SEC – II

Converting An Interview

If you want to convert a job interview into a job offer you must be well-prepared to face the barrage of
questions that will be aimed at you. However, with careful preparation you can be ready for these questions
are most of them are common to all interviews. The following are some of the stock questions asked in job
interviews:

• Tell us about yourself

• What do you know about our company?

• Why do you think you are suitable for this job?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses? How did you change a disadvantaged position to a ‘win’
result?

• What is your biggest disappointment or crucial failure – how did you deal with it?

• Why should we hire you? What can you do for us that other job candidates cannot?

• Why do you want to work in this organization?

• What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself 5 years down the road in this career?

• Why did you leave (are you leaving) your job?

• What did you dislike about your previous job?

• List three positive things your previous boss said about you

• What are your salary expectations?

• How do you feel about working on weekends?

Write down your answers to these questions so that you will be well prepared to face them during the
interview. It is important that you answer each question honestly, giving yourself some time to reflect on
them if you are not very sure of the answer.

Specific examples are better than mere statements in job interviews. As you think about the questions an
interviewer will ask, be sure to prepare answers that contain your real-life experiences. For example, if the
interviewer poses a hypothetical question, such "You're working with a small team and you have a
significant conflict with one of your team members. What would you do?", which of these two responses is
more convincing?

1. "I would try talking with the person first, to see what we could do about our differences. If that
didn't work, I guess I'd probably go to my supervisor and see if he could intervene somehow. It
would be important to get our conflict resolved.“
2. "That actually happened to me once in a social psychology course I took. We were doing a group project,
and it was clear that one person wasn't doing his share of the work. I talked with other people in the group
about it, and they felt the same way I did. So I offered to talk to this person about our concerns. I'm really
glad I did. As it turns out, he was stressed out, because his father had been in the hospital for several weeks
having tests done. So I mentioned the fact that our school has a counseling center and encouraged him to go
there. He did, and he got the help he needed. The rest of us then divided up his work.“

Source:http://career-advice.monster.com/job-interview/interview-preparation/give-examples-during-job-
interviews/article.aspx

It is common for interviewers to wrap up the interview with a final question asking 'What can I answer for
you?' or 'Is there anything you want to ask?' This is a wonderful opportunity to turn the tables around and
do some questioning yourself! However you must be clear about your questions and ask them for the sake
of gaining knowledge instead of asking questions for the sake of asking. You can use this opportunity to
differentiate yourself from the other job candidates and stand out from the crowd.

In fact, this is your opportunity to assess the job position you are interviewing for as well as the
organization in order to determine if this is a job that you want, and an employer that you want to work for.
That is why it is important for you to do your homework when preparing for the interview. You should
make a list of questions to ask at the interview based on what you found out about the employer through
your research.

The following are the benefits of asking questions at the end of the interview:

• It demonstrates that you have done your research on the organization. This shows your interest in
the job opportunity you are applying for and can even prove your intellectual abilities.

• It helps you get more information regarding the position, organization, its culture and even the
interviewer, who is most likely to be your boss! It is important to use this opportunity to ask
questions you could not get answers to through your research. However avoid asking questions that
can be easily found on the company website or in the job description.

• It gives you an opportunity to present some of your skills and abilities that did not come through
during the discussion

Keep in mind that you are not just trying to get this job – you are also interviewing the employer to find out
whether this company and the position are a good fit for you. This will help you ask genuine questions that
give you key information and also show you in good light in the eyes of the interviewer. It is also important
to remember that you need not save all your questions for the end of the interview. Try to ask intelligent
questions throughout the interview process.

You need to take full advantage of the opportunity to ask questions during the interview. This will show
how engaged and interested you are in the job position. The following are a few tips to get you started in
the right direction:

• Think ahead of time and prepare a list of questions before the interview. Your questions must be
based on proper research about the organization, its mission and vision, corporate goals, job
description, roles and responsibilities, as well as career development within the company.

• Apart from the list of questions prepared before the interview, you can also make a mental note of a
few questions to ask based on your interaction with the interviewer. This requires excellent
listening skills on your part.
 • Think of the interview as a two-way street – it is not necessary that the interviewer alone should
ask you questions! The job interview is an excellent forum to judge the company and assess if it is
in your best interests to take up the job position or work for that company

The best way to prepare yourself to ask questions in an interview is to think of the structure of an interview.
A typically uninterested candidate will imagine an interview to be structured in a way where the
interviewer asks a lot of questions and figures out if he or she is good enough for the job. But if you really
want the job, you must change the structure of the interview by finding out more about the job preferably at
the beginning of the interview instead of waiting until the end. Everyone recommends that you ask
questions at the end of the interview. Your questions can be on the goals and philosophies of the company,
parameters of the job position you are interviewing for, and expectations for the person the company hires.
In reality, these questions will actually help you explain why you are the best fit for the job. So it makes
sense to ask them at the beginning of the interview than wait until the very end.

For example, if you are asked 'Why don't you tell me something about yourself?", you can respond "Well,
why don't you tell me a bit about the job so that I can answer to your particular needs?". This will help you
know what the recruiter is looking for and tailor your responses appropriately. It will also create an interest
towards you in the eyes of the recruiter as you are taking the initiative to place yourself in a better position
for the interview.

As we have seen earlier, a job interview is similar to a two-way street (with certain traffic rules!). As a job
candidate, you are expected to ask questions to your prospective employer. The interviewer will typically
provide you an opportunity to ask questions towards the end of the interview. Use this opportunity to show
that you have done your homework and that you are interested in more than just getting a job. Don't feel
uncomfortable about asking questions. However, your questions should be genuine, with an honest desire
to seek information.

Always prepare ahead of the interview by making a list of questions to ask your employer. If you have no
questions to ask, you may come across as someone with limited thought process, uninterested in the job, or
lazy to do your homework. You can ask questions regarding:

• The external perception of the specific role or the organization as a whole. In order to ask questions
related to this area you must first gather all data available to back up any observations you make
during the interview.

• If you have any concerns about the role or doubts, now is the right time to clear them up. For
example, you may be unclear on the number of people you will have to supervise or the reporting
authority. It is good to express concerns or doubts in the interview so that you will not have to
make an uninformed decision in the event of being offered the job

• If there is anything you don't understand in the job description, you must seek clarification during
the interview

• Your research on the company may have revealed a specific strategy the company has recently
used. You can ask for the rationale behind this strategy. This will not only show you have done a
thorough research on the organization but also prove that you are interested in the goals of the
company and have the ability to look beyond your specific role to the larger picture.

It is a fact that your prospective employer will judge you based on the quality of the questions you ask.
That is why it is important to do proper research on the organization before you appear for the interview.
Avoid asking dull or unoriginal questions that have no interest or that can be easily found on the company
website. Ask questions to gain information and supplement your knowledge base.
There is no formula to show you how many questions to ask in an interview. It all boils down to what you
need to know. However, you must have at least three to five intelligent questions to ask in the interview,
appropriate to the time limit allotted for the interview. It is important that you prioritize your questions and
ask for key information in the beginning of the interview. This will help you tailor your answers suitably.
The following are some of the interview questions you can ask your prospective employer:

• What have the challenges around this role been in the past? What are the critical success factors?

• What are the other roles that this position engages with? How do these roles interlock?

• How is your organization addressing the competitive, revenue and market share in your space?

• What does the organization aspire to be in the next 3 years?

• Any intuitive questions regarding the organization’s financials – revenue, profit, cash flow etc. are
appropriate

• Is relocation a possibility?

• What is the typical work week? Is overtime expected?

• What are the prospects for growth and advancement?

• How does one advance in the company? Are there any specific examples?

• How would you describe a typical week/day in this position?

• Who does this position report to? If I am offered the position, can I meet him/her?

• Is this a new position? If not, what did the previous employee go on to do?

• Would you like a list of references?

• If I am extended a job offer, how soon would you like me to start?

• When can I expect to hear from you?

You can use this list to think of other questions to ask. Here are a few questions you should NOT ask in a
job interview:

• What does this company do? What are the products and services your offer? (You should research
this ahead of time!)

• If I get the job when can I take time off for vacation? (You must wait until you get the job offer
before you mention prior commitments)

• Can I change my schedule if I get the job? (If you need to figure out the logistics of getting to work
don't mention it now during the interview)

• Did I get the job? (Don't be impatient. They'll let you know.)

