INTERVIEW SKILLS

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 TYPES OF INTERVIEWS
Telephone Interview
Face to face Interview
Online Interview
FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW
1)Prepare for the Interview
2) Anticipate Questions
3) Appropriate Dressing
4) Provide Credible and Effective Answers
5) Follow up
 PREPARE FOR THE
INTERVIEW
RESEARCH THE ORGANISATION/COMPANY

Age/Founder
Services/Products
Competitors within the Industry
Reputation in the International Market
Locations/Branches
New Products or Projects
Cultural/Value Codes
WHAT ARE YOUR SKILLS? 6) Perseverance
1. Communication (Verbal and non-verbal) • Companies desire people who can confront challenges head
on without losing focus and their energy.
• Writing, active listening, presentation.
7) Ability to work under pressure
2. Business Acumen
• shows you can still deliver and perform in dire situations and
• Knowledge of the industry won’t lose your focus or become overwhelmed under stressful
• Commercial Awareness conditions. If you are applying for a role in a high-stress or
fast-moving industry, this skill is essential.
• 3. Collaboration/Team Work
8) Confidence
• ability to build and nurture positive working relationships
• When talking about confidence, it is important to be assertive
with others.
without sounding arrogant.
4) Adaptability
9) Negotiation
• quickly adapt to new challenges and disruptions, helping the
• A good negotiator should have impeccable communication
organization to turn weaknesses into strength and
opportunities. and interpersonal skills and an in-depth understanding of the
industry.
5) Problem Solving
• Employees who are efficient at solving problems also make
outstanding leaders and can helping the company manage
difficult situations.
 STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES
STRENGTH WEAKNESSES
•Creative/Innovative •Disorganised
•Patient •Self-Critical
•Empathetic •Perfectionist
•Determined •Competitive
•Flexible/Versatile •Takes on too much responsibility
•Honest •Best worked under pressure
•Enthusiastic/Passionate/Driven
•Collaborative
•Disciplined/Focused
•Committed/Dedicated
•Respectful
 PRACTISE WORKPLACE
ETIQUETTE

•Greet people with a firm handshake.

•Stand up to meet people.
•Appropriate “Please” and “Thank You”.
•Be good at chatting and small talk.
 POSITIVE VOCABULARY
Accomplish, accommodate, attain, achieve, challenge, energy,
enhance, enthusiastic, excellence, fulfil, goal, opportunity, passion,
perform, perseverance, satisfy, strength, strive, succeed, talent,
vitality

Avoid Extreme Words Such As;

Always, extremely, never, no one, every one, ever, very much
GO THROUGH YOUR RESUME

•Make sure that the information provided in the resume is true to

your knowledge.
•Prepare yourself to elaborate on certain points.
•What information would you like to restate during the interview?
•Examples or experiences to illustrate skills highlighted in the
resume.
•Information about the references.
 ANTICIPATE QUESTIONS
Best Answers to 201 Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions,
301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions
The 250 Job Interview Questions You’ll Most Likely Be Asked

•Be certain to practice both behavioural questions and traditional questions. Behavioral
questions explore how you have handled past situations and ask you to respond to
hypothetical situations.
•For example: “Tell me about a time when you had to meet a very short deadline” or “Give me
an example of a time you served as a leader.”
Traditional questions include some of the old standards listed below:

Tell me a little about yourself.

Why did you apply for this position?
What makes you qualified for this position? Why should we hire you?
What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
What would your former employer (professor, friend) say about you?
What are three words that describe you?
What are your short-term goals? What are your long-term goals?
Do you have any questions for us?
 TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
Geographic Origin
Your Major and Reason for Choosing the Major
Educational Background
Two or three professional skills relevant to the position
Specific Accomplishments
Career Goals
 SHORT TERM AND LONG
TERM GOALS
Ideally, your short-term goals and long-term goals should relate to one another. This shows that you have a plan
in place and that you're committed to following it. This means that your short-term goals should somehow lead
to your long-term goals.
Short-term career goals examples could include:
•Learning a new set of skills
•Gaining experience in leadership and team-building
•Becoming an authority in your industry
Long-term career goals:
•gain a managerial position that allows you to lead a team.
•Lead a company in a major project.
•Middle Manager
•(Be realistic in your long-term career goals)
 DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR US?
Your questions should make it clear that you were engaged during the interview and have quickly gained a
sense of the company's goals and priorities. You can reflect back to earlier moments in the interview or build
off of news within the company or its market.
Aim to always ask open-ended questions, and not questions that can be answered with a "yes" or "no.“
Questions About the Role.
Can you share more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
How would you describe the pace of a typical day?
Questions About the Company
Can you describe the management style of the organization?
What are the company's goals for the upcoming year?
 SALARY EXPECTATIONS
At this point, the interviewer wants to know whether they can “afford you.”
This is a very tricky part of the interview and could even break your chances of getting the job.
Tread lightly and protect your information is the rule.

