FACING

INTERVIEWS

TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES

 Prepare for the Real World
It’s time to pull all pieces together!

What do you What do you Where do you

want to be? want to do? want to go?
Resume in Hand -
What Next?

Prepare for the Interview

Get Started
 SELECTION INTERVIEW: PURPOSE
From the Company’s perspective…

• To obtain information about the

candidate that is not in Resume
• To confirm / amplify certain inputs
• To evaluate skills and personality
in relation to position and company
• To convey about job responsibilities
and expectations of the company
What do Interviewers try to assess ?

• Critical Knowledge/Skills
producing key outputs
• Combines both behavior and
Performance

Competency

Performance Accomplishments,
Achievements, Results
Behavior

• Actions/ Reactions
• Expressed through Emotion, Attitude, Language
Physical Movement
What is the Basic framework ?

They Probe and Analyze

• INTENT/MOTIVE
PAST OCCURRENCE • SPECIFICITY
( Through • ATTRIBUTABILITY
Your Statements) Predict

YOUR FUTURE
PERFORMANCE
How Candidates Are Rated
in Interviews …

Image and
Appearance
Attitude 40%
10%

Communication Job Skills &

(verbal and nonverbal) Qualifications
25% 25%
 INTELLECTUAL
ABILITIES
What do we • Domain Knowledge
• Knowledge of IT
Evaluate at • Reasoning Ability
TCS Interviews ? • Analytical Ability
• Creative Ability
• Communication Skills

• Emotional Maturity
• People Sensitivity
• Situation Sensitivity
• Drive & Determination
PERSONAL • Initiative
ATTRIBUTES
• Ethics and Integrity
• Physical & Mental Health
The Questions would generally cover
these 5 main areas:

 Education/ Technical Knowledge

 Work/ Project Experience
 Career Goals
 Personal Qualities /Abilities/
Interests
 Knowledge of the Organization
PREPARING FOR INTERVIEW:

• KNOW YOURSELF:
Your Skills, Abilities and Accomplishments
Your Personality Traits
Your Value System
Your Weaknesses

• KNOW THE JOB & CAREER:

Likely Job Responsibilities
Performance Profile
Path of Advancement
Flexibility of Deployment
PREPARING FOR INTERVIEW:

• KNOW THE COMPANY:

- Services & Products

- Growth Pattern
- New Initiatives - Size
- Locations - Org Structure
- Competitors
- Reputation - Assignments/ Clients
- Turnover - Training Facilities etc.
- Technologies
 BEFORE THE INTERVIEW…

Ensure the following:

• You arrive BEFORE the scheduled time.

• You are dressed neatly and conservatively.
• You put your mobile to ‘silent’ mode.
• You have with you extra copies of your resume,
certificates, mark sheets, testimonials, project
reports, photograph etc.
 Filling in the Gaps -
What Resume Didn’t Say
• Interviewers look at. . .
– Enthusiasm, Energy, Attitude
– Mental Ability
– Study & work habits
– Degree of interest & Motivation
– Maturity
• Body language important!
– Be alert - focus on interview
Types of Questions
that you may Face

• Rapport-building
• Open-ended
• Probing
• Objecting
• Behaviour-based
• Situational ( What if ?)
• Self-appraisal
 Typical Questions
From INTERVIEWERS

 General questions -“What are the criteria for you to

choose a company or a job?
 Questions about your course of study - . “How will
your studies relate to your work?”
 Questions about your Project – “ What specific
contribution did you make? What were the learning?
 Questions about your career plans - “Tell me about
your career aspirations.”
 Questions about your personality - “How would your
friends describe you?”
10 Common Questions that you may face…

• Tell us about Yourself.

• What are your career goals?
• Why do you wish to join us?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• If you are on this panel, what would you be looking
for in the candidate for this position?
• Are you creative/ team-player/ resourceful, etc.?
• What are your reading habits?
• Why should we select you?
• Have you any questions you would like to ask us?
 TIPS FOR RESPONDING TO
SPECIFIC TYPES OF QUESTIONS
• OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS:
-You have to talk, be cogent and
systematic, highlight relevant points,
focus on company needs, give
examples. Formulate answers before
you speak.

• ON YOUR STRENGTHS:
- Highlight strengths related to the job/role.
Pick out two or three strong points. Have
Past examples ready to illustrate.

• ON YOUR WEAKNESSES:
- Don’t say, you have none. Also this is not a time for
a confession !
Think of one weak point and mention it
in a qualified way, explain your strategy to
overcome the same.
TIPS FOR RESPONDING TO
SPECIFIC TYPES OF QUESTIONS

TECHNICAL / PROFESSIONAL QUESTIONS:

• Get to the point.