• You may wonder how you, as a job candidate, can close the interview process successfully. If you
have done everything right and answered all questions confidently, you can look forward to
 finishing the interview on a high note. The first step in wrapping up the interview is to watch for
the obvious signs from the interviewer that the interview is going to come to a close. Of course,
you don't have to do much when you are asked the question 'Do you have any questions to ask?' as
you know that is a sure sign of the interview coming to an end. Sometimes you have to watch out
for signs, such as tidying up papers on the desk, pushing the chair back, or even as simple as
pushing the chair back or simply sitting back in the chair. Watch for these cues and mentally
prepare yourself to end the interview on a positive note. This is not the time for you to make the
interviewer impatient by droning on with an answer.

• Your questions and the response given by the employer will give you a fair idea of whether or not
you are a good fit for this position. If you are truly excited about the opportunity and would love to
work in the position you are interviewing for, you can wrap up the interview expressing verbally
that you are genuinely interested in the position. There is nothing wrong in expressing your interest
if you are serious about the job. You can also thank the interviewers for their time and compliment
the organization and its mission in a sincere manner. Your employers will appreciate hearing that
you recognize their efforts. Interviewers are also often impressed by an applicant's expression of
interest in the position.

• You may choose to request a commitment from the interviewer to notify you when a job applicant
has been selected. It is also a good idea to determine follow up activities that the interviewer would
like, before you leave the interview and the interview room. Sometimes you may be asked to
appear for a second round of interviews. In that case make sure you write down the date, time,
place and names of all the people involved in the next step of the interview process. If you are
asked to provide additional information, credentials, references or work samples, note that as well
in order to follow up on it.

In order to successfully close a job interview, you must get a sense of the mood of your prospective
employer. Some people end an interview with "So, when can I join?", which may turn an interviewer off as
it may come across as overly aggressive. Instead, a confident yet thoughtful approach may create a positive
impression in the mind of the interviewer.

Here are a few tips to help you close an interview in your favor:

• Spend at least 30 minutes before the day of your interview to brainstorm different ways to close the
interview. Jot down the key strengths you want the interviewer to remember.

• As you brainstorm your options, try to come up with three different approaches to closing the
interview – use the first technique if you feel the job is yours, the second if you are not sure of the
interview outcome and the third if your interview went really bad.

• The following three approaches can be used depending on how the interview went as well as your
personality type:

• Aggressive style – Express your enthusiasm about the company and what an honor it
would be to work there

• Moderately aggressive style – Let the employer know you are interested in the position and
ask when a decision will be taken. Thank the interviewer for his or her time with a smile

• Least aggressive style – If you are not sure how the interview went, just thank the
interviewer for his or her time and leave
• Prepare a closing statement ahead of time – e.g., "Thank you for taking the time to talk about your
organization and the role! I enjoyed the discussion and will look forward to the next action"

• Reemphasize your top attributes and qualifications.

• Be friendly when you leave – have a firm handshake and an engaging smile with appropriate eye
contact so that you will leave behind a positive impression

• Send a hand-written thank you note on formal stationery within 24 hours of the meeting, as an
appreciation for the job interview

• Make a follow-up call around the time of the decision date, which is typically one to three weeks
after your interview

• Choose a closing style that reflects your personality, experience, and the industry in which you
choose to work.

• A job interview is an excellent opportunity to talk about your skills, knowledge, and attributes in
such a way that they create a positive impression on your interviewer. As you describe your skills
you need to ensure that they relate to the job position you are interviewing for as well as the overall
needs of your prospective employer. It is important to research thoroughly on the organization, its
business goals, and the skills and knowledge that are in demand in the specific industry. This will
help you determine which skills to highlight during the job interview.

• It is a good thing to prepare ahead of time for your job interview by careful research and mental
checklists. However, no amount of preparation can match up to how you articulate your thoughts,
ideas, and opinions during the interview. You must be able to communicate clearly,
unambiguously, and logically in a neutral manner. Prepare a list of common interview questions
and rehearse your response with a friend in the form of a mock interview. This will boost your
confidence and help you articulate your thoughts without feeling nervous or getting tongue-tied
during the interview.

• It is really important to actively listen during the interview. Many candidates prepare so well in
advance that they become flustered if the interview does not go as planned or if they are asked
questions they are not prepared to answer. Be relaxed and calm as you take a moment to
understand what the interviewer is asking you. If you didn't understand the question there is no
harm in asking the interviewer to clarify or repeat the question. However, it is best to avoid this by
listening hard and giving your full attention to the interview process.

• An interview is similar to a two-way street – it is not only you who are being evaluated but your
prospective employer as well. Prepare a list of questions to ask your employer. Try to ask some of
the key questions at the beginning of the interview so that you can tailor your responses
appropriately. Don't miss the opportunity presented to you at the end of the interview to pose a few
questions to your prospective employer.

• While it is exciting to do well in a job interview, don't get carried away by the compensation
package or the perks. You must carefully examine if this job position is right for you and if it is in
alignment with your career goals. Match your skills and capabilities with the job requirements to
determine if you are the best fit for this job. This will ensure you get job satisfaction in the long
run.
 Sec III
Preparing For Interviews
The biggest hurdle in landing your dream job is the job interview. If you are not sure what is involved in a
job interview, this section will help you understand the interview process and also give you tips on
preparing for your first job interview.

In a nutshell, an interview is a meeting with a prospective employer to assess your qualifications for
employment for a particular job. The interview process will vary depending on the company you interview
at, the position they are hiring for, as well as the pool of candidates who have applied for that specific job.
There are a variety of types of job interviews that employers may conduct. You need to be prepared for all
types of interviews if you want to pass through with flying colors. Some of the common interview types
include:

• Behavioral interviews

• Informational interviews

• Panel interviews

• Lunch interviews

• Telephone interviews

• Video or Skype interviews

• Structured/unstructured interviews

Job interviews provide you a fantastic opportunity to test your own mettle. You can find out more about
yourself as you attend an interview.

Interviews are a great way to discover how you are viewed by the external world. You may learn
interesting aspects of your personality through the eyes of other people, which were hidden from your own
eyes.
You can also determine if this job is the right one for you. When you prepare for an interview, you will be
able to find out more about the job description, roles and responsibilities, as well as career growth
opportunities through the specific job you are pursuing.

Any job opportunity will have a pool of candidates applying for that position. In other words, you must be
well-equipped to not only compete but also beat your competitors in the race to secure your job. This will
help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses.

Interviews are more than merely searching for a job in an organization. They can lead to bigger work
assignments and more exciting opportunities within your own organization. When you master the art of
performing in interviews you will be able to establish better rapport with the people within and outside the
company, helping you perform well at work. Good interview skills will enable you to present your
organization well to the outside world through the use of various types of media.

Landing an interview for a great work opportunity is great, but it is certainly not the end of the journey.
Your success depends a lot on the kind of interviewing skills you possess. Successful interviewing is
crucial to getting the job offer from the company. Interviewing skills are a great asset for your professional
goals and is a definite strength in any successful individual, irrespective of the field.

The first step to a positive interview experience is solid preparation. In other words, you need to do your
homework and know what you are talking about. Even before you sit for the interview, you must learn
about yourself, your career goals, and your personal strengths and weaknesses. In order to effectively
answer questions on a job interview, you must know how to present information about yourself to an
interviewer. Start by listing your personal work-related attributes. Think about what you can bring to the
employer. Once you come up with a list of attributes, try to find some weaknesses. By studying your
faults, you will be able to choose one that is somewhat harmless or could be turned around into a positive.
Visualization is a great technique to help you prepare for your interview. You need to visualize your past
employment history. Think of your past employers, the roles and responsibilities you assumed, and key
learning you obtained from your work experience. You must also create a mental list of all your past
achievements and failures. It is important that you remember specific examples of your achievements and
failures, instead of vague ideas.

The second step is to research your prospective employer before the job interview. Gather as much
information about the employer as you can. Apart from making you appear informed and intelligent, this
information will also help you make a decision if the employer makes you a job offer. Get a formal or
informal job description of the role you are interviewing for. You can obtain this from the organization or
the recruiter who contacted you. Once you get the job description in hand, try to align your strengths and
weaknesses with it. It is important that you are honest in your assessment as you map yourself to the job
description. When you have a clear idea of the job requirements and whether your capabilities match the
requirements, you will be able to face the interview confidently.

Do you often feel nervous about interviewing? Don't worry – everybody else feels the same too because it
is quite common to be nervous before the interview. In fact, it is good because your anxiety will raise your
energy level and sharpen your focus. However, you can get rid of your nervousness to a large extent by
proper preparation before the interview.

