ACING AN INTERVIEW

BY

VARUN BALAKRISHNAN

AGENDA

The Three stages :

Preparation

Interviewing

Follow Up

PREPARATION

INTERVIEW FORMATS

Phone Interview

Some points to be noted:

• Use a landline

• Turn off call waiting

• Find a quiet space

• Speak clearly

• Ask for clarity

ONE TO ONE INTERVIEW

• One of the most important attribute is one’s Non-verbal behavior

Eye contact

Body Language

Tone of your voice

Posture while you sit

Grooming

PANEL INTERVIEW

• Consists of group of interviewers

• Allows multiple opinions

What to keep in mind?

Body language

Eye contact

Use names

Include quieter people

Ask for business cards from everyone for follow up

ONLINE VIDEO CONFERENCE

• Cuts down on travel cost

Things to follow:

• Test run

• Arrive on video early(lighting n audio)

• Clean environment

TYPES OF INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Behavioral Questions:

• Tell me about a time in which…

Case or situational questions:

• How would you do or what would you do???

Resume based questions:

• Questions from what you have mentioned

ANTICIPATION AND ANSWERING

• Analyze the job description section

ANTICIPATION AND ANSWERING

• Analyze the job description section

• Determine the culture fit

ANTICIPATION AND ANSWERING

• Analyze the job description section

• Determine the culture fit

• Create Sample questions

• Now talk about the three interview types

• Prepare answers for the data collected

PRACTICE YOUR ANSWERS

• What are friends for?

• Flashcards

• Record yourself

Online fee based Programs:

• Find a program based on your industry and role of interest(Jobjuice.com)

• PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

RESEARCHING COMPANIES

Interview the company

• Interest

• Uniqueness

• knowledge

Research the org:

• Website ,Articles , Employees , LinkedIn

Prepare the questions based on these 5 categories:

• That one question about the company

• Position history

• Job responsibilities

• Expectations of the position

• Next steps in the process

INTERVIEWING

FIRST IMPRESSION

• Arrive with confidence and greet in a friendly manner.

• Look professional

• Time

• Be nice to everyone you encounter

• Greet them enthusiastically

• Bring a copy of your resume

NAVIGATING DIFFICULT QUESTIONS

• Drawing a blank to a question asked

• Facing a bad interviewer

• If the bad interviewer keeps talking?

• Sometimes inappropriate and illegal questions

• If it is really offensive?

• NOT ALWAYS YOUR FAULT IF IT DOESN’T WORK OUT,MAKE SURE YOU GIVE A 100%

BODY LANGUAGE

• Facts – 93% body language is important, 7%words

• Posture

• Sometimes you could follow the interviewer

• Eye contact

• Voice tone and pitch

• Its cultural

SO IS THE WHOLE PROCESS OVER??

FOLLOW-UP

Assess your performance

What went well and what didn’t?

Know the factors to make a successful candidate in an organization.

Think like an employer and rate accordingly.

If you think its not the right fit, send them a thank you mail.

SAYING THANKS

• Should be short and powerful

• Thank them for their time

• Reiterate your strength

• Show eagerness

• Add other experiences

• Use both e-mail and post

• Address individually in a panel interview

• Always proofread before sending

• Always keep note of your interview

RESPONDING TO THE DECISION

• Result in 2 weeks

• When chosen?

• If more than 2 weeks?

• Rejection

• No response

• More than a month

IF FAILED,DON’T GIVE UP, MOVE ON

ANY QUESTIONS??