, as stated often before, you

answer will all the stronger if you have already uncovered what this position

is all about and you match your desires to it.(If you do not presently have a job.)Never lie about having been fired. It’s

unethical – and too easily checked.But do try to deflect the reason from you

personally.If your firing was the result of a takeover, merger, division wide

layoff, etc., so much the better.But you should also do something totally

unnatural that will demonstrate consummate professionalism. Even if it

hurts,describe your own firing – candidly, succinctly and without a trace of

bitterness – from the company’s point-of-view,indicating that you could

understand why it happened and you might have made the same decision

yourself.

Your stature will rise immensely and, most important of all, you will show

you are healed from the wounds inflicted by the firing. You will enhance

your image as first-class management material and stand head and

shoulders above the legions of firing victims who, at the slightest



provocation, zip open their shirts to expose their battle scars and decry the

unfairness of it all.For all prior positions:Make sure you’ve prepared a brief

reason for leaving. Best reasons: more money, opportunity, responsibility

or growth.

The “Silent Treatment”

Beware – if you are unprepared for this question, you will probably nothandle it right and possibly blow the interview. Thank goodness mostinterviewers don’t employ it. It’s normally used by those determined to seehow you respond under stress. Here’s how it works:You answer an interviewer’s question and then, instead of asking another,he just stares at you in a deafening silence.

You wait, growing a bit uneasy, and there he sits, silent as Mt. Rushmore, asif he doesn’t believe what you’ve just said, or perhaps making you feel thatyou’ve unwittingly violated some cardinal rule of interview etiquette.When you get this silent treatment after answering a particularly difficultquestion , such as “tell me about your weaknesses”, its intimidating effectcan be most disquieting, even to polished job hunters.

Most unprepared candidates rush in to fill the void of silence, viewingprolonged, uncomfortable silences as an invitation to clear up the previousanswer which has obviously caused some problem. And that’s what they do– ramble on, sputtering more and more information, sometimes irrelevant

and often damaging, because they are suddenly playing the role of someonewho’s goofed and is now trying to recoup. But since the candidate doesn’tknow where or how he goofed, he just keeps talking, showing how flusteredand confused he is by the interviewer’s unmovable silence.

BEST ANSWER: Like a primitive tribal mask, the Silent Treatment loses all itpower to frighten you once you refuse to be intimidated. If your interviewerpulls it, keep quiet yourself for a while and then ask, with sincere politenessand not a trace of sarcasm, “Is there anything else I can fill in on thatpoint?” That’s all there is to it.

Whatever you do, don’t let the Silent Treatment intimidate you into talking ablue streak, because you could easily talk yourself out of the position

Why should I hire you?

By now you can see how critical it is to apply the overall strategy of uncovering the employer’s needs before you answer questions. If you knowthe employer’s greatest needs and desires, this question will give you a big



leg up over other candidates because you will give him better reasons forhiring you than anyone else is likely to…reasons tied directly to hisneeds.Whether your interviewer asks you this question explicitly or not, thisis the most important question of your interview because he must answerthis question favorably in is own mind before you will be hired. So help him

out! Walk through each of the position’s requirements as you understandthem, and follow each with a reason why you meet that requirement so well.

Example: “As I understand your needs, you are first and foremost lookingfor someone who can manage the sales and marketing of your bookpublishing division. As you’ve said you need someone with a strongbackground in trade book sales. This is where I’ve spent almost all of mycareer, so I’ve chalked up 18 years of experience exactly in this area.Ibelieve that I know the right contacts, methods, principles, and successfulmanagement techniques as well as any person can in our industry.”“You alsoneed someone who can expand your book distribution channels. In my priorpost, my innovative promotional ideas doubled, then tripled, the number of outlets selling our books. I’m confident I can do the same for you.” “You need someone to give a new shot in the arm to your mail order sales,someone who knows how to sell in space and direct mail media. Here, too, Ibelieve I have exactly the experience you need. In the last five years, I’veincreased our mail order book sales from $600,000 to $2,800,000, and nowwe’re the country’s second leading marketer of scientific and medical booksby mail.” Etc., etc., etc.,Every one of these selling “couplets” (his needmatched by your qualifications) is a touchdown that runs up your score. ITis your best opportunity to outsell your competition

Aren’t you overqualified for this position?

As with any objection, don’t view this as a sign of imminent defeat. It’s aninvitation to teach the interviewer a new way to think about this situation,seeing advantages instead of drawbacks.

Example: “I recognize the job market for what it is – a marketplace. Likeany marketplace, it’s subject to the laws of supply and demand. So ‘overqualified’ can be a relative term, depending on how tight the job market

is.And right now, it’s very tight. I understand and accept that.”“I alsobelieve that there could be very positive benefits forboth of us in thismatch.” “Because of my unusually strong experience in ____, I could start tocontribute right away,perhaps much faster than someone who’d have to bebrought along more slowly.”“There’s also the value of all the training andyears of experience that other companies have invested tens of thousands of dollars to give me. You’d be getting all the value of that without having topay an extra dime for it. With someone who has yet to acquire that



experience, he’d have to gain it on your nickel.” “I could also help you in many things they don’t teach at the HarvardBusiness School.For example…(how to hire, train, motivate, etc.) When itcomes to knowing how to work well with people and getting the most out of them, there’s just no substitute for what you learn over many years of front-

line experience. You company would gain all this, too.” “From my side, there are strong benefits, as well.Right now, I amunemployed. I want to work, very much, and the position you have here isexactly what I love to do and am best at. I’ll be happy doing this work andthat’s what matters most to me, a lot more that money or title.” “Most important, I’m looking to make a long term commitment in my careernow. I’ve had enough of job-hunting and want a permanent spot at thispoint in my career. I also know that if I perform this job with excellence,other opportunities cannot help but open up for me right here. In time, I’llfind many other ways to help this company and in so doing, help myself. Ireally am looking to make a long-term commitment.”

NOTE: The main concern behind the “overqualified” question is that you willleave your new employer as soon as something better comes your way.Anything you can say to demonstrate the sincerity of your commitment tothe employer and reassure him that you’re looking to stay for the long-termwill help you overcome this objection.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Reassure your interviewer that you’re looking to make a long-term

commitment…that this position entails exactly what you’re looking to do andwhat you do extremely well. As for your future, you believe that if youperform each job at hand with excellence, future opportunities will take careof themselves.

Example: “I am definitely interested in making a long-term commitment tomy next position. Judging by what you’ve told me about this position, it’sexactly what I’m looking for and what I am very well qualified to do. Interms of my future career path, I’m confident that if I do my work withexcellence, opportunities will inevitable open up for me. It’s always been

that way in my career, and I’m confident I’ll have similar opportunitieshere.”

Describe your ideal company, location and job

The only right answer is to describe what this company is offering, being

sure to make your answer believable with specific reasons, stated with

sincerity, why each quality represented by this opportunity is attractive to



you.Remember that if you’re coming from a company that’s the leader in its

field or from a glamorous or much admired company, industry, city or

position, your interviewer and his company may well have an “Avis”

complex. That is, they may feel a bit defensive about being “second best” to

the place you’re coming from, worried that you may consider them bushleague.This anxiety could well be there even though you’ve done nothing to

inspire it. You must go out of your way to assuage such anxiety, even if it’s

not expressed, by putting their virtues high on the list of exactly what you’re

looking for, providing credible reason for wanting these qualities.If you do

not express genuine enthusiasm for the firm, its culture, location, industry,

etc., you may fail to answer this “Avis” complex objection and, as a result,

leave the interviewer suspecting that a hot shot like you, coming from a

Fortune 500 company in New York, just wouldn’t be happy at an unknown

manufacturer based in Topeka, Kansas.

Why do you want to work at our company?

