Nine Qualities

The job interview is almost always the centerpiece of the job-search process, your chance
to show your stuff. It is the place where you can show your stuff and prove whether your
motivations and your employer’s needs come together.

There is a hidden agenda consisting of nine items in every job interview. This is
regardless of the nature of the job or the type of the industry.

When the interviewer asks a question and you answer it, you are covering several factors
at the same time. Therefore being aware of these themes helps cue you about how the
interviewer will evaluate you. You may not score ten out of ten but at least you will be
aware of why he asked you that.

The nine qualities here will give you nine different ways to shine. Some of the nine items
are openly stated in the interview and others are not. Certain factors like likeability
cannot be addressed directly. Others may be stated clearly as when the interviewer asks
you to tell him about your leadership qualities. There is no way to ensure whether the
interviewer is ignoring subtle aspects just because he has not directly named a factor.

Leadership, communication skills and others can be inferred from your general response
to questions. If you think a particular factor hasn’t been covered you can bring it up
yourself: “I’d like to tell you why I am motivated to pursue this job.”

There is no surefire formula for success in an interview but what is encouraging is that
the employer is looking for that which you have in you to sell; and he wants you to make
him buy that for a good price.

1. Personal Impression

• Will this person be an effective representative of our organisation? Will he look

professional, serious, dress attractively?
• Will he socialize well, make clients feel at home, make our customers want to be
involved with us?
• Does he display confidence, warmth, and interest? Will he impress me?

What you should do

Dress appropriately for the interview. Find out what is most suitable for that work
environment and dress about 10% better than the norm. Neatness, grooming and a
professional look are the keys.

Generate friendliness, warmth and enthusiasm as much as you can. Be yourself. Speak
clearly and firmly. Remember not to speak too fast or too slowly. Sit or stand erect. BER
aware of your hand gestures, eye contact and facial expressions.
 2. Competence

• Can this person do the job we have here? Has he had the related experiences?
Does he have skills in his background which will help in this job?
• What does the resume look like? How do I know if he can do those things? What
can I ask him that will reveal his abilities?
• How good is she?

What you should say

Your resume would have given the interviewer an idea of your competence. Now he
wants to know more about you and verify what your resume says. You should now
become a talking resume. Tell stories about your past experiences which reveal your
abilities to fit into the job.

Ideally you should not make the interviewer work too hard to find out what you can do.
Do some research and have a good idea of what the job calls for and make connections
between your skills and what the job requires. Tell him why you can do the job well, but
without bragging. Show your confidence but don’t overdo it.

“I can organize data, and do research in the technical libraries and document my findings.
I can conduct seminars when needed and present journals. I can make reports for the
management in clear language. I can supervise staff and offer relevant guidance in
procedural matters. I know that this job calls for different skills that I can learn on the job
because I am very teachable.”

Make relevant connections form your experiential knowledge and intellectual

information input to impress upon the interviewer that you are genuinely motivated to do
the present job. The clearer you are about your motivation, the more acceptable you
become for the job on offer.

3. Likeability

• Would I like to work with this person? Will he get along with the other staff? Will
she able to handle the wide variety of workers in the department
• Will he listen well and relate well to the higher-ups? Is he good to be around?
Does she have some fun about her/
• Is there anything in his personal life that might affect his attitude or moods on the
job?

What you should say and do

There is no easy way to being likeable. We all like to be around likeable people and this
is an unspoken factor in hiring decisions. Unless there is an exceptionally strong reason
to hire someone who is despicable, we would rather hire someone who is pleasant and
friendly.
It is more enjoyable to work with likeable people. Relations will be better in such a
situation. There is more cooperation and thus more accomplishment. Likeable people
complement one another and as a result work thrives enormously.

Likeability is hard to program into your interview behaviour but there are things you can
address to be on the right side of this key factor.

