03 ppt-interview2009

Interview: Power Interview: Power Selling YourselfSelling Yourself

Harsha Sinvhal Indian Institute of

Technology,Roorkee

[email protected]

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?


•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?


•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.


•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?


•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?


•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?


•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.


•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?


•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?


•What do we need to know about you that has not been covered?

•Why should we hire you?


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

03 ppt-interview2009

Career

similar company

dont dress

solid colors

potential interview

names dont

age of company services

solid blouse suit

solid shirt