Your demeanor and attitude can turn the interview in your favor. If you are self-assured and confident of
your abilities, you can breeze through the interview. Your confidence will shine through the way you sit,
stand, shake hands, make eye contact, and answer questions. So how can you remain self-assured and
confident? Preparation is the key to your confidence. When you know the job description and whether it
matches your personality and capabilities, you will be able to articulate why you are the right fit for the
position. Read through the job description and find out what the employer is looking for. Read the
company's mission statement. Write down a list of possible interview questions as well as your answers to
them. This is especially useful if you have a 'glitch' in your resume. It will keep you prepared to answer
difficult questions.

Rehearsing before the interview can help you boost your confidence levels. Prepare answers to common
questions, such as what are your strengths and weaknesses? Why do you want to work here? Why should
we hire you? Tell me about yourself. You can also conduct a mock interview with a trusted friend as
practice. Rehearsing beforehand will help you avoid taking too long to answer questions during the
interview or making unnecessary long-winding replies to questions. As you rehearse, pay attention to your
posture, eye contact, and overall body language. The more you rehearse the more confident you will feel at
the interview.

It is also important to arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview. Find out the exact venue of the
interview and determine the exact location, especially if you are new to the city. Consider factors such as
distance, travel time, and traffic as you plan for the journey. It is better to arrive early than to be late, so
give yourself enough time to reach the venue. Once you reach, visit the restroom and check
your appearance. Make sure you turn your cell phone off, so it doesn't ring during your interview.

Now that you have done all the preparations for the interview, you are left wondering about your actual
interview day. The more you think of it, the more you psych yourself out thinking of all the possibilities of
messing up your interview. You begin to doubt your level of preparations. All these thoughts result in one
thing – a sleepless night right before your interview day!

The night before the interview is critical to your interview success. The first step towards a restful sleep is
to go to bed early. Many individuals prepare for their interview the same way they do for their exams – the
try to 'learn' as much as possible the previous night, burning the midnight oil and staying up until the early
hours of the morning. This is a big mistake. It is really important that you arrive for your interview well-
rested, mentally fresh, and physically energetic. A sleepless night can leave you physically exhausted with
dark circles and puffy eyes. You will also be tired in your mind and unable to think quickly on your feet,
which is essential to answer tough or tricky interview questions. This can lead to a negative outcome in
your very first interview.

You can easily avoid this by going to bed early the night before your interview. Before going to bed, you
need to make sure you have a light and nutritious meal. Don't go to bed immediately after dinner. You can
take a small walk to aid digestion and give you a restful sleep at night. You can also have some warm milk,
cocoa or herbal tea to relax your body. Set the alarm for the next day and sleep comfortably in the
awareness that you're as prepared as you'll ever be. When you equip your body with enough food and rest
before the interview you will feel your best, which in turn will help you to look and perform your best.

It is also important to be on time for the interview. Make sure you arrive at least 5-10 minutes prior to the
interview. You will leave a very poor first impression if you arrive late and keep your interviewer waiting.
If you are late due to an emergency, call and inform ahead, apologizing for the delay. Never give excuses
for being late.

The saying 'First impression makes the best impression' is very true when it comes to job interviews. The
very first judgment an interviewer makes, before you even speak a word, is from the way you look and
what you are wearing. It is very important to dress professional for a job interview, even if the actual work
environment is a casual one. It is a fact that a candidate dressed in a suit and tie will make a much better
impression than one dressed in a t-shirt and torn jeans. So, how can you dress for success? Imagine your
interview to be a performance with different people playing different roles. Your role is that of a job
candidate. You need to play your part beginning with the way you dress. Proper clothing and appearance
will empower you and boost your confidence level.
Here are a few important interview attire tips:

• Make sure your interview attire is appropriate, conservative, and fits you well

• Your attire should be clean and neatly pressed

• Men should wear suits of a solid and conservative color, such as navy, black, or dark grey, with a
light colored long sleeved shirt, belt, professional tie, dark socks, and polished conservative leather
shoes. They should wear little or no jewelry and must be clean-shaven with a neat hairstyle. Wear
minimum aftershave and trim your nails. Carry a briefcase.

• Women should also wear conservative suits with coordinated blouses and professional shoes.
Avoid short skirts and high heels. Wear limited jewelry with no dangling earrings or bracelets that
make noise. Have a professional hairstyle, wear light make-up, and minimum perfume. Women
should have neatly manicured nails and may carry a portfolio or briefcase.

• Try to dress one level up from the position you are interviewing for. It is better to be overdressed
than appear scruffy or unkempt.

• Carry a mouth freshener and use it before you enter the building. Eliminate all body odors by using
deodorant in moderate quantity.

• Never chew gum during the interview

• If you have any body art, make sure you cover them during the interview. Avoid too many body
piercings as well.

• Do not carry coffee, beverages or snacks inside the interview room

• Seek help from friends, family members, or colleagues who have previously attended job
interviews.

Before the interview, you must create a to-do list of all the documentation you need to bring to the
interview. It is recommended that you gather all your materials the day before the interview so that you
won't have to waste time searching for important documents on the day of your interview.

As a rule, you should never attend an interview empty handed. For example, you must bring several copies
of your resume especially if you are attending a panel interview or you are being interviewed by more than
one person. Make a checklist of all the documents you may need. The following are a list of items to carry
for your interview:

1. Resume copies – Whether your position needs a resume or not, it is better to print a copy of it for
yourself and for every person who you are interviewing with.

2. A pen – This may sound trivial, but you will be surprised at how many job candidates appear without a
pen and give a disorganized impression to their interviewer. Think ahead and prepare for all the things you
may need in an interview.

3. A notepad – You may have to note down phone numbers, names, or addresses during an interview.
Having your own pen and notepad will let your interviewer know that you are well-prepared and that you
think ahead.

4. References – It is very important to carry a list of at least three people who can vouch for your ability to
do a great job in the position you are applying for. Type their full name, phone number, and relationship to
you and take printouts of it to hand to your interviewers. Make sure you tell your references ahead of time
that they might be contacted by your interviewers. Your references should not be related to you in any way.

5. Transcripts – Carry additional information such as school/college transcripts, testimonials, and

professional licenses you may possess. Bring evidence of anything that proves your ability to perform the
job you are interviewing for. You can also carry your business card, if you have one.

Having a checklist will help you remember all the things you need to carry. However, avoid carrying a
handful of loose papers. You can carry all your documents in a professional briefcase. Putting all the papers
listed above in one folder or briefcase will ensure that you won’t leave anything out by accident. In
addition, you’ll look organized during the interview. You can also file them in a clear indexed folder,
which will help you extract documents without fumbling for them

One of the essential steps in preparing for your job interview is to be familiar with the organization you are
interviewing with as well as the industry within which it operates. It is important for you to gain valuable
insight into the company and the industry as this can give you the much-needed edge over your
competition. When you make the effort to research the company, your potential employer will get a good
impression of you as it demonstrates your initiative and interest regarding the position you are applying for.
Apart from knowing about the company, you must also know the ins and outs of the specific job function
you are applying for as it will help you determine if you are the right fit for that particular job type.

The more you know about the organization, the better prepared you will be to discuss how well you fit into
the organization during the interview. You must know some of the following before you appear for the
interview:

• Where is the company located?

• What is its size? Does it have global coverage?

• What are its products and who does it serve?

• How is the organization structured?

• Who are its competitors?

• What is its history?

• What are its vision and mission statements?

• Have there been any recent changes or innovations?

• What are the company's financial performance, revenue, and profitability?

• What is its perceived brand value in the market?

There are many ways to gather the above information. The easiest way is to access the company's website
on the Internet. You can also use search engines such as Google and Yahoo to find out what others are
saying about the company as well as update yourself on the latest news and development in the industry.
You can also network with friends or family members who are working with that organization or within the
industry to get more information that may not be readily available on the Internet. In addition, information
can be obtained through campus career centers that may have company literature, the library, annual reports
of the company, and public relations literature.
It will also be well worth your effort to put some time into researching issues, trends, and current events in
the field you are applying for.

Recap:

• It is important that you find out information about the position you are applying for by consulting
the job description if it is available. If it is not available, you can get in touch with the recruiter or
company to find out more about the position you are applying for. In addition, you must know
yourself – identify and discover your interests, transferable skills and abilities, key
accomplishments, and personal and professional strengths and weaknesses. Try to match these
attributes with the job description to find out if you are the right fit for this job.