This question is your opportunity to hit the ball out of the park, thanks to the

in-depth research you should do before any interview.Best sources for

researching your target company: annual reports, the corporate newsletter,

contacts you know at the company or its suppliers, advertisements, articles

about the company in the trade press.

What are your career options right now?

Prepare for this question by thinking of how you can position yourself as a

desired commodity. If you are still working, describe the possibilities at your

present firm and why,though you’re greatly appreciated there, you’re

looking for something more (challenge, money, responsibility, etc.). Also

mention that you’re seriously exploring opportunities with one or two other

firms. If you’re not working, you can talk about other employment

possibilities you’re actually exploring. But do this with a light touch,

speaking only in general terms.You don’t want to seem manipulative or coy.

Why have you been out of work so long?

You want to emphasize factors which have prolonged your job search byyour own choice.



Example: “After my job was terminated, I made a conscious decision not to jump on the first opportunities to come along. In my life, I’ve found out thatyou can always turn a negative into a positive IF you try hard enough. Thisis what I determined to do. I decided to take whatever time I needed tothink through what I do best, what I most want to do, where I’d like to do

it…and then identify those companies that could offer such an opportunity.”

“Also, in all honesty, you have to factor in the recession (consolidation,stabilization, etc.) in the (banking, financial services, manufacturing,advertising, etc.) industry.” “So between my being selective and the companies in our industrydownsizing, the process has taken time. But in the end, I’m convinced thatwhen I do find the right match, all that careful evaluation from both sides of the desk will have been well worthwhile for both the company that hires meand myself.

Tell me honestly about the strong points and weak points of your

boss (company, management team, etc.)

Never be negative. Stress only the good points, no matter how charmingly

you’re invited to be critical.

Your interviewer doesn’t care a whit about your previous boss. He wants to

find out how loyal and positive you are, and whether you’ll criticize him

behind his back if pressed to do so by someone in this own company. This

question is your opportunity to demonstrate your loyalty to those you workwith.

Tell me about a situation when your work was criticized.

Begin by emphasizing the extremely positive feedback you’ve gottenthroughout your career and (if it’s true) that your performance reviews havebeen uniformly excellent. Of course, no one is perfect and you alwayswelcome suggestions on how to improve your performance. Then, give anexample of a not-too-damaging learning experience from early in yourcareer and relate the ways this lesson has since helped you. Thisdemonstrates that you learned from the experience and the lesson is nowone of the strongest breastplates in your suit of armor. If you are pressedfor a criticism from a recent position, choose something fairly trivial that inno way is essential to your successful performance. Add that you’ve learnedfrom this, too, and over the past several years/months, it’s no longer anarea of concern because you now make it a regular practice to…etc.



Another way to answer this question would be to describe your intention tobroaden your master of an area of growing importance in your field. Forexample, this might be a computer program you’ve been meaning to sitdown and learn… a new management technique you’ve read about…orperhaps attending a seminar on some cutting-edge branch of your

profession.Again, the key is to focus on something not essential to your brilliantperformance but which adds yet another dimension to your alreadyimpressive knowledge base

Would you lie for the company?

Try to avoid choosing between two values, giving a positive statement which

covers all bases instead.

Example: “I would never do anything to hurt the company..”

If aggressively pressed to choose between two competing values, always

choose personal integrity. It is the most prized of all values.

Could you have done better in your last job?

Describer a situation that didn’t suffer because of you but from externalconditions beyond your control.For example, describe the disappointment you felt with a test campaign, newproduct launch, merger, etc., which looked promising at first, but led tounderwhelming results.“I wish we could have known at the start what welater found out (about the economy turning, the marketplace changing,

etc.),but since we couldn’t, we just had to go for it. And we did learn fromit…”

Example: “I suppose with the benefit of hindsight you can always findthings to do better, of course, but off the top of my head, I can’t think of anything of major consequence.”

Can you work under pressure?

Absolutely…(then prove it with a vivid example or two of a goal or project

accomplished under severe pressure.

What makes you angry?

