INTERVIEW SKILLS PREPARATION

MindRadiusEdulitions

Mentoring You For LEADERSHIP 08982568580, mindradius@gmail.com, https://www.facebook.com/MindRadius

Tell me about yourself.Provide:

1. A brief summary of your personal details2. Education3. Professional experience4. What are Your weaknesses and strengths

Examples: I am People’s person. I really enjoy meeting & working with a lot of different people. I Like To Bring Perfection & Pay Attention To All Little Details & ensure that everything

gets correct. I am a Creative thinker. I like to explore alternative solutions to problems & have an

open mind about what will work best. I keep grooming myself for efficiency & organized way of working. It helps me to be

productive for job.

I enjoy solving problems, troubleshooting issues & coming up with solutions in a timely manner.

1. What are your aspirations?

Sample Examples:

Interviewee1: “I look forward to leverage my expertise in ‘Software Development’ at an established Organization that offers me challenging job Profiles and width of work performances aligned with best Compensation.

Candidate is assertive of needs, wishes to secure a job in a large organization that provides a higher DESIGNATION, a better PAY PACKAGE and more exposure.

Interviewee2: “I look forward to enhance my expertise in ‘Software Development’ and hone other relevant skills as well. My dream is to have hands-on experience in as many technical projects as I can post which I become well adept at the skill I have chosen to work upon.”

Interviewee 2 is more realistic. He is NOT INTERESTED in fancy designations and pay packages but he intends to master the skill that he possesses. Further, he wishes to develop other related skills as well.

If the interviewer is looking for a sincere and hard working candidate; he might select the second interviewee.

2. What are your strengths & Weaknesses?

Avoid (saying)

1. I’m a perfectionist.2. My biggest weakness is actually my biggest strength.

A.Strengths:

Emphatic Communication skills: Possess verbal and written interpersonal skills, have convincing & Influencing prowess, listening er, respectful, honest, empathetic, flexible, tolerant

Self motivation and Determination: intelligent, determined personality & a quick learner

Leadership Quality: adaptable leadership style –changeable according to Individuals and circumstances. Building Teams, Conceptualizing, Planning & Delivering is my strength. Clarity & Initiative taking are other.

Decision-making Skills: Good logic and analytical skills with decisions-making ability.

Networking /Problem Solving/Innovative Thinking/Technical Skills: Initiative Taking, Extrovert & Out-of-box thinking, Problem solving by going into root of it.

Adaptibility.

B.Weaknesses

The Interviewer tests:

1. Your capability to handle Challenges.2. Honesty

3. Watches for corrective measures you take.

Sample Examples:

Too focused:“I am too focused on my career as improving is a perennial process: unstoppable. But I have learnt balancing Professional & Personal lives.

“I schedule the Projects in hand & meet deadlines & sometimes I have to compromise with Personal life.”

Too Organized:

“Being organized wasn't my strongest point, but I implemented a time management system that really helped my organization skills.

“I like to make sure that my work is perfect, so I tend to perhaps spend a little too much time checking it. However, I've come to a good balance by setting up a system to ensure everything is done correctly the first time.”

“I used to wait until the last minute to set appointments for the coming week, but I realized that scheduling in advance makes much more sense. “

“Sometimes, I spend more time than necessary on a task, or take on tasks personally that could easily be delegated to someone else. Although I've never missed a deadline, it is still an effort for me to know when to move on to the next task, and to be confident when assigning others work. “

“I've learned to make my perfectionism work to my advantage at work. I am excellent at meeting deadlines, and with my attention to detail, I know my work is correct. “

Multi-tasking

“I used to like to work on one project to its completion before starting on another, but I've learned to work on many projects at the same time, and I think it allows me to be more creative and effective in each one. “

Getting Nervous around peopleToday, with the advent of the new work culture where a person seldom meets another and where the only time people speak to each other is during coffee breaks, there are some people who have become introverts.  This causes some people to become nervous about giving presentations and speeches.

Being a DebaterSome individuals are too passionate about work and require a reason for any change that is introduced in the company. Though this is good for the project and the product, it might rub some people the wrong way.

Going out of one’s WayThere are several people in organizations all over the world who take all kinds of work from their colleagues, whether it is their work or not. While these people are an asset to the company, they may create antagonism.