• The basic but most important step in interviewing successfully is to be adequately prepared for the
interview. How do you prepare for it? You must first know yourself including your career goals
and aspirations. Find out about the job description and make a list of all the attributes you possess
that match the job description. Visualize your past employment history as well as your past
achievements and failures. This mental list will help you answer difficult questions during the
interview.

• Even before you speak a word in the interview, your interviewer is already making judgments
based on the way you appear and your dress sense. It is very important to wear appropriate
interview attire that will give you a professional and confident appearance.

• Nothing can be worse than appearing late for a job interview and making your interviewer wait.
Always make sure you arrive at least 10-15 minutes ahead of the interview time. Determine the
exact location and make allowances for sudden delays due to traffic or inclement weather. Start
early so that you will have sufficient time to accommodate such delays. If you are afraid you will
be late due to an emergency, make sure you call ahead and inform the company.

• Make sure you carry all your documentation with you, including several copies of your resume,
references list, transcripts, testimonials, and evidence of professional licenses. Carry all your
documentation, including a notepad and pen, in a professional briefcase or clear indexed folder.

• It is important that you know about organization and the industry in which the company does
business. When you are well-informed, it will help you perform better in the interview. In addition,
it will create a positive impression on your interviewers who will be impressed by the initiative you
have shown in researching about the company before the interview.
 SEC – IV
“Assertiveness is what all interviewers seek in candidates and neither aggressive
nor submissive behaviour can compensate for it.”

ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING
To assert means "to affirm positively, assuredly, plainly, or strongly".

Emphases of assertiveness training:

1. The assertive person is one who acts in a way he or she respects. The emphasis is on being
respected, rather than being liked; self-respect, others' respect.

2. The emphasis is on not letting ourselves be pressurized or manipulated.

3. The emphasis is on adequate behaviour. Inadequate behaviour leads to self-doubts, which leads
to disturbed feelings, which leads to more inadequate behaviour. Adequate behaviour breaks this
vicious spiral.
 4. The emphasis is on not letting other people define your role for you to the point where you
stop being yourself.

5. The emphasis is on appropriate behaviour.

6. The emphasis is on doing what you really want to do, not necessarily what you like to do.

7. Assertiveness is not aggressiveness. Aggressiveness provokes counter-aggression.

Assertiveness does not.

8. The emphasis is on developing the ability to expand your social network, if you wish, and
choosing appropriate. levels of communication.

9. The thrust is towards moving away from acting out of fear, out of other-direction, to living up to
your own expectations, your own goals.

ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING

Three Basic Interpersonal Styles

Assertiveness is the label given to a collection of behaviors that stem from a belief that your needs or
wants are as important as other people’s. The alternatives are to believe that your needs or wants are
less or more important than other people’s. The former results in submissive behavior, the latter in
aggressive behavior.

People oscillate between the three modes of behavior depending on circum-stances. Most people,
however, when faced with a tricky situation tend to react aggressively or submissively rather than
assertively, despite the fact that assertive behavior is more likely to lead to a resolution that is
satisfactory to all concerned.

SUBMISSIVE BEHAVIOR is when you

* fail to stand up for your rights or do so in such a way that others can easily
 disregard them.

* express your thoughts, feelings and beliefs in apologetic, cautious or self-

effacing ways.

* fail to express your views or feelings altogether.

Submission is based on the belief that your own needs and wants will be regarded by others as
relatively unimportant. Typical of submissive behavior are long, justifying, self-deprecating explanations
and ingratiating attempts to accommodate the needs and wants of other people.

In this style, opinions, feelings, and wants are withheld altogether or expressed indirectly and only in
part. The underlying message is “I’m weak and inferior, and you’re powerful and right.” The advantage
of passive communication is that it minimizes responsibility for making decisions and the risk of taking
a personal stand on an issue. The disadvantages are a sense of impotence, lowered self-esteem, and
having to live with the decisions of others.

People behaving submissively are likely to:

* Make long rambling statements (often justifying themselves).

* Avoid making ‘I’ statements, or qualify them, eg It’s only my opinion but…

* Use other qualifying phrases or words, eg May be…Would you mind very

much…I wonder if…Just…Sorry to bother you but….

* Use ‘filler’ words, eg Uh…You know…Sort of…

* Put themselves down, eg I seem to be hopeless at this. I can’t…

* Use phrases which make it easier for others to ignore their needs or wants,

eg It’s not important really. It doesn’t matter.

AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR is when you

* stand up for your own rights in such a way that you violate the rights of

another person.
 * express thoughts, feelings and beliefs in unsuitable and inappropriate ways,

even though you may honestly believe those views to be right.

Aggression is based on the belief that your opinions are more important than other people’s. It
is characterized by accusing and blaming other people, showing contempt, and by being
hostile or patronizing.

In this style, opinions, feelings, and wants are honestly stated, but at the expense of someone else’s
feelings. The underlying message is “I’m superior and right, and you’re inferior and wrong.” The advantage
of aggressive behavior is that people often give aggressive individuals what they want in order to get rid of
them. The disadvantage is that aggressive individuals make enemies, and people who can’t avoid them
entirely may end up behaving dishonestly toward them in order to avoid confrontations.

People behaving aggressively are likely to:

* Make excessive use of ‘I’ statements.

* State their opinions as facts, eg That approach won’t work. That’s rubbish.

* Use threats, eg You’d better do it.

* Put others down, eg You must be joking. That’s only your opinion. You

cannot be serious.

* Make a lot of uses of the words ‘ought’, ‘must’, ‘should’ and ‘have to’.

* Be keen to attach blame to others, eg It was your fault. Well, I blame you.

ASSERTIVE BEHAVIOR is when you

*stand up for your own rights in a way that does not violate another

person’s rights.

It leads to an honest, open and direct expression of your point of view which, at the same time, shows
that you understand the other person’s position.

In this style, you clearly state your opinion, how you feel, and what you want without violating the rights of
others. The underlying assumption is “You and I may have our differences, but we are equally entitled to
express ourselves to one another.” The major advantages include active participation in making important
decisions, getting what you want without alienating others, the emotional and intellectual satisfaction of
respectfully exchanging feelings and ideas, and high self-esteem.
 People behaving assertively are likely to:

* Make statements that are brief and to the point.

* Use ‘I’ statements, eg. I think, I believe, I’d like, I want, I need.

* Distinguish clearly between fact and opinion, eg. In my experience…My

opinion is….As I see it....

* Avoid words like, You should….You ought….

* Use open-ended questions to find out the thoughts, opinions, wants of

others, eg. How does this affect you? What are your thoughts on…?

* Look for ways to resolve problems, eg How can we get around that? How

about….?

Examples of each mode of behavior

Suppose Diwali is approaching and you are asked to take on some extra duties because of the rush. In a
way, it is an honour to be asked but it will mean working changed shifts and probably some extra ones,
too. You are already fully committed and feelings stretched and overworked. Here are three answers you
might give in reply to the request:

An assertive answer:

‘I quite understand that you need these jobs done, but I don’t see how I can fit them in at the moment. I
would like to help, so can we look at some alternative ways of tackling them?’

A submissive answer:

‘Well, I don’t really have any spare time at the moment, but I suppose I could fit it all in. I’ll manage to
rearrange something. I expect, er....OK, I don’t mind.’

An aggressive answer:

‘You must be joking! Just before Diwali? I’m up to my ears already! There’s no way I’ll manage that as well.
You’ll have to find somebody else.’

Since behavior breeds behavior, assertive behavior is more likely to trigger assertive behavior in other
people and thus lead to a better outcome. If you tend to be submissive in tricky situations then you need to
brief yourself up by practicing the assertive behaviors. If,on the other hand, you are inclined to be
aggressive in tricky situations then you need to tone yourself down by practicing the assertive behaviors.
Assertiveness is a skill that can be learned, not a personality trait that some are born with and others are
not. The first step in assertiveness training is to identify the three basic styles of interpersonal behavior.

Your Interpersonal scores are :-

Aggressive ………..

Assertive …………

Passive ………….

YOU CAN CHANGE

After identifying your basic personality style the next step in assertiveness training is writing your
script for change. A script is a working plan for dealing with the problem scene assertively. There
are six elements in a script:-

1. Look at your rights, what you want, what you need, and your feelings about the situation. Let go
of blame, the desire to hurt, and self pity. Define your goal and keep it in mind when you negotiate for
change.

