ad complerit ployment Interviews 365 ath and complenity the job : ion is being made MEView process me selection * ma le. For Youtine joke — SS Increases with the level for jes roles HE POSITIONS, a eantiqune hae ee a Standardized methods are employed; “Fe Well 10 meet the expectations of | me important key Sone eparaion” ta self-confidence ix = Arthur Ashe ‘the interview Stage * stages: 1 ib job interview process Gay. the Job int Process comprises of the yh Pre-Interview Stage , post Interview Stage ‘6 1 THe Pre-Interview Stace pre-interview Stage comprises sereenin, y " other stages Such as written test/(s), geo eniew. Let us examine all these st i of ca e = a of Candidates’ resumes followed by all or some of iscussions followed by presentati eee a is sentations, and personal Bes in detail, a fees sereening of Resume eames the first formal communication bet your first impression gets reflected throu, inportant in cases where they are used for pects to be included and highlighted in t ween youas a prospective candid; Sh it. Effective resume writing climination purp. he resume is signifi late and the organization. becomes all the more ¢. Thus a thoughtful consideration of icant, written Test After shortlisting candidates based on the re: ty the organization, many organizations sod conceptual clarity of candidates. Writ Whatever may be the mechanism of co: , candidates must prepare ttemselves well and keep themselves informed about the syllabus, pattern and duration ofthe test. Group Discussion and Presentations These days, several recruiters use group discussion: Sto cither screen the candidates or identify specific tits and soft skills like communication skills, leadership and knowledge for a given job position, step prior to personal interview cum interaction may be a presentation ot group discussion. For ample, if you are applying for a faculty position in an educational institution, ‘opresent a piece of your research work followed by interac such presentations would be to gauge the level of confi ‘© articulate thoughts besides understanding your knowle you may be required tion and interview. The purpose behind idence, communication skills, and ability ‘dge and grip over the subject. Also from366 the perspective the job (a faculty position here), these skills are vital for performing assoc; assignments and work. “i 16.7.2 _ THe INTERVIEW STAGE ‘The interview stage is one the most important parts of selection process. Interviews serye Platform (o judge a candidate; in many cases, out of all the components used in selection written test and personal interview are given more weightage in terms of evaluation, to other parameters. 8 the Toes 8S compareg Job interviews can be conducted in several ways. Each of these methods has i set of objectives. As a prospective candidate, you must understand the relevance an cach of these methods. Having knowledge of and preparing for the same will help this stage with ease. 'S OWN specific id mechanism op YOU sail through, | 16.7.3 PERSONAL INTERVIEWS Personal interviews are either conducted at the premises of the hiring organization or may by conducted on campus. In either of these methods, the level of preparedness will determin success. 7 On-site Interviews On site interviews are conducted at the premises of the hiring organization. On site interviews may be organized as walk-in interviews or those involving multiple stages of recruitment (writen ts, group discussion, etc). Walk-in Interviews In walk-in interviews, there is no initial resume submission and the candidates are required to simply walk in with their documents on the day of interview. Walk-in interviews usually are meant for job openings that generally require few ‘managerial skills. The number of questions asked may be few and the shortlisted candidates may be further invited for a more formal interview. This method allows organizations to access a large pool of applicants and is also cost effective. Further, this method is desirable when the hiring organization is looking forward to mass recruitment and wants to save time as well. However, if you are considering appear at a walk-in interview, the fact that they are of short duration and only need to check your documents, should not let you take a casual approach towards it. Since these interviews are very focused, your preparedness should be optimal to give prompt responses. 16.7.4 Organizations today have become global in true sense; being global not only implies having multiple offices across geographies but working with virtual teams and having employees from different pars of the world belonging to different cultures and traditions, _ INTERVIEWS THROUGH VIDE CONFERENCING Video conferencing can be conducted at your own premises or at designated premises of th ne. Soneii spec e i = " hiring organization. Irrespective of the venue, there are some general guidelines that you must folo when being interviewed at a video conference.Mideoconferencing method tends to simulate a reat, in Person interview, SWacbemainswaW When you begin, greet all the panel members, Listen to the questions carefully before answering Maintain eye contact with all panel members throughout Even if there is some interruption in between, convey your apologies and then proceed, Be aware of the fact that there might be some delay in transmission; so give time to the panel to complete their questions and don’t be in a hurry to answer, vvYVvYYyYvvy > Maintain a straight body posture; don’t slump or sit back in a relaxed Position. Your body Posture indicates your alertness and interest. > If you haven't listened to any question/ observation from the panel, don’t hesitate to ask the panel to repeat it > Don’t fiddle with equipments. > At the close of the interview, thank all the panel members. 