ANY-INTERVIEW-PREPARATION

INTRODUCTION:-
This document talks about General and Behavioural Interview questions which are probably the
most important ones in ANY sort of an interview.
So , read through this to get a general idea and prepare well. This will give you an insight on
yourself. DON’T BE LAZY START PREPARING NOW!! I have attended for 4-5 interviews and these
all were in-depth interviews. So I understood the most important questions that would be useful to
the student community.
With my sister's help (who has attended around 70-80 interviews), I was able to clear the main
interview. She took a mock-up interview for me and all the questions she had asked appeared in the
next day interview. With her help, I have listed all the questions which are most important for any
general interview. GET A FAIR UNDERSTANDING AND GO THROUGH ALL THE QUESTIONS AND
WRITE THEM ON PAPER.
You can always contact me on Facebook.

ALL THE BEST.

1. Tell me about yourself. (check youtube videos for better understanding)

It is important to mention what you have specialized in your course, your recent projects, any
previous work/internship experience etc. Do not mention details about your family (The
interviewer is really not interested to know about that). Talk about general hobbies (ex-swimming
because it rejuvenates me), part of clubs, put your passion at the end. Mention your strengths (It
could be technical subject strengths or normal strengths). Why did u take up a particular branch?
It's all about yourself and most of the details are already a part of your resume. Put upto 95 secs-
120 secs. Keep short and simple and do not drag.

2. In an interview whatever ends(the answer) is probably the next question.

3. What motivates you in general? What motivates you to go to work everyday?

Mention what is the main thing that drives you everyday to work. You can mention things like
success, satisfaction in whatever you work, love and passion towards your work. Remember, if you
love what you do, it automatically motivates you to work towards it. You can mention other factors
which motivates you as well. Example: Thinking big, it motivates me to deliver the best,I create
solution after solution.

4. What is a time when you have taken the most calculated risk?

List down all what you done on paper. See which was the most calculated risk. For example there
are two investments. In one investment you get high returns or high risk. In another investment
you get medium returns or medium risks. So its better to take a calculated risk
,i.e, 2nd investment.

5. If you are in a club how did u apply club principles in life? OR you learnt some value engineering
in a company how did u apply them in real life/club?

Keep connecting the dots. Streamline your answer. For example, NCC teaches you discipline and
endurance. You can apply discipline to your decisions and respect them. Many people in your life
will de-motivate you, but you should not care , that’s your endurance.
6. What are your strengths? Very important. Example: X, explain X in 15 secs.

Strengths examples can be good listener(explain good listener for 15 secs), can take workload, can
handle stress, multitasking, good emotional quotient, solving by logic.

7. What are your weaknesses?

Watch youtube videos for the above 6th and 7th.

Examples :- Can be like pleasing everyone, addicted to gadgets, focussing on details. You can say
that you are working towards handling them in a better way. You can create your points too.
8. Why did you choose to be a part of a “X” company?

Do not give answers like it’s a big company, networking, promotion or facilities. Does ur goal and
company’s goal match? Talk about what you are trying to achieve by choosing this “X” company.
Speak in the HR’s language (for this you need to study about the company).

9. Why should we hire you?

For this question you can talk about your strengths. This is a good approach.

10. Is there a time where u had difficult time with your co-worker?

Talk about any situation from your group projects/student teams/startup team/fest teams. And
explain them how did u deal with that situation. It can be any type of situation which you had faced.
A common follow up from your answer would be, how did you handle it? Be prepared to answer
that as well.

11. Is there a time where you felt that I should have done better?

You did something without planning. That could have turned better if you would have actually
planned. You can mention an example from your experience.

12. When you have done an internship what suggestions have you given to a company?

1st years,2nd years,3rd years:- When you go for an internship try to observe every detail. You
might find a fault and some means of improving it. Write down all the suggestions. Try to approach
to the management of that company. That experience is something different. You can talk about it in
the interview and it turns out to be a good experience in life. Always think of improving a process/a
thesis/a project/etc. The interviewer will be impressed because you think-differently.

13. Have you approached to the management for the suggestions?

And how did u deal with that?

14. What is your biggest motivation? (Similar to what motivates you question).

Highest motivation is what for you. Examples: thinking big , love what u do. A common follow up
question would be why? Be prepared to answer that as well.

15. How do you handle yourself in stressful situations?

It always needn’t be related to work. You can say Take coffee breaks, Go for a walk to get fresh air,
Speak to my colleagues about the situation . Sometimes they may be helpful in giving you a solution.
Be calm and think better ways to handle your problem.

16. What is the biggest challenge?

It’s okay to tell if you started a company. It’s okay, you are a fresh graduate/youngster. Being a
youngster I had dreams of starting and passion keeps changing. It’s all okay because you are a
youngster just exploring. But now I want to work for a good company, understand business, gain
experience, tools and then use those principles at a later part in your life.

17. What is your biggest mistake?

Don’t get worried to talk about this. It can be any kind of a mistake. Interviewer has also crossed
your stage. U can talk about work related, life related or value project related. Talk something
meaningful.

18. What is your most innovation solution till date?

Explain him a good one. He might dig into more details. Innovative means not only start-up it can be
anything. Dealing with life or college or project.

