There are many different types of interviews designed to serve different purposes or situations. Regardless of the type of interview, most will incorporate the following stages: establishing rapport, exchanging information, and closing the interview. Pay attention to the job titles of the interviewer(s). This can help you decide how much technical detail to provide in your responses.


Establishing Rapport


This is a very important part of the interview because while establishing rapport, first impressions are made, and the tone of the interview is set. Some people suggest that the decision to hire is greatly influenced by the first five minutes of the interview. A good interviewer will introduce him/herself, and take the lead. Follow his or her lead – if they are chatty, be chatty; if they are formal, be formal. Some employers use what seems to be casual conversation to get to know you on a more personal level – this may be crucial to a hiring decision!


Tips:


* Smile and maintain eye contact. This is one way of communicating confidence, even if you don’t feel it.
* If the interviewer offers his or her hand, shake it firmly. If they don’t, it is appropriate to offer yours.
* Wait until the interviewer sits or offers you a seat before sitting down.
* If the interviewer is making small talk, participate. Keep your answers short and positive.


Exchange of Information


This is the bulk of the interview. It is your opportunity to let the interviewer know what you have to offer, and your chance to learn more about the organization.


Tips:

* When you answer a question, look the interviewer in the eye.
* Be aware of the interviewer’s reactions. If he or she looks confused, ask if you can clarify anything.
* Be aware of what your body is saying. Avoid closed postures. Sit upright, but not stiffly.
* Try to find a comfortable position as that will make you feel more relaxed.
* Control your nervous habits. Don’t swing your foot, talk with your hands (to an extreme), or fiddle with jewelers, buttons, pens, etc.
* Show that you are interested in the job by asking questions.
* Try not to appear bored or anxious. Don’t look at your watch.


Closing the Interview


When the interviewer is done gathering the information that is needed, he or she will ask if you have anything to add, or if you have any questions. This is your opportunity to mentally review your inventory of skills and make sure that you have communicated everything that you wanted to. If any of your questions have not been addressed during the course of the interview, now is the time to ask them.


Tips:

* Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration.
* Ask when you can expect to hear from him/her.
* If it is not known when a decision will be reached, ask if you can phone in a week’s time to inquire about the progress.
* If the interviewer offers his/her hand, shake it firmly. Otherwise, it is fine to offer yours first.
* If not already discussed, you can offer to leave a sample of your work, or portfolio if you have one.

The reason why institutes put you through a Group discussion and an interview, after testing your technical and conceptual skills in an exam, is to get to know you as a person and gauge how well you will fit in their institute. The Group discussion tests how you function as a part of a team. As a manager, you will always be working in teams, as a member or as a leader. Therefore how you interact in a team becomes an important criterion for your selection. Managers have to work in a team and get best results out of teamwork. That is the reason why management institutes include GD as a component of the selection procedure.


Company’s Perspective:-

Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people. The GD is to check how you behave, participate and contribute in a group, how much importance do you give to the group objective as well as your own, how well do you listen to viewpoints of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own. The aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication, non-verbal behavior, conformation to norms, decision-making ability and cooperation. You should try to be as true as possible to these aspects.

For some it’s a make or break, atleast that’s the way it’s looked at and for some it’s a matter of pride. The constant thought in one’s mind is – what shall make this click! What is it that the interviewer is looking in me!

Here’s what we look for when we visit the various campuses. This by no means is an exhaustive list but is a good indication of the expectations and the mean s to meet these. Freshersworld.com present you the 7-Commandments.


1. Know Thyself

Not everyone is good in each and every field. Each one of us has our fortes and weaknesses too. But that’s not a stumbling block! What we look for are people who know their area of specialization and are an expert in it. Therefore, it pays to be a master in some fields if not the jack of all.

The most common mistakes many make is to profess knowing a field of which they know little about. Remember that huge and bulky resumes are as tough to read as they are to make. So, identify your skill set, and keep your resumes simple and straight. Know your limits and polish on your strengths.


2. Testing What You Know and NOT What You Don’t.

Many interviewers may ask the student the subjects that she/he wishes to be interviewed upon. Eureka !! Here’s a golden opportunity. Answer this wisely! Never end up choosing a difficult subject that you know only little about, rather choose the one you are most confident of.


3. Rack Your Brain – Analyze

The interview is not just limited to testing your knowledge base, but we are also interested in knowing your ability to apply it. Often questions that need to be solved then and there are asked. Now keep in mind – the right answer is not the only thing being looked at. The focus area is also the way in which you attack the problem i.e. approach to problem solving is equally important.

