The Ins and Outs of

Interviewing

Interview is the place where

you make a FIRST impression.
 Interviewing-What is it?

- A structured meeting
between you and an
employer
- PRACTICE makes
PERFECT
- Interviewing is a
skill- like riding your
bike
 Interviewing is
a two-way street
- Employers are
attempting to
determine if you
are an appropriate
fit for the job and
their culture
- You decide if the
environment is
right for you.
What employers look for?
Experience 82%
Communication Skills 80%
Enthusiasm 80%
Interpersonal/Leadership Skills 65%
Maturity 57%
Educational Background
50%
Intelligence 49%
Creativity 31%
Scholastic
 Types of Interviews
Phone: used as an initial screen of candidates
or to narrow the pool of applicants
One-on-One: most common interview style and
incorporates you with the potential employer
Panel or Group: allows many individuals to
interview you at once
Meal: used to see how you interact or function
in a social setting
Second or On-site Interview: this allows one to
get a tour of the facility, meet the staff, and
additional questioning from different
employees and/or administration
Pre-Interview Preparation
Research position, company, & industry
Know yourself and be able to articulate
skills, strengths, accomplishments, and
career goals
Prepare necessary materials (Copies of
resume, references, portfolio/pen, palm pilot
or organizer, breath mints)
Ask for directions and where to park
3 Steps of Preparation

KNOW YOURSELF

KNOW ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

KNOW ABOUT YOUR JOB

 Arriving
Be sure to allow yourself plenty of
time to arrive at your destination
(you may want to conduct a dry
run prior to your interview day)
Try to arrive 10-15 minutes early
at the site to allow you to park,
walk to the interview, use the
restroom, or just gather yourself
Greeting & Introduction
Only 1 chance to make
a good 1st impression
Dress appropriately
Smile
Maintain eye contact
Firm handshake
Remain poised and
confident
 Body Language:
What signals are you
sending?
Positive Signals Negative Signals
Firm Handshake= Dead fish type
confidence handshake=uninteres
Smiling = friendly ted
Leaning forward = Crossed arms =
interest defensive
Eye contact = Fidgeting hands or
curious and focused tapping feet =
nervous or bored
Nodding = attentive Lack of eye contact =
and alert untrustworthy
Leaning back=
discomfort
 Types of Interview
Questions
WARM UP QUESTIONS
PROBLEM-SOLVING QUESTIONS
SITUATIONAL/HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS
SKILL-TESTING QUESTIONS
STANDARD/CLASSIC QUESTIONS
BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS
 Types of Interview
Questions
Standard or Sample Questions
Classic- Tell me about
targeting your yourself?
education, work What is your greatest
strength/Weakness?
experiences, and
career goals Why did you choose to
interview with us?
What did you like
most about your last
job? Least?
What are your short
and long term career
goals?
 Types of Interview
Questions
Behavioral Sample Questions
Questions Describe a time you had
to make a difficult
-These focus on your decision?
actions and/or Tell me about a time you
behaviors in a worked under a deadline?
previous setting. What do you do when a
team member is not
- Past behavior pulling his/her weight?
provides clues to Think about a time you
future behavior made a mistake. What did
you learn from it?
 Types of Interview
Questions
Inappropriate or Sample
unethical Questions
questions How old are you?
- Questions which probe Do you have
into your private life or
personal background children?
- Questions about your Do you have a
ethnicity, religion, sexual disability?
orientation, disabilities,
marital status What religion do
you practice?
 Types of Interview
Questions
Questions asked Sample Questions
by the What type of
assignments can I expect
interviewee within the first year?
To determine if you What do you like most
are an appropriate about this company?
What is the biggest
fit for the company challenge facing this
and position, department right now?
prepare a list of What skills are you
questions for the looking for in this
interviewer position?
What is the next course
of action?
Tell me about yourself…
PAWS Model

Profile

Academics

Work

Skills
Some Crucial Questions
& Winning Answers
What’s Imp to you in a ob?

Mention specific rewards other than a

paycheck

1. Mention specific rewards

other than salary
2. Challenges in work
3. Feeling of accomplishment
Why do you want to work for this
organization?

Cite its reputation

The opportunities it offers
Stress your choice
Mention what impresses you particularly about the org
Why should we employ you?

