Interviewing Tips

Introduction:
The interview is when employers will get to know your personality,
interests, goals, and objectives. You will no longer be a list of skills
and experiences on a piece of paper; this is your opportunity to give
specific examples and anecdotes and explain how these experiences
make you the perfect candidate for the position. It is the perfect time
to demonstrate your interest in the position and your knowledge
about the company and the industry. This is the time for the employer
to find out who you are, so be yourself.

What Employers Are Looking For:

Interviews can be very stressful, but the best way to overcome this is
to be prepared and know what employers are looking for:
• Job candidates with a definite idea of their goals, objectives,
strengths, and skills.
• Candidates who are knowledgeable about the position they are
interviewing for, the company and its products, and the industry
overall.
• Candidates who can match their own skills and experiences with
the needs of the company.
• Candidates who are confident in themselves and their ability to
contribute to the company.
• Candidates who can discuss past experiences and give specific
examples that demonstrate their skills and accomplishments.

Prepare Beforehand:
Another way to decrease the stress of an interview is to prepare
beforehand. Review your resume and make sure you know your skills,
experiences, goals, interests, accomplishments, and objectives inside
and out. You'll be asked a lot of open-ended questions, and you will
need to be able to give specific examples and articulate yourself
clearly and concisely.Familiarize yourself with the most common
Questions Asked by an Employer. Develop answers to these
questions, but do not memorize your answers. Make sure all of your
responses are positive and highlight your skills and
accomplishments. When asked about difficult or negative
experiences, describe those experiences as learning
experiences.During the interview, the employer will not be the only
person asking questions; you are expected to ask questions
throughout the interview, as well as at the end when the inevitable
question is asked: "So, do you have any questions for me?" Always
ask questions. If the employer has answered all of your questions
already, come up with something else to ask about. Your questions
can demonstrate your interest in the position and your knowledge
about the company and industry. Keep your entire questions job
related.

INTERVIEW TIPS:
Here are a few suggestions on how to approach the interview
process:
• Research the company. It is good to become familiar with the
organization, the position and the person who may be your
boss. Try to match your skills and experience to the position
you are seeking.
• Look good. First impressions are lasting, so make it count.
Projecting a confident and professional image is essential.
Dress professionally, but don't overdo it with jewelry or
excessive perfume or cologne.
• Know the location of the interview. Consider driving/ arriving at
the location in advance. Rushing around trying to find the
facility can add to your nervousness.
• Know your resume. Be prepared to discuss and defend every
aspect of your education and career experience.
• Focus more on the interview, less on the job. There's time to
evaluate the job and whether you want it after the interviewer
has learned about you. For now, your goal is to get invited back
for a second interview or an offer. Then you can decide if the job
is just what you want.
 • Talk about your previous contributions. Prospective employers
are interested in knowing how you made a difference in your
previous job. In a way, you need to convince the interviewer that
you're the answer to the company's needs.
• Look for ways to sell yourself. Seize opportunities to tell the
prospective employer how good you are. Be careful not to boast,
but speak confidently about your skills.
• Don't overdo it. Choose your words carefully and don't talk too
much. Most people only retain 20 percent of what they hear.
Select your words, speak clearly and get to the point.
• Avoid fear by visualizing the interview. It's just an interview, not
the gallows, so imagine the experience in advance. Try to
visualize various things like your clothing, items to bring,
physical presentation, eye contact, body language, etc.
• Listen carefully. Pause briefly after each question before you
respond to be sure the interviewer has finished speaking.
Answer questions directly and concisely. If you don't
understand, ask for clarification.
• Bring your questions. You also are interviewing the company,
too. Start with questions about the organization and move to
career growth, working conditions, etc. Save benefits and
compensation for last.
• Write down important data. Get the names and titles of the
people with whom you interview. Be sure the spelling is correct,
as you may need the information later.
• Don't run away. After the interview, don't just hop up and head
down the hall. Try to leave a good final impression by letting the
interviewer know you really want the job and that you're ready to
move to the next step in the employment process. If that doesn't
feel right, simply ask about the next step in the process.
• Obtain resources. Grab an annual report, product information or
other data that will give you a better picture of the company and
the kind of work you might be doing.
• Don't become invisible. Following the interview there is a way in
which you can be contacted, even if you are out of town.

TYPICAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

Here is a list of the repeated questions that relate to almost any type
of job. Please note that an interviewer may also ask questions that
relate to the specific position that you are applying for.
1. Tell something about yourself.The most often asked question in
interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to
work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about
things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the
position you are interviewing for. Start with the item farthest
back and work up to the present. Since this is often the opening
question in an interview, be extra careful that you don't run off at
the mouth. Keep your answer to a minute or two at most. Cover
five topics including personal introduction, early years,
education, work history, and recent career experience.
Emphasize this last subject. Remember that this is likely to be a
warm-up question. Don't waste your best points on it.
2. What is your greatest / best strength? Or, what is your
strength?For this question numerous answers are good, just
stay positive. A few good examples may be a) Your ability to
prioritize, b) Your problem-solving skills, c) Your ability to work
under pressure, d) Your ability to focus on projects, e) your
professional expertise, f) your leadership skills, g) your positive
attitude towards works etc., in addition to your strong academic
background.
3. Tell something about your weakness. Or what are your
weakness?The interviewer who asks this question is looking to
see how honest you are with yourself, and how well you deal
with your own shortcomings.Bit of a tricky question this, after all
no one wants to show their weaknesses but we all have them.
Don't pretend you don't have weaknesses, and don't avoid
answering the question. This is your chance to show that you
are honest and take responsibility for your actions.A good way
to answer this question is to mention your weakness, then tell
what you have done to overcome that weakness. If you have
been disorganized in the past, you could say, "I used to be very
disorganized, always forgetting assignments and birthdays. But
I managed to work out a computerized system of to-do lists and
reminders that keeps me on top of everything. "You could also
say, I don't have straight way transport or bus service from my
 residence to the office. So, during the rainy days I had
difficulties in finding a rickshaw to reach the bus stop and I
would get late, occasionally. Now on the raining days, I get up
earlier in the morning and rush out to my office to reach on
time."The most comprehensive way of dealing with this question
is to try and turn it into a "positive" from a "negative".
4. Do you consider yourself successful?You should always answer
yes and briefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have
set goals, and you have met some and are on track to achieve
the others.
5. What do you know about this organization?This question is one
reason to do some research on the organization before the
interview. Find out where they have been and where they are
going. You should be able to discuss products or services,
revenues, reputation, image, goals, problems, management
style, people, history and philosophy. But don't act as if you
know everything about the place. Let your answer show that you
have taken the time to do some research, but don't try to
overwhelm the interviewer, and make it clear that you wish to
learn more. You might start your answer in this manner: "In my
job search, I've investigated a number of companies. Yours is
one of the few that interests me, for these reasons..."Give your
answer a positive tone. Don't say, "Well, everyone tells me that
you're in all sorts of trouble, and that's why I'm here", even if
that is why you're there.
6. Are you applying for other jobs?Be honest but do not spend a
lot of time in this area. Keep the focus on this job and what you
can do for this organization. Anything else is a distraction.
7. Why do you want to work for this organization?This may take
some thought and certainly, should be based on the research
you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely
important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-
term career goals.
8. Your resume suggests that you may be over-qualified or too
experienced for this position. What's your opinion?Emphasize
your interest in establishing a long-term association with the
organization, and say that you assume that if you perform well in
his job, new opportunities will open up for you. Mention that a
strong company needs a strong staff. Observe that experienced
 executives are always at a premium. Suggest that since you are
so well qualified, the employer will get a fast return on his
investment. Say that a growing, energetic company can never
have too much talent.
9. What important trends do you see in our industry?Be prepared
with two or three trends that illustrate how well you understand
your industry. You might consider technological challenges or
opportunities, economic conditions, or even regulatory
demands as you collect your thoughts about the direction in
which your business is heading.
10. How do you handle stress and pressure?A typical
interview question, asked to get a sense of how you handle on-
the-job stress, is "How do you handle pressure?" Examples of
good responses include:
o Stress is very important to me. With stress, I do the best
possible job. The appropriate way to deal with stress is to
make sure I have the correct balance between good stress
and bad stress. I need good stress to stay motivated and
productive.
o I react to situations, rather than to stress. That way, the
situation is handled and doesn't become stressful.
o I actually work better under pressure and I've found that I
enjoy working in a challenging environment.
o From a personal perspective, I manage stress by visiting
the gym/ walking a mile every evening. It's a great stress
reducer.
o Prioritizing my responsibilities so I have a clear idea of
what needs to be done when has helped me effectively
manage pressure on the job.
o If the people I am managing are contributing to my stress
level, I discuss options for better handling difficult
situations with them.
11. Why did you leave your last job?Stay positive regardless of
the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with
management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or
the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
 opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-
looking reasons.
12. What experience do you have in this field?Speak about
specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you
do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.
13. What kind of salary do you need?A loaded question. A
nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, "that's a tough