Give an answer that’s suited to both your personality and the managementstyle of the firm. Here, the homework you’ve done about the company andits style can help in your choice of words.



Examples: If you are a reserved person and/or the corporate culture iscoolly professional:“I’m an even-tempered and positive person by nature,and I believe this helps me a great deal in keeping my department runningsmoothly, harmoniously and with a genuine esprit de corps. I believe incommunicating clearly what’s expected, getting people’s commitment to

those goals, and then following up continuously to check progress.” “If anyone or anything is going off track, I want to know about it early. If,after that kind of open communication and follow up, someone isn’t gettingthe job done, I’ll want to know why. If there’s no good reason, then I’ll getimpatient and angry…and take appropriate steps from there. But if you hiregood people, motivate them to strive for excellence and then follow upconstantly, it almost never gets to that state.”If you are feisty by natureand/or the position calls for a tough straw boss“You know what makes meangry? People who (the fill in the blanks with the most objectionable traitsfor this type of position)…people who don’t pull their own weight, who arenegative, people who lie…etc.”

Traditional Job Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself?

2. How would you describe the ideal position for yourself ?

3. Tell me about the responsibilities of your job last ?

4. What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishments on

the job?

5. Why did you leave your last job?

6. What difficulties did you encounter?

7. What are your strengths?

8. What are your weaknesses?

9. What are your best qualities?

10. Where do you see yourself after five years with this company?

11. Give me an example of your most creative work?

12. What would you consider to be your greatest disappointment?

13. What type of position are you most interested in?

14. What qualifications do you have to offer our organization?

15. Are you willing to travel or relocate?

16. Are you looking for a temporary or permanent job?

17. Who has had the most influence on you and why?

18. What was your best supervisor like?

19. What was your worse supervisor like?

20. What is the most difficult decision that you have recently made?

21. Give an example of how you used a good time management skills?



22. Do you work well under pressure and deadlines?

23. Do you prefer to work with others in a group or alone by yourself?

24. What do you like the most about our company?

25. How do you go about making important decisions?

Behavioral Job Interview Questions

Employers are always looking for certain attributes in their employees anduse behavior based questions to dig deeper. Here are some commonbehavioral interview questions you are likely to be asked:

1. Describe an instance when you were faced with problems or stress atwork that tested your limits. What did you do?2. Give an example of a situation when you had to use be relatively quick incoming to an important decision.

3. Give an example of the most rude and irratinal person you have had todeal with. How did you handle the situation? How could you have handled itdifferently?4. What was the biggest conflict you resolved during your last job? What wasthe conflict and what steps did you take to solve the problem? What stepsdid you take to ensure that the situation did not repeat itself?5. What has been your most successful accomplishment? What were theobjectives?6. Give an example of when you felt you were able to build motivation inyour co-worker and subordinates.7. Give an example when you had to use your investigative skills to gaininformation required to solve a problem. How did you analyze the problem tocome up with the solution?8. Give an example of a goal you set and how you went about achieving it.9. What is the most unplesant task you have been asked to do? What wasthe task and what was your response?10. Give an example of an existing procedure you had to modify. Whatproblems did you encounter and how did you solve them?11. How do you get along with your co-workers? Sum up your interpersonaland team building skills.12. Think back to a project that you are most proud of. Who worked with

you on the project? How was this project special and what was thefeedback?13. Give an exmaple of a situation when you had to go above and beyondthe call of duty in order to complete a task.14. Describe a common problem you would have faced on a job and how youwould go about solving it?15. Describe of a time when there was a change in business priorities in your



organization? How did you cope with this change in company strategy andhow did you bring your team onboard?

One to One Job Interview Tips

The most common interview is the one to one. The interviewer with theinterviewee. The One to One Job Interview is a test/conversation and bothparties will end the conversation with an opinion. The interviewer: if thecandidate is right for the job and the interviewee: if the organisation is rightfor him.

The interview starts when the interviewee meets the interviewer. We read alot in body language signs & other non-verbal communication. The clothesyou wear are also important.