16.7.5 C IIvteRVIEWS es - es, both at graduate level as well as post graduate : follege campuses, both at gra vel level. Typically, there are placement s368 ‘one in for campus placements, b > — You may also interact with > When shortlisted for a compan vY 1 Impersonal interviews are typically conducted over the telephone. These interviews should be taken as seriously as personal interviews. The following are some as} need to be taken into account: > 1 - 7 A NORD AT or many candidates. If you are a student in the final + You must start acement season begins. year of your program and will be reparing for the intervi lea fore the pi Preparing for the interviews, at least thre Guidelines for Campus Interviews > Keep yourself well informed about the placement season in your campus. ® Make a list of companies that visit your campus every year and the profiles they offer » Check for different stages of their selection Process (written test, group discussion, i and/ or a combination of these) > AS Per your area of specialization or interest, you may focus on some of these companie and start preparing accordingly, Your seniors to seek informal understanding of the recruitin Process of these companies, Attend the pre-placement talk given by the companies to understand of their business, markets, etc, as well as the job they are offering. '¥; do some background research abo terest in the organization. Brush up your subject fundamentals Pen down your extracurricular activities to hi; their profile in te ut it, It sends a positive image about you ighlight your strengths and other qualities like leadership, team spirit, ete. Prepare for some typical questions (Appendix 2). 6.7.6 _IMPERSONAL INTERVIEWS pects of impersonal interviews thal Schedule the interview at a time when you will be free; avoid all su scheduled time. Give straightforward and clear answers; giving lengthy explanations are not desirable in telephonic conversations. indry engagements at the Since your interviewer can’t see you, ensure that the pitch of your voice and voice modulation are appropriate. Be polite and courteous. Stay away from crowded places to avoid disruption and hindrance due to clamour in the background. Follow all the basic norms of greeting and thanking the interviewer 6.7.7 _ Stress INTERVIEWS Stress interviews tend to test your ability to handle pressure, your presence of mind to respond to unexpected circumstances and your mental strength and emotional stability to weather negative or A ictable. There s untoward outcomes. Business situations may not always be constant and predictable. There is alway:i 369 Group Discussion and Job/Employment Interviews \ patty of change in internal systems sot erview, the panel memp,. J th poss interview, the panel metnbers ask a multitude of questions, not agi pat lasers and C7088 questioning w hare | eee i “er your response is -well-Managed Stress Interview is a gelist A Why have you worn a blue shirt? " Sir, because it is summer an say that we don't know that al factors. AS @ Or turbulence from external environmental factors. “5 @ ing to any Stepping Stone to Success pa id blue is a soothing color. Panelist B: So you want to i's summer? : Lam sorry § , ea Lam sorry Sir, but I didn’t mean to say that, panelist B: Why did you pursue graduation from XYZ Univesity? It is not as good as ABC? panelist C: And your Score in wraduation is barely above second division. candidate: (10 Mt. B) Sit, 0 answer your Biotechnology and this was the b panelist A: So it means that you are | : . Question, I wanted to specialize in the area of est university in my vicinity offering the course. Not flexible to move out from your “vieinity"? panelist C: So in that case, how will you man don’t seem suitable for our compan | ge multiple locations required in this job? You y. Candidate: (10 all members) Respected panel members, first. My university follows a relatively striet grading system so my marks may not compare well with other universities. However, I may like to state here that I Was amongst the top three students in my batch and got scholarship throughout my graduation. allow me to answer Mr. C’s question 16.8 PREPARING FOR INTERVIEW Practice makes a man perfect- this is a phrase which we have often heard and can be applied to job interviews as well. By adhering to some basic guidelines for job interviews, you can easily manage the process well. Some of the basic guidelines while preparing for interviews are explained in the succeeding paragraphs. Proper preparation and appropriate body language can help you sail through the toughest interviews