“I was making 60,000 Rs at my last job, plus bonuses. I would be expecting at least that and a 15
to 20 percent increase.”
“I’m sure whatever you offer will be a fair amount for a person with my qualifications. Salary is
not the most important factor to me. I’m looking for opportunity.” (Weak Answer)
“I really need more information about the job before we start to discuss salary. I’d like to postpone
that discussion until later. Maybe you could tell me what is budgeted for the position, and how your
commission structure works.” (Strong Answer)
A: #1 - “Before I answer that question, I’d like to ask what you typically pay someone with my
experience and education in this type of position.” (Good Answer)

A: #2 - I’m sure when the time comes and I know more about the facts of the position and how it fits
into the bigger picture, we can come to a mutually agreeable figure.” (Good answer)

A: #3 - “I really need more information about the position before I can begin to discuss salary. Can you
tell me the range budgeted for this position?” (Good answer)

A: #4 - “From the research that I have done, it appears to be in the 60–70,000 range. Is that the range
you had in mind?” (This is a good answer if they insist on a figure from you.)

A: #5 - “Based on my previous experience and education and the ‘going rate’ for this type of position, I
would like to be in the mid to high 70s. Is that a range that fits with your compensation structure?”
(Good answer if pushed for a figure – give an acceptable range.)
 APPEARANCE
Dress appropriately and conservatively
Make a good first impression
Do not experiment with uncomfortable attire
Be well groomed, clean and pressed
Clothing Choice
Appropriate interview attire will vary according to job you are applying for. For example, an interview in
finance or law requires a conservative business suit and dress shoes, while an academic interview simply
requires professional casual clothing. If possible, visit the business or workplace before your interview to get
an idea of what employees wear.
Traditional Business Attire
For a man, this typically refers to slacks, a button-down shirt and tie, or for an executive or management
interview, a suit and tie. For a woman, a blouse and slacks, business suit or tailored skirt or dress is
appropriate. Men should wear dress shoes; women might wear conservative heels. Avoid excessively high
heels.
Personal Style
Everybody has a personal style, but while some choices are appropriate to exhibit in a workplace, others
might not be well-received by a potential employer.
For example, if you opt to have an unusual haircut or colour, visible body piercings or tattoos, use discretion
in considering whether that style choice will be seen as appropriate for the job you're applying for.
Even though your outward appearance is not necessarily a reflection of how you will perform job
responsibilities, conservative business owners interested in projecting a certain image for their customers
may consciously or unconsciously hold unusual appearances against you.
DON’T FORGET THE DETAILS

Neatly combed hair.

Clean Fingernails.
Avoid heavy/flashy jewellery.
Avoid strong perfumes or colognes.
 PROVIDE CREDIBLE AND
EFFECTIVE ANSWERS
THE STAR APPROACH – Answer behavioural questions with STAR
approach

S – situation
T – task
A – action
R – results
 “TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU PERFORMED WELL UNDER
ENORMOUS PRESSURE.” ???

•Situation – Describe the situation.