Point to your academic performance

Emphasize on your job skills
Talk about your enthusiasm about
working for the firm
Refer to some past activities/experience
where that indicate your personal
abilities
Match your skills with that of job
requirement
If we hire you, how long will you stay
with us?

Answer somewhat along these lines….

“As long as my position here allows me to learn and

to advance at a pace consistent with my
abilities”
What are your greatest strengths?

Give a response like these…

“I can see what needs to be done and do it”

“I am good at decision making”
“I am willing to take risks and face challenges”
“I work well with others”
“I can organize my time efficiently”
What are your greatest weaknesses?

Identify one or two, such as….

“I expect others to perform beyond their

capacities”
“I like to see a job done quickly”
“I am a perfectionist”
“I hate talking while at work”
“I am a bit critical about my own performance”
How do you spend your leisure time?

Mention cross section of interests…

• Active and quiet

• Social and solitary
• Hobbies that has a positive impact on
your personality and job
Are there any minus points in your
academics?

Take stock of your weaknesses

before you go to interview
Practice discussing them in a
positive light
You find they are minor when you
discuss them along with all the
positives you offer
Why there is a gap in your academics?

Be prepared to give a clever answer

But be honest
Explain about your limitations and
weaknesses
Remember, if you perform well in the
interview this may not be a big issue
Where do you want to be after 5 years
from now?

Don’t be unrealistic
Be confident
Be clear
Be a visionary
Be aware of your potential
and the growth of the firm
 What would you do if….?

What you answer here is not

important than how you answer

A calm approach is best

Do a quick guess but be poised

Give several alternative choices

What are your salary expectations?

Do a homework before the interview

Don’t tell : Anything is OK
Be clear and specific
Try to tell a comfortable figure near the
regular
If you are not sure, tell it is negotiable
Leave an impression that salary is
important to you but not important as
your job satisfaction and career prospects
 General Interview
Strategies
-Be prepared to talk about yourself and your
experiences
-Master the art of storytelling
-Master required vocabulary
-Provide specific and concrete examples of your
results/accomplishments
-Remain positive, enthusiastic, poised, and
confident throughout the interview process
 General Interview
Strategies
Remember an interview is a formal
conversation--avoid filler words like “Um”,
“Ah”, & “You know”
Avoid indecisive phrases like: “I think,” “I
guess,” “probably,” or “pretty good”
Think before speaking
Avoid long verbose answers--limit your
response to 1-2 minutes
If you do not hear or understand a question,
ask them to repeat or clarify it for you
 General Interview
Strategies
Remain calm,
relaxed, and be
yourself
Try to focus on
the message you
are trying to
convey--NOT how
well you are
doing!
Dressing for Success-Men
Suit-Single or double
breasted
Polished shoes
Cotton socks that
match your trousers
Solid white shirt
Conservative tie
Neatly groomed hair,
beard, and mustache
Avoid strong
colognes, earrings,
and body piercing
Dressing for Success-
Women
Saree/Salwar/
Pant/skirt suit
Pump with small to
medium heels
Light makeup,
perfume, and
jewelry
Wear light or semi
dark colour clothes
that suit your body
What kills your success
in an interview?
 The Black Marks
Poor appearance Failed to participate in
Superiority/ inferiority extracurricular activities
complex Overemphasis of money
Lack of knowledge Expecting too much too
No proper preparation soon
No real interest in job Lack of tact
No planning/ goals Lack of maturity
Lack of enthusiasm Lack of courtesy or
Lack of confidence manners
Insufficient evidence of Lack of social skills
achievements Lack of vitality
Poor scholastic record No eye contact
Limp or weak handshake
 FOLLOW-UP
Ask good questions

Thank the interviewer

Request a business card

Inquire about next steps in the process

 FOLLOW-UP CONT
Send a thank you
note within 24
hours
Letter may be
handwritten or
typed; e-mail is
also acceptable
Tailor each one to
the individual.
 Final Thoughts
Remember that only 15% of the
success of an interview is out of
your control
Take some time to reflect
- Overall, how well did I do?
- What went well?
- What steps can I take next time to
improve?
 Final Tips
Conduct a test run the day before the interview
Practice! Practice! Practice!
•Obtain a list of practice interview questions
and jot down short answers
• Stand in front of a mirror and rehearse your
answers
•Schedule an appointment for a mock interview
with Career Services
Get a good night’s sleep-be well rested and
alert for the interview
Be relaxed and be yourself!