By

  —-RockyJpr—-

Content —————————————-

• What is an Interview?

• Interview Process Before the Interview

• Preparation for a Job Interview

• Do’s before an Interview

• Don’ts before an Interview

• Men’s Interview Attire

• Women’s Interview Attire

• Do’s of an Interview

• Don’ts of an Interview

• Negotiation Skills

• How to handle negotiation responses?

• Tell me something about yourself!

• Why should we hire you?

• What are your strengths?

• What are your weaknesses?

•  What do you know about the organization?

• What is your career objective?

•  Where do you see yourself five years down the line?

•  Points to remember

•  Summary

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# What is an Interview? 

The interview is a widely used process for screening applicants for jobs.

It provides the most direct information about a candidate, his/her skills, background, and personality type.

According to Gary Dessler, “An interview is a procedure designed to obtain information from a person’s oral response to oral inquiries.”

According to Bovee and Thill, “An interview is any planned conversation with a specific purpose involving two or more people.

#  Interview Process Before the Interview

Preparation for a Job Interview

Every interview is an experience of learning which takes place during the preparation. It is useful for the interview you are appearing for.

The initial preparation requires a thorough investigation of skills, accomplishments, expertise, and interests.

The interview preparation includes 4 Ps:

• Prepare
• Practice
• Present
• Participate.

#  Interview Process Before the Interview

Preparing for a Job Interview

Preparation for an effective interview includes:

• A good assessment of yourself
• Researching about the organization
• Updating your resume
• Preparing a list of commonly asked questions
• Understanding the venue details

#  Interview Process Before the Interview

Do’s before an Interview 

• Dress appropriately as per the corporate setting.

• Take care of personal grooming and cleanliness.

• Reach 10-15 minutes early.

• Be sure about the interview time and location, find out how long it takes to get there

#  Interview Process – Before the Interview

Don’ts before an Interview 

• Don’t stay up late at night.

• Don’t overeat or have carbonated soft drinks.

• Don’t hold negative thoughts of not being selected.

• Don’t feel nervous.

• Don’t forget to be courteous to everybody.

#  Interview Process

Men’s Interview Attire

• Suit (solid color – navy or dark grey) formal black trouser and full sleeve shirt

• Long-sleeved shirt (white coordinated with the suit) Black/ brown matching belt

• With or without a tie

• Dark socks, conservative leather shoes

• Little or no jewelry

• Neat hairstyle Minimal aftershave

• Neatly trimmed nails

• Document file or briefcase

Women’s Interview Attire

• Suit (navy, black or dark grey), Sober salwar kameez, Saree (Indian attire) The suit skirt should be long enough to enable you to sit down comfortably

• Coordinated blouse

• Conservative shoes

• Limited jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets)

• Neat hairstyle Light make-up and perfume

• Neatly manicured clean nails

• Portfolio or briefcase

#  Interview Process – During the Interview

Do’s of an Interview

• Treat everybody with courtesy and respect.
• Greet everybody
• Be ready for a handshake.
• Be an attentive listener in order to
• understand questions.
• Address the interviewer as Sir/Ma’am.
• Maintain good eye contact throughout the interview.
• Be alert and sit straight in your seat.
• Respond to questions warmly and with specific examples

Job

#  Interview Process – During the Interview

Do’s of an Interview

• Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question.
• Be brief and concise in your response.
• Use formal words and expressions and appropriate grammar.
• Display your interest in the employer and the job you are being interviewed for.
• Reply to the questions in a positive manner.
• Keep your tone polite yet firm.
• Take time to respond to a situation.
• Show your enthusiasm.

#  Interview Process – During the Interview

Don’ts of an Interview

• Don’t take a seat until you are offered one.
• Don’t slouch and fidget.
• Don’t talk negatively about previous employers or managers.
• Don’t show a lack of interest during the interview.
• Don’t give the impression that you are only interested in money or salary

#  Interview Process – During the Interview

Don’ts of an Interview

• Don’t be rude and imprudent; say no politely.
• Don’t use slang and minimize the use of fillers like okay, you know, etc.
• Don’t chew gum.
• Don’t smell of sweat
• Don’t keep your mobile on during the interview.
• Don’t leave in a hurry.