A. Be genuinely interested in everyone you meet from top to bottom and remember
names.
B. Be a good listener. It is hard because often we would be busy with what to say
next. Let them know that you are listening by rephrasing or summarizing what
they say.
C. Be at ease with the interviewers. If you don’t get this job there is always a better
one awaiting you. Try and enjoy the good acquaintance you are making.
D. Be loose. Take things as they come. Interviews can have unexpected wrinkles
such as phone interruptions or mistaken arrangements, or spilled coffee. Some
questions may be directed to rattle you. Maintain upbeat attitude with poise and
maturity.
E. Don’t be manipulative. Do not try to endear yourself by making obvious play for
their approval. Excessive comments about decorations on the wall or trophies on
display may and other attempts to curry favour may work against you.
F. Avoid negative talk. Don’t be critical of former employers and temples of
learning. It will cast a negative light on you. Don’t be tempted to tell war stories
even if an interviewer baits you. Tell colour stories.

You can tell from your interviewer’s smiles or nods of approval and other non-verbal
responses, where you stand on likeability. Don’t try too hard and know that pleasantness
counts.

4. Motivation/Enthusiasm/Commitment

• Does she really want this job? Is she fired up about it?
• How hard will she work? Is she intense about her attitude towards proper
delivery?
• How genuinely interested is he in this filed? Does he just want a job?
• Will he stay with us long enough to make a real contribution? How do I know if
this job is his first choice?

What you should say

Depth of motivation makes the difference between ordinary and great. Demonstrate your
drive.
Show your enthusiasm verbally and non-verbally. They must feel that this job will
energise you.
Relate this job to previous experiences that gave you immense joy. Convert this
opportunity into a story telling session. “I had done projects like this before and I
remember how my superiors and team mates appreciated the contributions I made. For
example…
Talk about your ambitions and your long term plans, and your desire for growth in this
field of work.
Tell what exactly you like about the company, the department, the job, the product and
services of the company.

Don’t be so motivated as to jump up and scream, “It’s me! This job is me!” That would
land you elsewhere and not the job. I know I can count on you to be discrete and tasteful.

Even when you are changing careers you must give your employer some insight into why
you are scaling up in this direction. The whole idea is to show your interviewer how this
job fits your larger career goals and ambitions.

The fact is that the most motivated applicant will do the job well even if she has a little
less relevant experience or needs a little more training.
In a similar fashion even if you have all the relevant qualifications on paper and have
faired extremely well at the interview, don’t be cocky or complacent. You might just not
land the job. You should allow the board to decide and let you know. They are the ones
who have the upper hand.

5. Leadership

• Does this person have the potential for taking responsibility in our organisation?
• Is there any evidence of his leadership in other settings?
• Does he show signs of wanting to get ahead and be in charge of things?
• Would he be a good example for the rest of the staff?

Leadership refers to being the head of an organisation or team. It also refers to taking
responsibility for a project even when you are not the appointed leader of the group.
Leadership is all about bringing people and resources together to achieve the desired
goal. Leadership entails supervising or managing other people. It can also mean creating
a kitchen garden in your backyard.

Interviewers would like to see evidence that you are a take-charge guy or a girl who
makes things happen. You should call attention to significant attempts made by you: it
doesn’t matter whether you succeeded or failed. People appreciate a go-getter. Everyone
wants to have someone who would independently take charge. “We almost got a cricket
match organized in the church grounds nearby, since we didn’t have a ground in our LF
campus. I took the efforts, lobbied the board, called the referendum and met the CMD…”

Talk about your involvement and accomplishments in cultural events and in school and
college organisations.
 6. Communication Skills

• What evidence do I have that he writes clearly and effectively? Would she
represent our organisation positively as a public speaker?
• Is she a powerful communicator? Will she communicate well with other staff
members? Will she be able to write a speech for our president if it were
necessary?
• How much writing and public speaking has she done before?

What you should say and do.

Writing and speaking skills are highly valued in a lot of jobs. Leaders are there only
because of their ability to communicate convincingly. People give importance to those
who can write and speak well and are often willing to carry out their command. Provide
evidence of these skills by offering examples of your writing style – management reports,
publicity materials, or newsletters that you have produced. Write your cover letters and
resumes with utmost care. Any sloppiness there will be interpreted as a sign that you
cannot write well.
Every time you open your mouth you give evidence of your speaking ability. If you have
anchored programs, done public speaking or made a speech in front of your class say so
without bragging. Even your interview is a prime example of your speaking skill. Speak
concisely with sufficient detail. Brevity is the essence of wit. Speak with a well
modulated voice and give importance to your vocal quality.
Don’t blow away your interviewer with your speaking style. Don’t use a phony accent. It
will glare at him. Speak with confidence and in your natural accent.