with ease, Stok Thinkstock16.8.1 Due Diuicence asour THE RECRUITER Knowledge about the recruiting organization in terms of its history, major products and key marke competitive strategies, landmark events, come in handy while sailing thorough job interviews, It indicates your inclination towards a prospective employer as well as your commitment and iousness towards the opportunity at hand. Knowledge about the recruiter and the job can be collected from several sources. Many companies also conduct pre-placement talks when they go for npus recruitment. This can be a very good opportunity to understand what the company is and for. What to know about the Recruiter? Business domain and major product lines Vision and mission Areas of operation (domestic and international) Historic background (year of establishment and major landmarks) Top management team Recent business deals and developments Major changes made in the organization recently Financial performance YYYYYYY¥YyY Growth plan, aims and objectives 16.8.2 _Sussect KNOWLEDGE AND GENERAL AWARENESS Job interviews, by and large, focus on the knowledge and skills set required for the position under consideration; understanding the job profile and its description will help you to screen the ones which would be of interest and help focus your attention and energy in meaningful preparation. “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” — Benjamin Franklin ] Suppose you are a student of financial management and a bank is coming for an on-campus recruitment for the position of a ‘Risk Manager’. Since this is purely a technical profile, you can go about Preparing for the interview in the following manner: > — Brush up your basics in Finance in general, and Banking in particular. > Strengthen your conceptual knowledge on functions performed by banks. > Enhance your understanding of risk management and types of risks. >» — Read about the risk exposures that banks have and what are the mechanisms used by them to handle the risks. v Understand the limitations of those methods. > — Read about the role played by risk managers in banks.mam secs b ims tet Group Di P Discussion and Job/Employment Interviews 371 ANaBEMENL practices in banks subject knowledge is indispensable; use j Stine same. Having adequate subj ui alo you sail through queries on 4 ys? j tynderstand recent risk my and financial institutions. c 0 eadi . ect ky xt books, reading materials and online resources 1 nowledge will hot only boost your confidenc will he subject, ly boost your confidence but ily conmon General Awareness Questions when is the World Environment « Who won the Nobel pi , lay celebrated? jeace prize in 20157 How is India fighting terrorism? iP. , : Discuss India’s performance at the last Olympics, , n gapore become ca gest ci i fe ere economically the strongest countries in What is ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan ; 2 Why has it been launched? Comment on the status of inflation in India. , Why has the Indian rupee been depreciating against the US dollar in the last few months? 16.8.3 _Knowtepce asour Setr You might be a little surprised— knowledge about self! We often tend to believe that we know everything about ourselves. This however may not be true. Having knowledge about self is another important tool to harp upon your strengths and how you can manage your weaknesses to your advantage. A good way to start in this direction is to pen down a comprehensive resume, incorporating your academic qualifications and achievements, your extra-curricular engagements and other hobbies and interests. You must highlight your achievements and awards, fellowships, scholarships and any other academic and non-academic achievements. . Apart from being aware of your strengths, you must also be equally aware of your weaknesses and areas that call for improvement. The following examples provide clues on how to maneuver through uncomfortable questions skillfully. Example 1: Interviewer: What are your weaknesses? Candidate: Sir, My computer proficiency is not very good. However, over the last few years, I have realized how important it is; hence, I am doing a six-month course to improve my skills. Here, the candidate has presented his or her weaknesses along with their determination to 4 ‘te wea areas, thus presenting an overall positive image about himself/herself. Example 2: graduation. Your second division shows that you didn't Interviewer: You didn't score well in your 8! pened, Candidate: Sir, [realize that my second division might not compare wel work hard, Ca + Sit igh ewe i J changed my stream from science fo commerce vers, During graduation, ; with my peers. DuHowever my commitment rowards my career has beet imperturbed by the changes, have consistently performed well 11 MY vehool and post-graduation. Also, Las actives, shed in several academic and co-curricular acHvies throughout my school day, leccand so, [think that I have been able to balance my studies «and othe, and college engagements ate has been able to demonstrate his confidence 4 'Y In the example cited above. the candid: e to dem nd at the same time, giving an overview of al, all his highlighting the reasons for his low score ai achievements to balance this weakness in his resume. factual information but Also your Thus, knowledge about self not only implies listing down i ings so that you can project a positive image about yourse| inherent capabilities and shortcomit Think before you speak. 