Interview Preparation.docx

7/27/2019 Interview Preparation.docx

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4 Simple Steps To Prepare For an InterviewInterview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather information. The employerwants to know if you, the applicant, have the skills, knowledge, self-confidence, and motivation necessaryfor the job. At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume.He or she also wants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organization's current employeesand philosophy. Similarly, you will want to evaluate the position and the organization, and determine if they

will fit into your career plans. The interview is a two-way exchange of information. It is an opportunity forboth parties to market themselves. The employer is selling the organization to you, and you are marketingyour skills, knowledge, and personality to the employer.

Interview PreparationResearch is a critical part of preparing for an interview. If you haven't done your homework, it is going to beobvious. Spend time researching and thinking about yourself, the occupation, the organization, andquestions you might ask at the end of the interview.

Step 1: Know YourselfThe first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that you will know whatyou 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 interviewprocess. In developing this inventory, it is easiest to start with experience. Once you have a detailed list ofactivities 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?" "Whatskills did I develop?" "What issues/circumstances have I learned to deal with?" Keep in mind that skills fallinto two categories - technical and generic. Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job. For alaboratory 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, casemanagement skills, or program design and evaluation skills. Generic skills are those which are transferableto 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 acourse, you probably have written communication skills. Team sports or group projects are a good way todevelop the skills required of a team player and leader. Don't overlook any abilities you may have Whendoing the research on yourself, identifying your experience and skills is important, but it is not all that youneed 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


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The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation. This is necessary because inorder to present a convincing argument that you have the experience and skills required for thatoccupation, 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 justprepared) with the skills you know people in that occupational field need. The resulting "shortlist" will be theone 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 withStudent Employment Services. If you are responding to an advertisement, this may also supply somedetails.The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations. Make sure you haveread through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupation. If you belong to a professionalassociation related to the occupation, use its resources. These associations often publish informativenewsletters and sponsor seminars. It is also a good way to meet people working in the field. Conductinformation interviews with people working in the field. Read articles about people in the occupation, andarticles written by people in the occupation. Sources include newspapers, magazines and the internet. Findout what the future trends are in the area. Is technology changing the job?

Step 3: Know the OrganizationThe more you know about an organization, the better prepared you will be to discuss how you can meet itsneeds. 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-sizedorganizations publish information about themselves. You can access them in number of ways:

On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and business directories) or at theDrake Centre Library

The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with information on over 5000 Canadiancompanies and business directories

Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by searching by industry and companyname

Finally, you can visit or phone the organization and request some information on their products, servicesor areas of research

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

Step 4: Prepare QuestionsHaving completed your background research, you are now ready to prepare questions to ask theinterviewer(s). Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily available in companyliterature. Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate your genuine interest in the position. Becareful how many questions you ask, however, as too many can imply you feel the interview was notsuccessfully run. Pick your questions with care - this is your chance to gather information, so ask aboutwhat you really want to know. Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you may havediscovered. This is one of the most effective ways to compare different employers, so for issues ofparticular importance to you (for example, whether they support staff upgrading), you should ask the samequestions of each employer. Some sample questions are:

What are the most significant factors affecting your business today? How have changes in technologymost 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?


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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 interestedin the position - and asking this question definitely helps to demonstrate interest on your part. Exercisejudgment 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 yourcompany started?" You can find the answer to this question in the company's annual report or articles inmagazines/newspapers. However, small- and medium-sized companies do not always produce publiclyavailable annual reports and it may be difficult to access information on the company and its role in theindustry. This question is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer.Basics of InterviewsReview your resume, and make sure that you can explain everything on it. Arrive at the interview tenminutes early to give yourself an opportunity to collect your thoughts and relax. Be aware that manyemployers will have their receptionists record the time you came in. If you rush in at the last minute, anemployer may have serious concerns about your ability to arrive on time for a normal day at work.

Get a good night's sleep before your interview. You will think more effectively in the interview if you are

rested. Also, yawning will not impress anyone. Eat something before the interview. If you are worried aboutyour stomach growling, you will not be able to concentrate on the questions. Dress appropriately for the position that you are applying to. Try to dress like the people who work therewould dress if they were representing their organization at some function. If you are unsure about what towear.

Make sure that you are clean, neat, and well-groomed. Interviewers do notice your appearance, and firstimpressions are critical in an interview situation.Take a copy of your resume, transcript, references and perhaps a portfolio or work samples with you. Alsotake a pen and paper, as you may want to record some important information. Common Mistakes You Should AvoidOversellTrying too hard to impress; bragging; acting aggressively. Undersell Failing to emphasize the fact that youhave related skills; discussing experience using negative qualifiers (i.e. "I have a little experience...").

Body LanguageIt is easy to create a negative impression without even realizing that you are doing it. Are you staring atyour feet, or talking to the interviewer's shoulder? Be aware of what your actions say about you.

Lack of HonestyThe slightest stretching of the truth may result in you being screened out.