19. What would you do in a situation where a customer doesn’t agree to your view point and how to
handle it?

Google some examples for a better understanding.

20. What are your hobbies?

It can be any general hobbies or interests. Reading books, dancing, singing etc. And just say why you
like them . 6 secs is fine for each hobby.

21. Are you willing to work on holidays and weekends?

Like say if situation demands I can work. If there is a deadline, I can definitely work on weekends as
well. If there is no deadline, it's important to spend time with family and work on my hobbies well.
It motivates me to get back to work on Monday. It is important to have a work/life balance.

22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Take a look at Linda Raynier’s video on youtube. It may be helpful.

You can talk about your long term goals. Then mention that to achieve my long term goals, I have
set some short terms goals for myself. It makes the interviewer understand that you are a goal
setter. Does not matter if u do or don't, but you are have a goal in mind.

23. How do you handle a conflict between two co-workers at work ?

Call for a group discussion and indirectly say it. Its never good to pinpoint at two people and decide
who is the culprit. Its always good to call for a group discussion and say we are lagging behind
schedule because of disputes, miscommunication. Then immediately the two people will
understand that because of them the team is not able to reach targets.
24. Give me an example of a time when you did not meet a client’s expectation. What happened and
how did u attempt to rectify the situation ?

25. Tell me about a time when you made sure a customer was pleased with your service.

26. Describe a time when you had to interact with a difficult client. What was the situation, and how
did you handle it ?

Show him good testimonials and bad testimonials and say how we solved the complaints.

27. When you are working with a large number of customers its tricky to deliver excellent service
to them all. How do you prioritize on customer needs?

Identify what are customer needs. Then prioritize. Write all of them and do trial and error method.
Examples:- quality ,speed delivery etc.

28. If given an on-going project how do u start off, on what basis will you understand a project?

Read existing documentation and simultaneously understand the functionality of the ongoing
project(example:- If you are hired in the middle of a half built application , you want to start off by
understanding it's existing functionality and read documents related to it.) You approach product
owner or SME (subject matter expert) about your questions and talk to your colleagues.

29. What do you like the best and least about the company?

You can google to get an idea. You can talk what you don’t like also. It’s okay. Just say company can
see increase in revenue if it improves on this(prepare for a follow up question of how?) or say every
company has pros and cons.

30. How can we improve our company?

You can google to get an idea.

31. Would you like yourself to be micro-managed?

You can google to get an idea.

32. A leader or a follower?

You can say to become a leader it is good to be a follower. Because it always good to learn from
people. It will make you grow.

33. Ask the interviewer 2-3 questions “relating to the job profile only” don’t say in general.
Do not forget to ask. It’s important.
34. What about higher studies?

You can mention that you have studied for many years so far. To continue higher studies means to
gain more theoretical knowledge in the subject I’m specialized in. I want to experience the real-
world work environment and may be at a later point in my life pursue higher studies. I want to
work for myself making me grow every day.

35. Ask questions like what is the size of the team? More details about the role? When will it start?
What are the pre-requisites? What are expectations from candidate?

I THINK IF YOU PREPARE ALL THESE QUESTIONS. YOU WILL MOST LIKELY CLEAR THE
INTERVIEW. Thank You
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CONFIDENCE IN AN INTERVIEW MORE THAN THE ANSWER AND THE
APPROACH HE SEES YOUR CONFIDENCE. This doesn't means that u ignore the answer and
approach. But with confidence you can achieve them. It is important not to get tensed and SPEAK at
LOW PACE.
TIPS:
1. WHEN YOU ENTER INTO AN INTERVIEW ROOM, SHAKE HANDS AND WISH HIM GOOD
MORNING/AFTERNOON. EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, YOU DO IT. HE WILL FEEL THAT YOU ARE
GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH HIM.

2. IT’S OKAY IF YOU ASK THE INTERVIEWER TO REPEAT THE QUESTION.

3. I HAVE JUST GIVEN THE SOME TIPS FOR THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. IT WILL REALLY HELP
YOU TO GET THROUGH THE INTERVIEW.

4. BE DIFFERENT BUT BE THE 'YOU'.BE CONFIDENT ABOUT WHAT YOU TALK. YOU WILL
SURELY DO WELL IN THE INTERVIEW.

5. IT IS REALLY VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR INTERNSHIPS IN DEPTH. SOME

INTERVIEWS LONG UPTO HRS AND MAJOR PART CAN BE OF SPEAKING ABOUT YOUR
INTERNSHIP AND YOUR LEARNINGS AND SUGGESIONS GIVEN. ALWAYS THINK OF
IMPROVING.

6. FOR TECHNICAL INTERVIEWS, “ALONG WITH THESE QUESTIONS” PREPARE FROM YOUR
TECHNICAL SUBJECTS. EVEN A TECHNICAL INTERVIEW CAN HAVE THE ABOVE 35
QUESTIONS.

7. INDIABIX IS GOOD FOR APTITUDE AND TECHNICAL MATTER. THIS CAN BE A PRIMARY
SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR YOU.

All the best for your wonderful career journey!

Yours sincerely,
YOUR WELL WISHER :)
I would finally thank my sister for telling me what all questions are important :)