2. Arrange a time and place to discuss your problem that is convenient for you and for the other
person. This step may be excluded when dealing with spontaneous situations in which you choose to be
assertive, such as when a person cuts ahead of you in line.

3. Define the problem situation as specifically as possible. This is essential for focusing the
discussion. Here is your opportunity to state the facts as you see them and share your opinion and beliefs.
For example: “It’s time to make a decision about where we’re going to eat tonight. I know you love Mexican
food, but we’ve eaten at TANGRA the last three times we’ve gone out for dinner. We’re in a rut!”

4.Describe your feelings so that the other person has a better understanding of how important an
issue is to you. Once they are expressed, your feelings can often play a major role in helping you get
what you want, especially when your opinion differs markedly from that of your listener. If nothing else, the
listener may be able to relate to and understand your feelings about an issue even when he totally
disagrees with your perspective. When you share your feelings, you become less of an adversary.

There are three important rules to remember when assertively expressing your feelings:

 Do not substitute an opinion for a feeling (“I feel that Mexican food should be abolished!”). The more
accurate feeling statement is “I hate Mexican food!”

 Use “I messages” that express your feelings without evaluating or blaming others. Rather than saying
“You are inconsiderate” or “You hurt me,” the I message would be “I feel hurt.”
 “I messages” connect the feeling statement with specific behaviors of the other person. For example, “I
feel hurt when you ignore my wishes about where we eat.” Contrast the clarity of this message with
the vague blame statement, “I feel hurt because you are inconsiderate.”

5. Express your request in one or two easy-to-understand sentences. Be specific and firm! Instead of
expecting others to read your mind and magically meet your needs, as in the case of the passive
individual, you state clearly your wishes and needs. Rather than assuming that you are always right and
entitled to getting your way, as an aggressive person might, you state your wants as preferences, not
commands. Example: “I would really like to go to a French restaurant tonight.”

6. Reinforce the other person to give you want you want. The best reinforcement is to describe
positive consequences. “We’ll save money…We’ll have more time together…I’ll give you a backrub…My
mother will only stay a week…I’ll be less tired and more fun o be with…I’ll be able to get my work in on
time…Little Purnima will do better in school,” and so on.

In some cases, positive reinforcement may be ineffective. If the person you’re dealing with seems resistant
or you feel that you’re having trouble motivating him or her to co-operate with you, consider describing
some negative consequences for failure to cooperate.The most effective negative consequences are
descriptions of the alternative way you will take care of yourself if your wishes aren’t accommodated.

 If we can’t leave on time, I’ll have to leave without you. Then you’ll have
to drive over later on your own.

 If you can’t clean the bathroom, I’ll hire someone to do it once a week
and add it to your rent.

 If you won’t fold and put away your clothes, I’ll just leave them in this
box. I guess you can sort through it whenever you need something.

 If you keep talking in this loud, attacking way, I’ll leave. We can talk
again tomorrow.

 If you drink heavily again at these office functions, I won’t go with you.
 If your check bounces again, we’ll have to work on a cash basis only.
 If you keep talking during the movie, I’m going to ask the manager to
come in here.

 If you can’t give me an accurate idea of when you’ll be home, I’m not
Going to cook and keep things warm for you.

Notice that these examples are different from threats. The consequence of non-cooperation is
that the speaker takes care of his or her interests. The consequences are not designed to hurt,
merely to protect. Threats usually don’t work because they make people so angry. If you do make
a threat (‘You won’t go to my sister’s wedding? I won’t go to your family reunion”), make sure you
are willing and able to back it up. Even then it will often do more harm than good.
The first letters of each script element combine to spell “LADDER”. You may find this a useful mnemonic
device to recall the steps toward assertive behavior. The LADDER script can be used to rewrite your
problem scenes so that you can assert what you want.

As an example of a LADDER script, let’s summarize that Mr. Singh wants to assert her right to
half an hour each day of uninterrupted peace and quiet while she does her relaxation exercises. Frank
often interrupts with questions and attention-getting maneuvers. Mr. Singh’s script goes like this:

Look at your rights, what you want, and what you need.

Arrange a time and place to discuss the situation.

Define the problem specifically.

Describe your feelings using “I messages.”

Express your request simply and firmly.

Reinforce the possibility of getting what you want.

Successful LADDER scripts do the following:

1. When appropriate, establish a mutually agreeable time and place to

assert your needs.

2. Describes behavior objectively, without judging or devaluing.

3. Describe clearly, using specific references to time, place and frequency.

4. Express feelings calmly and directly.

5. Confine your feeling response to the specific problem behavior, not the

whole person.

6. Avoid delivering put-downs disguised as “honest feelings.”

7. Ask for changes that are reasonably possible, and small enough not to

incur a lot of resistance.

8. Ask for no more than one or two very specific changes at a time.

9. Make the reinforcements explicit, offering something that is really

desirable to the other person.

10. Avoid threats or negative consequences that you’re not willing or able

to do.

11. Keep your mind on your rights and goals when being assertive.
 QUICKFIX TOOL- Assertiveness Technique

This is a simple and less time consuming assertiveness technique designed for situations where you lack
the time or energy to prepare an entire LADDER script. Assertiveness can be condensed to three basic
statements:

1. Your thoughts about the problematic situation. This is a non-blaming,

non-pejorative description of the problem as you see it. You stick as

closely as possible to objective facts, making no inferences about the

motives or feelings of others.

2. Your feelings. These are “I statements” about your emotional reaction to

the problem. Try to avoid the implication that you’re holding the other

person responsible for your feelings. You’re angry, sad, hurt, or

disappointed. But your main message should be that you are trying to

solve a problem, not blame or prove the other person wrong.

3. Your wants. As in the LADDER script, make your request specific and

behavioral. Don’t ask your tardy spouse to be “more considerate.”

Request specifically that he or she call if more than 15 minutes late.

Whenever you’re in a situation that requires an assertive response, quickly run through the three short
form components in your mind.

I think…we’ve been working every night for two weeks on our bathroom

Remodel.

I feel…tired, grumpy, and pressured by your desire that it be done in one

month’s time.

I want…not to work more than three nights without one night off.

Make sure you’ve developed some idea of what you think, feel, and want before starting to speak. Try to
express each component of your assertive statement in order. Finish one part before going on to the next.

Make the greatest effort to follow the rules about being non-blaming and making “I” statements. If you stick
to these two, simple rules, you’ll find the other person far less defensive and far more cooperative. Stay
away from attempts to prove that your needs are more important or more legitimate than the other
person’s. Just keep on track with a statement of facts, feelings, and a specific request for change. For
example:-

Anita invariably ate lunch with her co-worker, Meenakshi. Once or twice a week Meenakshi asked
Anita to drop her by a bank or store on the way to eat. Annie finally reached the boiling point
when Meenakshi had her driving 40 minutes to get something notarized. Anita quickly reviewed
the three statements in short form assertiveness.
 I think…Once a week or more I help you with errands and we miss 15 to
30 minutes of our lunch.

 I feel…tired from rushing and disappointed that I don’t get to relax at

lunch.

 I want…to stop being a taxi service for you during my lunch hour.

The “I want” seemed a bit harsh and attacking, so Anita changed it to: “Let’s eat on our own if either of us
have errands.”

Recall a problematic situation in your own life. As an exercise in thinking on your feet, try mentally
composing an assertive message:

Ithink…(just
the facts)…………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………..

I feel…(“I” statements)……………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

I want…(specific behavior change)………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Now keep practicing. Think of at least three situations where you’d like to be more assertive. As
you recall each one, pretend you are really there and have to make some response. Quickly go
over the three parts of your assertive statement, then say it out loud. Listen to how it sounds. Is it
blaming? Is your request specific enough? Are you saying clearly what you want? Are you
criticizing the other person’s motives or feelings? Correct what doesn’t sound right and try saying
it again.
 SEC – V
Assessing Your Personal Qualities
The final step in taking stock of your assets is to assess the positive personal qualities that may be
of value to your target employer. Certain personality characteristics—such as flexibility, vision
and creativity—are widely valued in organizational settings these days, while other personal
qualities sought are unique to a particular setting.

Read through the checklist that follows and place a check next to any characteristics that you
think describe you. Then go back and circle the five to seven characteristics that best describe you
out of all the ones checked.

Winner’s Idea

Make copies of the Personal Qualities Checklist for at least three

friends, colleagues, or family members before you complete it. Have
them check off the qualities that they see in you, then compare all the
results to see how the perspectives vary.

