Preparing for an Interview

    Objectives

• Types of Interviews
• Interview Methods
• Preparing for an interview
• Professional introduction
• How to answer common interview questions  
• Relocation for a career 

Job Interview

          1. Personal Traits

                               a) Personality

                              b) Mental ability

                              c) Language

                              d) Confidence

             2. Experiential Traits

                             a) Decision Making

                             b) Leadership

                             c) Strengths

                             d) Weaknesses

             3. Core skills

                            a) Technical Skill

                            b) knowledge

                            c) Abilities

Types of Interviews

Personal Interview

• A meeting organized by a recruiter to evaluate a potential employee for prospective employment.
• A two-way process between the candidate and the interviewer.
• The interviewer evaluates the fitment of the candidate for the job, organization and team.
• The candidate aims to show that they are the best person for the job and the organization.
•  A personal interview should be considered the time to shine and showcase your suitability for the job.

Technical Interview

• Assess your technical ability for the role, and the depth and breadth of your knowledge in your chosen field.
• Common for employers recruiting for engineering, science, software and technical support roles.
• For non-technical customer support roles, customer service representatives may need technical skills relating to customer management and telephone systems. Knowledge and use of live chat would be an added bonus.

Screening Interviews 

•  First interview with a company.
• In person or on the telephone.
• If you meet the basic qualifications, express interest in the position, and make a positive impression on the interviewer, you will likely be selected for a selection interview.

Screening Interview Keys to Success

• Research the company.
•  Read the job description carefully.
• Understand the position and know the key attributes a company is seeking.
• Tailor answers to emphasize the required key attributes.
• Know the background of your interviewer. Is the interviewer from Human Resources or Operations? 

Selection Interviews

• Used to determine whether a candidate will be selected for the position he/ she is interviewing for.
• Is more rigorous than a screening interview.
•  More scrutiny than with a screening interview.
• The company wants to know – o Are you qualified for the job?

         a) Are you a good cultural fit? Can you make an immediate impact, or will you need extensive                   training?

         b) Questions will be more specific and your answers will need to be more detailed.

Preparing for the interview

• Research and gain knowledge about the company you will be interviewing with.
• Find out about the type of interview and the the name, department and designation of the person(s) who will be interviewing you.
• Make sure you have gone through the job description thoroughly and understand the role & responsibilities.
• Map your skills to the requirements for the job. There may be some gaps. Don’t worry about it but be prepared to address it if questioned.
• If there is any ambiguity or confusion in your mind, note these down to clarify during the interview.
•  Prepare and rehearse your answers to commonly asked questions.
• Keep all documentation you require for the interview at least a day earlier.
•  Iron and set aside your clothes and footwear beforehand.
•  Avoid last minute rush and keep your self calm and composed on the day of the interview.
• If you are required to fill out a job application form, update all information which is required to be filled by the applicant. In case it is not applicable to you, write N/A.

Asking to Repeat a Question

It is good to repeat a question in an interview?

It better to ask the interview to repeat the question the misunderstand it and risk providing a weak and/or irrelevant response.

You can say:

•  "I'm not quit sure I understand what you saying"
• "I didn't quite get that, can you ask again, please?"
• "Excuse me, I'm not sure I understood entirely."

Seeking Clarification

How to seek clarification during an interview?

Clarification question are questions that the listener asks the speaker in an attempt to eliminate or prevent any misunderstanding, confusion or ambiguity.

You can say:

•  “I'm not quite sure I understand what you are saying.”
•   “I don't feel clear about the question.”
•   “When you said ........ did you mean ……………?”
•  “Could you repeat ...?”
•  You are asking about …….? Have I understood you correctly?

What if You Don't Know the Answer

If you are unable to come up with an answer to a question:

Sometimes interviewers ask tough questions to see how you respond. The key is not to get nervous and lose confidence.

• Take a deep breathe and calm yourself.
• Acknowledge the question and repeat it to buy some time.
• Request the interviewer for a moment of time.
• Gather your thoughts.
• Use the information available with you to answer the question to the best of your ability.

If you are unable to come up with an answer, you could also say:

   “That’s an interesting question, could I take some time to think it over and get back to you?”

                                                                  or

   “That’s a great question, I could give you a partial answer, but I would like to consider it further and       get back to you with a full answer.”

Professional Introduction 

Tips for Introduction Yourself at  Job Interview 

             a) Tell the interviewer that it is a pleasure to meet them, smile, and be sure to make eye contact.

            b) Keep your introduction short and concise.

            c) Focus on qualification.

            d) Be prepared for follow-up question.

            e) Remember that manners matter "Thank You". 

•  The interviewer will start the meeting by introducing them self
• After the interviewer's introduction, you can reply with a simple introduction of your own:

              a) Hi. I'm Santosh. It's a pleasure to meet you.

             b) Hello [interviewer name], I'm Kiran, and I'm looking forward to talking with you. 

             c) I'm Jayshree. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. 

Keep Your Introduction Short and Concise

• Prepare auctionn introd of yourself.
• Analyze the job before hand and point out the interests, skills, experiences, and personal qualities that will enable you to meet or exceed the job and company requirements.
• Focus on your qualifications.
• The key is to built a rapport and show that you are qualified for the job and make a great hire.