So, remember to put your thinking caps on!


4. Ask for Help!

Murphy chooses to strike at the appropriate time! In spite of the fact that you may know something very well, it might just slip your mind. After all, heavy preparation does takes its toll. Who better to ask for help than the poser of the question (of course, don’t try this too often!)!

Remember the interviewer is not there to grill the confidence out of you, but to bring forth the best in. Just in case you are stuck, ask for a hint. Things might just click. Also, stay alert for clues.


5. What are your biggest accomplishments

You may like to begin your reply with: “Although I feel my biggest achievements are still ahead of me, I am proud of my involvement with……I made my contribution as part of that team and learnt a lot in the process”.
It will be a good idea to close your answer with also specifying what attributes and circumstances made you succeed.


6. Be Calm, have Clear Verbal and Sound Non-Verbal Communication

Calmness shows emotional maturity. True, being calm in a job interview is a difficult proposition, but then that is where it is required! Calmness does not imply being unenthusiastic or apathetic during the interview, but knowing that you are nervous and not letting it come in the way. A clear verbal communication implies clarity of the thought process.

One should also watch out for the impressions made in non-verbal communication. Body language and facial expressions can assist you in establishing a good rapport with the interviewer. Pauses, silences and gestures may all indicate what you mean, understand, or would like to emphasize.


7. Two-Way Exchange Process

The interview process is a two-way exchange of information. Make sure you also understand about the company, its activities, job requirements. The company is in need for good candidates and you need a good company to launch your career.

Interview is an opportunity to present yourself and your skills to your best advantage. Make sure you make the most out of it. And YOU are the best one to do it!!

Pull out the stops on your group management and group presentation skills.Interviewers are people after all. Look for the personality type underscoring each interviewer.Then try and connect with each one of them without getting personal. Usually the best way to make contact is to project values that you feel you can share with your interviewers.


DON’T QUAKE IN YOUR BOOTS

* Interviewers are not ogres. They are looking for excuses to hire you, not spill your guts.
* Don’t be obsequious. That conveys low self-esteem.
* If you face your interviewers with fear in your eyes, they won’t like what they see. They are NOT sadists.


PREPARE FOR STRESS

* You’ll be up against a time crunch in a team interview.
* In one-on-ones, the interviewer might be taking notes, allowing you little breathers. No such luck with four people firing questions at you. Use stress control techniques to soothe your nerves. You might even use the extra adrenaline to sharpen your responses.


SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANT THINGS

* List seven important things that fit the job description of the advertised post. Prepare to present skills that fit such traits.
* It helps to talk to friends familiar with the job description. You can even ask them to prepare tests that you can take from them.


REHEARSE WELL

* Put together three family members or friends with diverse personality traits.
* Recreate the formality of a team interview situation and ask them to fire nonstop questions at you. That will serve as a useful practice session.
* Ask for serious feedback, especially about weak areas in your answers. Questions about qualifications and work experience are usually generic, so what your mock team asks you is bound to be pretty close to the real stuff.


CREATE A MENTAL PICTURE OF YOURSELF

Boost your self-confidence by seeing yourself as star performer who’s a cut above. See yourself answering with elan the questions you expect. Then replay your answers and ask yourself these questions:


* How interesting were your observations?
* Did most of your responses begin the same way?
* Did you use ‘we’ often, suggesting team-player attributes?
* Are there traces of humour in your responses?


ASK GOOD QUESTIONS

* Research is integral to a good interview performance. Find out as much about you can about the company concerned. Browse the Net, check company reports, put together news clips.
* Armed with your background brief, ask relevant questions about the company.
* If you think you have a bright idea about any ongoing activity, try this: “Did the company consider this option …”


LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

* Your interview team has some core queries about you. It’s these they want you to address. Try and look beyond the upfront questions to decipher their exact intent. Then respond to fill in what the team is really looking for.
* Flesh out your answers to focus on the team’s concerns. If they ask you about your perception of the company’s ESOP policy, they want you to present your expectation from a stock option plan.
* Answer in sync with the general tenor of the interview. If your work involves individual research besides team work, don’t go overboard about team-player abilities. Balance your answer. Mention how sometimes individual work is more productive though team work is needed to put into action ideas generated by individual research

Here are some simple but important phone interview tips to remember before scheduling any telephone interview. Each and every point below needs to be adhered to or you could find yourself in the unemployment line longer than you envisioned.


* When the call comes in to arrange the interview, make certain you know which job they are talking about! Too many job seekers don’t keep track of the jobs they apply to and end up trying to interview for the wrong position! It’s OK to ask the caller which position they are talking about if you have any doubt at all.


