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Interview Etiquette

The document provides guidance on preparing for and participating in job interviews. It discusses researching yourself and potential employers, etiquette for online and in-person interviews, behaviors to demonstrate during the interview such as making eye contact and asking questions, how to handle behavioral interview questions by providing specific examples, and common mistakes that cause candidates to be rejected.

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Ankita Shukla
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71 views13 pages

Interview Etiquette

The document provides guidance on preparing for and participating in job interviews. It discusses researching yourself and potential employers, etiquette for online and in-person interviews, behaviors to demonstrate during the interview such as making eye contact and asking questions, how to handle behavioral interview questions by providing specific examples, and common mistakes that cause candidates to be rejected.

Uploaded by

Ankita Shukla
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTERVIEW ETIQUETTE

UNIT III
RESEARCH
 Research, research, research – Self Assessment – Know yourself!

 Skills, talents, abilities, strengths, weaknesses, interests, education, values, goals


 Know your resume inside and out; have your stories ready
 Career goals – What do I want to do?
 Types of work you enjoy and types you do not enjoy
 Use the internet and research the organization’s webpage
 Work environment or conditions in which you are comfortable and those in which you are not comfortable.
 Employer Research

 Use research tools at the library – business directories, annual reports, databases of newspaper and periodical
articles
 Ask those in your network who may be familiar with the company
 Talk with current or former employees
GUIDELINES (FOR AN ONLINE INTERVIEW)

 Check your setup & your visibility on screen.


 Connect your internet well.
 Ensure enough lighting.
 No mobile phones or any other device should be on ringer mode.
 Keep your resume ready. A soft copy as well as a hard copy.
 Make sure that the portal you are using reflects your full name correctly.
 Check your e-mail id’s.
 Go through the job description thoroughly.
 Your posture will be the key.
 Maintain eye contact with the camera.
 Dress formally.
GUIDELINES (FOR OFFLINE INTERVIEW)

 Be there at least 15 minutes prior to the reporting time.


 Carry an extra copy of the resume.
 Carry few sheets of paper with a pen.
 Resume should be carried in a leather folder.
 Cell phones & pagers should be on silent mode.
 While you are waiting, don’t ask unnecessary questions from the HR or admin staff. Even if you have been asked
to wait for a long time, there can be a reason for the same.
 Grooming is the key.
 Introduce yourself firmly with a smile, but never initiate a handshake with interviewer.
DURING THE INTERVIEW

 Maintain good posture and eye contact; avoid fidgeting


 Listen! (and give visual and verbal cues; use positive body language to show your interest)
 Project your voice and speak clearly
 Use correct grammar and diction (do not use slang)
 Use your action verbs – Don’t “think,” “guess,” or “feel” about things (indecisiveness signals lack of confidence)
 Give clear, concise answers that offer specific examples (do not ramble and do not give one word answers)
 Sell yourself; be confident and enthusiastic – Do not dominate the interview; follow the interviewer’s lead
 Remain positive (negativity will leave a negative impression; do not whine, complain, gripe, or bad mouth)
 Be honest (do not lie or exaggerate) – It’s okay to pause and regroup if you are feeling flustered
ALWAYS BE READY FOR SMALL TALK

 What is small talk?


 Topics to chose?
 Body Language
 Open ended questions
 Dealing with compliments
COMMON REASONS FOR APPLICANT REJECTION
• Poor appearance
• Poor voice, diction, grammar
• Little enthusiasm, passive, indifferent
• Evades, hedges answering questions
• Late for interview, disrespectful
• Talks too much, rambles
• Unable to handle silence
• Lack of purpose, career goals
• Negative attitude
• Couldn't sell him/herself to the employer
• Overbearing, aggressive
• Unwilling to start at the bottom
• Lack of courtesy, proper etiquette
• Poor eye contact, extreme nervousness
• Lack of poise, lack of confidence
• Condemnation of previous employer
• Lack of leadership skills
• Talked about salary
BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS

 WHAT: techniques that are used by all types of companies. Unlike tradition interview questions that ask you to
describe what you did in a role or to share qualifications, these questions seek concrete examples of skills and
experiences that relate directly to the position.

 WHY: Behavioral questions are designed to learn how you would respond to a specific workplace situation, and
how you solve problems to achieve a successful outcome. Behavioral interview questions are generally formatted
by presenting a situation, inquiring about what action you have taken to respond to something similar in the past,
and what the result was. The interviewer will ask how you handled a situation, and you will need to respond with
an explanation of what you did. The logic is that your success in the past is a positive indicator of your success in
the future.
COMMON EXAMPLES

Q1. Tell me about how you worked effectively under pressure.

What They Want to Know: If you’re being considered for a high-stress job, the interviewer will want to know how
well you can work under pressure. Give a real example of how you’ve dealt with pressure when you respond.

I had been working on a key project that was scheduled for delivery to the client in 60 days. My supervisor came to
me and said that we needed to speed it up and be ready in 45 days, while keeping our other projects on time. I made it
into a challenge for my staff, and we effectively added just a few hours to each of our schedules and got the job done
in 42 days by sharing the workload. Of course, I had a great group of people to work with, but I think that my
effective allocation of tasks was a major component that contributed to the success of the project.
SAMPLES

Q. How do you handle a challenge? Give an example.


What They Want to Know: Regardless of your job, things may go wrong and it won’t always be business as usual.
With this type of question, the hiring manager wants to know how you will react in a difficult situation. Focus on how
you resolved a challenging situation when you respond. Consider sharing a step-by-step outline of what you did and
why it worked.

One time, my supervisor needed to leave town unexpectedly, and we were in the middle of complicated negotiations
with a new sponsor. I was tasked with putting together a PowerPoint presentation just from the notes he had left, and
some briefing from his manager. My presentation was successful. We got the sponsorship, and the management team
even recommended me for an award. 
SAMPLES
 Have you ever made a mistake? How did you handle it? 

What They Want to Know: Nobody is perfect, and we all make mistakes. The interviewer is more interested in how
you handled it when you made an error, rather than in the fact that it happened.
 Give an example of how you set goals.

What They Want to Know: With this question, the interviewer wants to know how well you plan and set goals for
what you want to accomplish. The easiest way to respond is to share examples of successful goal setting.
 Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.

What They Want to Know: The hiring manager is interested in learning what you do to achieve your goals, and the
steps you take to accomplish them.
 Describe a decision you made that wasn't popular, and explain how you handled implementing it.

What They Want to Know: Sometimes, management has to make difficult decisions, and not all employees are
happy when a new policy is put in place. If you’re interviewing for a decision-making role, the interviewer will want
to know your process for implementing change.
SAMPLES

 Give an example of how you worked on a team.

What They Want to Know: Many jobs require working as part of a team. In interviews for those roles, the hiring
manager will want to know how well you work with others and cooperate with other team members.
 What do you do if you disagree with someone at work? 

What They Want to Know: With this question, the interviewer is seeking insight into how you handle issues at
work. Focus on how you’ve solved a problem or compromised when there was a workplace disagreement.
 Share an example of how you were able to motivate employees or co-workers. 

What They Want to Know: Do you have strong motivational skills? What strategies do you use to motivate your
team? The hiring manager is looking for a concrete example of your ability to motivate others.
 Have you handled a difficult situation? How?

What They Want to Know: Can you handle difficult situations at work, or do you not deal with them well? The

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