TOP TEN CRITICAL FACTORS:

With all the different questions being referenced, you may wonder what exactlu the
employer is looking for. An I will tell you. Following is the lost of the top ten critical
success factors that nearly every empoyer is seeking.

1. positive attitude towards work

2. proficiency in field of study
3. communication skills
4. interpersonal skills
5. confidence
6. critical thinking and problem solcing skills
7. flexibility
8. self motivation
9. leadership
10. teamwork

Show your competence in as many of the above critical success factors as possible
and you will rise above the competition.
STATIONERY FOR AN INTERVIEW
• always carry light weigth and presentable index or folder
• also carry good quality pen as well
• but try to avoid display of mobile(and make sure either it is switched off or
atleast in silent mode)
• take best quality copies of your testimonials and other certificates

PREINTERVIEW TIPS:
• visit the organizations website
• read their annual report
• search press archives for recent mews
• examine industry for general info
• identify the relevant trade association and find out about current issues facing
the industrial sector.

Once you have collected the background info find out some of the specifics of their
business. For example:

• competitors
• customers
• financial
• history
• industry sector-what is the current business climate
• ownership
• products and services

creating a dossier of info will help you build up a picture of the organization and give
you the basis to plan smart questions to ask at the interview. Further more, arriving at
the interview with the info to hand will demonstrate you are very interested and have
taken the time to learn about their business-that is always acknowledged and
influential in decision making.
DRESS UP:

While the college campus may be the perfect forum in which to exhibit your flair of
fashion style, the interview is not the place to do so. I don’t like a necktie any better
than the next person, but it is still a fact of life in interviewing. Even though many
companies have relaxed the internal company dresscode, interviews still follow the
conservative standard. Don’t buck the trend.

Unfortunately, most college grads are woefully underprepared with proper interview
dress. They feel they can “get by” with what is already in their wardrobe. Usually not.
Dress for the world outside the college is quite different from the campus scene.
Remember that stylish is not conservative. You should be dong the talking, not your
clothes.

This is not to say that you need to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. Go for
quality over quantity. One or two well-chosen business suits will serve you all the
way to the first day on the job and beyond. Then, when you are making some
money( and have a chance to see what the standard “uniform” is for the company),
you can begin to round out your wardrobe. For now, no one will find fault you for
wearing the same sharp outfit each time you interview. If you desire some variety
within a limited budget, you might consider varying your shirt/tie/accessories as a
simple way to change your look without breaking your wallet.

For those of you who need a quick review of the basics, follow these guidelines for
successful interview dress.

MEN AND WOMEN:

• conservative two-piece business suit(solid dark blue or grey is best)

• conservative long sleeved shirt(white is best, pastel is next best)
• clean, polished conservative shoes
• clean, trimmed fingernails
• minimal cologne or perfume
• empty pockets—no bulges or tinkling coins
• no gum, candy or cigarettes
• light briefcase
• avoid any accessory which create noise
• no visible body piercing

MEN:

• necktie should be silk with a conservative pattern

• incase of shalwar kameez wear a waist coat
• dark shoes
• dark socks
 • get a haicut
• well trimmed beards
• mustaches should be trimmed as well
• no rings other than engagement ring or college ring
• no earrings

one final note on interview dress: while it goes without saying that your interview
clothes should be neat and clean, very few interviewees give the same time and
attention to the shoes-Shoes? Yes, shoes. I am aware of atleast one corporate recruiter
who forms first impression based solely on shoes. This person does not have a shoe
fetish—he subjectively judges that those who pay attention to details like their shoes
are also likely to be diligent in their work life. And it is not just that person’s opinion.
Many have said that you can judge a person by their shoes. You will find that many
ex-military officers are especially aware of a person;s shoes. Make sure your shoes
are conservative, clean, and polished.
AT THE INTERVIEW:
The following pointers will help you make a good initial impression. Remember that
your competency and credibility can be monitered from the moment you arrive at the
interview destination, not just from when the interview begins:

• arrive with plenty of time. If you are going to be late ensure that you or your
consultant has let the employer know
• be friendly and courteous to the receptionist
• make sure you know the exact name and title of the person you are meeting
• read any available in-house magazine, brochures or corporate communications
in reception and take these with you if you can
• dress smart (business suits) and ensure your appearance is clean and tidy
• smile when you meet the interviewer
• accept tea, coffee or water if you would like some- it’s a good way of relaxing
and often gives you a chance to build rapport
• have a pen and pad of paper with you. You might be asked to complete an
application form and you might wish to take notes in the interview
HOW TO ENTER:
• knock the door and ask for the permission
• enter with confidence and offer SALAM and handshake
• wait a while before you sit, and preferably ask permission to sit

BODY LANGUAGE:
NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION counts for over 90% of our actual
communication and this includes tone of voice, expressions, foot movements, hand
gestures and overall posture.
Even if you are nervous, it is important to be aware of how you appear and how you
want to appear.