The interviewer is going to conduct an ‘investigation’ in order to see if youare fit for the job vacancy and whether you are better at the job than theother candidates. The interviewer will ask questions of a technical natureand of a general nature.

General questions will analyze your problem solving abilities and your abilityto socialize with the rest of the team. Always use previous achievements toback any facts you mention. Even if such achievements were at the schoolnewspaper, employers under stand that school leavers have to start fromsome where.

Job interview preparation is very important. Make notes of yourachievements and study the way you talk about them by practicing.

Apart from trying to see if you have the experience and qualifications for this job, interviewers also want to see how you fit in the work environment, theteam and how you relate to your immediate supervisor. Therefore, if youhave a one to one interview it is very likely that you will have several otherone to one interviews. This is a disadvantage over a ‘panel interview’. Eachtime the interviewer is satisfied you move a rung up in the corporate ladderuntil you’re interviewed by the departmental manager (this depends on thekind of job you are being interviewed for).

Treat each one to one interview with great attention. Do not assume that thenext interviewer knows what you told the first one. You will need to mentionyour preparation and qualities each time.

Job Interview Preparation



Tips on how to prepare yourself with information and skills prior to a jobinterview.

* Allocate time to for the job interview preparation.* Make a list of the basic things you would like to know.

Where and how to do your job interview preparation:

* Public Library* Local Bookstore* Access Books* Journals* Magazines* Newspapers* Reference Materials

Tip: A lot of investor packs contain a lot of information for job seekers. Suchinformation is excellent for preparing for job interviews.

Competitor’s websites are also a good source of information for your jobpreparation. Try the following related search “related:[Web site Address]” inGoogle to see other related sites that might be competing with yourinterviewer.BizJournals.com is also a good tool in your job interviewpreparation.

Your network of contacts is an extremely useful resource to tap during your

job interview preparation

* Alumni network* Family members* Friends* Workers Unions

OnLine Resource:

* KoolKampus.com* KyaPoocha.com

Websites for major business publications:

* Forbes* Money* Kiplinger’s



* The Wall St. Journal* Investors Business Daily

Your research for the job interview preparation should give you a betterinsight on

* The Job Description.* What business the organisation is in.* Hiring process procedures.* Early experiences on the job.* Corporate culture* General Organisational Structure.* History.* Career paths.* What to wear for a job interview.* General knowledge about current state of industry.* Protocols before and after the interview.* The location of the interview.* Size of organisation* Number of employees* How long has the company being operating* Are there any subsidiary companies involved in this company.* Who are the major competitors of this company* Who is the direct supervisor* Information on your direct supervisor

Dressing for the Job Interview

Dressing for the Job Interview

Well, your resume worked and now you have an appointment for the allimportant job interview. You have done your homework. You are confidentthat you can answer anything the interviewer throws at you. Finally the bigday arrives and the final important choice must be made. What should youwear?

It is no secret that how you look has everything to do with the firstimpression you make. A first impression is made in the first 27 seconds. If you are too formal in your appearance, you might give the impression of being rigid and stuffy. If you are too casual, you may send the signal thatyou do not take the interview or the job very seriously.

Begin by talking to employees of your potential new employer and find outwhat the dress code is and how seriously management takes it. If you can’t



find out this information, you should choose clothing that is professional inthe impression it gives.

If you do not already own clothing that will work on an interview, you shouldgo to a store where you can get good advice from the sales person. Be

prepared to have the clothes tailored. No human being completely fits inclothes that are off the rack. To make the best impression the clothes mustbe altered to fit and accent your best features.

The following ideas can never be neglected:

* Look clean and neat. Make sure that your hair is done appropriately.Women - do not wear wild hairdo’s Men - get a trim of head and facial hair.* Do not wear a perfume or cologne as many people are allergic. Bathingwith a good quality bath soap will leave a light scent. You will be nervousand a gentle scent can mask the perspiring you may be doing. An unscentedantiperspirant can be used.* Cover any tattoos and avoid gaudy jewelry. Definitely limit pierced jewelryto ears only. Do not wear nose or tongue jewelry

MEN

* Wear a suit or sport jacket with color coordinated trousers* The color should be neutral or dark - blue, black or gray is best* Wear a tie - even if you will never wear one after you get the job* Shoes should be leather - clean and polished - black is best

* Make sure your nails are trimmed and that they are clean.