Lack of some skillsNo person has all the requisite skills for the job profile. This is one of the greatest disadvantages that one has, because once a person starts earning, they find it difficult to go back to their learning ways.Remember that these are just concepts and you should back up each of these strengths and weaknesses with an example.

Sensitive person: Taking things to heart and getting too disappointed when things are done in the wrong way.

Too helpful: Crossing limits while helping teammates.

3. What are your Short Term Career Goals ?

Adding Up Skills for - Professional & Personal Growth Getting Hang of All Departments’ work as to know Organizational Hierarchy work

System.

Climbing Up Higher in Professional Ladder

Gaining a Hike in Compensation

Enhancing Life Style

4.What are your Career Plan 5 years down the line?

Your aspirations are tested by this question – Whether are you here to just do a REGULAR job or LEARN & ENHANCE your expertise. Are you trying to ‘cash-on’ the expertise you already have in order to climb the ‘corporate ladder’ or you wishing to secure a safe and permanent position? An interviewer matches your answers with the desired traits of an ideal employee for the job in concern. You shall match their trait requirements.In 5 years time, I see myself going up the Corporate Ladder, learning new Professional skills to grow: Professionally & personally. Stay glued to current job for next 2-3 years & gain expertise in my area.

Examples:

In 5 years, I see myself in a senior position (a team leader? high level executive?), having more responsibilities, coaching other employees and managing more people.

“, I will master my profession within this company because I see this job as an opportunity to become a talent in my field – by enhancing my professionalism while learning new skills, interacting with different people and integrating new work methods”.

“ I will take up a Course in ‘Influencing Consumers’ / ‘Six Sigma’/ ‘Inter-personal Communication’/Leadership & Change Management Skills for Business to develop an holistic viewpoint towards Sales & Marketing Operations as a process for adapting it to the changing business environment. I definitely see this job and this company as integral parts of my plans for the future. “

5.What motivates you/ What are you passionate about?

Examples

Learning For ever

I am an innate learner. Always wish to possess the passion of a child. I specially focus on the challenges or fears. Anything which I fear drives me into learning: be it Technology, Handling difficult people, Phone, Cyber Security or new skills. Inquisitiveness always pays in long term. The less lacking you are-the less troubles in your growth.

Achieving Goals in Stipulated Time Setting Up Educational Institutes & Training them to be the Perfect

Professionals & Human Beings

Hailing from a Business & Education synergy sharing Family, I delved deep into education as well as Business & it helped me infuse Corporate values in today’s Education System – as Indian Education system needs an overhauling & I am passionate about it. Setting up Skill Development hierarchy system from School Education to Higher Education – is my Passion & further enhancing Pupils’ Sectorial Skills with Industrial need match.

Setting Up Welfare Foundation/ Hospital

Charity , help to mankind is my passion. I spend good about a week at my Charity Centre & take upon myself various responsibilities: Of Coordinator, Volunteer, Teacher Or a Simple Care taker. It gives me immense satisfaction to help humanity.

Friends and Family

Family provides you reasons to live, to being – their love, bonding, compassion & values bind you & drive you towards a patronizing role – a Good son/daughter, an Understanding & sharing Husband/Wife, a person who loves an ever-present blossoming relationship.

Understand & delve deep into issues or subject of concern

I am passionate about delving deep into the subject of concern- be it a Project or a Personal problem. When something catches my attention I need to understand it, to figure it out, to know how it works or what is the root cause of the issue. The minutest detail shall be recorded in my mind, many different aspects, perspectives or another points of view too I consider & try to find out a common ligament joining them. This keep me ever-going & engaged

TravellingMy passion is living life to the fullest and on the edge, in travel and when following my heart. I've also got a real passion for God and living for Him. And an undeniable one would be my passion for animals. I love animals. They may not mean much to us but to them, we are their whole world.I am a believer. I want to achieve the most in life within ten years- At 55 I want to topple my life and start new. Sky is the limit- REACH UP.