DO:

• smile when you are first introduced

• shake hands firmly
• opt for relaxed and open posture because this will portray a confident and
calm manner
• make direct eye contact because it indicates positive, affirmative language
• speak with confidence and stay aware of your voice speed, volume and pitch
• take deep breathes and stay calm
• be aware of how your interviewer reacts to you. Those who match your body
language are silently signaling their approval or agreement

DON’T

• cross your legs and fold your arms, it can indicate that you feel defensive or
negative
• look down and avoid eye contact because it suggests insecurity
• be over confident as it might be interpreted as arrogance
• be afraid of silences or breaks in the conversation-answer the question you’ve
been asked in a concise manner and avoid filling empty silences by repeating
yourself or with meaningless words or phrases
WHAT WILL THE EMPLOYER BE
LOOKING FOR?
• TEAMWORK
• FLEXIBILITY
• WILLINGNESS TO LEARN
• ORGANIZED
• AN EYE FOR DETAIL
• QUICK THINKING
• ENTHUSIASM
• CURIOUSITY
• INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
• RELIABILTY
• A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
• SELF CONFIDENCE
• INTEGRITY
• COMMUNICATION SKILLS
• SELF AWARENESS
• PATIENCE
• LEADERSHIP

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

Frequently asked questions and how to answer them

Mental fear of the unknown is often what produces the physical symptom of
nervousness. In addition to preparing yourself physically, you also need to prepare
yourself mentally. The best way to prepare mentally is to know what may be
coming. Fear of the unknown can only exist when there is an unknown. Take the
time to understand some of the standards when it comes to interviewing questions.

The following are some of the most difficult questions you will face in the course
of your job interviews. Some of the questions may seems rather simple on the
surface—such as “ tell me about yourself”—but these questions can have a variety
of answer. The more openended the questions, the wider the variation in the
answers. Once you have become practiced in your interviewing skills, you will
find that you can use almost any question as a launching pad for a particular topic
or compelling story.

Others are “classic” interview questions, such as , “ what is your greatest

weakness?” Questions which most people answer inappropriately. In this case, the
standard textbook answer for the “greatest weakness” question is to give a veiled
positive-“I work too much. I just work and work and work”—which ends up
sending the wrong message. Either you are lying or, worse yet, you are telling the
 truth, in which case you define working too much as a weakness and really don’t
want to work much at all.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS:

1. tell me about yourself?

2. why should I hire you?
3. what is your long-range objective? Where do you want to be 10 or 15
years from now?
4. how has your education prepared you for your career?
5. are you a team player?
6. have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it
resolved?
7. what is your greatest weakness?
8. if I ware to ask your professor to describe you, what would they say?
9. what qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?
10. if you had to live your life over again, what would you change?

ASKING QUESTION-OPPORUNITY TO IMPRESS

Asking smart, informed questions will demonstrate that you have prepared thoroughly
and are taking the interview seriously.

• Take a list of questions with you into the interview to act as a prompt
• Carefully consider the way you ask for your questions and how you react to
the responses-try to be inquisitive, but not aggressive
• Listen carefully to the responses given
• Take care not end up interviewing the interviewer!

50 STANDARD QUESTIONS

• Tell me about yourself

• What do you want to do with your life?
• Do you have any actual work experience?
• How would you describe your ideal job?
• Why did you choose this career?
• When did you decide on this career?
• What goals do you have in your career?
• How do you plan to achieve these goals?
• How do you evaluate success?
• Describe a situation in which you were successful?
• What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?
• What accomplishment have given you the most satisfaction in your life?
• If you had to live your life ever again, what would you change?
• Would you rather work with info or with people?
• Are you a team player?
• What motivates you?
• Why should I hire you?
• Are you a goal-oriented person?
• Tell me about some of your recent goals and what you did to achive them?
• What are your short term goals?
• What is your long-range objectives?
• What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
• Do you handle conflicts well?
• Have you ever had conflicts with your boss or professor?
• What major problems have you had to deal with recently?
• Do you handle pressure well?
• What is your greatest weakness?
• If I were to ask one of your professors to derscribe you, what would he or she
say?
• Why did you choose to attend your college?
• What changes would you make to your college?
• How has your education prepared you for your career?
• What were your favorite classes? Why?
• Do you enjoy doing independent research?
• Who were your favorite professors?
• Why is your GRADES/GPA not higher?
• Do you have any plans for further education?
• How much training do you think you’ll need to become a productive
employee?
• What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?
• Why do you want to work in the ____ firm?
• What do you know about our company?
• Why are you interested in our company?
• Do you have any location preferences?
• How familiar are you with the community that we are located in?
• Will you relocate in the future?
• Are your willing to travel? How much?
• Is money important to you?
• How much money do you need to make you happy?
• What kind of salary are you looking for?
QUICK REVIEW OF INTERVIEW TIPS:

1. rehearse
2. be punctual
3. consider the position when deciding what to wear
4. arrive at an interview alone
5. relax
6. be confident
7. consider ahead of tome some possible questions that could be asked
8. come prepared
9. offer a solid handshake
10. don’t let odd questions throw you
11. if a question is unclear, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification
12. study the job description before the interview
13. look the interviewer in the eye
14. be aware of your body language
15. answer questions as accurately and efficiently as possible
16. be professional
17. be honest
18. be prepared to talk about personal experiences that are relevant
19. listen
20. be polite
21. make sure the interviewer feels in control
22. don’t talk negatively about your current employer
23. be ready to ask questions if necessary
24. find out when you can expect a decision
25. if it is a phone interview, remember the interviewer cant see you, so your tone
of voice is extremely important.