* Add this appointment to your calendar. It’s amazing how many people forget to remember! As a business owner, I have personally scheduled hundreds of telephone interviews over the years and it never ceased to amaze me how many people were caught off guard when the phone rang.


* Make certain you understand who is supposed to call whom.


* Schedule a time when you know it will be interruption free. You can’t have a productive phone interview during a timeframe when you know the dog will be barking for his afternoon walk, the kids will come running in from school, or everyone is gathering in the kitchen waiting for dinner.


* Remember – this is a real interview. Be prepared to have a detailed discussion of your background and experience as it relates to this particular opening.


* Research the company if you haven’t done it already. You still need to sound interested and be able to handle an intelligent conversation about their products and services.


* Watch your tone of voice and manner of speech. I don’t want to sound like your mother here, but it’s human nature to be more casual on the phone than sitting in front of someone who is dressed in a suit and staring back at you. On the other hand, don’t be too formal. You might come off as stuffy.


* Get dressed! You’ll feel better and function better than sitting around in your jammies.


* Sit up straight, at a table, with a pad of paper and a pen to take notes, and any documentation you need to get you through the conversation. Don’t stretch out on the couch, in the back yard, or even on your bed, during the interview.


* Have your resume in front of you so you can reference it if necessary.


* If you plan on using a cordless phone or a cell phone, make certain it is fully charged. You don’t want to get cut off just as you hear, “So, when can you….”


* Whatever you do…do not use the bathroom while you’re on the phone! There is nothing more disturbing to an interviewer than hearing a toilet flush in the background! Too much info, too many visuals.


* At the end of the interview make sure you understand what the next step will be. If you are told, “We’ll be in touch”, ask when that might be. If the only thing you hear is something like, “Thank you for your time”, again, ask what the next step will be. Even though this sounds like a brush off, many times it’s not.


* No matter what, ask if it’s OK to follow up with the person who called by perhaps email. I love email simply because you aren’t putting someone on the spot. The interviewer can read your question or comment and think about a proper response.


* Send a thank you note via email (if possible) within a few hours. This serves two purposes. It’s always in your best interest to thank someone for their time and interest, and reiterate how qualified and interested you are in the position (even if you’re not!). The email also provides the opportunity to open an ongoing dialogue with you and the interviewer; a nice way to further build rapport.

Tip # 1: Don’t discuss pay too early
As the manager of a software store for 10 years, I can honestly say that questions about pay in the first interview from anyone other than a temporary applicant always bothered me a little. Temp jobs aside, if you are not really out there just for the money, asking this question right out of the gate is going to make any other questions you ask sound conniving and insincere. Unless the subject comes up, don’t wade into the issue of the pay in the first interview. You can talk about it after you impress the employer enough for a second interview.


Tip # 2: Talk tech to techies only
Feel free to discuss what you know, but remember: If you are talking to a nontechnical manager or human resources representative, you are not going to impress them with talk about life in the trenches. My previous supervisor was totally unimpressed with anything to do with technology. A sure way to put the man to sleep was to begin any story that had to do with computers.
When I interviewed for a previous position, the department manager actually had a technically savvy person participate in the interview to ask and respond to questions she would not understand. When I saw this tactic being used, I knew it was not a time to try to impress with a lot of techno babble.
Answer questions about your work history briefly and keep the tech comments to a minimum until you know the history of the company and the people involved in the hiring process. If you have questions about the technology in use at the site, keep your questions specific and relevant to the position for which you are applying.


Tip # 3: Keep your philosophy to yourself
If you hate Bill Gates, Windows XP, and the whole Office Suite, keep it to yourself. Ranting about your tech philosophy can ruin your chances at the position.
I once interviewed a young man for a retail sales position in a software store. When I asked about his opinion of the then-new Windows 98, the applicant ranted about “the revolution of UNIX” and loosening the grip of Microsoft on the PC market. I am not exaggerating; the man sounded like he was ready to sign on to a paramilitary group. I almost didn’t have the heart to tell him my company was a Value Added Reseller for Microsoft.
Chances are, you will work with many people who need your help with one of the Microsoft products, so you don’t want to blast the tools you will likely be using and supporting. If you are asked about how you feel about a product, be honest, but don’t preach. The interviewer probably just wants to see how you respond to such questions.