WOMEN

* Wear a classic suit or a simple dress with a jacket. This is not a time to beprovocative or sexy. Some appropriate colors are navy blue, black, darkgreen, dark red, burgundy, or gray.* Dress in a higher style that the position calls for but do not attempt to outdress everyone there.* Avoid wearing clothes that are tight, revealing or trendy. It may be thevery latest fashion but it will not impress the interviewer

* Fingernails should be trimmed to a length that doesn’t leave an observerwondering how you keep from stabbing yourself. The polish should be closerto a color your mom might wear than to a color that your kid sister would gofor.

Even after you are successful in getting the job, you should continue to payattention to your wardrobe. Interviewing for that first job is only the



beginning in the role clothing will play in your career. You should regularlyadd pieces made of high quality, long wearing fabrics. It is best to buyseparates that you can mix and match with the pieces that you already own.Each piece you buy adds to the variety of looks you can achieve. You mayask why this is important? The reason is that even after you have the job

you sought, you might like to be considered for advancement andpromotion. The impression you leave on the job every day will be added toyour performance when the boss looks around for someone to promote.

Be Prepared for the Interview Questions …

Your job interview preparation can give you a lot of insights on how toanswer interview questions. The job description can also give you an insightinto what the employer expects of you.

An interview is a test. Each interview question is going to test you on aparticular area. The key to pass this test is to practice. Family members,friends, career counsellors and teachers can all help to get the answer toeach interview question correct. To improve on the delivery of the answer toyour interview question, try using a video camera or a tape recorder.Observe yourself and identify the possible areas of improvement. This is alsoa good opportunity to observe your own interview body language

Be prepared to answer interview questions related to your CV and coverletter. Make sure you read them before the interview and know whatinformation they contain.

General points to think about before answering an interview question

* Think about the job and the employer’s needs first.* Employer’s needs come before your own.* Emphasise how you will help to achieve the company’s goals.* Describe your accomplishments in quantifiable words.* Explain how your skills and attributes will benefit the organisation.* Be specific and to the point.* Explain why you approached projects in a certain ways.* Explain how the skills you bring will benefit the organisation.* Don’t downplay your accomplishments or attribute them to luck.* Be specific in your answers. Avoid rambling or going off on a tangent.* Ask for clarification if you are unsure of the question.

Identify Weaknesses in your CV and be prepared to discuss them. Possibleweaknesses in you CV can be:



* Low GPA.* Lack of related experience.* Short employment periods.* Lack of management experiences.

Interview Questions

Why are you interested in this field?Why are you interested in this company?Why are you interested in this position?Why do you want this job?What qualities do you think this job requires?Why do you want to work for this organisation?What have you got to contribute?What can we offer you that your present employer cannot offer?How long have you been looking for a new job?What do you know about this organisation?What interests you about this organisation?What are you looking for in a new job?What would be your ideal job?What sort of jobs are you considering at the moment?What did you do on a day to day basis?What do you not like about the job?How did you make a difference to your last organisation?How successful are you?What was your greatest success and how did you achieve it?

What has been your biggest failure?How could you improve yourself?How did you progress in your last job?How do you handle criticism?How do you work with others?Are you a self-starter, able to work without constant supervision?Can you be depended upon in critical situations and follow work through tocompletion?Are you objective in evaluating yourself and others?What motivates you?Are you competitive?What problems did you encounter and how did you overcome them?Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities?Are you enthusiastic and easy to work with?Can you work under pressure?

Recruiters need to know what drives you to want the job and why you wantto work for the organisation in particular.



Can you manage your time effectively?How do you structure your day’s work?How do you plan your day and week?How did you handle sudden unplanned work or crisis? Can you handleconstructive criticism in a productive manner?

What are you like under pressure?How many hours are you prepared to work?What are your career goals?How did you get on with your last manager/colleagues?How do you express yourself in situations where you have to be tactful?What initiatives do you take to make the work place more efficient?How do you deal with different people at work?How do you handle work in high pressure situations?

These Interview questions are a guide. You will also be asked specificquestions related to the industry and the particular job area you are applyingfor.

Questions to ask during an Interview …

Usually you will be given the opportunity to ask questions at the end of yourinterview. You should at least have a few prepared questions or, if you arenot sure of any information give during the job interview, now is the time toask. If you do not ask any questions the interviewer can think you are not asenthusiastic as other candidates who asked 3 or more questions.

By asking plenty of questions, you can also take this opportunity to showyour awareness of the current industry situation and that you are interestedin a long career. Do not ask more questions than you were asked.

Do you know which questions you can ask at the interview?

It depends on your situation, the position you are applying for, and yourrelationship with the interviewer(s) and the organization.

Below are some common questions:

Asking questions during an interview will show that you are interested.

* Can you tell me more about the structure of the organisation?* What kind of management style does your company promote?* What are the skills that you consider important for this job?* Do you reimburse travel expenses?* Do you have a complete job description for this post?



* What kind of software do you use?* How will my performance be measured?* Do you have an induction course/notebook?

When you ask questions you will start forming a relationship with your

employer. It will also increase interactivity and make you look interested inthe company and job your are applying for.

Facing the Interview: Techniques

There are several interview technique s one can use during the actualinterview

Attention Aware Interview technique :

Limit you amount of talking. Interviews have only a limited attention time,to be specific there is only about 80 seconds where you have the interviewsattention. After you start replying to an Interview Question

The back ground to the Interview technique is :

As you start your reply to the interview question, you interviews has fullattention. As more time passes his attention is decreasing rapidly. After 60seconds, you have basically lost him/her. So aim to deliver the answer inless than 60 seconds. Delivering your highlight after 60 seconds will notnecessarily reach the interviewers head! If you are not convinced by the

level of detail you have given. Ask: “Do you want me to expand more onthis?”

Ask Questions Interview Technique :

Engage the interviewer by asking questions. Asking Questions improves yourrelations with the interviewer, and you will be more easily remembered afterthe interview. Interviewers are impressed by the interest you show in the job, sometimes even more the selling points you have. If you can manage toget your interviewer talking about himself, you are doing great!

Facing the Interview : Body Language

Handshake: A dry, firm hand shake reflects a strong personality and is whatmost employers are looking for. Limp, sweaty hands are definitely a no. Thisis the first body language in the interview that your interviewer will “read”.



Hands: Do not exaggerate hand gestures when you are talking. Tryanswering an interview question in front of a mirror to help you understandhow much you move your hands while talking.

Eye Contact: Maintain eye contact but do not stare. If you are uncomfortable

with this kind of body language look at the interviewer’s nose as it has thesame effect. Do not let your eyes wander away from your interviewer.

Posture: Reflects energy, enthusiasm and self control. Stand and sit erect.Slouching does not reflect a positive attitude in interview body language.

Fidget: Simple - do not fidget. Avoid playing with you hair, clicking pens andthe like.

COMMONLY ASKED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Below is a list of commonly asked questions in an interview. Pleasetake some time to consider how you would answer:

1. Why are you willing to leave your current employer?2. What do you know about this position and company? Why are youinterested?3. What are your short-term and long-term goals?4. How do you feel about your current supervisor?5. What are your strengths?6. What are your weaknesses?7. Who have you learned the most from? What was it? Why was itimportant?

8. What information is important to you in making a decision about this jobchange?9. What are you currently looking for in salary? Why?10. What would you change here?11. What could be improved in your boss?12. What do you like about your current boss?13. When are you available to start?

how to face the interview

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