A – “One time, at my last job, my coworker had a family emergency and needed to miss work for some time,
and their super-important project was left unfinished and without a manager.”
•Task – Explain the task at hand; dwell on the positive; do not blame or point fingers elsewhere.
A – “My supervisor instructed me to take on the project, and with no leniency on the deadline, I had days to
complete a project that originally should have taken several weeks.”
•Action - The action taken to solve the problem; explain your role in the action; identify specific skills you
used.
A – “I requested and was granted a reduction in my weekly goals, allotting me more time to attack the special
project using my skill to effectively work under pressure. As far as my weekly goals, I was able to delegate
them out evenly to some of my teammates.”
Result – Explain the result
A – “With the reduction in my daily goals, I was able to dedicate more time to the special project. This allowed
me to finish it on time and with complete accuracy. My supervisor appreciated my attitude and drive, and I was
given several more projects after that, along with an eventual promotion and pay raise.”
WHAT TO BRING TO AN
INTERVIEW
Several copies of your resume and photograph
Notepad and Pen
Briefcase or Leather Folder
Details of your references
DO’S
•Research the Company
•Prepare for tough questions
•Focus on what you want to offer, not what you want
•Show confidence
•Be professional
DON’T
•Discuss salary, benefits or vacations until an offer is made.
•Display of personal habits; smoking, chewing gum, tapping a
pencil, stretching, jiggling legs etc.
•Get too chatty about non-job topics
•Blame others
 KINESICS AT THE INTERVIEW
•Eye Contact – signal of trust, truthfulness, sincere and continuous eye contact,
Address the person who posed the question but take turns looking at others.

•Facial Expressions – Genuine pleasant face, use appropriate expression while

narrating, don’t show your dislike even if you do not like some questions.

•Posture – Don’t slouch/hang sideways; don’t sit at the edge of the chair,
change your postures during interview (turn shoulders, lean forward, tilt head
a little when emphasizing a point)

•Gestures – Keep to a minimum, support your words with appropriate gestures.

VOICE
Express yourself clearly with a strong voice.
Moderate pitch
Bring modulations
Voice should exhibit your confidence not arrogance
FOLLOW UP
REVIEW YOUR PERFORMANCE
How did you do overall?
What were your strengths?
What needs improvement?
Track the developments.
TELEPHONE INTERVIEW
Typically lasting half an hour telephone interviews save time and keep costs down
for both the recruiter and the interviewee.

However, they do have a downside. In most cases you'll be answering questions

under a strict time limit and this can increase nerves.

 Not being able to see the interviewer also presents its own difficulties, as you're
unable to gauge their response.
 TIPS FOR TELEPHONE
INTERVIEW
Pick a suitable location
Avoid noisy, public spaces and instead opt for a private, quiet location such as your home.
Put electronic devices on silent to avoid being distracted.
Prepare notes – Organize, Highlight, and Place them within Easy Access.
However, refer to your notes sparingly.
Voice must convey enthusiasm.
Don't be afraid to ask for clarification.
if you miss a particular question don't try to second guess what it might have been.
Apologize and politely ask the interviewer if they can repeat it.
Take notes
if you're able to multitask jot down any useful information provided by the employer and the questions you're
asked during the interview. These notes could be a valuable resource if you're invited for a second interview.
VIRTUAL/ONLINE INTERVIEW
1) Prepare & Test your Technology
Internet Connection.
Right Technology.
Camera and Microphone.
2) Location with minimal distractions

•The interviewer is there to see and listen to you, so don’t give them any chances to be
distracted by anything in the background!
•Set yourself up in a room with good lighting (it helps to sit next to or close to a window)
so that you can be seen clearly on the computer screen.
•Sitting in front of a blank wall will guarantee that you’re the main point of the
conversation.
•Potential employers won’t judge you based on what your home looks like.
•If you live with family members or roommates, let them know what’s happening so
they don’t interrupt in the middle of your interview, or make any unnecessary noise.
It’s also a good idea to close windows to eliminate noises from outside, such as traffic
or barking dogs.
3) Dress for an in-person interview
•Treat your online job interview exactly as you would if you were meeting the
hiring manager in person.
•wearing smart attire will put you in the right mindset for an interview.

4) Try not to interrupt the interviewer

•It’s sometimes difficult to determine when another person has finished
speaking on a video call, so awkward interruptions take place.
•Pause for a moment before answering questions. This will give you the
opportunity to ensure they’ve finished speaking and will give you a moment to
frame your answer as well.
END