Building Your Case

As with stocks and bonds, real estate, and a bank balance, your professional assets—skills, content
knowledge, and personal qualities—have value in the eyes of others. Most wise investors wouldn’t
purchase property without seeing it, and they wouldn’t buy stock in a company they know nothing
about. They need proof that an investment has a certain value or value potential. The same holds
true in the hiring process. For a perspective employer to see value in you and want to invest in
you, you must provide evidence of your worth.

Anyone can make claims about having the necessary qualifications for a job. Not everyone can, or
will think to, back up those claims with evidence.

Unofficially…

Employers these days care less about the old workhorse

qualities—such as being faithful, dependable, and
loyal—and more about energy, enthusiasm, creativity and
vision.

If the applicant cannot provide some concrete, credible

examples of performance, I reach the conclusion that either
the experience is not there, or the person is not able to
articulate the experience. Generally, the person is dropped
out of the viable candidate pool if it is a critical skill or
experience.

- Susan Lamb, Human Resources Director, ISA, the

international society for measurement and control.

CHECKLIST: PERSONAL QUALITIES

Adaptable ______ Detail-oriented ______

Aggressive ______ Diplomatic ______

Artistic ______ Disciplined ______

Assertive ______ Discreet ______

Athletic ______ Driven ______

Calm ______ Effective ______

Communicative ______ Efficient ______

Conscientious ______ Energetic ______

Considerate ______ Enterprising ______

Creative ______ Enthusiastic ______

Dependable ______ Ethical ______

Expressive ______ Reserved ______

Faithful ______ Resourceful ______

Flexible ______ Responsible ______

Funny ______ Scholarly ______

Gregarious ______ Self-aware ______

Honest ______ Self-confident ______

Independent ______ Self-disciplined ______

Loyal ______ Sensitive ______

Mathematically inclined ______ Serious ______

Mechanically inclined ______ Sincere ______

Musically inclined ______ Tactful ______

Observant ______ Technically inclined ______

Open minded ______ Thoughtful ______

Optimistic ______ Visionary ______

Organized ______

Patient ______

Perceptive ______

Persevering ______

Persuasive ______

Poised ______

Practical ______

Punctual ______

Quiet ______
Most often anyone who gets past the initial screening process and into an interview will have met
the basic requirements for the job. The way to distinguish yourself from the competition at that
point is to instill confidence in the interviewer by showing, not just saying, that you have what it
takes to make a difference. This is particularly relevant at higher levels, where it’s a given that
you have the basic strengths and experience to do the job. What’s not so obvious, however, are
the details of what you’ve done in the past and exactly how those past accomplishments could
help you meet their current and future needs.

The Importance of Asset Statements

Too many interviewees get caught in the trap of simply describing their experience. They believe
that all the interviewer needs to hear is an elaboration of their brief job descriptions on the
resume. Instead of just detailing those responsibilities or projects, spell out the assets you
demonstrated while carrying them out.

Another common pitfall is to bombard the interviewer with a laundry list of assets. A statement
such as, “I am detail-oriented, analytical, mathematically inclined, a strong manager, and
proficient in three languages” is not only likely to go in one ear and out the other, but it also has
no substance to back it up.

To distinguish yourself from the other candidates who may recite the same list of assets, and to
make the discussion of your experience richer and more relevant, prepare asset statements.
These are carefully crafted statements prepared before you get to the interview that tell the
prospective employer how you could add value, how you’ve done so in the past, and how you can
do so more effectively than other candidates.

How to Develop Asset Statements

Developing asset statements is a five-step process. For each interview, you should ask the
following questions and then record the answers in a format like that of the “Asset Statement
Development Form” at the end of this section.

1. What does the employer need or the job require?

2. What assets do I have that enable me to meet those needs?
3. How would I use those assets to the employer’s benefit?
4. How have I proven in the past that I can do what I claim to be capable of?
5. How do I differ in this regard from other candidates?

Unofficially…..

Contrary to what you might have thought, your

experience is not an asset. The skills, knowledge, and
character you demonstrated and acquired while gaining
that experience is the valuable commodity to prospective
employers.

Let’s look in more detail at what each of these steps entails.

Identify the employer’s needs. From the research you will have already conducted before
preparing assets statements, you should have a sense of what the employer is looking for in an
ideal candidate, and what the problems, goals, and philosophy are of the prospective employing
organization.

Identify which of your assets can meet the employer’s need. For each problem to be solved,
growth area to contribute to, or other need of the employer, identify one ore more of your assets
that enable you to meet that need. Whether it’s a skill, content knowledge, or personal quality,
the asset should be relevant and beneficial to the job and the organization.

Example: Frank first chooses to focus on the bank’s retention problem. He realizes
that a few of his assets would help with that dilemma. He is knowledgeable in cutting-edge
human resource practices that have proven to reduce turnover rates; his macro-
management style enables him to have a vision of how employees should be treated in the
long run, not just during the orientation period; and, having worked for two computer
companies, he has a solid handle on the information technology industry as a whole. So,
his content knowledge areas here are the IT industry and advanced HR practices, while his
transferable skills relate to management. These are the assets he would list in the “Related
Assets” portion of the development form.

State the benefit of your assets to the prospective employer. The next step is to think of how
your strengths can be of direct benefit to the employer, either immediately or in the near future.
Instead of offering vague promises, be sure to specify and quantify what you can do. Instead of
saying something like, “I could increase your sales in the Southeastern region”, you would say “I
am confident that with my contacts and track record, I could double your sales in Florida and
Georgia by the end of the fiscal year and in the remaining territories over the following year”.

Example: Frank could tell his interviewers that he would reduce their turnover rates by
certain percentages within the first year and in subsequent years, based on his experience
with proven retention techniques. He could also tell them that his contacts in and
knowledge of the IT profession would enable him to stay on top of the competition and
developments in the field so that he could foresee why the bank’s employees might want to
go elsewhere.

Give an example of a past accomplishment. Immediately after making the claims that Step 3
advises, back them up with some evidence. Examples of how you’ve solved problems in the past,
met challenges, overcome obstacles, reached goals, and otherwise achieved success give credence
to your claims. By showing that you have accomplished something similar in the past, you are
not making empty promises, but are demonstrating solid evidence of your capabilities. Plus,
you’re telling a story of sorts, which gives flavor to your discussion and makes the interviewer’s
encounter with you more meaningful. Whether possible, to make it even more memorable,
enhance your story with “props” that further illustrate the past incident or accomplishment you
are describing. Kudo letters, commendations, reports, photos, or other relevant documents from
your portfolio can be powerful evidence of your achievements.

Compare and contrast your assets. A final step in preparing asset statements is to find a way to
distinguish yourself from others who might have skills, knowledge, and personal qualities
comparable to yours, or who have equally compelling evidence for their assets. While making
your asset statements during the interview, it is helpful to put those statements into some sort of
context, giving the interviewer a frame of reference by which to judge you. That frame of
reference might be past or present coworkers, bosses, fellow students, or personal contacts. The
key here is not so much to whom you’re comparing yourself, but to what extent you do things
faster, better, more inexpensively, more creatively, and so forth than others doing the same kind
of work.
While these concerns are understandable, they are unfortunate. When worded carefully and
couched in the appropriate context, contrasting yourself with less capable or effective peers is
powerful interviewing technique, not the rantings of an egomaniac. First of all, you make the
comparisons anonymously, not just by omitting the use of any names or even initials, but by
giving absolutely no identifying information. Second, you make it clear that the statement is not
a personal attack but is merely designed to point out a difference of style or opinion. You might
even say something positive about the person in question to show that you’re not making a
blanket criticism, just highlighting one aspect of that person’s work. Finally, you objectify the
statement whenever possible by showing that the comparison is not just your opinion but has
been made by others.

Asset Statement Development Form

Use the following form to record the information that will form the basis of your asset
statements. You can type up a similar form on your computer for easy use as a template or
might prefer to write these notes on index cards that you can discreetly review just before each
interview.

ASSET STATEMENT DEVELOPMENT FORM

Organization’s need

Relevant assets

Benefits to the target employer

Asset evidence

Comparison with others

Just the Facts

 Knowing yourself—your skills, knowledge, and personal qualities-is as important as

knowing about the prospective employer.
 You have to take the initiative to communicate what your assets are. Don’t assume the
interviewer will deduce them from a basic discussion of your experience.
 To build a case for why you’re the best candidate, you must provide evidence of past
accomplishments, problems solved, and goals attained.
 Employers are more interested in the skills, knowledge, and character you
demonstrated on past jobs than on the basic nature of the jobs themselves.
 Take stock of your deficits so you can take constructive steps toward overcoming skill
and knowledge gaps or smoothing the rough patches in your personal style.

