SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW INTERVIEW STRATEGIESSTRATEGIES

INTERVIEWINTERVIEW

Most intense `dyadic’ communication.Most intense `dyadic’ communication. Dyad – 2 persons seeking to exchange Dyad – 2 persons seeking to exchange

information.information. Helps both the interviewer and the applicant Helps both the interviewer and the applicant

achieve their goals.achieve their goals.

TYPES OF TYPES OF INTERVIEWSINTERVIEWS

JOB INTERVIEWSJOB INTERVIEWS

To select dynamic people for the organisation.To select dynamic people for the organisation.

PROMOTION INTERVIEWSPROMOTION INTERVIEWS

Used as an additional instrument for assessing Used as an additional instrument for assessing the suitability of an employee for a higher the suitability of an employee for a higher post.post.

Less formalLess formal

ANNUAL INTERVIEWSANNUAL INTERVIEWS Used to confirm the achievements of the employee Used to confirm the achievements of the employee

and also to point out his strengths and weaknessesand also to point out his strengths and weaknesses More of discussion, less of Q/AnswersMore of discussion, less of Q/Answers

EXIT INTERVIEWSEXIT INTERVIEWS

Interact with the employee who has resigned Interact with the employee who has resigned and to get his feedback on the issues that led to and to get his feedback on the issues that led to his/her resignation. his/her resignation.

SUB-CLASSIFICATIONSUB-CLASSIFICATION

OFOFTYPES OF INTERVIEWSTYPES OF INTERVIEWS

STRUCTURED / FORMALSTRUCTURED / FORMAL Prepared q’s asked.Prepared q’s asked. Used in screening stage.Used in screening stage. Conducted to gather facts at lower level.Conducted to gather facts at lower level. Poor measure to assess applicant’s personal Poor measure to assess applicant’s personal

qualities.qualities.

OPEN-ENDED/INFORMALOPEN-ENDED/INFORMAL

Encourage the applicant’s to express freely.Encourage the applicant’s to express freely. Helps in bringing out an applicant’s Helps in bringing out an applicant’s

personality.personality. Conducted for middle/top level managers.Conducted for middle/top level managers.

GROUP INTERVIEWSGROUP INTERVIEWS

Several candidates are interviewed together to Several candidates are interviewed together to judge their inter-personal skills.judge their inter-personal skills.

INDEPTH INTERVIEWINDEPTH INTERVIEW

Brainstorming interviews.Brainstorming interviews. Taken for hiring operational people.Taken for hiring operational people.

STRESS INTERVIEWSTRESS INTERVIEW

Point – blank questions asked.Point – blank questions asked. Interviewee criticised for answer/ appearance.Interviewee criticised for answer/ appearance. Subject to long periods of silence and Subject to long periods of silence and

deliberate interruptions.deliberate interruptions.

BEFOREBEFORE THETHE INTERVIEWINTERVIEW

Know yourself-Know yourself- skills, accomplishments, interests skills, accomplishments, interests and personal values.and personal values.

Know your resume- Know your resume- carry 5 copies; know contentscarry 5 copies; know contents Know the company –Know the company – information about the genesis, information about the genesis,

function & development plans of the org.function & development plans of the org. Know the positionKnow the position – Job content, role, – Job content, role,

responsibilities. Prepare with your strongest responsibilities. Prepare with your strongest qualifications.qualifications.

Contd…Contd…

Contd..Contd.. Rehearse possible questions.Rehearse possible questions. Know the meeting time, place, name of the Know the meeting time, place, name of the

interviewer; arrive early.interviewer; arrive early. Speak with insiders to know about the work Speak with insiders to know about the work

culture, ethics, basic salary ranges; DO culture, ethics, basic salary ranges; DO NOT INTERROGATE!!NOT INTERROGATE!!

ATTENDINGATTENDING INTERVIEWINTERVIEW

Dress formally Dress formally Men – light coloured shirt, deep coloured trousers, Men – light coloured shirt, deep coloured trousers,

polished shoes, a well-shaved face, neat hair, clipped polished shoes, a well-shaved face, neat hair, clipped nails.nails.

Women – Light coloured saree/ corporate suit, min. Women – Light coloured saree/ corporate suit, min. jewellery, comfortable footwear that don’t reveal jewellery, comfortable footwear that don’t reveal toes, manicured nails with a very soft nail colour if toes, manicured nails with a very soft nail colour if case may be.case may be.

Do not wear strong perfume/ cologne.Do not wear strong perfume/ cologne. Wait patiently for a call.Wait patiently for a call. On being called, don’t dash into the room; knock On being called, don’t dash into the room; knock

twice on the door & seek permission before entering twice on the door & seek permission before entering the interview-chamber.the interview-chamber.

DURING DURING THE THE INTERVIEWINTERVIEW

Give a +ve first impression; smile and time-wish; Give a +ve first impression; smile and time-wish; Give a warm handshake on being offered.Give a warm handshake on being offered.

Don’t sit down unless asked; however, if a little late, Don’t sit down unless asked; however, if a little late, ask for permission to sit down.ask for permission to sit down.

Don’t drag chair, sit straight, composed, comfortable Don’t drag chair, sit straight, composed, comfortable & confident.& confident.

Show enthusiasm, interest, listen attentively.Show enthusiasm, interest, listen attentively. Never interrupt the speaker, point fingers.Never interrupt the speaker, point fingers. Avoid confrontation.Avoid confrontation. Think & organise yr answers; do not think for long; Think & organise yr answers; do not think for long;

keep answers brief, stay focused and answer honestlykeep answers brief, stay focused and answer honestly

Never ignore any question; a polite `I am sorry, I am Never ignore any question; a polite `I am sorry, I am not aware…’ would suffice. not aware…’ would suffice.

Look at all the interviewer’s while answeringLook at all the interviewer’s while answering If an interviewer is discouraging your correct answers, If an interviewer is discouraging your correct answers,

don’t lose cool; yet answer all the questions without don’t lose cool; yet answer all the questions without ignoring him/herignoring him/her

Ask thoughtful questions about the company/position.Ask thoughtful questions about the company/position. Avoid first names, jargons, unfavourable commentsAvoid first names, jargons, unfavourable comments Avoid `know it all’ attitude.Avoid `know it all’ attitude. Don’t smile throughout, have a sober expression.Don’t smile throughout, have a sober expression. Thank all while leaving, lift the chair and place it Thank all while leaving, lift the chair and place it

back in its position and don’t slam the door.back in its position and don’t slam the door.

AFTER THE AFTER THE INTERVIEW INTERVIEW

If any specific actions were to be If any specific actions were to be accomplished, do so promptly.accomplished, do so promptly.

Send a prompt thank you note.Send a prompt thank you note. Record your experience ; learn from the Record your experience ; learn from the

mistakes & improve them .mistakes & improve them .

SURVIVING GROUP SURVIVING GROUP EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWEMPLOYMENT INTERVIEW

Don’t try to dominate.Don’t try to dominate. Don’t be a passive listener.Don’t be a passive listener. Have the confidence to initiate & conclude the Have the confidence to initiate & conclude the

discussion.discussion. Do not interrupt abruptly.Do not interrupt abruptly. Use the right tone and pitch, never scream.Use the right tone and pitch, never scream. Don’t stare at just one person; address all.Don’t stare at just one person; address all.

INTERVIEWER’SINTERVIEWER’SRESPONSIBILITYRESPONSIBILITY

PREPERATIONPREPERATION

Analyse the applicant’s resume carefully.Analyse the applicant’s resume carefully. Focus on core information reqd.Focus on core information reqd. Plan basic questions you would like to ask.Plan basic questions you would like to ask. Be aware of national/state regulations Be aware of national/state regulations

regarding fair employment practices.regarding fair employment practices. Omit personal biasOmit personal bias

DURING THE INTERVIEWDURING THE INTERVIEW Greet the candidate warmly.Greet the candidate warmly. Put the candidate at ease; ask about his/her hobbies.Put the candidate at ease; ask about his/her hobbies. Make clear the purpose of the interview.Make clear the purpose of the interview. Ask only one question at a time; avoid personal Ask only one question at a time; avoid personal

questions.questions. Be patient, allow candidate to become interactive.Be patient, allow candidate to become interactive. Do not put the same question to all candidates.Do not put the same question to all candidates. Write notes as it will help in evaluation.Write notes as it will help in evaluation.