7. Poise and Maturity

• Can he handle himself under pressure? Could he handle difficult customers?

• Does he have the depth and the maturity to deal with questions that are impossible
to answer?
• How would he be able to project himself as the representative of our company
under difficult circumstances?
• Will he be able to handle difficult customers?
• Will he come apart when things go haywire and people challenge his ideas?
• How would he be in a heated argument? Is he calm under fire?

This is the area where the interviewer tries to rattle your cage through the use of stressful
questions. If the interviewer feels that your job requires ability to deal with pressure he
will induce an element of stress into the questions and see how you conduct yourself. If
you want to avoid being faced with such a situation, through the course of the interview
lace in a good incident from your life which would bring out clearly that you are a
problem solver.

What is the biggest mistake you have ever made, and why did you let it happen?
Tell me why you think our company is so hot when you really know very little about it.
Which is the worst company you have ever worked for and why?
Who is the worst boss you have ever worked for and tell us why you feel so?
What would you do to bring in more clinical trials if you were the Head of your CRO?

How you answer the question – your calmness, your reasonableness, your ability to
remain positive and congenial – is as important as the content of your answer. Grace
under pressure is a virtue and that is what the interviewer is looking for. You can admit
to a bit of uncertainty before answering (a pause to give yourself time), but do it with
poise because that is what leaders are called on to do frequently,

The interviewer may try to argue with you and get you to admit you are wrong, perhaps
even badger you about a point of you. Show your diplomacy here and your ability to
engage someone on difficult issue while maintaining respect and getting your point
across. Winning the argument is not as important as having a constructive, peaceful
discussion.

Sometimes stressful moments will occur even though they are not planned. The
interviewer may misinterpret you, forcing you to clarify yourself in a tactful way.
Manage the situation with maturity, style and self control.

8 Outside Interests

• Is she one-dimensional, or does she pursue things away from the job?
• Does she show any flair or originality in her outside interests?
• Does she get intensely involved in something? Is she productive and does she
work hard towards goals?
• Can she organize herself?
• Would people who work here be interested to know what she does off the job?
• Is there any evidence of achievement in her outside involvements?

What you should say?

Whether you are a passionate badminton player, a rock collector, have a collection of
sweaters you have knitted or you make your own wine for Christmas, it is good to talk
about your personal interests, especially if you are asked to. Don’t push it into the
conversation where it doesn’t belong, the idea is to be alert for opportunities to point
skills you have developed or knowledge you have acquired through your leisure time
activities.

Even if your hobbies are not related to your job, your involvement in them can be a
positive sign of enthusiasm and your ability to organize your energies. Your interviewer
may ask you what it is that you do in your leisure time that really gets you fired up. Your
interviewer is trying to determine if you have a spirit of dedication and intensity that
carry over to your involvement with the job.
It is more common for an employer to have a balanced individual who works hard but
also gets involved in personal activities. Such a person tends to be happier than one who
has no interests outside his job, by and large.

9. Your Relationships

• Are his relationships OK?

• Does he have marital, roommate, family or other problems of this kind?

What you should say

Right or wrong, fair or unfair, everyone believes that relationship stability is a good
indication of one’s stability and effectiveness on the job. He is definitely not going to
come out and ask you: “How are things at home?” He may encourage you to talk about
your relationships, in subtle or indirect ways:

What led you and your wife to move here?

How does your husband like his work?
Do you have brothers and sisters? What kind of work are they in?

In these days of two-career couples, a lot of conflicts between spouses arise from the
nature of their respective careers. It is reasonable to answer them and any general or
implied reference you make to solid and stable relationships will work to your benefit.
Even though relationships are off-limits for interviews in the strict legal sense, it makes
sense to talk about them if you are asked. I think it would be more trouble not to talk
about your spouse or family member.