Spirituality

I am spiritual & my awareness about myself & others has developed me into a great human being. The awareness that I have purpose in life & people surrounding me are all l loving beings who deserve respect & gratitude. That all Individuals are powerful

source of energy & hidden potential. It taught me to be humble, conscious of present time, in being; with no ‘past’ or ‘future’ perspectives BUT ‘Present’.

Passionate about music....

Music is a sacred practice…..a form of worship, an expression of connecting somebody at soul level. It’s a communiqué; more powerful & subtle than words. It helps me escape the mundane & relieve myself of the issues which might boggle me.

Management

What is passion? Something we love, something we are excited about. The desire of doing that thing constantly is a passion. I have a passion to become a great manager. I love to manage things and I love team work. I want to be a great decision maker. I love to observe people. I want to be a great speaker. To become a great manager, one should have an ability to influence people. I love to do all these things. They excite me. That's what passion is.

Multi-taskingThe Multi tasking helps me save time & handle many Projects or task parallel. Making use of my Left & Right brain parallely excites me. The time I save from doing tasks separately, I invest in learning more from the sites of my interest & upgrading knowledge perennially.

Happiness

Bringing smile to somebody’s face is perhaps the biggest task. I wish ,make people happy with the help I could offer them. Whether giving them free coaching, offering some medical help, sharing their sorrow or happiness.

6.Why should we hire you?While answering this question, remember that the answer should not come across to be egotistical or be completely unrealistic. You should focus on providing reasons to hire you over someone else in the best way you can. The interviewer wants to hear – how you are going to create value. Therefore, focus on ‘value creation’ when answering.points to consider:

In addition, your professional ambitions should be made clear – the motivation and dedication that you have for the profession and the opening position.

Your body language when you answer the question is important too. For example, your body language should make it clear that you have thought it over and given a carefully worded answer, instead of coming up with a made up, contrived answer.

Attract Interviewer’s attention to your key skills and strengths, like: Networking, Problem Solving, Creative Thinking, Communication and Influencing Skills. (Skills Suiting to job profile & requirement)

It should be followed by the motivation and dedication quotient that you have for the profession and the opening position.

Make a short list of all your advantages and create a summary paragraph indicating the positive attributes- Professional & Personal that you would bring to the new job position.

7. Why do you want to work for us ?

1. Talk about the Company : Its Profile, Range of Product & Services, Working Environment, Policies & what you found about it after an exhaustive research (You need do ample amount of Research)

2. Express views & enthusiasm about working in the company

3. What synergy do you share between your skills & job position?

4. What Value Addition shall you be making to company?

This position challenges me to keep up with the cutting edge of technologies.

I would like to develop my ( )skills to acquire in-depth experience in my profession for the benefit of this organization.

Since I am looking forward to a long-term career development I believe I would benefit from working here.

This company has a positive work environment & provides a wonderful opportunity to utilize my skills and qualifications for its further development.

Being a part of a ( ) team is a job experience I always love to have.

The company’s good reputation and its successful strategies and values make everyone want to work for such a company.

8. Do you prefer working independently or in a Team?

Try to explain any dynamics of working together to define goals or working together to achieved goals and targets. Some important aspects of working in a team and having an effective teamwork -

1. Support: Teams create an environment of support, boosting the confidence of individuals, allowing people do their best. Teamwork can create talents and raise natural leaders.

2. Helping someone: If one is weak, others can support or handle the work – So, it usually builds up power-resource for the organization.

3. Common goal: The more people work in an harmony together, create positive team environment, help and support each other and delegate tasks/duties the more they learn and step away to become better workers in their own jobs.

4. Communication and cooperation: Teams can create better communication and respectful relationships among employees.

“I have worked in teams and independently as well. Some jobs match and require a teamwork effort while others fit an individual work.”

“I find that working in a team increases the work performance, as well as creates a proper work flow and information distribution between team members which ensured that the project is completed in a timely and efficient manner.”

“While working independently, I realized that I was the complete owner of the project (i.e. one man project) and therefore considered this responsibility as an incentive/bonus.

“During my Project making days in College, I have had opportunities to work in a team on an impromptu basis, as well as provide value and support to the Project, developed by the team. I have immensely enjoyed playing both roles, and I think that I would be comfortable in both roles, that of a team member as well as a sole entity.”