Tip # 4: Don’t climb the advancement ladder in the interview
If you are joining the ranks of a new company, the last thing the interviewer wants to hear is, “How fast can I get out of this job?” Do not ask about opportunities for advancement until the second or third interview. If you are joining a company just to advance into another position, silence is golden. Keep it to yourself unless the interviewer asks or unless it is somehow already known that you’ll be advancing quickly. Remember that what you say now can come back to haunt you later. You don’t want to brag to someone who might be under your wing after a promotion.
Further, you never know what may happen if you actually get the job. Learn to accept and adapt and, above all, be happy you have a job. Due to downsizing, a former coworker of mine did not move into the network administration position she wanted and was expecting to get. The bitterness fostered by her broken expectations eventually caused her to resign. In the tight job market of the time-similar to the one now-and with her lack of certified qualifications, she ended up seeking work at a local restaurant.

Tip # 5: Avoid the dreaded electronic interruption
Cellular phone and pager etiquette might seem a trivial thing to those that are hooked up, but you can kiss any job opportunity goodbye if you interrupt an interview to take a telephone call, especially if the human resources representative has a low tolerance for personal digital devices. Only if you are exchanging information by invitation should you reveal the fact that you carry a PDA. If you wear it on a belt loop or somewhere that is exposed, lose it, along with any other electrical device hooks and loops, and store them in pocket, purse, or briefcase. If you can’t spare the time away from the rest of the world to do an interview, why are you applying for the job?
I have conducted training classes with people who, when asked to turn off their phones and pagers during class, place their devices in silent mode. When giving a lecture to a class or holding a discussion, watching a person being silently buzzed is terribly distracting and also aggravating.
If you think getting rid of electronic communications devices isn’t important, just ask any human resources rep who has had a person answer a cellular phone during a job interview. Then ask if the person got the job.


Tip # 6: Remember to say thank you
Beyond thanking your interviewers for their time as you leave, it’s vital that you follow up in written form. If the competition for a position is tight, a follow-up thank you note can mean a lot. If the manager is slow to hire, the arrival of a thank-you note can serve as a reminder about the candidate who’s awaiting the manager’s next move.
Just after you’ve completed the interview, take note of anything specific you discussed and make a point of referencing it in your thank you letter. Even a nice greeting card is better than nothing.
It may seem like a small detail, but the experts will tell you that this tried-and-true tactic really makes an impact. A coworker of mine, who successfully worked as a job coach, used to keep a stack of generic notes in her desk. When a participant in her program applied for a job somewhere, she would give the person one of these notes to have them drop in the mail on the way home.

This is a very important part of the interview because while establishing rapport, first impressions are made, and the tone of the interview is set. Some people suggest that the decision to hire is greatly influenced by the first five minutes of the interview. A good interviewer will introduce him/herself, and take the lead. Follow his or her lead – if they are chatty, be chatty; if they are formal, be formal. Some employers use what seems to be casual conversation to get to know you on a more personal level – this may be crucial to a hiring decision!


Tips:

* Smile and maintain eye contact. This is one way of communicating confidence, even if you don’t feel it.
* If the interviewer offers his or her hand, shake it firmly. If they don’t, it is appropriate to offer yours.
* Wait until the interviewer sits or offers you a seat before sitting down.
* If the interviewer is making small talk, participate. Keep your answers short and positive.


Exchange of Information

This is the bulk of the interview. It is your opportunity to let the interviewer know what you have to offer, and your chance to learn more about the organization.


Tips:

* When you answer a question, look the interviewer in the eye.
* Be aware of the interviewer’s reactions. If he or she looks confused, ask if you can clarify anything.
* Be aware of what your body is saying. Avoid closed postures. Sit upright, but not stiffly.
* Try to find a comfortable position as that will make you feel more relaxed.
* Control your nervous habits. Don’t swing your foot, talk with your hands (to an extreme), or fiddle with jewelers, buttons, pens, etc.
* Show that you are interested in the job by asking questions.
* Try not to appear bored or anxious. Don’t look at your watch.


Closing the Interview

When the interviewer is done gathering the information that is needed, he or she will ask if you have anything to add, or if you have any questions. This is your opportunity to mentally review your inventory of skills and make sure that you have communicated everything that you wanted to. If any of your questions have not been addressed during the course of the interview, now is the time to ask them.


Tips:


* Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration.
* Ask when you can expect to hear from him/her.
* If it is not known when a decision will be reached, ask if you can phone in a week’s time to inquire about the progress.
* If the interviewer offers his/her hand, shake it firmly. Otherwise, it is fine to offer yours first.
* If not already discussed, you can offer to leave a sample of your work, or portfolio if you have one.