question. Can you tell me the range for this position?"In most
cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say
that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide
range. If you are asked the question during an initial screening
interview, you might say that you feel you need to know more
about the position's responsibilities before you could give a
meaningful answer to that question. Here, too, either by asking
the interviewer or 'Executive Search firm' (if one is involved), or
in research done as part of your homework, you can try to find
out whether there is a salary grade attached to the job. If there
is, and if you can live with it, say that the range seems right to
you. But whenever possible, say as little as you can about salary
until you reach the "final" stage of the interview process. At that
point, you know that the company is genuinely interested in you
and that it is likely to be flexible in salary negotiations.
14. Are you a team player?You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that show you often
perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are
good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a
matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.
15. Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization.You should be anxious for this question. It gives
you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the
position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this
relationship.
16. Tell me about your dream job.Stay away from a specific
job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is
it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the
suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like: A job where I
 love the work, like the people, can contribute and can't wait to
get to work.
17. What is more important to you: the money or the
work?Money is always important, but the work is the most
important. There is no better answer.
18. What has disappointed you about a job?Don't get trivial or
negative. Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction
Company did not win a contract, which would have given you
more responsibility.
19. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.You may
say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an
example that relates to the type of position applied for.
20. What motivates you to do your best on the job?This is a
personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition
21. Would you be willing to relocate if required?You should be
clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think
there is a chance it may come up. Do not say "yes" just to get
the job if the real answer is "no". This can create a lot of
problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point and
save yourself future grief.
22. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?Here you
have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it
small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned.
An example would be "working too far ahead of colleagues on a
project and thus throwing coordination off".
23. What do you look for when You hire people?Think in terms
of skills, initiative, and the adaptability to be able to work
comfortably and effectively with others. Mention that you like to
hire people who appear capable of moving up in the
organization.
24. What do you think is the most difficult thing about being a
manager or executive?Mention planning, execution, and cost-
control. The most difficult task is to motivate and manage
employees to get something planned and completed on time and
within the budget.
25. Why are you leaving (did you leave) your present (last)
job? (if there is one)Be brief, to the point, and as honest as you
 can without hurting yourself. Refer back to the planning phase
of your job search. Where you considered this topic as you set
your reference statements. If you were laid off in an across-the-
board cutback, say so; otherwise, indicate that the move was
your decision, the result of your action. Do not mention
personality conflicts. The interviewer may spend some time
probing you on this issue, particularly if it is clear that you were
terminated. The "We agreed to disagree" approach may be
useful. Remember that your references are likely to be checked,
so don't make-up a story for an interview.
26. In your current (last) position, what features do (did) you
like the most? The least?Be careful and be positive. Describe
more features that you liked than disliked. Don't cite personality
problems. If you make your last job sound terrible, an
interviewer may wonder why you remained there until now.
27. What do you think of your boss?Be as positive as you can.
A potential boss is likely to wonder if you might talk about him
in similar terms at some point in the future.
28. What are your long-range goals?Refer back to the planning
phase of your job search. Don't answer, "I want the job you've
advertised." Relate your goals to the company you are
interviewing: 'in a firm like yours, I would like to..."
29. Do you have any questions for me?Always have some
questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an
asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be
productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
Are examples.
30. Where do you expect your career to be in 10 years?(Be
careful here. You do not want to give the impression that you're
simply using this company as a stepping-stone to another
career. Think of a related managerial position within the
company that would interest you.)
There is a story about a young accountant who was asked this
question by a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) firm during an
interview. The young accountant replied that he saw himself as
the comptroller of a large corporation. In other words, "I'm just
using your firm to teach me and then after you spend your
resources training me, I will leave to go work for someone else."
Needless to say, he was not offered a position with the CPA firm.
 They know that 75% of the people they hire will leave within 10
years, but they do not want to hire someone who comes in with
that plan.
31. Describe your Management style.Try to avoid labels. Some
of the more common labels, like progressive, salesman or
consensus, can have several meanings or descriptions
depending on which management expert you listen to. The
situational style is safe, because it says you will manage
according to the situation, instead of one size fits all.

FINAL NOTE:
You can never be sure exactly what will happen at an interview, but
you can be prepared for common interview questions. Take time to
think about your answers now. You might even write them down to
clarify your thinking. The key to all interview questions is to be
honest, and to be positive. Focus your answers on skills and abilities
that apply to the job you are seeking. BEST OF LUCK.