Negative Attitude

The interview is not an opportunity for you to complain about your current supervisor or co-workers (or evenabout 'little' things, such as the weather).

Lack of Preparation You have to know about the organization and the occupation. If you don't, it will


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appear as though you are not interested in the position.

Lack of EnthusiasmIf you are not excited about the work at the interview, the employer will not assume that your attitude willimprove when hired.

Six Common Interview Mistakes

AVOID SIX COMMON INTERVIEW MISTAKES

Tip # 1: Don't discuss pay too earlyAs the manager of a software store for 10 years, I can honestly say that questions about pay in the firstinterview from anyone other than a temporary applicant always bothered me a little. Temp jobs aside, if youare not really out there just for the money, asking this question right out of the gate is going to make anyother questions you ask sound conniving and insincere. Unless the subject comes up, don't wade into theissue of the pay in the first interview. You can talk about it after you impress the employer enough for asecond 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 humanresources representative, you are not going to impress them with talk about life in the trenches. Myprevious supervisor was totally unimpressed with anything to do with technology. A sure way to put theman 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 savvyperson participate in the interview to ask and respond to questions she would not understand. When I sawthis 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 knowthe history of the company and the people involved in the hiring process. If you have questions about thetechnology in use at the site, keep your questions specific and relevant to the position for which you areapplying.

Tip # 3: Keep your philosophy to yourselfIf you hate Bill Gates, Windows XP, and the whole Office Suite, keep it to yourself. Ranting about your techphilosophy 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 hisopinion of the then-new Windows 98, the applicant ranted about "the revolution of UNIX" and loosening thegrip of Microsoft on the PC market. I am not exaggerating; the man sounded like he was ready to sign on toa paramilitary group. I almost didn't have the heart to tell him my company was a Value Added Reseller forMicrosoft.Chances are you will work with many people who need your help with one of the Microsoft products, so youdon't want to blast the tools you will likely be using and supporting. If you are asked about how you feelabout a product, be honest, but don't preach. The interviewer probably just wants to see how you respondto such questions.

Tip # 4: Don't climb the advancement ladder in the interviewIf you are joining the ranks of a new company, the last thing the interviewer wants to hear is, "How fast canI get out of this job?" Do not ask about opportunities for advancement until the second or third interview. Ifyou are joining a company just to advance into another position, silence is golden. Keep it to yourselfunless 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 someonewho 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 thenetwork 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 onenow-and with her lack of certified qualifications, she ended up seeking work at a local restaurant.

Tip # 5: Avoid the dreaded electronic interruption


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Cellular phone and pager etiquette might seem a trivial thing to those that are hooked up, but you can kissany job opportunity goodbye if you interrupt an interview to take a telephone call, especially if the humanresources representative has a low tolerance for personal digital devices. Only if you are exchanginginformation by invitation should you reveal the fact that you carry a PDA. If you wear it on a belt loop orsomewhere that is exposed, lose it, along with any other electrical device hooks and loops, and store themin 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 duringclass, place their devices in silent mode. When giving a lecture to a class or holding a discussion, watchinga 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 resourcesrep who has had a person answer a cellular phone during a job interview. Then ask if the person got thejob.

Tip # 6: Remember to say thank youBeyond thanking your interviewers for their time as you leave, it's vital that you follow up in written form. Ifthe competition for a position is tight, a follow-up thank you note can mean a lot. If the manager is slow tohire, the arrival of a thank-you note can serve as a reminder about the candidate who's awaiting themanager's next move.

Just after you've completed the interview, take note of anything specific you discussed and make a point ofreferencing 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 animpact. A coworker of mine, who successfully worked as a job coach, used to keep a stack of generic notesin her desk. When a participant in her program applied for a job somewhere, she would give the person oneof these notes to have them drop in the mail on the way home. How Do I Dress For An Interview? Here It Is!Let's say you are going for an interview tomorrow. You have prepared yourself well for the occasion -anticipating the questions and getting ready the answers - but have you given a thought to what you willwear?

If you have not peeked into your wardrobe yet, it's time to take a real hard look now. Your application's fatedepends not just on how well you answer the interview questions, but also on how well you project yourselfphysically. The first impression your interviewer makes about you is based on the way you look, and youknow what they say about first impressions. According to Joe Hodowanes, J.M. Wanes and Associatescareer strategy advisor, "The way a person dresses is the single biggest non-verbal communication youmake about yourself." The right dressing is a measure of the seriousness that you place on the position, asa person normally spends time on his looks if he considers an event important enough.

"Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job, a poor dress sense may exclude you fromfurther consideration," warns Gerry Ditching, managing partner of Filgifts.com. Besides, given two equallygood applicants, the company may choose to hire the person who is dressed more professionally. Here aresome tips to give you a head start.

Men

Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks. White is still the safest and the best color for shirts. The color is alsoappropriate for our tropical weather. Also acceptable: pale shades such as beige, blue, and other pastels.

Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves. Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an interview or anybusiness purpose. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your executive image.

