Business Communication

Interviews

What do you mean by
Interview
An interview is a formal meetings in which a
person or group questions, consults, or
evaluates another person or group
Fundamental Principles of
Interviewing
Ask the question that allow the candidate to
do at least 70% of speaking. Avoid the
question that can be answered by a yes or
no
Phrase your questions so that the desired or
right answer is not apparent to the applicant
Ask only one question about one subject at a
time
Ask the easy question first so as to make the
applicant feel comfortable.
Conti-2
All questions should be directly related to
finding about the applicants ability to do the
job, not about his/her personal life.
Spent the time behind Writing and recording
the candidates answers and assumption that
you make.
Use role-play
While you are writing, nod occasionally to let
the applicant know you are listening

Conti-3
If the applicant does not respond right way to
a question, wait. Give him/her time
Follow-up ask the person more, to give a
person more details
Ask the candidate to describe his/her past
behavior in the kind of situations he/she will
encounter on the job
Alternate between easy and difficult question
At the end of the interview, allow them to ask
the question if they have
Being mentally prepared

Researching employers

Dressing appropriately
Preparing for the Interview
Prepare well by

Skills, strengths, weaknesses, attitude
Likes and dislike, achievements, etc
Self Assessment (Mental Preparation)
Understand your:

Review your resume thoroughly
Greet people with a firm handshake
Stand up to meet people
Remember please and thank you
Be good at chatting and small talk
Practise Your Soft Skills
Be enthusiastic and eager

Practice good eye contact

Smile

Walk with confidence

Sit up straight

Adapt to your surroundings
Attitude
It separates winners from losers

Age of the company

Services or products

Competitors within the
industry

Growth pattern

Reputation

Divisions and subsidiaries
Researching the Company
What do you need to know?

Locations/length of time there

Size

Number of employees

Sales/assets/earnings

New products or projects

Culture and values
Internet
Human resource (HR)/public relations (PR) division
Network of contacts and friends
CD ROMs
Journals, magazines, newspapers

Research Tools
Dress appropriately and conservatively

Make a good first impression

Pride in yourself implies pride in your work

Show your creativity in your work, not in your appearance

Be well groomed and clean
Appearance Matters a Lot!
Nicely styled hair

Apply natural, clean looking
face/makeup

Clean your fingernails

Avoid heavy jewelry

Iron your clothes

Avoid strong perfumes or
colognes
Dont Forget the Details
Professional Image for Women
Best choices

Salwar kameez in soothing colors

Trousers and full-sleeved shirt

Saris

Wear polished, low heeled shoes

Use minimal accessories

Professional Image for Men
Best choices

Business suit, dark colors (blues, greys,
browns), white shirt

Trousers , full sleeve shirts, tie, belt,
shoes

Button your jacket when you stand

Wear polished shoes

Socks: Appropriate colour and length

The D-Day
Be composed

Advance preparation reduces
nervousness

Practice answering the worst
possible question they could
ask

Practice positive visualization
and relaxation techniques
Acknowledge your Nervousness
accomplish, accommodate, achieve, attain, challenge, energy,
enhance, enthusiastic, excellence, fulfill, goal, opportunity,
passion, passionate, perform, perseverance, satisfy, strength,
strive, succeed, success, talent, vitality
Powerful Positive Words
Use words such as

Avoid extreme words such as

always, extremely, never, no one, every one, entire, completely
Be in time for the interview

Treat the receptionist with respect

Use Mr or Ms unless they ask you to use first names

Dont sit until youre invited to
Employers Notice Good Manners
Several copies of your resume

Your portfolio, if applicable

New notebook and a nice pen

Briefcase or leather folder

Names, addresses, and phone
numbers of references
What to bring to an interview
Campus interviews: Held
at the institutes campus

Onsite interviews: Office
of the potential employer

Telephonic interviews:
Over the phone
Types of Interviews
Types of Interviews

Screening Interview
Selection interview
Group interview
Stress Interview
Walk-in Interview
Virtual Interview
Campus Interview
On-Campus Interview
Off-Campus Interview
Conti
Panel Interview
Telephonic Interview
Behavioral Interview
Case Interview
Screening Interview
This is usually an interview with some one in
Human Resource
It may take place in person or over the
telephone
He/she will have a copy of your resume and
will try to verify the information on it.
Want to find out if you meet the minimum
qualification for the job and if you do, you will
be passed on the next step.
Selection Interview
Want to know that you have the skills to
perform the task that required by job
Do you have the personality, fit-to-job
Do you have good interpersonal skill

Group Interview
In group Interview, several job candidates are
interviewed at once.
Trying to separate the leaders from the
followers.
Interviewer may also be trying to find out if
you are a team player.

Stress Interview
It is however, a technique sometimes used to
weed out those who cannot handle adversity
The interviewer may try to artificially
introduce stress into the interview by asking
questions so quickly.
Ask the off-bit question
Walk-in Interview
It is similar to the traditional interview
Companies generally declare a specific period
of the day for interviews on certain days of the
week or over a certain period of time
During this period interested candidate may
appear for the interview with a necessary
document
Campus Interview
Campus interview are generally conducted by
big companies for recruiting fresh graduates
On campus interview:
It is conducted in the campus of college or
universities to recruit the fresh graduates
It holds several benefits for the recruiters as well
as students
Companies prefer fresh graduates because it is
possible to train and mold them to be most
beneficial to the organization,

Conti.
Fresh mind brings fresh ideas and are
educated in the latest technologies, they are
enthusiastic, and also, companies can part
with smaller salaries for fresh graduates when
compared with an experienced candidate
At the same time, students also gain the
opportunity to interview for several
organization within their campus
Choose the organization, wish to start their
career, can also enter big organization
Conti.
Off-campus interviews are also aimed at fresh
graduates.
It is conducted at a common location where
students from various institution may gather
to attend an interview.
Panel Interview
It comprises of a panel or group of
interviewers, typically sitting around a
conference table, who takes turns to ask the
questions to the candidate
The panel may consist of colleagues of the
same organization but from different
organization
The number of panel members may vary from
two to five
Telephonic Interview
It is generally conducted for the purpose of
pre-screening candidates or for out-of-town
candidates as a preliminary step to the-in-
person interview
It can not replace the in-person interview but
downsize the application pool
Behavioral Interview
The aim is to discern how an individual would
react to specific work related situations on the
basis of the individuals past behavior in
similar situation
For example:-
If you resolved a conflict between team members
How you completed a difficult task within the set
deadline

Case Interview
A case interview is job interview where the
candidate is expected to resolve a real or
hypothetical problem presented to him/her
by the interviewer
Have your notes organized, highlighted,
and within easy access

Without non-verbal communication, be
aware that it is difficult to read the
interviewer

Make sure your voice conveys enthusiasm

If more than one person on the other end,
have them identify themselves when
asking their questions
Telephonic Interviews
Interviews: face-to-face or
through telephone

Psychometric/aptitude tests

Case studies/In-tray exercises

Presentations

Group activities
Job Interviews
Modes of Assessment

Interviewing Techniques
Geographic origin

Reason for choosing major

Educational background

Two or three strengths relevant to the position

Specific expertise and accomplishments

Perceived ability to contribute to company

Career goals

Tell Us About Yourself
Create a 60-second sound byte by including:


Previous behavior predicts future behaviour

Examples show the meaning you have made of education
and experience

Provides insight on how your mind works
Behaviour-based Interviewing
Experience/credentials: Quantifying features of background

Behavioral: Judging future behavior on the basis of past
behavior

Leading: Checking consistency

Probing: Getting more information on a particular topic

Blind: Checking sportiveness/originality of ideas
Types of Interview Questions
Situation
Task
Action
Results
Answer Questions using the Star
Approach
Give the situation for your answer