FOLLOW UP

If you are still in contention for the job

Write a letter to the interviewer – Graciously thank him for the meeting, say what you
learnt from the interview, and reaffirm your interest in the job. Since you have finished
your interview, it is an opportunity to state more emphatically why you want the position
and why you are well qualified. You can recall key things he might have said in the
interview while reiterating your commitment to the vision and mission of the
establishment. “Let the last word they have from me be a good one”.

Ask one or more of your key references to call for you – If there is one who you believe
will say especially good things about you, ask him to call the interviewer. Tell the
reference what you know about the job and why you believe it is the right one for you.

Send any materials the interviewer asked you for – If there are examples of your work,
reference letters or other materials he mentioned during the interview send them right
away with a thank you note.
Call to ask how the selection process is going – “I’d like to know the status of my
application, and reaffirm that I am still very interested in this job”. How soon should you
call? If the interviewer hasn’t told you when to call, anywhere between one or two weeks
is good. How often should you call? – Ask when it would be alright to call again.
If you have received an offer of another job, but you would prefer this one, it’s
good to call right away and tell them when you need to make a decision. You will have to
then negotiate regarding the selection timetable and probably decide on what is at hand.
“A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.”
Follow ups give you several ways to demonstrate that you – like your job search –
are well organized. If an employer has many forms of positive contact from you, he is
likely to recognize your genuine interest in the job.
Be careful not to overdo your follow up activities. In your zeal to be noticed, you
might create an impression of being overanxious. All of these actions are appropriate;
however each can be done to excess and that may be damaging. Too many references and
a thank you note to sugary to the palate may send the employer scurrying in the opposite
direction.

If you have been eliminated from contention

Why bother if you have been eliminated from the selection process? Because any
employer can be a link to other job opportunities.

Consider the following things you can do.

Ask for feedback about your strengths and weakness: If you believe you had a decent
interview, call or visit the interviewer to ask about how you presented yourself. Both the
praise and criticism are important to you. Praises will keep you going and criticisms will
cue you into making the necessary changes.

Ask for referrals: “I’d like to continue seeking work in this field. Could you suggest who
I might talk with, or where job possibilities might generally be?” While you may draw a
blank on this, it is worth asking. Especially in tight fields where professionals know each
other, you may get a strong lead if you had made a good impression during the interview.
Perhaps he may tell you the kinds of organizations best to approach, or give you some
useful information.

Send thank-you notes It is the best means you have of reinforcing a positive impression,
so use it with anyone you hope to see again. A well-stated and friendly letter is
remembered long after the selection process is over. If you did so with ten of your
interviewers you liked, the odds are you will have some beneficial future contact with at
least two or three of them.

The ability to follow up separates the confident and enduring job hunter from those who
are sticking the toes in the water but are ready to get out. Every interview is just a prelude
to better interviews. Imagine you run into an interviewer who had rejected you a few
weeks later and because of your follow ups she tells you about a new company she just
heard of. Follow ups also sharpen your persistence skills, your ability to move towards a
goal even when the initial signs are cloudy. Remember that every contact you make and
maintain has some potential to provide the lead and assistance you are looking for.

Dear Dr. Reddy,

It was such a pleasure speaking with you at the interview last week. Interacting with you
reaffirmed my interest in joining the ABC Company. I learnt from you the importance of
reading the key medical journals and also how to sift reliable information from other
vague data.

The job with ABC Company is still my first choice. I have been talking with other CROs,
but believe that yours is the best, because of its visible depth in research and analysis
and professional growth opportunities. Even if I am not offered the job, I am sure that I
will improve my overall skills through your recommendations. I am quite convinced that
I have made the right choice in taking up clinical research as my profession. I plan to
continue my efforts to acquire all the updates in this field and contribute my mite to the
Clinical Research Community.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for your helpful suggestions and for providing
such a deep insight into the field of clinical research.

Sincerely,
Singarayan Jr.

This letter is not a sales letter. This letter restates his strong interest in his chosen field of
specialization. It shows the determination of the candidate to succeed at any cost. It
establishes a positive image of him. It is deliberate yet quite professional and evokes a
pleasant sensation in the reader. Singarayan had sold himself and Dr. Reddy may be
willing to buy him.