The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that you will know what you have to offer an employer. It is very important to develop a complete inventory of skills, experience, and personal attributes that you can use to market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process. In developing this inventory, it is easiest to start with experience. Once you have a detailed list of activities that you have done (past jobs, extra-curricular involvements, volunteer work, school projects, etc.), it is fairly easy to identify your skills.


Simply go through the list, and for each item ask yourself “What could I have learned by doing this?” “What skills did I develop?” “What issues/circumstances have I learned to deal with?” Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories – technical and generic. Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job. For a laboratory assistant, technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures, slide preparation, and scientific report writing. For an outreach worker, technical skills might include counseling skills, case management skills, or program design and evaluation skills. Generic skills are those which are transferable to many work settings. Following is a list of the ten most marketable skills. You will notice that they are all generic.


* Analytical/Problem Solving
* Flexibility/Versatility
* Interpersonal
* Oral/Written Communication
* Organization/Planning
* Time Management
* Motivation
* Leadership
* Self-Starter/Initiative
* Team Player


Often when people think of skills, they tend to think of those they have developed in the workplace. However, skills are developed in a variety of settings. If you have ever researched and written a paper for a course, you probably have written communication skills. Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of a team player and leader. Don’t overlook any abilities you may have When doing the research on yourself, identifying your experience and skills is important, but it is not all that you need to know. Consider the answers to other questions such as:


* How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position?
* What are my strong points and weak points?
* What are my short term and long term goals?
* What can I offer this particular employer?
* What kind of environment do I like? (i.e. How do I like to be supervised? Do I like a fast pace?)
* What do I like doing?
* Apart from my skills and experience, what can I bring to this job?


Step 2: Know the Occupation

The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation. This is necessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the experience and skills required for that occupation, you must first know what those requirements and duties are. With this information uncovered, you can then match the skills you have (using the complete skills/experience inventory you have just prepared) with the skills you know people in that occupational field need. The resulting “shortlist” will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interview.
It is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position, or those similar. There are several ways to find out about an occupation:


* Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human Resources/Personnel) or check with Student Employment Services. If you are responding to an advertisement, this may also supply some details.


The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations. Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupation. If you belong to a professional association related to the occupation, use its resources. These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars. It is also a good way to meet people working in the field. Conduct information interviews with people working in the field. Read articles about people in the occupation, and articles written by people in the occupation. Sources include newspapers, magazines and the internet. Find out what the future trends are in the area. Is technology changing the job?


Step 3: Know the Organization

The more you know about an organization, the better prepared you will be to discuss how you can meet its needs. Some of the characteristics that you should know about an organization are:


* Where is it located?
* How big is it?
* What are its products and who does it serve?
* How is the organization structured?
* What is its history?
* Have there been any recent changes, new developments?
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information. Most medium- to large-sized organizations publish information about themselves. You can access this a number of ways:


* On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
* The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
* Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by searching by industry and company name
* Finally, you can visit or phone the organization and request some information on their products, services or areas of research


If the organization is fairly small, or fairly new, there may not be much information published. In this case, it will be necessary to do an information interview. Contact someone within the organization, introduce yourself, explain that you are considering moving into the field, and ask if it would be possible to meet with him/her to inquire about the company/organization and about what exactly the position would involve.


Step 4: Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research, you are now ready to prepare questions to ask the interviewer(s). Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily available in company literature. Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate your genuine interest in the position. Be careful how many questions you ask, however, as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run. Pick your questions with care – this is your chance to gather information, so ask about what you really want to know. Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you may have discovered. This is one of the most effective ways to compare different employers, so for issues of particular importance to you (for example, whether they support staff upgrading), you should ask the same questions of each employer. Some sample questions are:


* What are the most significant factors affecting your business today? How have changes in technology most affected your business today?
* How has your business/industry been affected by the recession?
* How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years?
* What future direction do you see the company taking?
* Where is the greatest demand for your services or product?
* Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company?
* Which department feels it the most?
* How do you differ from your competitors?
* How much responsibility will I be given in this position?
* What do you like about working with this organization?
* Can you tell me more about the training program?
* Have any new product lines been introduced recently?
* How much travel is normally expected?
* What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance?
* Will I work independently or as part of a team?
* How did you advance to your position?
* What are the career paths available in this organization?
* When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position?


It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals who are interested in the position – and asking this question definitely helps to demonstrate interest on your part. Exercise judgment when asking questions to an employer. When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile, one would not ask the question “What is the history of your company and how was your company started?” You can find the answer to this question in the company’s annual report or articles in magazines/newspapers. However, small- and medium-sized companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may be difficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry. This question is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer.