03 ppt-interview2009
Transcript of 03 ppt-interview2009
Interview: Power Interview: Power Selling YourselfSelling Yourself
Harsha Sinvhal Indian Institute of
Technology,Roorkee
Prepare Well Prepare Well for the for the
InterviewInterview
Profile the CompanyProfile the Company
Research the company thoroughlyResearch the company thoroughly Where do you fit in?Where do you fit in? Tailor your skills to company’s needsTailor your skills to company’s needs Information you uncover reflects Information you uncover reflects
your interest and enthusiasm in your interest and enthusiasm in positionposition
Establishes a common base of Establishes a common base of knowledge for questionsknowledge for questions
Research the CompanyResearch the Company
Know the job dutiesKnow the job duties Know the companyKnow the company Ask questions of a similar companyAsk questions of a similar company
What Do You Need To What Do You Need To Know?Know?
Age of companyAge of company Services or productsServices or products Competitors within the Competitors within the
industryindustry Growth patternGrowth pattern ReputationReputation Divisions and subsidiariesDivisions and subsidiaries Locations/length of time thereLocations/length of time there Size Size Number of employeesNumber of employees Sales/assets/earningsSales/assets/earnings New products or projectsNew products or projects Culture and valuesCulture and values
Where Do I Find The Where Do I Find The Information About Companies?Information About Companies?
Internet Internet Alumni in the companiesAlumni in the companies Annual ReportsAnnual Reports Press ReportsPress Reports Business MagazinesBusiness Magazines
Develop Career GoalsDevelop Career Goals
Have a focus--at least act like it, Have a focus--at least act like it, even if you don’t have a clueeven if you don’t have a clue
Identify challenges you are looking Identify challenges you are looking forfor
Know what you want to accomplishKnow what you want to accomplish Have a plan or agendaHave a plan or agenda
Write Down Write Down Answers/ScenariosAnswers/Scenarios
Draft written answers to Draft written answers to potential interview questionspotential interview questions
Write Down Your StrengthsWrite Down Your Strengths
Relate them to the jobRelate them to the job Give examples of Give examples of
where you have where you have demonstrated thesedemonstrated these
How were they How were they developeddeveloped
Identify your mentors Identify your mentors and/or role modelsand/or role models
Write Down Your Areas for Write Down Your Areas for ImprovementImprovement
Relate these to your workRelate these to your work Show the positive side of these Show the positive side of these Identify the steps you have taken for Identify the steps you have taken for
improvementimprovement Detail the results and/or time Detail the results and/or time
frames expected frames expected Identify criticism you have Identify criticism you have
received and its effects received and its effects
Write Out Questions for the Write Out Questions for the InterviewerInterviewer
Consider multiple areasConsider multiple areas– Corporate valuesCorporate values– Anticipated responsibilitiesAnticipated responsibilities– Employment trendsEmployment trends– Measures of work performanceMeasures of work performance– Work environmentWork environment– Quality of workQuality of work– Personality factorsPersonality factors
Demonstrate your knowledge of the Demonstrate your knowledge of the industry and companyindustry and company
The Day of the The Day of the InterviewInterview
Acknowledge Your Acknowledge Your NervousnessNervousness
Train your butterflies to fly in Train your butterflies to fly in formationformation
Advance preparation reduces Advance preparation reduces nervousnessnervousness
Practice answering the worst Practice answering the worst possible question they could askpossible question they could ask
Relax--take a few deep Relax--take a few deep breathsbreaths
Appearance Matters. . .A Appearance Matters. . .A Lot!Lot!
If you don’t dress seriously, they If you don’t dress seriously, they can’t take you seriously!!can’t take you seriously!!
Make a good first impressionMake a good first impression Pride in yourself implies pride in your Pride in yourself implies pride in your
workwork Show your creativity in your work, Show your creativity in your work,
not your appearancenot your appearance Dress conservativelyDress conservatively Be well groomed and cleanBe well groomed and clean
Don’t Forget the DetailsDon’t Forget the Details
Nicely styled hairNicely styled hair Natural, clean looking Natural, clean looking
face/makeupface/makeup Clean your fingernailsClean your fingernails Skip the clunky jewelrySkip the clunky jewelry Press your clothesPress your clothes Avoid strong perfumes or Avoid strong perfumes or
colognescolognes Avoid cigarettesAvoid cigarettes
Professional Image for Professional Image for WomenWomen
Best choicesBest choices– Navy or black suit, solid blouseNavy or black suit, solid blouse– Suit in solid colors, printed blouseSuit in solid colors, printed blouse– Straight dress with jacket, solid Straight dress with jacket, solid
colorscolors Wear polished, low heeled shoesWear polished, low heeled shoes Minimal accessoriesMinimal accessories Hosiery - appropriate color, no Hosiery - appropriate color, no
holes, no darker than your hemholes, no darker than your hem Don’t wear anything too tight or Don’t wear anything too tight or
revealingrevealing
Professional Image for MenProfessional Image for Men
Best choicesBest choices– Business suit, dark colors (blues, Business suit, dark colors (blues,
grays, browns), white shirtgrays, browns), white shirt– Suit with solid shirtSuit with solid shirt– 2-piece suit, lighter colors, 2-piece suit, lighter colors,
striped shirtstriped shirt Button your jacket when you Button your jacket when you
standstand Shine your shoesShine your shoes Socks-appropriate color, no Socks-appropriate color, no
holes, long lengthholes, long length
AttitudeAttitude
It separates winners from losersIt separates winners from losers Be enthusiastic and eagerBe enthusiastic and eager Practice good eye contactPractice good eye contact SmileSmile Walk with confidenceWalk with confidence Sit up straight (listen to your Sit up straight (listen to your
mother!)mother!) Adapt to your surroundingsAdapt to your surroundings
Employers Notice Good Employers Notice Good MannersManners
Be on time for the interviewBe on time for the interview Treat the receptionist with Treat the receptionist with
respectrespect Use Mr. or Ms. unless they Use Mr. or Ms. unless they
ask you to use first namesask you to use first names Don’t sit until you’re invited Don’t sit until you’re invited
toto
Practice Your “Soft Skills”Practice Your “Soft Skills”
Greet people with a firm handshakeGreet people with a firm handshake Stand up to meet peopleStand up to meet people Practice your dining etiquettePractice your dining etiquette Remember “please” and “thank you”Remember “please” and “thank you” Be good at chatting and small talkBe good at chatting and small talk
What to Bring to an What to Bring to an InterviewInterview
Several copies of your Several copies of your resumeresume
Your portfolio, if applicableYour portfolio, if applicable New notebook and a nice New notebook and a nice
penpen Briefcase or leather folderBriefcase or leather folder Names, addresses, and Names, addresses, and
phone numbers of phone numbers of referencesreferences
Interviewing Interviewing TechniquesTechniques
Put Yourself inPut Yourself inthe Interviewer’s Shoesthe Interviewer’s Shoes
They have an agendaThey have an agenda– To determine if you have the To determine if you have the
skillsskills– Identify your personal attributesIdentify your personal attributes– Assess your motivationAssess your motivation
Interviewers AreInterviewers AreLooking to Hire YouLooking to Hire You
Help them byHelp them by– Showing how you fit their Showing how you fit their
companycompany– Exhibit your personalityExhibit your personality– Share your career goalsShare your career goals
Be HONESTBe HONEST
DO NOT lie on your resumeDO NOT lie on your resume DO NOT lie in the interviewDO NOT lie in the interview Either of these can get you Either of these can get you
eliminated from consideration or eliminated from consideration or FIRED if discovered after hiringFIRED if discovered after hiring
What Do Winners ShowWhat Do Winners Show
They are capable of doing They are capable of doing the job or learning it quicklythe job or learning it quickly
They are willing and eager They are willing and eager to do the jobto do the job
They need little motivation They need little motivation or supervisionor supervision
They are friendly and would They are friendly and would work well with other work well with other employeesemployees
Use Proper LanguageUse Proper Language
Speak clearly and distinctlySpeak clearly and distinctly Avoid slang expressionsAvoid slang expressions Don’t swearDon’t swear Control yourControl your
– ““ums”ums”– ““you knows”you knows”– ““likes”likes”
Tell Me About YourselfTell Me About Yourself
Create a 60-second sound byteCreate a 60-second sound byte
IncludeInclude Geographic originsGeographic origins Reason for choosing majorReason for choosing major Educational backgroundEducational background 2 or 3 strengths related to position2 or 3 strengths related to position Specific expertise and accomplishmentsSpecific expertise and accomplishments How you can contribute to companyHow you can contribute to company Identify your career goalsIdentify your career goals Speak clearly and honestly Speak clearly and honestly
Do’s and Dont’sDo’s and Dont’s
Do’sDo’s
Research the companyResearch the company Prepare for tough questionsPrepare for tough questions Greet interviewer enthusiasticallyGreet interviewer enthusiastically Focus on what you have to offer, Focus on what you have to offer,
not what you wantnot what you want Know your rights as an Know your rights as an
intervieweeinterviewee Have a good attitude, be positiveHave a good attitude, be positive Show confidenceShow confidence Be professionalBe professional
Dont’sDont’s
Don’t discuss salary, benefits, or Don’t discuss salary, benefits, or vacations until an offer is madevacations until an offer is made
Don’t display personal habits, i.e. Don’t display personal habits, i.e. smoking, chewing gum, tapping a smoking, chewing gum, tapping a pencil, stretching, jiggling a footpencil, stretching, jiggling a foot