16.8.4 APPEARANCE IN PERSONAL INTERVIEWS A professional attire and formal look is more desirable than an informal and casual get up. Yi sense of dressing conveys a lot about your personality and professionalism. When appeatin i about y appeating for jo interviews, adhere to the following guidelines to give yourself a pleasant and professional look. What you wear and what you do also counts in an interview. © ervinsidaSi Tink" Group Di iscussion oor forma ots and shoes, and Job/employment Interviews 375 17 id wearing clothes with loud colors. F. ‘ore ‘ill ook unprofessional. Ie, a wil ple, a bright yellow tie with a light blue suit , sure that Your clothes are neat and ironed cu your mails and tidy your hair, do nt look oid wearing heavy jewellery ora heavy 7 id using a very strong deodorant or ae avo 5.85 PERSONALITY TRAITS ters look forward to th it il following personality traits (both general and specific) . in prospective idle: Confidence Mental alertness Flexibility and adaptability Team Management Skills Leadership skills Emotional stability Ethics Creativity Enthusiasm Positive thinking wap you think about disaster, You will get it demise. Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faitly and secure, more fraught with action vicher in achievement and experience.” _— Swami Vivekananda od about death and you hasten your | life becomes more | Brow elf, How you conduct the organization of your an the process itself. With 1 is the interview your future in he candidate’s ‘ting, finally decides The real testing ground of U yourself during the course of that Me he ne th choice. As mentioned earlier, the idea of an interview 16 more daunting proper guid: nd preparation. you can perform outstandingly to emerge successful. This section guidance a 5 " : arview itself. focuses on the various aspee!s of the interview HSE ments IN JO movement ef» are all a part of your personality that gets interviewer Gestures, postures, © Portrayed when you !374 ~ —T any Tok Appropriate gestures je westures uur arms; it signifies disinterest > = Maintain cye contact’ with all pane > Don't fiddle with pen! pencil that you of any one, look at all members. nervousness, > Maintain a normal pace while talking, > — Don't lean back; your body posture should [> Your voice pitch should neither be too be upriaht and tah loud or to0 low. > Avoid pointing fingers towards the > Listen carefully; don’t be in a rush to| interviewers answer questions. > You may use your hand movements while however understand the limits conversin within which it must be contained. 16.9.2 i¢ Nervousness: Wuat To Do BeForE THE INTERVIEW > Preparedness is the key to managing stress and nervousness. > Do all the necessary ground work as leamed in the pre-interview stage. Undertake mock | interviews or rehearsals. It must include practicing entry into the room, introducing yourself, and finally close of the interview. > Focus on your body language. You may even record your drill to see your performance and work upon in the deficit areas. fe 16.9.3 HaNbuNG Nervousness DurING THE INTERVIEW _ > — Reach the venue at least 15-20 minutes before the scheduled time. Last minute arrivals! late arrivals may make you panic. > Although you will be wearing formals for the interview, ensure that your clothes are comfortable. > Be neat and tidy; it will give you a sense of confidence. Seck information on the number of interview rounds to be conducted so that you are prepared mentally for the same. Take a deep breath before your turn comes and try to relax. Inc: of a panel interview, don’t get perturbed by seeing many members in the panel. Listen attentively to what is being asked,Group Discussion and Job/Employment Interviews 37: fake the permission allow ot know the answer a yao not KN T and would like to take sometime to think, t fy al for the same. (For exa » pane or example, ean | C "i he can T take a minute to think on this or please orate Mote €0 gather my thoughts on this) s ' y , ders on have not understood the question, request the interviewer to repeat it, It is always better clarification than giving 1 : Week he incorrect answer. erview be : . year interview becomes stressed, don’t lose your patience. Remember, there is s > tejnd patting you under pressure, So keep your focus intact me objective yryou don’t know an answer, don’t try to answer it gave faith in yourself. Be honest and be yourself. , 9.4 Interview CLosure 2 ws — svar the closure of your interview, the panel may ask you if you have any queries. Given this agian, you MAY use it judiciously and ask intelligent questions. what to ask from the Organization? When the hiring authorities, ask you if you have any questions, it is another opportunity to saicue your interest and preparedness for the job. Always remember that opportunities may be rare, and when you have one, in any form, grab it. Ask insightful and relevant questions. Some of | the questions that you can ask the panelists and those that you must strictly avoid are listed in the {| below table. You should avoid asking questions that in ater factors (and not on the job and career itself). ‘Table 16.8: Questions that you can ask the interviewer if given the epport ‘Questions that you should avoid asking ie your lack of preparedness or your focus on unity ‘Questions that you may/ean ask May I know about the organization | > What is this job all about? structure and where I will be placed? > How old is this company? > Is travelling involved as a part of my job| > When will 1 get my first increment? | profile? > What is the employee tumover in your |» Will there be an initial induction training? organization? > What ig the review process adopted by| > Are bonuses and ESOP given by your organization? your organization? tunities in my| > — Is your organization strict about having a > What are the growth oppor! dress code? job? If selected, whom do I have to report to? |> Is there a possibility of working from , . . home or the company is too finicky ab “il 5 ed to sign any paar ° Siacon a eee will) be require bs reporting time? greement? ‘eI > When can | expect my promotion > Will Lbe eligible for sabbatical leave?conclusion of th sing the Interview on a Positive Note interviewer will indicate nnd may also shake hands. You ean tak Once you are through with your questions. interview. He/she may thank you for showing your interest firm your interest in the job and highlighting your strengths which may by this opportunity to re perfectly in fine with th 16.9.5 Post Interview STAGE Most of the candidates focus their attention only on the interview sta ee involves listing down the key elements of your interview, nating your references, if nd following up may also comprise pay package negotiation and ¢ also started verifying the credit history of job requirement we; the post interview stage red. Post interview st thank you note to the org: The post interview st nization, in with the organization, medical fitness test. Nowadays, many organizations I jon/ promotion purpose. candidates for sel Listing Down Elements of Your Interview Process II the important clements of your interview and help improve your own performance in Once you are back from the interview, list down ese points can be used for future refere process. Th other int Your list may consist of the following informati the interview, Procedural requirement [0 Stages in interview (single stage or multiple stage). or panel based interaction. Interaction on a one to one basi The types of questions asked. The questions that you were not able to answer. Suggestions made by the interviewers to improve upon (subject knowledge, technical knowledge, > > > > > > knowledge of data management in excel, ete.) ‘Any specific observations made by the panel (your appearance, tone, confidence level, etc.) We learn from our own experience; thus this exercise is important for self-assessment. v Sending Thank you Mail to the Interviewers After you come back from interview, make sure to write a thank you mail to the recruiter. This mail or letter will set a commendable image about you as well help the panel recall your interview. Avoid being artificial in your approach. Following up with References Once you are done with your interview, you must update your references regarding the same. A reference check is usually conducted after clearing the interview stage. The hiring organization n. This implies that you must get may seek a list of two or three references at the time of applica the consent from your references even before you make the application. Also, you must provide the details of the hiring organization, the job position you have applied for and the specific skills required for the job opening so that your references may be able to provide appropriate information to the organizationGroup Dis Cussion and Job/Employment Interviews 377 was § on of a 1 an As rein New Delhi, He had more they Tha ant Peso the sea of Fie ade long, experience in teaching commerce to wi gna’ 8 5 ‘ nstitute in Jai ss" cas looking forward lor a job change. He hal wen De. Mohn hal recently eowenicles ie p ee He had primarily taught Accounting, Commerce and “ie was a pretty much papular iss and 828 @ PRSIEY MED Poputatteacher, He aso posse when Dr. ae ed the interview cal Letter hen wssessed good communication skills. tl wold be ot wes ear the interview. He rey eile eet rvhelmed; he w aque and could Tee a sense of pride in knowing all subjects that he had been te sen each these suet FO he ist fen ing allan ofthese thes "day before his interview, he travelled to Delhi phases of the sele lh areputed * winit qudents at another reputed in | | as quite confident his courses, After all, he here were yny relevant “ feston process. A 20- miu Sess venue on time, mh pallowed by’ diseussion and personal interview: D “Motion had Reena ao prepare Financial Statements’ which was his enailars Fee ciaion, Dering Mttion. almost all faculty members from the department a resent Hoeven hie ine sentation, De. Mohan realized thatthe “otherwise int eet fia Bem seme by a panel comprising iste dco, Head of deport nal exes god an external expert. Dr. Mohan was taken by surprise as the panel eeaatnat terested in Shine Sesions from the subjects he had prepared. Rather, they were interested in the advanced subjects dot their institute was offering, What eventually happened is anyone's guess! Questions 1. Despite being a good teacher at his own institute, why couldn't Dr, Mohan clear th 5 with reference to the related concepts covered in the chapter. pl interview? Discuss If you would have been in Dr. Mohar prepare for the interview. scuss the steps you would have taken to ( ally changed over the years, In the light of 3, The process of conducting interviews has drasti that candidates must keep in mind while the above statement, what are the important thing preparing of the same? VIEW QUESTIONS 18.9.7 Some TyPicat It Personal Questions Tell us something about yourself, What are your strengths and weaknesses Why should we select you? Where do you see yourself five ye What are your hobbies and interests? Which extracurricular activities have you been involved in? ars down the line? tet tH HH Describe yourself in one word.378 Who is your role model? favorite subject? ; x Which is your vert ee Bie eoice) thal] VOU naa ge Tell us about any book (apart from text books) that ¥ Questions about past experiences vg Tell us about your previols job. , a What have been your major achievements in your last position (s)? oh M ae FWhat is the most difficult aspect of your job responsibilities? ae Can you share a high Ps nt/ low point in your career? Any major challenge that YOu faced and how you managed it? Why do you want to leave your present job? tion for the job Questions on AP) Why do * How will you contribute 10 joi Will you be ready Gi Your current job pr yourself? The prepared? Qualitative Questions tee KEE * propriatencs: you want to join us? What do you know about our How does your experience 2 t na choice between Us rofile do job profile is very demanding s of your applica company? qualification match with our job requirement? nd (0 our organi at any location? and (a competitor comy en’t fit with the requirements of t ation? pany), which one will you chose? his job. How will you adapt and you may be required to travel frequently. Are you ar work and family? 4 Do you think you can balance you How do you rate yourself among your peers? What are your views on nuclear families? Working mothers can better manage home and work Businesses today have become socially irresponsible Market forces work better when Ieft on their own. ‘The only way to grow is through promotions. HHH HHH 9.8 REASONS FOR FAILURE IN JoB INTERVIEWS Lack of domain | Interviewer: What is a bank? knowledge subject! anytime. Candidate: Ae : A company from where one can withdraw money Lack of Confidence < Interviewer: Do you think you are fit for this job Candidate: date: _I think I can but am not too sure.< Group Discussion and Job/Employment Interviews 379 gh otetestive communication Fimervie a wer: Which is your native place? sill Candidate: My native village is a small place found near the — | walking distance from XYZ city. Interviewer: How much time you used to take to complete such projects in your previous employment? ‘andidate: Hardly any time! I can complete such projects in fraction of seconds! Interv ver: Your subordinate comes to you with a problem. Candidate: 1 will tell him to meet a counselor. Interviewer: What do you have to say about the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan? Candidate: The government has not done anything to implement this properly throughout the country. _ Hence it will fail to meet its objectives, Demotivated Interviewer: If you are not selected, what will you do? Candidate: | will never try again in other companies. Lack of Focus Interviewer: Do you want money or reputation? Candidate: 1 think money can buy anything. Lack of Team spirit Interviewer: Your team member has not been able to perform well. Will you help him? Candidate: | am focused on my promotion and well being. 16.10 SUMMARY This chapter hight ts the importance of group communication and elaborates on its types and elements. There are several forms of group communication that include meeting confereny seminars, symposiums, etc, to name a few. Each of these methods has its unique characteristics and is relevant in a specific conteat. The focus of this chapter is on group discussion, both in terms ofthose used for selection purpose and those where organizations resort to it for resolving problems, identifying alternatives and decision making. For performing well in group discussions conducted for selection purpose, one should be well prepared. Keeping oneself updated about current affairs and news imparts knowledge and gives confidence to the candidate. This chapter also covers a very important element of job selection process- interviews. It focuses on all the three stages of job interview process- the pre interview stage, interview stage and the post-interview stage. It deals with important aspects of planning for interviews in the form of gathering data on the company, brushing up subject knowledge and preparing a checklist about one’s own strengths and weaknesses.