Ties: Ties can be optional. But if you do wear one, choose a conservative pattern. Solids, small polka dots,diagonal stripes, small repeating shapes, subtle plaids and paisleys are all acceptable.

Belts:Belts should match your shoes. Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look moreprofessional.


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Socks: Black socks are the best, followed by blue or gray, depending on your attire. Never wear whitesocks! Check your sock length, too--no skin should show when you sit down or cross your legs.

Shoes: Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them, because tassel loafers are very casual. Othersuitable colors are brown, cordovan and navy.

Hair: Keep neat, short and preferably parted on the side. And shave off all those facial hair.

Jewellery: Wear no or little jewellery. The watch and wedding ring are the only acceptable pieces ofjewellery to go with the male attire. Thin gold or leather-strapped watches look professional but not digitalwatches. Also, avoid political or religious insignias, necklaces or bracelets.

Accessories: As much as possible, use leather folders to hold copies of your resume. Ensure you carry asmart pen which is dark and smooth to write.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Review your resume, and make sure that you can explain everything on it. Arrive at the interview tenminutes early to give yourself an opportunity to collect your thoughts and relax. Be aware that manyemployers will have their receptionists record the time you came in. If you rush in at the last minute, an

employer may have serious concerns about your ability to arrive on time for a normal day at work.

Get a good night's sleep before your interview. You will think more effectively in the interview if you arerested. Also, yawning will not impress anyone. Eat something before the interview. If you are worried aboutyour stomach growling, you will not be able to concentrate on the questions.

Dress appropriately for the position that you are applying to. Try to dress like the people who work therewould dress if they were representing their organization at some function. If you are unsure about what towear.

Make sure that you are clean, neat, and well-groomed. Interviewers do notice your appearance, and firstimpressions are critical in an interview situation.

Take a copy of your resume, transcript, references and perhaps a portfolio or work samples with you. Alsotake a pen and paper, as you may want to record some important information.Etiquettes of Attending An InterviewGo for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table!!

Hone your interview etiquette................ Churn the right mix of deportment, attitude and dressing skills for agreat job talk !

Never make the big mistake of treating an interview lightly. It's not an impromptu thing where you dependon your improvisation skills. An interview requires careful thought and planning before you take it. Keepingin mind some basic attitudes and presentation techniques will help you sail through it with panache.

So if you thought that going for an interview just meant pulling your best suit out of the wardrobe andupdating your resume, please think again. You are forgetting the other essentials: body language, basicetiquette and attitude.Remember that you are actually selling an entire package and the packaging, in this case, is as relevant asthe product inside. Ultimately you are presenting yourself as a valuable professional to a new jobenvironment. And you can't do that without minding the basic interview etiquette to get you ahead of the

rest of the pack.

An interview is the sum total of many parts. It's not just what you say but how you say it that mattersequally. So it's good to brush up on more than just your training skills when you do go in for an interview.


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ATTIREHow you dress for an interview is perhaps as relevant as the way you lay out your resume. Says NinaKochar of Upgrade Management Services, an organization which coaches' executives in the basic rules ofcorporate etiquette: "A person who is sloppy in appearance shows a sloppy personality, so you have to bedecently dressed." Of course, decently dressed does not necessarily mean being dressed to the gills. In

most cases, this would mean you would wear long sleeved shirts and a pair of formal trousers. In fact, NinaKochar does not recommend suits, especially for younger people. "A lot of young people do not have themoney to invest in suits, consequently, they wear ill-fitting or borrowed suits and that looks even worse. Atie, shirt and pant should do the trick for most junior level positions."Most HR experts would also tell you to mind the accessories like ties, belts and shoes. To be sure, badlymatched shoes and ties can have a jarring effect on an interviewer. Similarly, please avoid heavy Jewelleryor personal accessories as they would look incongruous on you.ENTRANCE AND INTRODUCTIONEven though most of us are primed for the basic grilling that we would face during the interview, we seldompay attention to the way we enter an interview room or how we introduce ourselves. Says SubhashishMitra, deputy manager, Essar Cellphones: "A lot of people do not think it important to knock properly whileentering the interview room. They assume that as an interview is taking place, the panel will be expecting

them. To my mind this is a very major faux pas which really jars."

In fact, the best way to enter an interview is to knock, ask for permission to enter and then wait for a whilebefore you actually sit down. Few interviewees know this but the interview panel needs a little quiet time todiscuss the previous candidate before they get around to the next one. So your silence till you actually getseated would be very valuable. Try and keep a bag with you for all your papers and certificates; make surethis bag is an unobtrusive as possible.

ATTITUDE AND RESPONSEThis is a grey area for most interview candidates. While dressing up and resume writing are skills you canGo for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table handle with a little practice, cultivating the rightattitude as an interviewee requires a lot of patience and reading between the lines. The usual complaint of

most interviewers is that few interviewees are able to stri perhaps the best thing you can do for getting youranswer right. Most interviewers like to give a lead to the candidate in the way they ask the question, so it'sentirely up to you to note facial expressions and the tone of the words.