Don’t lieDon’t lie Don’t get too chatty about non-job Don’t get too chatty about non-job
topicstopics Don’t blame others or disparage Don’t blame others or disparage
employersemployers
Difficult SituationsDifficult Situations
Listen CarefullyListen Carefully
It’s important to understand the questions It’s important to understand the questions correctlycorrectly
Ask for clarificationAsk for clarification Don’t be afraid to ask if you can take a few Don’t be afraid to ask if you can take a few
seconds to think about your answerseconds to think about your answer
Telephone InterviewsTelephone Interviews Dress up and use a Dress up and use a
professional environment to professional environment to maintain your maintain your professionalismprofessionalism
Have your notes organized, Have your notes organized, highlighted, and within easy highlighted, and within easy accessaccess
Without non-verbal Without non-verbal communication, be aware communication, be aware that it is difficult to “read” that it is difficult to “read” the interviewerthe interviewer
Make sure your voice Make sure your voice conveys enthusiasmconveys enthusiasm
Panel InterviewsPanel Interviews
Get names and positions Get names and positions for all participants in for all participants in advance if possibleadvance if possible
Address all with good eye Address all with good eye contactcontact
Relate your answers to Relate your answers to others that were similar others that were similar from other participantsfrom other participants
Shows your ability to relate Shows your ability to relate to diverse groupsto diverse groups
Day Long InterviewsDay Long Interviews
Keep your energy upKeep your energy up Continue to give complete Continue to give complete
answers to all questions answers to all questions even though you’ve been even though you’ve been asked multiple times that asked multiple times that dayday
Listen for consistencies Listen for consistencies and discrepancies to and discrepancies to assess company culture assess company culture
After the InterviewAfter the Interview
Details Needed for Follow-Details Needed for Follow-upup
Write down the interviewer’s name, Write down the interviewer’s name, department, address, and phone in department, address, and phone in the notebookthe notebook
Ask for their business cardAsk for their business card Use interviewer’s nameUse interviewer’s name
Evaluate/RetrainEvaluate/Retrain
How did you do overall?How did you do overall? What were your strengths?What were your strengths? What needs improvement?What needs improvement? Develop a follow-up chart for trackingDevelop a follow-up chart for tracking
• Tell me about yourself.
• Who or what has had the greatest influence on the development of your career interests?
• How have your educational and work experiences prepared you for this position?
• What factors did you consider in choosing your course?
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
•Why are you interested in our organization?
•What is your GPA? Does your GPA reflect your ability?
•What goals have you set for yourself? How do you plan to achieve your goals?
•Tell me how you perceive your strengths? Weaknesses?
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
•How do you evaluate yourself?
•What work experience has been the most valuable to you and why?
•What has been your greatest challenge?
•What were the biggest problems you encountered in college? How have you handled them? What did you learn from them?
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
•How do you think you have changed personally since you started college?
•Why did you choose the extracurricular activities that you did? What did you gain? What did you contribute?
•What was the most useful criticism you received and who was it from?
•Tell me about a project you initiated.
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
•How do you solve conflicts?
•Give me an example of a problem you solved and the process you used.
•Describe the project or situation that best demonstrates your analytical skills.
•What one academic course did you have that had the greatest impact on you and why?
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
•Give examples of your “team player” qualities.
•Take me through a project where you demonstrated planning skills.
•How do you motivate people?
•What types of situations put you under pressure and how do you deal with the pressure?
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
•Tell me about a difficult decision you have made.
•Give an example of a situation in which you failed and how you handled it.
•Tell me about a situation when you had to persuade another person to see your point of view.
•What frustrates you the most?
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
•What interests or concerns you about the position or company?
•Give me a specific example of your work or learning in a multicultural setting and what impact did the experience have on you?
•What to or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction?
•Describe a situation where you had a conflict with another individual, and how you dealt with it.
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
•Describe your leadership style.
•In a particular leadership role, what was the greatest challenge?
•What characteristics do you think are important for this position?
•What can you contribute to our organization?
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
•What challenges are you looking for in a position?
•How are you conducting your job search and how will you make your decision?
•What are your expectations of your future employer?
•What two or three things are most important to you in a position?
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
•What do we need to know about you that has not been covered?
•Why should we hire you?
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
THANK YOU THANK YOU
Harsha Harsha SinvhalSinvhalProfessor,Professor,
Indian Institute of Indian Institute of TechnologyTechnology
RoorkeeRoorkee
Any Questions ?
Frequently Asked Interview Frequently Asked Interview QuestionsQuestions
Thank You
Harsha Sinvhal