• Explain the concepts.
• Be systematic.
• Do not disregard your core subjects
and try to amplify your IT related skills.
• Use your common sense and
reasoning ability.
Dealing with Questions
about your Project Experience

• State summarily the Purpose/ Objective of the Project

• Composition of the Team and your role.
• Methodology and findings.
• Your specific contributions.
• Value-added Learning
 Listening-
-The Silent Power
 Concentrate on every word.
 Try to comprehend the implications.
 Remember the key points and their sequence.
 Never interrupt the interviewer, while the question is
being asked !
 If you don’t understand a question, ask for
clarification after the question is asked.
 Listen carefully for important details about the job and
career.
 Tips for Effective Verbal
Communication
 Use positive, courteous terms.

 Use a pleasant voice tone.

 Emphasize your strengths.

 Use your accomplishments appropriately to bring out your suitability

for the role.

 Keep the content professional.

If you have to tell a ‘Story’, tell it well …

Paul Green’s SHARE formula would come in handy :

S What was the Situation ?

H What were the Hindrances & constraints ?
A What Actions did you take ?
R What were the Results ?
E How would you Evaluate the incident ?

Past examples in ‘story’ form to illustrate your experience

related to the question make good impact.
 Include Measurable
Accomplishments

Provide “proof by example.”

NOT: “I work efficiently.”
BUT: “I developed an ordering system
that could reduce processing time
by 20%.”
 Also Emphasize
Transferable Skills
 Handling diverse responsibilities
 Your Leadership Experiences
 Your organizing ability
 Good self-management (attendance,
punctuality, and problem solving)
 Working well with others
 Emphasize What
Employers Look For

 What you CAN DO: job specific & transferable skills

– based on what you have done.

 What you WILL DO: good work ethic, dependability

 How you FIT: positive attitude & appearance, good

teamwork and people skills
 WHAT YOU CAN ASK

 Qualities for success

 The future of the company
 Your future career
 Training
 Performance Evaluation
 Typical day/week
 Relationships to other areas
 Time Out!

How Not to Make a

Bad Impression
 Some Poor Impressions …
• Has poor personal appearance.
• Is overbearing, over aggressive, conceited, pompous
the ‘know all’ type
• Unable to express himself clearly.
• Lacks knowledge/experience.
• Has not prepared for interview.
• No real interest in the job.
• Has no career goals.
• Lacks enthusiasm, energy and initiative.
• Lacks confidence, poise.
• Expectations unrealistic.
• Claims not credible.
• Lacks social skills….. And the like.
Watch out !
 Look Professional
• Dress professionally - that means a suit
or formal shirt tucked in with tie, and
polished shoes for gents!
• Neat, clean, pulled together
• Stay away from fads (like ear-studs for
males ! - and garish make up or
‘spaghetti tops’ for women… )
• No gum chewing, no smoking please !
Look Professional

• Good eye contact & firm

handshake
• Focus on interview &
interviewers
 Look Professional

• It’s OK to be nervous - it’s expected

– Just work through it & be yourself
• Get a good night’s sleep night before
• Preferably leave cell phones & pagers at
home
In a Nut Shell…
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR …
 Posture

 Manners

 Dress

 Neatness/Grooming

 Facial Expression

 Eye Contact

 Energy and Enthusiasm

 Voice Qualities
You can control these--easily!
 Use Positive Non-verbals
to Convey Trust
1. Hand shake: Firm, warm

2. Facial expression: Smile, pleasant

3. Eye contact: Direct, comfortable

4. Posture: Erect, head up, eyes front, relaxed, not

fidgeting

5. Voice tone: Energetic, pleasant

6. Walk: Tall, confident

7. Dress: Professional, conservative, sober

Oh, Wow! I Got an Offer!

Now What Do I Do?

? ?
 The Offer

• Read it carefully
• Follow up with firm
• Communicate your decision
process to firm
• Think it out
 The Big Decision

• Only YOU can make this decision

• Look at the big picture
• Pitch the immediate job against
the long term career and growth
 The Big Decision

• Work culture • Overseas

• Opportunities
Company culture
• Career path
• Personalities
• Your Growth &
• Travel Development
• Expectations • Company vision &
growth prospects
 Good luck!
LASTLY:

• BE RELAXED.
• BE LIVELY.
• BE HONEST.
• BE VIVID.
• BE FRIENDLY.
• BE WARM.
• BE FOCUSED.
• BE POSITIVE
• BE NATURAL

… AND SUCCESS WOULD BE YOURS !

 Some useful web sites

• 50 Standard questions for entry level job

http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/16-15.shtml
• Regularly asked questions
http://learning.staffs.ac.uk/careers/careersweb/jhunting/ivbefore7.html
• Some sample questions and answers
http://learning.staffs.ac.uk/careers/careersweb/jhunting/ivduring5.html
http://learning.staffs.ac.uk/careers/careersweb/jhunting/ivduring6.html
• Questions, a candidate can / may ask
http://www.collegegrad.com/questions/candidates.shtml