Do you show your certificates immediately to the interview panel?

Not till you are asked actually. You might already have sent in your resume, so you shouldn't try and offloadall your achievements and skills onto the panel till a turn in the interview leads to such a situation.

Try and take cues from the tonal variations, facial expressions and thrust of questions from the interviewpanel. That in itself will give you a clue as to where this interview is heading.

TEN THINGS THAT AN INTERVIEWER LOOKS IN YOU!1. Family Background2. Education3. Experience4. Stability5. Initiative6. General Ability7. Interpersonal Skills8. Confidence9. Aptitude10. Pleasant LooksHow one wished that an interview were a simple meeting of minds and hearts. Just one casual meetingwhere an employee's future gets sealed. Unfortunately, it's not something as pre-ordained as you wouldlike it to be; it's a pre-meditated exercise which fetches you dividends only if your homework is done right.


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Ways of Answering Questions At an Interview

You and specially a fresher can never predict every question that you will encounter, so approach theinterview with an inventory of important points. Make a list of the points about yourself that you want theinterviewer to know. For example, if you were to apply for a job as a Sales Representative, you might wantto list the products you have sold before, types of customers (by industry, age, etc.), languages spoken,personal experience in that industry and related knowledge (perhaps from your academic program).

Consider each question an opportunity to provide some of this information. Don't assume anything.You willbe evaluated on your answers. Therefore, every fresher needs to ensure you incorporate the relevantinformation from your resume in your answers.

Pause a couple of seconds before you respond to each question, even if you know exactly what you wantto say. Take this time to quickly plan your answer, this helps to avoid misunderstandings and producesmuch more concise answers.

If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification. This is expected and is preferable to providing anunsuitable answer. If you need time to collect your thoughts - take it. When people are nervous they tendeither to "draw a blank" or to babble. It is better to think for a few moments and make sure that your answer

is doing you justice and that there is a point to what you are saying.

Always expand. Never answer a question with a "yes"or"no."

The interview is an opportunity for you to sell yourself. Don't be afraid to 'blow your own horn.' As long asyou can back up what you are saying with examples which demonstrate that what you are saying is true,you are not bragging. Third party observations can also be mentioned. For example, "My last employer toldme that, I was promoted because of how I handled conflicts with clients."

Be very positive. Don't complain about anything - from your former employer to the weather - and don'tapologize for experience that you don't have. Just sell what you do have and let the employer decide if youhave what he/she is looking for. Also, avoid negative words. For example, you would not say "I have

a l i t t leexperience...,"you would say "I have experience......"

Don't be afraid to repeat important points. In fact, it is a good idea to do this.Common Mistakes You Should AvoidThere are many different types of interviews designed to serve different purposes or situations. Regardlessof the type of interview, most will incorporate the following stages: establishing rapport, exchanginginformation, and closing the interview. Pay attention to the job titles of the interviewer(s). This can help youdecide 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 bythe 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 then you too be formal. Someemployers use what seems to be casual conversation to get to know you on a more personal level thismay 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.


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Exchange of Information

This is the bulk of the interview. It is your opportunity to let the interviewer know what you have to offer, andyour 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 withjewelers, 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 haveanything to add, or if you have any questions. This is your opportunity to mentally review your inventory ofskills and make sure that you have communicated everything that you wanted to. If any of your questionshave 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 theprogress.

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.Top Questions Asked by HRsHere are some important answers asked by HRs !!!! 1. Can you tell me about yourself?Brief them about yourself; you may always tell them that I am down-to-earth, sweet, smart, creative,industrious, and thorough.2. How has your education prepared you for your career? Besides my academics, I have gained a lotfrom my course. I have done different projects, reports, presentation etc. I have exposed myself toseminars, workshops, internships etc. which has added to my knowledge.Work Experience: Through internships, I have gained self-esteem, confidence, and problem-solving skills. Ialso refined my technical writing and learned to prepare professional documents for clients.Academics: By working on multiple projects for different student organizations while keeping up my grades,I have built time management and efficiency skills. Additionally, I've developed leadership, communication,

and teamwork abilities.Life Experience: In general, life has taught me determination and the importance ofmaintaining my ethical standards.3. Describe the ideal job.I would like to work in a fun, warm environment with individuals working independently towards team goals


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or individual goals. Most important to me is the work environment with mentors who can train and help megrow with their knowledge and experience.4. What do you plan to be doing in five years' time?Taking the PE exam and serving in supervisory/leadership roles both at work and inprofessional/communityorganization(s).5. What contributions could you make in this organization that would help you to stand out fromother applicants?