SEC – VI
Employment Interview

The main purpose of the employer is to judge the suitability of the applicant to the job and that of the
applicant, to find out whether the needs and requirements of the job would suit him and also whether
the environment in the organization would be conducive to his professional growth. Clearly, this form
of dyadic communication provides an opportunity to both the participants for intense interaction and
close observation of each other’s personality traits as reflected in verbal behaviour and body language.
As we are aware, the employment interview takes place when on the face of it there is a case for the
acceptance of the applicant’s services. The employer knows fully well the basic details about the
career of the applicant—his educational background, his other interests, his experience, social status,
etc. In the case of experienced employees he also knows the assessment of the applicant’s earlier
employer(s). What then is the interview for?
 A prospective employer’s main aim is

 to judge your sense of values,

 your attitude towards work.
 to get a feel of your respect for fair play and
 sense of justice and honesty in the discharge of duties.
In fact, while conducting the interview he looks for signs of these traits in your personality. Every
employer, no wonder, wants people around who possess positive personal qualities and
are dependable. The qualifications and the kind of educational background the interviewee has do
not give an adequate idea of these important requirements.

Employer’s Expectations
We may classify the information which an employer seeks whiles considering a person for a job,
into the following sub-headings:

(i) State of health: Every organization desires its employees to be in a healthy

state. Apart from judging at the interview, the organization requires a new

entrant to undergo a medical examination, the standards of which differ

from profession to profession.

(ii) Attainments: A probe is made through searching questions to verify

what is written by the candidate in the bio-data and to assess the

nature and quality of his achievements.

(iii) Intelligence: A close observation is made of the reflexes and responses of

the interviewee to discover the extent of his grasp and confidence.

(iv) Interests: An attempt is made to understand the other dimensions of the personality
of the candidate by encouraging him to speak about his intellectual or social pursuits.

(v) Aptitude:Certain questions are directed merely to find out the candidate’s aptitude
for the job he has applied for.

(vi)Disposition: A vital piece of information that all employers would like to have is whether
the candidate has the ability to work with others.

(vii) Circumstances: A peep into the interviewee’s previous environment and

family circumstances may give some clue to the candidate’s capacity to work.

PLANNING THE INTERVIEW

Whatever be its type, demands adequate and careful prior preparation. How should one plan to
appear in an interview of this sort? Surely each applicant wants to be successful, to be offered the
job even if he may ultimately decide not the accept it. Failure in an interview certainly injures the ego
of a person temporarily. You should therefore pay close attention to the following if you wish to
achieve success.

.Physical appearance It has been rightly said that apparel oft proclaims the man;
certainly so in the case of an interview. Physical appearance creates the first impression and
tells something about the personality of the individual. Cleanliness and neatness are the first
requirements for a smart turn out. While going for and interview spend a few minutes and take a
critical look at your appearance: the clothes that you wear, the hair-style and the footwear. Harmony
and sobriety should mark your attire. You should never put on something in which you feel
uncomfortable because it may lead to inconvenience and oddities in your behaviour while you are
being assessed for the job. Loud colours, and other such ornamentations are likely to distract the
attention of the interviewer from your countenance which plays a definite role in an interaction of this
kind. Your aim should be to use your physical appearance to create the first right impression on the
interviewer.

Pleasing physical appearance should be accompanied by proper deportment and the right
poise. How you carry yourself, how you walk and sit, how you make an exit—all these are important.
Good deportment and good manners together generate a proper atmosphere and put you at ease.
Be observant and try to imbibe these qualities from the people who possess a high degree of social
charm and poise. Nothing should appear to be artificial, imitative and odd in your demeanors.
You should appear to be your natural self. These qualities will help you in making a mark not only at
the employment interview but throughout your career.

. Mannerisms Take care that you do not indulge in certain mannerisms in your speech or
bahaviour. Expressions like “err”, “you know” “Oh my God”, “Well”, etc. should be avoided.
Similarly, do not use slang and highly colloquial language or uncommon abbreviations. The tone
should be friendly but not intimate. Check carefully that you are not in the habit of making odd
gestures while talking. Playing with hair or with the buttons of your shirt, or the keys in your hand
creates a bad impression. Similarly, fixing your gaze on the interviewer or a painting or other objects
in the room is also considered as bad manners.

. Listening is an art which helps as much at the interview as in social situations. If you
maintain a stony silence when the interviewer is speaking, he may feel uneasy. It is therefore
necessary to give signals that you are listening to him. Your response may take the form of a nod or
a smile or even sometimes whispering approvals, such as “hmm”, “yes”, etc. You should not interrupt
the interviewer. Wait till he has finished, howsoever impatient you may be to react to what he is
saying.

. Cultivate your speech. The best way to do so is to tape-record it and listen to it critically.
Analyze your speech to find out :-

1. Whether you speak clearly, or you eat your syllables and slur over your words.
2. Does your speech sound dull and monotonous or lively and animated?
3. Is the pitch of your voice too high or too low?
4. Do you stress the right syllables and use the appropriate intonation?
Satisfy yourself that your speech is clear, has proper rhythm and sounds pleasant. Daily practice can
certainly enhance the quality of your speech. Shakespeare’s remark, ‘Mend your speech a little,
lest it should mar your fortune’ holds good even today. Proper speech will help you not merely
in getting the job but also in moving up on the ladder of your career.

More important than all these is what you say. Check it out :-

 Are you clear in your thoughts?

 Can you express them in plain language?
  Do you understand your point of view on current issues in unmistakable terms?
 Do you have a philosophy of your own (a set of opinions) which you can put before others
with conviction supported by valid arguments?
 Have you acquired the habit of coolly arguing your case?
 Do you feel crestfallen when your point of view is not accepted?
These are some of the questions whose answers are obvious and you must have been made aware
of them in the course of your education. What is required is that at the time of interview you
refresh your memory.

Avoid always giving uncomplimentary references to your former employers or other

associates and making uncharitable remarks about them.

Types of Interview Questions

There is a great diversity in the types of questions that may be asked at an interview. You should try
to anticipate the type of questions likely to be asked. Partly the type

will be determined by the situation and the specific purpose that the interviewer has in mind. In
general, the questions will be based on what you have stated in your bio-data and your
reaction to the organization’s visualization of your role in it. We may classify the questions into
the following categories: direct questions, open-ended questions, closed questions, bipolar
questions, and loaded questions.

Direct questions, generally used at the initial stage, are explicit, demanding specific
information: What’s your name? How old are you? In which company did you work last?, etc.

Open-ended questions are not so straight; only the topic on which information is required is
specified and the interviewee is asked to elaborate: What is your educational background? How did
you find your experience of working on this plant in ABC company? etc.

Closed questions demand responses from a limited and narrow area. Often these questions
provide alternatives from which the response is selected. An extreme form of the closed question is
the one which demands “Yes” or “No” response. This is also called a bipolar question. A few
examples are as follows: If selected, would you be able to join next month? Would you like to be
posted in Bombay or Calcutta? We are prepared to offer this job to you on a contract of three years;
is it acceptable to you?

Loaded questions generally demand a response which the interviewer expects. They are
suggestive in nature and encourage the interviewee to agree with the interviewer. Sometimes these
may be used as a trap to discover whether the interviewee is clear in his mind about what he is in
for. Ideally, as a general rule, loaded questions should not be used by the interviewer. However, as
an interviewee, you should be prepared to face any type of questions.

The core of the body of the interview is the set of various types of questions discussed
above. In a structured interview, apart from these, there are preliminary questions which set the
tone for the interview and establish rapport between the interviewer and the interviewee. Similarly, at
the end there are a few questions to signal the end of the interview. The interviewer aims at
helping the interviewee to complete the expression of his thoughts and to clarify his stand before the
interview ends.

It is difficult to visualize the questions that may be asked at an interview. However, we give
below a sample of questions that could be asked at an employment interview.

A. Educational Background

(i) Give a brief resume of your educational career.

 (ii) Why did you decide to offer Economics in your M.A.?

(iii) Have you studied some books in this field other than those prescribed?

(iv) Could you name a few such books and describe their themes?

(v) Apart from Economics which field of knowledge interests you?

(vi) Could you name some of the books you have read in this area of your

interest?

B. Co-curricular Activities

(i) You have produced a number of plays during your educational career. Tell

us how you got interested in drama.

(ii) Do you think your interest in drama affected your studies?

(iii) What work did you do as a member of the editorial board of your college

Newsletter?

(iv) Do you think this kind of work has added something to you academic

experience ?

(v) What difficulties, in your opinion, does an editor face in producing a

newsletter of this type?

C. Extra-curricular Activities

(i) How is it that, although you played badminton throughout your college

career, you never participated in any worthwhile tournament?

(ii) Apart from physical exercise, does this game impart any other qualities to

the player?

(iii) What is the size of the badminton court?

(iv) Do you play any other games?

D. Experience

(i) Describe the specific work that you were doing in the production

department.

(ii) What new things have you learnt?

(iii) What are the ways of maximizing production?

(iv) Did you introduce any new technique or procedure to increase production?

(v) In what way will your experience help our organization?

E. General Knowledge

(i) What is your opinion about the new industrial policy announced by the

Government of India?

(ii) What are the main causes of inflation in India?

(iii) Do you think deficit financing should be stopped? Why?

(iv) Give your comments on the Seventh Five-year Plan.

(v) Do you think the Government of India’s 20-point programme will

usher in a new era? How?

(vi) What further steps should be taken to attract investment from Indians

living abroad?

(vii) How should the pace of technology transfer be accelerated?

(viii) Comment on the current economic climate in the country.

F. Miscellaneous

(i) What do you understand by team-spirit?

(ii) Do you think it can be cultivated? If yes, how?

(iii) What are the qualities of an efficient manager?

(iv) Do you think you possess these qualities?

(v) How can the conflicts between the management and labor be resolved?

ASSESSMENT RECORD SHEET

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assessment A B C D E

Items (Excellent) (Good) (Average) (Below (Poor)

Average)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Physical Make-Up

and Manners:

Appearance

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Poise

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Speech
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

II. Qualifications:

Education

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Training

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Experience

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

III. Personality:

Self-reliance

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Initiative

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Team-spirit

………………………..............................................................................................................................

Leadership

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

IV. Intellectual

Ability:

Intelligence

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Memory

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Potential for

Development

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

V. Motivation:

Objective

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Interests

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Consistency
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Aptitude

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEC – VII
Interview Tips

1. What are the important things you have learned in the University ?

Ans.: Two things I have learned: time management and how to find information. Balancing
a full course load and several extra-curricular activities – not to mention a social life – can be
tricky, but I have learned anything in these four years at the university. It’s how to know how
much time I have, how much time I need, and how to say no those things that aren’t
necessary for me to do.

I have also learned that it’s impossible to know everything, so it’s more important to be able
to think creatively in order to figure out how and where to find the information I need.

2. Why did you decide to attain postgraduate qualification ?

Ans.: Postgraduate study was a necessary step for me to take within my chosen field: art
history. Without at least masters, senior level position would be closed to me.

3. What skill do you want to learn or improve ?

Ans.: Although I have knowledge of marketing research, I would like to improve my skills at
interpreting marketing data knowing the type of information to request and how to analyze
the numbers.

4. Are you more of a leader or a manager ?

Ans.: I’ve read articles on this topic and I’ve always been interested in the difference,
because I see myself as a leader by nature – constantly alert and eager to help members of
my team grow – but I also have a keen sense of detail and am able to help my people figure
out how to handle complex tasks.

5. Why do you want this job now ?

Ans.: In doing research about organizations, I learned that you are a company that really
values balance and flexibility for employees, as well as innovation, all of which are important
to me. I’ve done informational interviewing with some of your employees and determined
that if an opening came up here, I would apply. I also like the idea of managing more
people, a role for which I think I’m really ready.

6. What attracted you to this job ?

Ans.: I’ve been searching for a while now to find a company that had a business model and
corporate philosophy like yours. My background is in marketing, and my strength is
analyzing market conditions. I am excited and interested in the idea of developing business
through e-commerce.
7. Tell me about yourself ?

Ans.: I’ve six years of marketing and sales experience, working in a variety of industries
from retail to advertising. For the past two years, I’ve been working in the e-commerce
industry. I’ve a solid grasp of the on-line market lace and on line publishing. I’ve strong
analytical and computer skills. Further more, I am a team player, and I thrive on challenge.

8. What are your salary expectation ?

Ans.: I really need more information about the job before we start to discuss salary. I
would like to postpone the discussion on my salary until later. May be you could tell me
what is the allocated budget for the position I’ve applied for and how your commission
structure works.

9. Do you have any question ? (This question is asked by the interviewer, usually at
the end.)

Ans.: Yes, I do. Thank you for asking. What would you say would be mind biggest
challenges in the first year ? What do you see as the future trends for the industries ? What
would you say is the best thing about working for this company ?

Or

How much growth potential does this job have ?

10. Why did you leave (Are you leaving ) your last position ?

Ans.: I’ve set some goals for myself, and my career, but unfortunately there are no
advancement opportunities in my current company. I’ve begun to explore available options
before I spend too much time in a job where I can’t advance. My goal is to continue to
improve myself.

11. What is your greatest weakness ?

Ans.: I used to be very disorganized. You know, the kind of person with every paper he
owns spread on the top of his desk. Eventually, this got me into trouble one day; I missed a
meeting because I lost the slip of paper on which I’ve written the details. I knew I’d to make
some changes to my style of functioning, so I asked a meticulous co-worker if she would
help me organize my workspace. I fine now I work more efficiently.

12. What do you do in your spare time ?

Ans.: I have an interest in theatre and I like to work with a local theatre group on
weekends. The group conducts workshops for children and I have been volunteering for two
years now.

13. How do you feel about working in groups ? Do you tend to play a particular roll ?

Ans.: I enjoy working in groups. Although some projects may take a little longer when
several people have to reach a consensus, I believe the result is always better when you can
benefit from several peoples’ ideas. I have found that when I work in groups I am usually
that person who make sure the work gets finished – the detail person, the person who ties
up all the loose ends and who sees the thing through.

14. What aspects of your experience do you think make you qualified for this job ?
 Ans.: I understand you are trying to expand your reach out to the youths. As well as
having covered sales of soft drinks and branded apparels in your area, gaining sound
knowledge of the youths’ spending habits, I have also increased sales by over 10% in the 18
months I have been there. I have valuable contacts in the area that I can immediately tap
into. In other words I can hit the ground running.

15. How much money do you want to make in this job ?

Ans.: As I understand it the position would entail reporting directly to the executive editor,
overseeing all aspects of book production and acting as a liaison between authors and
agents and the company. In that case, based on my track record and qualifications, what
would be the salary range for the position ?

16. Tell me about a time when you received criticism for your work or an idea.

Ans.: I work as an editorial assistant at a publishing house and recently I came up with an idea for
a new book, about the history and changing dynamics of the airline industry. I told my boss
and she thought it had merit, so at the next editorial board meeting I presented the concept
to the board. The other editors were not as enthusiastic. They said that the airline industry
had already been written about a lot and they didn’t see enough of an audience. Afte the
meeting the boss and I discussed their reaction and my presentation skills and how they
could be improved. Even though my idea was not well received, it was a valuable learning
experience. In my next presentation my proposal was accepted and received great
feedback.

17. What is your greatest strength ?

Ans.: I’m efficient and I know how to get things done. For example, in my previous job, I
repeatedly meet my targets within time and budget and within our quality standards. I was
able to do this by planning ahead, prioritizing and ensuring that I was up-to date with any of
the technical changes.

18. How do you work under pressure ?

Ans.: I work well under pressure; although I usually try to avoid getting into eleventh hour
situations.

19. How do you feel about your last boss ?

I have a lot respect for the work she/he does, and I learnt a great deal from her/him.

20. If you are hired how long you will stay with this company ?

As long as the work is challenging and I have the opportunity to learn and advance.

21. Tell me about yourself.

22. Why do you think you will enjoy this work ?

This job requires a combination of creativity and analytic abilities that I feel I possess.

23. Tell me what you know about our company.

A. Position. B. Vision

24. What has been your most difficult experience.

Show your ability to confront and resolve a difficult situation.

25. How would your co-workers describe you ?

A. Be a people’s manager. Also imp. is to make others see your positive side.

All the above responses are in the nature of directional arrows –

Please do not Memorize them. Create your own responses basis
the guidelines that may emerge from the above responses