9.What kind of Working environment do you prefer? A Team environment of course is very motivating factor at Workplace as goals can’t be achieved singularly – the band of goals should be divided among Team members suiting their ability & skills.

10. What are Your Inspirations?

Good example: “I have always been inspired by My Parents & Ratan Tata; the legendary Business Tycoon. Both taught me to be sensitive to humanity & needs & to be passionate about the work.

Bad example: “My hero is my piano teacher. He has this knack understanding human feelings and catering to them through his music.”

11. How do you evaluate success?Success to me is: achieving your goals with passion steering you towards it, an in-built system to bear responsibility for ‘being’.

12. What are Your Greatest Achievement s so far?

Great initiatives and fresh ideas. Out-of-box thinking. Implementing Theoretical learning into the practical one. Learning to be a perennial Learner. Surviving without any budget from parents (I am feeding myself)

13.What were the results of your achievement? • These achievements have helped me turn up into Better quality performer.

Helped me think about alternative career options. Enabled be to adopt practical orientation to learning & develop my own

(Product/Service) Taught me to be self-reliant always & be on my own.

14. How do you handle stress & Pressure?

The interviewers may employ various techniques to evaluate the applicant’s behavior under stress by trying to evoke an emotional reaction from the applicant. Therefore, the interviewer may behave in an unexpected ways and also combine some of these methods, such as:

Displaying a hostile attitude Being aggressive or arrogant

Behaving in an uninterested manner

Avoiding  eye contact

Interrupting during answers

Failing to “listen”

Taking notes

Taking long breaks – not speaking after answers

Asking irritating or ‘demanding’ questions

Disagreeing and arguing

Repeating the same questions

Asking sarcastically: “Is this your answer? Are you sure about that?”

Making you wait a long time before the interview starts

You’ve always wanted to work in a challenging environment that keeps you motivated and focused.

You know how to prioritize tasks.

You should tell interviewers that you are a problem solver rather then one who reacts to stress.

You got used to multi-tasking at work.

You plan the work in advance in order to reduce pressures.

15.Are you willing to travel?

16.How do you handle criticism & conflicts?Though I keep away from conflicts but there were some situations wherein a disagreement led to conflict which had to be resolved. From those experiences, I have noticed that the main reason behind the occurrence of a conflict is ‘Our Own Frame of Reference’ – We fail see Others’ situations. I try to reach to the depth of the conflict & settle it down .

17. Dealing with conflict? Give an instance wherein you had to settle a conflict between two

individuals.

In my team, there were two colleagues whose relationship deteriorated to such an extent that the atmosphere they created was terrible.They were far away from resolving it themselves, hence I decided if I could do something about it. Calming them down and taking out the heat from the situation was my first and foremost aim. Thereafter, I arranged for a three-way meeting later in the day in a meeting room away from the section in the hope that there would not be any disturbance. I ensured that I was the in charge all the time of the discussion of the issues and that the aim was to arrive at an agreeable positive way of moving ahead or a compromise. It is very necessary to understand every person’s feelings and standpoints, without having the need to agree with them. It wasn’t that easy at first as both of them just tried to prove themselves right. However, I put my diplomatic skills into the picture and made them realize that there was no future in the present situation and that the only possible solution visible was a compromise. About an hour later, with a shaky compromise, we left the room.However, I ensured that whenever they had to face similar situation, the first thing that would do is to be more civil and later on, be friendlier towards each other in time. The result, I saw an atmosphere of ease and then a normal and work friendly environment.

18. Who is your Role Model & why?

Always mention some personality or person who inspired you. Substantiate with the reasons why he/she is your role model. What changes they brought in your life.Examples

My Parents are my Role Models as they are the ones who taught me to win over Problems. Their constant encouragement & unquestionable faith in me & my qualifications kept me going. They gave me full independence to choose the path: of life & Career.

My Brother/Sister is my role model as he/she is the one whom I can always confine to & disclose my secrets without fear & even accept my mistakes openly.

My ………is my Role Model because he taught me what is to be a HUMAN… I learnt to be an excellent human being from him/Her, to be emotionally intelligent, Learnt empathy, faithfulness & Confidence from Him/Her. He/She is the one who introduced me to my DREAMS, taught me to live them.