In previous internships, my industriousness and ability to teach myself have been valuable assets to thecompany. My self-teaching abilities will minimize overhead costs, and my industriousness at targetingneeds without prompting will set me apart from others.6. What sort of criteria are you using to decide the organization you will work for?Most importantly, I am looking for a company that values quality, ethics, and teamwork. I would like to workfor a company that hires overachievers.8. What made you choose your major?My academic interests are broad, so I sought civil engineering to achieve a great balance of mathematics,chemistry, biology, physics, and writing.9. Have your university and major met your expectations?The College of Engineering at MSU has exceeded my expectations by providing group activities,careerresources, individual attention, and professors with genuine interest in teaching.My major has met my

expectations by about 90%. I would have enjoyed more choices inenvironmental courses, and would havepreferred more calculus-based learning.10. What made you choose this college?I chose this college for the following reasons: my budget limited me to in-state schools, I wasseeking anarea with dog-friendly apartments, the MSU web site impressed me, I saw activestudent groups, and thepeople were very friendly.11. List 2-3 of your greatest achievements since you've been in college and why?Receivingthe SWE Outstanding Member Award and College of Engineering Student Service AwardI got involved with student activities to overcome my debilitating shyness. Receiving these awardssignifiedthat I had accomplished a transition from dragging myself to participate to feelingenergized by it.Receiving the SWE Web Site Award

Without training in web design, I competed against not only the other student sections, butprofessionalsections around the nation. Despite competing with more HTML-experienced people, Ibrought this award tomy section. After getting so much from SWE, I was able to give somethingback.Earning the highest gradein an organic chemistry class of ~200 peopleI worked very hard for this grade and loved the subject, so itwas a great feeling to see that the hardwork paid off.12. Which subjects have you enjoyed studying the most and why?I have enjoyed hydrology, fluids, solid & hazardous waste management, water and wastewater treatment,and oceanography because I love water and environmental topics.Calculus and linear algebra excite mebecause I love logic.I enjoyed the writing and analysis in economic history.Business law thrilled mebecause I have a strong interest in legal matters.13. Which subjects did you dislike and why?Introductory soil elicited little interest in me, most likely because the professor was inexperienced,the bookwas ineffective, and I had little spare time that semester to look into other resources.14. Do you have plans to continue your education?Yes, but not immediately. I plan to continue part time with either an MBA or an environmentalengineeringmasters, depending on which will be more beneficial to my work.15. How would a professor who knows you well describe you? One who does not know youwell?A professor who knows me well would likely describe my personal qualities: sweet, down-to-earth,smart,hard-working, and conscientious.As specific examples of those who did not know me well, my soilsprofessor and soils teachingassistant each considered me smart and respectful, and both thought that Imust have enjoyed theclass a lot, due to my performance.16. Given the chance, how would you alter your education?Knowing now what I like the most, I would have used my electives for extra math and psychologyclasses,

since I tend to be well-rounded enough that a variety of classes are unnecessary; mypersonal reading isdiverse enough. I have found that mathematics and psychology are helpful to allcareer and life paths.


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17. Which part-time job did you enjoy the most and why?Working for PM Environmental was most enjoyable to me, since I felt like I was significantlycontributing tothe company, and I enjoyed learning on my own.18. Interests:Some of my interests include dogs, hiking, snow-shoeing, water sports, writing, reading (especiallyCharlesDickens' novels), skiing, drawing, crafts, and computers.19. What are your strengths?

My strongest strength is the ability to teach myself difficult material, regardless of the subject (withtheexception of theater and drawing blood from dogs, which I have no talent for). Additionally, Ihave alwaysexcelled verbally and look forward to writing opportunities.20. What are your weaknesses?I tend to try to do too many things, leaving little time for myself. I have worked on balancing myself for thelast several months. I am also working on improving my public speaking skills.21. What sort of serious problems have you experienced, and how have you handled them?My apartment building burned down at the end of January during one of my semesters at MSU.Before thefire got too bad, I was able to rescue my pets and the neighbor's dog, as well as mytextbooks andbackpack, but I lost most of my mementos and possessions. While the firemen werepreparing their hoses, Idrove to school (with the animals in the car) to meet my lab partners, whowere waiting for me. I explainedthe situation, emailed my professors, and rushed back to theapartment.Fortunately, I had renter's

insurance. I missed about a week of school to deal with the insurancematters and find a new place to live.In order to salvage my grades and sanity, I dropped a courseand honored my existing student group andresearch commitments. Staying active socially andkeeping myself well-rounded were the best healing toolsfor me. Within a few weeks, I was caughtup and had recovered reasonably from the loss of sentimentalitems.22. Do you or have you in the past experimented with illegal drugs?No. My only addictions are caffeine and sugar.

23. Would you be willing to take a drug test?Of course24. Do you drink alcohol socially?No, but I enjoy Shirley Temples quite a bit.