#  Interview Process – After the Interview

Negotiation Skills

• The main purpose of negotiating is to get closer to your objectives. As people say,
• “Negotiation is all about a win-win situation.”
• Techniques required to be a good negotiator:
• Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and consider how they would react to your proposals.
• Do not stick to a specific point of negotiation.
• Follow different styles and mannerisms to negotiate.
• Be comfortable in whatever style you choose.
• Be calm, relaxed, and focused.

#  Interview Process – After the Interview

How to handle negotiation responses?

Tips to handle responses:

• After getting a response from the other party
• Do not feel obliged to respond immediately; take time, ask for clarifications, if required.
• Write down the keynotes/points, if required.
• Evaluate the given proposal and compare it with what you have proposed.
• Discuss the responses in detail.

#  Interview Process – After the Interview

How to handle negotiation responses?

• Tips to handle responses Share your feedback on the terms offered.
• Talk about the inconsistencies, if any.
• Give suggestions on how things can move closer to your objectives.
• Negotiate in a calm but firm way and don’t
• forget to be polite.
• Settle the things if it is agreeable to you.
• Always have a written agreement to avoid disputes in future.
• Always conclude on good terms.
• Give a positive response for continuing correspondence.

#  Tell me something about yourself!

• Be brief while responding.
• Don’t include life history nor irrelevant details.
• Talk about relevant work experience, achievements, and expertise.
• Show your interest in joining.
• A brief of your career objectives should be given.
• Talk about your strengths and skills that you have to offer to them.

#  Tell me something about yourself!

• Start with a greeting, for instance: Good morning or Hello everyone!, depending on whom you are speaking to.
• Then introduce yourself by saying “My name is or, I am(your name)”.
• Never say myself (name).
• Talk about your academic qualifications, for e.g. I have completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Maharashtra University.
• If you have achieved a First class or distinction, please mention it. If you have higher academic achievements after bachelor’s, then mention it first.
• After that speak about your technical skills; if you have any special skills, awards, and any certification(s) then you may talk about those.
• If you have work experience, draft a career summary and mention it here

#  Tell me something about yourself!

• Mention any projects or special assignments that you are proud of.
• Talk about your goals and objectives.
• Strengths and weaknesses can be mentioned in a diplomatic way).
• Most companies do not expect/encourage too much personal information.
• Thank politely and end the conversation gracefully (be ready for questions)

#  Why should we hire you?

• Talk about your best qualifications and experience.
• Talk about how you can be an asset to the company.
• Talk about how you can produce exceptional results.
• Talk about your passion for the job profile.
• Talk about your communication skills and abilities to convince.
• Talk about how you can be a team player

#  What are your strengths?

• Make sure that your strengths match the job requirements.
• Be genuine and accurate.
• Be brief and concise.
• Your responses should be relevant to the job.
• Demonstrate with example

#  What are your weaknesses?

• While answering this question:
• Make your response skill related.
• Make a weakness appear to be a strength.
• Describe it as an action that needs to improve.

#  What do you know about the organization?

• Research the company thoroughly.
• Go through the company websites before going for the interview.
• Give details about the organization.
• Talk about the company’s position in the corporate world.
• Display your knowledge without sounding as though you know all about the organization.

#  What is your career objective?

While answering this question make sure that your answer:

• It creates an impact.
• It is a short and targeted statement.
• It is not more than 3-4 lines.
• Relates to and matches the job requirement.

#  Where do you see yourself five years down the line?

Make sure your answer:

• It is a blueprint of your aim.
• Follow the SMART approach.
• Is realistic.
• It is not a threat to the interviewer’s position.

#  Points to remember

• Be thoroughly prepared.
• Research the organization.
• Update your resume.
• Reach before time.
• Dress formally.
• Be polite and courteous to all.
• Follow the SMART approach while answering.
• Give brief and concise responses.
• Be aware of your body language.
• Leave the interview venue on a positive note.

#  Points to remember

• Be ready for a handshake.
• Be sure of what you want to say.
• Don’t hesitate to negotiate.
• Avoid using slang.
• Show your enthusiasm for the job.
• Avoid tea/coffee if offered.
• Don’t forget to follow up.

#  Summary

• In this module, you have learned, The importance of an interview.
• The skills and expertise an interview requires.
• The engagement rules of a face-to-face
• interview.
• To answer the interview questions effectively.
• The Dos and Don’ts of an effective interview.
• To develop a good opening and closing interview strategy.
• To recognize your strengths and weaknesses.
• To gather general information about the organization that has called you for an interview.