Choose a professional example from your job experience,
course work, volunteer work, or student activities

Set the stage so the interviewer can relate to your answer
Star Approach
Situation


Explain the task at hand

Dwell on the positive; do not blame or point fingers
elsewhere
Star Approach
Task


Describe the action you took to resolve the problem or bring
about the success

Explain your role in the action

Identify specific skills you used
Star Approach
Action


Explain the results

Provide details, amounts, success

Apply these results to the position for which you are
applying
Star Approach
Results


Helps you answer completely so you give enough
information

Lets you know when to stop

Allows the interviewer to see you as a problem solver and
decision maker
Star Provides an Outline
Difficult Situations
Imagine you are dead. Youve lived a long
happy life. What would your obituary say?

How will you want people to remember
you when youve gone? (family, friends,
etc.)

What is your ideal organization?

What is the one question you dont want
to ask me?

What is the salary range that you expect?

Tricky Questions
Could you describe a typical day at work for me?

Is there on-site training for new employees?

Does this position involve travel?

Are there opportunities for continuing education?

When will I learn my status?

What are the typical opportunities for advancement in this
position?

Questions You can Ask
It is important to understand
the questions correctly

Ask for clarification

Do not be afraid to ask if you
can take a few seconds to
think about your answer
Listen Carefully
Dos and Donts
Research the company

Prepare for tough questions

Greet interviewer
enthusiastically

Focus on what you have to
offer, not what you want

Know your rights as an
interviewee
Dos
Have a good attitude, be
positive

Show confidence

Be professional

Follow up with a note or
phone call
discuss salary, benefits, or vacations until an offer is
made

display personal habits, i.e. smoking, chewing gum,
tapping a pencil, stretching, or jiggling a foot

Lie

get too chatty about non-job topics

blame others or disparage employers
Donts
Eye Contact

Facial Expressions

Postures

Gestures

Space-distancing

Voice

Time
Kinesics at the Interview
It is important to look at the
interviewers

By looking at them directly you are
sending a signal of trust

While answering a question look first at
the person who posed the question, but
take turns looking at the others

When you want to emphasize, look at
the questioner

Maintain sincere, continuous eye
contact
Eye Contact
Have a true, genuine smile
Look relaxed
Be cheerful, dynamic, and enthusiastic
While narrating, use appropriate expression
Dont show your dislike even if you dont like some
questions
Practice your expressions

Facial Expressions
Sit up straight at the beginning with back
against the back of the chair

Dont slouch or hang sideways; dont sit
at the edge

Can change during interview
(turning shoulders, leaning forward)

Emphasize by tilting head a little
Postures
The posture should show interest but still come across as relaxed:
Keep to a minimum

Let your hands lie loosely on your lap or
place them on the armrests of your chair

Support your words with appropriate
gestures

Add hand movements slowly during
interview; pay attention to your
interviewers

Tune your movements to those of others

Dont shuffle with your feet or kick
against the leg of the table

Dont drum with your fingers or click
with a pen
Gestures
Given a choice, select a seat from
where you can see all interviewers

Dont bend keeping both your
hands on the table

Recognize the boundaries of
personal space

If the interviewer pats you, accept it
gracefully
Space
Do express yourself clearly with a strong
voice

Adopt a moderate pitch

Articulate well, dont mince words

Keep appropriate pace, volume

Bring in modulations

Your voice should exhibit your
confidence, not arrogance
Voice
Arrive well before

Your attitude towards time will
send non-verbal messages

Keep in mind the interviewers
time too; be precise and direct in
your answers
Time
Arrogance

Apathy

Uninhibited nervousness

Evasive answers

Lack of concentration

Lack of crispness

Lack of social skills

Lack of firmness

Inadequate quantitative skills

Unsuitable personality
Ten Most Common Reasons for Rejection
How did you do overall?

What were your strengths?

What needs improvement?

Develop a follow-up chart for tracking
Evaluate/Retrain
Review your performance:
REPLAY