Interview Skills

INTERVIEW SKILLS
-VILOMI SHAH
INTRODUCTION
Aninterviewis a conversation between two or more people where
questionsare asked by the interviewer to elicit facts or statements
from the interviewee.Interviews are a standard part of qualitative
research. They are also used injournalismandmediareporting
(journalism) and in various employment-related contexts.
Interview skills are actions candidates take during job interviews
that make them stand out. These actions can include proper
interview behavior, controlling nervousness or asking intelligent
questions.
If you have interviewing skills, you will probably receive more job
offers than those without them. You are better at convincing
interviewers you are the right candidate for the job.
The best way to acquire interviewing skills is through practice.
Hiring managers must also have interviewing skills so they choose
the right candidates for jobs.
TYPES OF INTERVIEW
There are several types of interview which you should be aware
of. Often, the company will tell you what to expect but here are
some examples and you will probably experience one or more of
these at some point in your career.
One-to-one
Panel
Screening Interviews
Phone Interviews
Serial Interviews
Lunch Interviews
Group
Stress Interview
Competency based
Assessment centre
PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW
You have received an invitation to interview for a new job:

congratulations!
If youre going to impress at interview, you need to prepare
thoroughly.
LETS SEE HOW?
It is important to present yourself as you really are, not pretend to
be something youre not.
Before the day of the interview:
Research the Organisation
Their website, find their mission, objectives, any value
statements etc.
Make a list of the questions about the organisation, ideally
around work.
About you
To prepare answers for some of the standard icebreakers, such
as Tell me about your current job, or Tell me why youve
applied for this job. Your answers should focus on your skills.
Tests and Presentations

Some interviews require you to make a short presentation, or to
take a test or
presenting in front of a group.
Arrive in good time.
Dress appropriately.
Engage with the interviewers. Smile, make eye contact, andbuild
rapport.
Answer the questions that are asked, appropriately.
Dont be afraid to blow your own trumpet a bit.
Dont be over-familiar or share too much information.
At the end of the interview,ask questions if any
SKILLS
Analytical Skills: Understanding the market situation,
prevailing trends, companys requirements. Capability of
discovering own weak points, evaluating results/effects of
projects/policies .
Communication Skills: Both written and verbal influencing the
interpersonal dealing and collaboration.
Flexibility & Adaptability: Whether you are capable of
accepting changes or not, and capability of adapting and
adjusting to the new environment.
Initiative and Drive: Whether you are courageous enough to
take an initiate on your own and volunteer for your company or
will wait for being pushed to do a job.
Management Skills: Whether you have leadership skills and

Problem-Solving Skills: You are expected to do your own
brainstorming and come with new and effective solutions.
Technical Skills: Knowledge of technologies and trends and also
to adapt to the changing technology.
Time and Work Management Skills: Time management is the
most basic requirement .Work management, meeting deadlines
and delegating work.
Dress for the Job or Company:It is important to be wellgroomed. Whether you wear a suit or something less formal
depends on thecompany culture and the position you are seeking.
Planning Skills: Accessing the surrounding, foresee the future

circumstances and accordingly develop relevant plans and
strategies, keeping in mind the present and latent requirements,
Listen:Your interviewer is giving you information, either directly

or indirectly. Good communication skills includelisteningand
letting the person know you heard what was said. Observe your
interviewer, and match that style and pace.
Don't Talk Too Much:Telling the interviewer more than he
needs to know could be a fatal mistake.Do not ramble and
prepare for the interview well in advance.
Don't Be Too Familiar:The interview is a professional meeting
to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Do not
overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.
Use Appropriate Language:One should useprofessional
languageduring the interview. Be aware of anyinappropriate
slang wordsor references to age, race, religion, politics or sexual
orientation -- these topics could send you out the door very
quickly.
Attitude:Attitude plays a key role in your interview success.

There is a fine balance between confidence, professionalism and
modesty. Also, overconfidence is bad, if not worse, as being too
reserved.
Take Care to Answer the Questions:Answer the question to
the point and do not beat around the bush.Understand the
question first and then answer.
Don't Appear Desperate:"please, please hire me" approachmakes you appeardesperateand less confident. Reflect the three
Cs : cool, calm and confident. You know you can do the job; make
sure the interviewer believes you can, too.
Ability to Answer Questions: Your ability to answer tough
questions is another interviewing skill. Savvy employers ask
open-ended questions, which force you to think and provide
explanations for your responses.

Asking the Right Questions: Companies judge you on the
questions you ask, Have three to five questions prepared in
advance. Keep your questions open-ended .
Using SAR Stories: SAR -Situation, Action and Result.
Eg: When employers ask you to describe what you did on a
previous job, start by describing the situation. Actions are the
steps you took on that project. Results should be measurable.
Employer Interviewing Skills: Employers must also have
interviewing skills to cull the best job applicants and make smart
hiring decisions. Interviewers must know how to ask open-ended
questions to elicit detailed responses. It will help them
understand which candidates meet the necessary requirements
of job.
Behavior: Shake the interviewer's hand firmly when you meet

him, and smile. Maintain eye contact and good posture
throughout the interview, and be confident. Control any early
jitters. Stay positive.
Body language: Initial impact is made within the first few
seconds.
Four important areas of non-verbal communication worth paying

attention to are:
o
EYE CONTACT
o FACIAL EXPRESSION
o POSTURE
o GESTURES
INTERVIEW CHECKLIST
DO
Remember that first appearances count how you dress and
act
Smile, make eye contact and acknowledge all members of an
interview panel
Shake hands in a firm but gentle way, not crushingly strong
Wait to be asked to sit down
Make sure you sit correctly and comfortably before starting
Show interest
Answer the question asked
Keep positive at all times
DO NOT
Be late
Fidget or look at your watch
Argue or Say anything negative
Put anything on the interviewers desk
Appear aggressive or act in a superior way nobody likes this!
Show too much interest in money and holidays
ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY 1:PERSONAL INTERVIEW
Every student writes a question on a chit of paper .Then 2
students are selected for the task,one will be the interviewer
and the other interviewee. The interviewer picks 3 questions
and asks the interviewee.The first question is to be answered
in 30 seconds,second in 60 seconds and third in 2 minutes.
ACTIVITY 2: PANEL INTERVIEW FOR JOB
Here 3 students will form a panel and there will be 2
interviwees. The questions will be:
o Tell me about yourself
o Why have you applied in this company?
o Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
The interviewers/panel is supposed to shoot questions in a
random and hasty manner at both the interviewees.

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What are the different types of interviews mentioned?

What are some tips for preparing for an interview?

INTERVIEW SKILLS

PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW

You have received an invitation to interview for a new job:

Tests and Presentations

Planning Skills: Accessing the surrounding, foresee the future

Listen:Your interviewer is giving you information, either directly

Attitude:Attitude plays a key role in your interview success.

Behavior: Shake the interviewer's hand firmly when you meet

Four important areas of non-verbal communication worth paying

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