My Teacher….She/He is my Role Model because She/He introduced me to MYSELF, guided to my goals, to my strengths & Weaknesses, helped me understand myself, taught me to look at things transparently; without any prejudices & take things in stride. She/He is the one who sculptured me into a FIGHTER.

19.What is your USP/differentiating attributes? (Give Examples)

I possess high spirited working style. I am very Adaptable.People praise my Foresightedness.My Technical, Aptitude & Reasoning Skills won me many praises & friends & even some tutoring offers. My Passion For achieving Goals.Multi-taskingMaintaining Positive Attitude under all circumstances.My inquisitiveness about everything.Insatiable Hunger for Knowledge.

19.What is your possible role you think (the job profile) /What are you expected to do?

The Candidate should know the Job Description, Job profile before moving for an Interview.

20.When have you been most satisfied in your life?Relate the answer with your life, Career, Friends & Relatives. Give an evidence

through a small story of your Life – an incident which gave you an opportunity to do what you liked to do the most. (helping people, teaching poors, saving a human or an animal’s life, solving a friend’s personal or Professional issues etc)

21. If someone offers you better salary after you are hired by us what would you do?

I shall bring the case to you. As Company’s norms I shall continue the job & would send thank you note to the other Company.

22. What things you don’t like to do?

23.Tell me about an accomplishment you consider most significant.

State some accomplishments you made. May be doing a Project successfully, developing a Prototype of

Model, Placing yourself for Summer Internship & job at a Good Company, getting over the fears you had or

turning your dreams into reality: getting a job, Starting your own Business or earning a first appreciation.

24.What’s your superpower? Your spirit animal?

May be duck (she keeps working under water silently)

Lion (Ferocious approach to work)

Dog (faithful)

An Ant (Tireless worker)

Cat: Individualistic, Survivor

Cow: Gullible, Vulnerable

25. Describe your personality.

Top of the Document

One can be honest, selfless, Initiative taker, quick learner, responsive, insightful, responsible, motivated, punctual. One needs to possess suitable Personality traits for jobs applied. Understand with examples given below.

Engineering Positions require good reasoning, Aptitude & Problem Solving Aptitude. Inter & Intra-Personal Communication & Critical Thinking skills are other very important skills to be possessed.

Sales and marketing positions usually require the following personality traits among others: Excellent Communicator, Negotiator, Enthusiastic, Persuasive, Outgoing, Adaptability, Cooperative and Goal driven.

People applying to customer service and help desk positions require having: Interpersonal communication skills – verbal and written, listener, Decision Maker, Effective and Learning-agility.

For accounting and banking positions: Detail oriented, Precise, Methodical, Organized, Rational and Integrity.

Managers and leaders may require having: Adjustment, Extraversion, Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience, General Self-Efficacy, Organizing, Teaching and Coaching Subordinates and Motivating Others.  

26.What do you do to come out of the tricky situations?/ Most difficult situation you came out of?

It can be a Personal or a Professional Situation. The Employer wishes to identify your hidden talents as to how capable are you to identify problems, what’s your approach towards solutions and how do you implement those learnings in future actions.

Strategizing: Getting ready for difficult situations. Acknowledging:  Communicating the problem/situation that was raised.

Clarifying:  Understanding the root cause of the problem.

Providing Resolutions:  Considering possible solutions and choosing one.

Taking action: Rectifying/solving the problem.

Checking back:  Learning the results.

27. What is ‘Success’ according to you? How do you measure the

success of a person?

Every individual has a certain purpose in life. The purpose is the sole driver to his/her actions, expectations, dreams and aspirations. it is necessary to try and figure out passion that drives you to gain clear vision & charting out sustainable goals.

A Probable answer would be – “knowing the things that motivate me and prepare me to answer those inquisitiveness in me every new day.”

“I am motivated by constant progress. I find it exciting to implement new ideas and see them through to fruition. I find the most satisfaction in implementing “out-of-the-box” ideas that ultimately prove their value. I like to be challenged on the job and desire the opportunity to utilize my skills and talents.”

“I believe in trying, learning & unlearning every single day & taking corrective actions when necessary. I always want to try new things and ask for feedback that leads to improved results.”