25. If you had your whole life to live over, what would you do differently and why?I was always good in math, but I wish that I would have focused on math more. I feel that mathematics canlead one anywhere, and is the basis of most disciplines.On a personal level, I would have ensured that,despite pre-teen angst and insecurity, I would have been nice to everyone, even on especially bad days.26. Which is more important to you, your salary or your job?Salary is important, but I couldn't stay with a job that brought me misery when I could support myself doingsomething else; hence, my job is more important.27. What have you found to be the biggest source of motivation in your life?Taking advantage of my strengths so that they are not wasted. Since nobody is lucky enough to be strongin every area, I think it is important to make good use of one's strengths.28. What sorts of things cause you stress, and how do you deal with them?Lack of organization throws me off. To deal with this, I come up with some kind of system to organizethings, even if it is only in my head, in the case when chaos is desirable.29. What is your definition of success?Being a good person by improving the quality of the lives of others, whether it be through work,doing sweetthings, improving the environment/community, taking care of one's family, etc.Superficially, I tend tomeasure success by level of education and abilities within one's career;however, I try to remind myself ofthe things that are more important.30. What qualities should a successful supervisor possess in regard to job requirements andthosewho report to him/her?A successful supervisor should be able to tactfully give criticism, guide, motivate, encourage andfoster apositive work environment.31. How would you develop team spirit among the people that you supervise?

My experience in student groups has taught me that people work best when their friends(teammates) arecounting on them to do well; therefore, I believe that bonding motivates people. I would also foster teampride by promoting our team's assets.


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32. Do you like to work independently or as a team?I like to work independently towards a team goal.33. What kind of work environment do you like the best?I enjoy working with friendly co-workers who can share a laugh while working hard and overachieving.34. How would you resolve conflicts with employees, coworkers, and supervisors?If possible, I would refresh my memory on what I've learned about conflict communication, and thenI woulddiscuss things, honestly and tactfully. I am a big fan of kind sincerity and honesty, as well as humility (when

appropriate).35. In what ways have you learned from your mistakes?Upon getting myself overwhelmed with involvement in too many projects, I changed my approach.Whenpossible, I now start with less than I can handle and add more only as time allows, and in small increments.36. In what areas do you need to improve your skills?I would like to improve my public speaking skills.Top Tips Interview SkillsGreat interviews arise from careful groundwork. You can ace your next interview if you:Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the state from which great basketball players or Olympicskaters operate. You'll need to quiet the negative self-chatter in your head through meditation orvisualization prior to sitting down in the meeting. You'll focus on the present moment and will be less apt toexperience lapses in concentration, nervousness, self-doubt and self-condemnation.

1. Act spontaneous, but be well prepared. Be your authentic self, professional yet real. Engage in trueconversation with your interviewer, resting on the preparation you did prior to coming to the meeting.Conduct several trial runs with another person simulating the interview before it actually occurs. It's thesame as anticipating the questions you'll be asked on a final exam.

2. Set goals for the interview. It is your job to leave the meeting feeling secure that the interviewer knows asmuch as he or she possibly can about your skills, abilities, experience and achievements. If you sensethere are misconceptions, clear them up before leaving. If the interviewer doesn't get around to asking youimportant questions, pose them yourself (diplomatically) and answer them. Don't leave the meeting withoutgetting your own questions answered so that you have a clear idea of what you would be getting yourselfinto. If possible, try to get further interviews, especially with other key players.

3. Know the question behind the question. Ultimately, every question boils down to, "Why should we hireyou?" Be sure you answer that completely. If there is a question about your meeting deadlines, considerwhether the interviewer is probing delicately about your personal life, careful not to ask you whether yourfamily responsibilities will interfere with your work. Find away to address fears if you sense they arepresent.

4. Follow up with an effective "thank you" letter. Don't write this letter lightly. It is another opportunity to marketyourself. Find some areas discussed in the meeting and expand upon them in your letter. Writing a letterafter a meeting is a very minimum. Standing out among the other candidates will occur if you thoughtfullyconsider this follow up letter as an additional interview in which you get to do all the talking. Propose usefulideas that demonstrate your added value to the team.

5. Consider the interviewer's agenda. Much is on the shoulders of the interviewer. He or she has theresponsibility of hiring the right candidate. Your ability to do the job will need to be justified. "Are thereadditional pluses here?" "Will this person fit the culture of this organization?" These as well as otherquestions will be heavily on the interviewer's mind. Find ways to demonstrate your qualities above andbeyond just doing the job.

6. Expect to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." This is a pet question of prepared and evenunprepared interviewers. Everything you include should answer the question, "Why should we hire you?"Carefully prepare your answer to include examples of achievements from your work life that closely matchthe elements of the job before you. Obviously, you'll want to know as much about the job description as youcan before you respond to the question.

7. Watch those nonverbal clues. Experts estimate that words express only 30% to 35% of what peopleactually communicate; facial expressions and body movements and actions convey the rest. Make andkeep eye contact. Walk and sit with a confident air. Lean toward an interviewer to show interest and


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enthusiasm. Speak with a well-modulated voice that supports appropriate excitement for the opportunitybefore you.

8. Be smart about money questions. Don't fall into the trap of telling the interviewer your financialexpectations. You may be asking for too little or too much money and in each case ruin your chances ofbeing offered the job. Instead, ask what salary range the job falls in. Attempt to postpone a moneydiscussion until you have a better understanding of the scope of responsibilities of the job.

9. Don't hang out your dirty laundry. Be careful not to bare your soul and tell tales that are inappropriate orbeyond the scope of the interview. State your previous experience in the most positive terms. Even if youdisagreed with a former employer, express your enthusiasm for earlier situations as much as you can.Whenever you speak negatively about another person or situation in which you were directly involved, yourun the risk (early in the relationship) of appearing like a troubled person who may have difficulty workingwith others.Type of QuestionsInterviewers use five different types of questions - directive, non-directive, hypothetical, behaviordescriptive, and stress. Being aware of the different types can help you in the preparation stage asyou build your skills inventory. It may also help you focus in on exactly what is being asked and what theemployer is looking for in specific questions.

Directive QuestionsThe interviewer determines the focus of your answer. The information that the interviewer wants is veryclear. If you have completed the research on yourself, this type of question should be easy to answer.Example: "What skills do you have that relate to this position?"

"I have very good communication and interpersonal skills that I have refined through several summer andpart-time jobs working with the public. In addition, I am fluent in both English and French."

Non-Directive QuestionsYou determine the focus of your answer. The interviewer asks a general question and does not ask forspecific information. The most common non-directive question is

"Tell me about yourself."When answering the question, keep in mind that the employer is interested in knowing how yourbackground and personality qualify you for the job. In your answer, you should cover four areas: youreducation, related experience, skills and abilities, and personal attributes. As you talk about these areas,relate them to the job you are seeking. Decide what your response will be before starting to speak, thishelps to keep responses concise.Example: " Tell me about yourself."

"I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, and have recently completed the course

in Volunteer Management through the Volunteer Center of Winnipeg. These have given me a strongbackground in many of the principles of human behavior and the recruitment, training, and supervision ofvolunteers. I have experience in working with young adults in a helping capacity, both through my positionas a Peer Advisor at the University of Manitoba, and as a camp counselor at a camp for behaviorallytroubled adolescents. Both of these positions involved individual counseling, facilitating discussion groups,and teaching young people about health issues - all of which relate directly to the services which I would betraining volunteers to provide within your organization. In addition, I thoroughly enjoy working with youngpeople, and can establish rapport with them easily."

Hypothetical or Scenario Questions

When asking a hypothetical question, the interviewer describes a situation, which you may encounter in theposition and asks how you would react in a similar situation. This is a good way to test problem-solving

abilities. When answering this type of question, try applying a simple problem solving model to it gatherinformation, evaluate the information, priories the information, seek advice, weigh the alternatives, make adecision, communicate the decision, monitor the results and modify if necessary.


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Example: "Suppose you are working your first day in our laboratory, and a fire at a nearby work stationbreaks out. What would you do?"

"Before I start working in any laboratory, I always locate the emergency equipment, such as eye washes,fire blankets and alarms. I would also review the safety protocols. So in this situation, I would be aware ofthese. As soon as I noticed the fire, I would shut down my experiment and if the fire is significant, I wouldpull the firm alarm and help to evacuate the lab. In the case of very small flame, I would ask the staff

member at the station what I could do to help, Which would vary with the type of substances involved.

Behavior Descriptive or Behavioral Questions

This type of question is becoming increasingly popular in interview situations. It asks what you did in aparticular situation rather than what you would do. Situations chosen usually follow the job description fairlyclosely. Some employers feel that examples of past performance will help them to predict futureperformance in similar situations. There is no right or wrong answer to this type of question, but keep inmind that you should relate the answer to the position. If you are interviewing for a research position, talkabout a research project you completed.

Example: "Give me an example of a work situation in which you were proud of your performance."

"While working as a sales representative for XYZ Company for the summer, I called on Prospective clientsand persuaded them of the ecological and economic benefits of Recycling. I also followed up on clients toensure that they were satisfied with the service They received. This involved both telephone and in-personcontacts. I increased sales 34% over the same period in the previous year."

When preparing for this type of questioning, it is crucial that you review the skills and qualities that theposition would require and identify specific examples from your past which demonstrated those traits.

Stress Questions

Some questions will surprise you and possibly make you feel uncomfortable during an interview. For

Example:" Which do you prefer, fruits or vegetables?"There are many reasons why an interviewer mightask such questions. They may want to see how you react in difficult situations, or they may simply be tryingto test your sense of humor. Such questions may directly challenge an opinion that you have just stated orsay something negative about you or a reference. Sometimes they ask seemingly irrelevant questions suchas,

"If you were an animal, what type of animal would you be?"

The best way to deal with this type of question is to recognize what is happening. The interviewer is tryingto elicit a reaction from you. Stay calm, and do not become defensive. If humour comes naturally to you,you might try using it in your response, but it is important to respond to the question. What you say is notnearly as important as maintaining your composure.

Example: "Which do you like better, Lions or Tigers?"

"Oh, lions definitely. They appear so majestic and are very sociable. To be honest, I think that seeing TheLion King four times has probably contributed to this!"Is Internship Important For a FresherWhat is Internship?An internship is a method of on-the-job training. Internships may be paid or unpaid. It is more understoodas a temporary position. It is generally referred to exchange of service and knowledge between student andan organization. Generally internships are taken up by students pursuing their graduation or by freshers

who have completed their academics. There is no bar as to who can take up an internship.

Importance of Internship Experience for a fresher


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As a fresher, doing an internship is always an added advantage. It definitely adds to your resume and yougain hands on experience. Doing an internship also helps you understand if this particular job is of yourinterest and you would want to build your career in it.

Get Closer - to your entry level jobIts always recommended to do an internship as soon as you are out of college & are in search of yourfirst job. Doing an internship gives you a feel of working in the professional environment and helps youexplore the corporate culture. You get an understanding of how a process is followed and how different

departments coordinate. Saves your time

As we all know the job market is on an average scale, grabbing an opportunity to do an internshipprogram is an added advantage. You can always showcase the same on the resume. Once you are outof college you may get your first job probably after a month, 6 months or a year. To avoid this gap, doingan internship is always a smart thing to do. This is turn helps you to avoid gaps after you are out of yourcollege.

Grab the opportunityWhile doing an internship do not expect anything more from the organization than a good experience. Asa fresher you should hunger for gaining experience than anything else. All you need to work towards isgaining the maximum experience and an acknowledgement from the company that you have completedyour internship.

Buckle up Get Set for the Job Market!Right out of college..hunting for the first job can be frightening. Many questions may be a part of yournight mare. How do I know which companies are hiring? What jobs to apply for? Which company should Ichoose? Should I look for a good company or look for a good salary? How do I get noticed? Where do Istart from?Here are answers to some question you may have in your mind!!How do I begin?You need to understand that, with no previous work experience to show the kind of employee you can be, itis important to involve at various levels to show the commitment and dedication to your selected careerpath. The first important and intelligent thing to do would be to create an excellent professional resume.The resume should show the best out of you and the interviewer should spend only 30seconds to knowabout you. It is always a good idea to get your professional resume done by resume experts. Get your

resume done by professional resume experts.

How Do I Get Noticed?We can do so many things to get started, apart from preparing a new resume; you should get active on thesocial networking sites & registering on all the job websites. Its not a bad idea to invest in being premiummembers on any job websites as it may fetch you more opportunities and you may gain more ideas aboutthe job market.

What kind of job are you looking for?It is very important for you to know the job you are looking for or what you want to do professionally. Thebest way is to prepare a list of things you are good at. This can be done by digging into your experienceswhile you were studying. Experience could refer to your projects, internships, workshops, on the jobtraining, summer jobs, seminars etc. Make a study and identify positions that are best suited for your skillssets & are of your interest.

How to build a strong network?Strong network refers to people who could guide you to get a job. Getting a professional resume,registering on job portals is not the only way to find a job. Building a network of people who can guide youto find a job would be a good idea. Spread the word without hesitating because ultimately you are lookingfor a job. Approach your seniors or mentors who are already working, parents friends, batch mates who arealready placed, neighborhood (thats if you know they are working in a company which is of your interesttoo). Discuss your interests with them and take advice as to how to get closer to your goal of getting a jobin your preferred area of work.

How do I market myself?Here we refer to marketing yourself online i.e. building your online network. Since you have stepped out ofcollege, it is more important for you to work towards building a professional network than building your
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social network. The first step is to get familiar with LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter. Here you can connect withcompanies and people that could bring you closer to find new job opportunities.

To learn about the companies & the available roles follow these companies on LinkedIn, Facebook &Twitter. Networking is about connecting, engaging, sharing ideas & building relationships. It is important toidentify and connect with people with similar interest and explore more about what they do. Once peopleidentify that they are of the same grounds of interests as you, they may start sharing information and

engaging with you on a regular basis.

One more important thing that we cannot ignore is your profile description. It is important to ensure thatyour profile description is written to the best; as many employers today consider profiles after reading thesame. Hence spend quality time in building an excellent profile description about yourself.

Another important thing to note pay close attention to what your profile says about you. Employers todaygive a lot of weightage to social media profiles to shortlist candidates.

Get active on LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitternow!How to polish my interview skills?Getting set to attend interview is one important part of getting yourself a job.

Learn about the company:Every interviewer would want you to know about their company. Its alwaysgood to browse the website of the company and learn more about the company before you get to theinterview desk.

Know your role: It is an advantage if you could know an in-depth knowledge of the role. This could helpyou prepare better in terms of role related questions.

Mock: Doing a mock interview probably with an experienced person would be a good idea. It could beyour senior, your sibling, your friend etc.

Take feedback: Ensure you take feedback of your body language, confidence, eye contact, volume etc.Try working on improving them if required.

It is important for you to know and understand that, we cannot get a job if we do only one of the above.They all go hand in hand and it is important for you to get your professional resume by experts, buildyour network, build your online network, prepare before you get to an interview (either written test or

a face to face interview)

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