ACING AN INTERVIEW BY VARUN BALAKRISHNAN
Sep 12, 2014
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??