Interview Techniques

M.H. Saboo Siddik PolytechnicMarch 02, 2013

Types of Interview:

• HR Interview• Technical• Others

• Panel• Telephone/video• Combination, e.g. 1st

interview on telephone, then 2nd face to face.

Interviewers’ Objectives:• Find the most suitable person for the job• Look for specific skills or expertise• Encourage you to express yourself fully• Assess whether you would ‘fit in’ to the

organisation/team• Assess whether you would be a good representative for

the company• Sell the company

Your Objective:

JUST GET THEJOB DAMMIT!!!!

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

• KNOW THE EMPLOYER:

- Product, turnover, core areas, departments

- Website, brochure, company annual reports,

business plan, newspaper articles, friends

• WHERE DO “I” FIT IN??

• Believe in yourself and your abilities

The Employer and “U”

Interview Preparation

• Draw up a list of skills/competencies you think the company is looking for, and think of examples how you can demonstrate these

• Consider your ‘Unique Selling Points’ – i.e. what makes YOU the ideal candidate—SWOT Analysis

• Find out who will be interviewing you

Types of Questions:• Biographical : Tell me about your education/ career/

experience to date• Motivation/Commitment : Why are you interested in

this job? Why have you applied to us ? • Competence : What are the key skills for this job ?

What are your strengths ? What can you bring to this job ?

• Scenario : What would you do if…?• Opinion : What do you think about…?

Types of Questions:• Current Issues : e.g. the state of Indian politics• Business Awareness : What experience do you have

of the business world ?• Off The Wall : Who would you like to be stuck in a lift

with and why?• Ethical : Should the generating companies be sued if

there are high flue gas emissions?• Worst Question!!!

Beware of trick/ what if/ difficult questions!

Skills Employers Look For :

• Communication skills• Honesty / integrity• Teamwork• Interpersonal Skills• Organised approach• Commercial awareness

• Motivation / initiative• Strong work ethic• Analytical skills• Flexibility / adaptability• Computer skills• Drive and ambition

Questions That Test These Skills:

• Commitment : Tell me about a time when you have perhaps doubted your decision to study engineering?

• Team work : Have you been involved in a project where a colleague was not pulling their weight ? What did you do about it ?

• Organised approach : Tell us about a deadline you have had to meet which you found challenging/ what did you do ? How did you resolve any problems ?

Skills Based Questions cont...

• Initiative : Tell me about a recent situation where you have been really thrown in at the deep end ?

• Drive and ambition : Can you give me an example of an occasion or task when you felt you had stretched yourself ? How did you react ? What was the outcome ?

PreparationPracticalities :• Check timetables/route; overnight stay if necessary. • Allow extra time for delays• Plan what to wear : dress code - formal• Need to feel comfortable• Techniques for dealing with nerves• Confirm your attendance in advance

THE D-DAY

General• Reach at least 15-20 min early• Read company magazines, circulars if get one• Re-read application form/CV • Feel Confident• Feel great!• RELAXXXX!!!!!

The Interview• ENTERING• HANDSHAKE• SITTING• POSTURE• RELAX• ANSWERING QUESTIONS• SMILE

Handling Questions :• Allow yourself thinking time : Not too long or employer

may conclude you cant think on your feet• Seek clarification : “Would you like me to continue?”,

“Would you mind repeating the question?”, “Can you re-phrase that ?”

• Answers to open ended questions should avoid rambling/ going off at a tangent

• Think of body language – open/confident; eye contact; expansive gestures;

• SMILE!!!!

Your Questions :• The Organisation : strategic goals; challenges they are

facing; which markets/clients are most important to them and why

• Training : Explore training/development opportunities,

• Working Conditions : line management, assessment of performance; growth

• Avoid questions on salary, holidays, bonuses until you have been offered the job. Avoid questions that could be seen as a criticism.

The Group Discussion• THE ARRANGEMENT• YOUR POSITION• INITIATING• LISTEN!!!• THE GOLDEN RULE – “PEST”• REMEMBER NAMES• SUMMARISING

The Aptitude Test• FORMAT• ENGLISH, QUANTITIVE APTITUDE, MATHS,

TECHNICAL • THINK ON YOUR HEELS• MOVE ON!• BOOKS

Common Mistakes :

• Poor/lack of preparation• Lack of knowledge about job/ employer/ current industry

issues• Negative about self • Using “We” instead of “I”• Not giving examples to back up statements• Not relating answers back to the job• Lack of motivation and enthusiasm

Post Interview :• Reflect on performance : were you positive; were your

answers full enough• Note down questions asked for future reference• Request feedback on your performance from employer• If unsuccessful, learn from your mistakes• Stay positive!

If you can conceive it, and if you can believe in

it, then you can achieve it!

REMEMBER

THANK YOU AND

ALL THE BESTPLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS