Campus Workforce Readiness Program

INTERVIEW SKILLS

Those who know better, do better and those who do better, become better. So it all starts from
knowing right things at right time.

Interview is a tool used by companies to assess and evaluate candidates. Every question asked
by Interviewers is used to differentiate your skills, personality and experience with that of other
candidates. They want to see if you are fit for the role they are offering and will you be able to
mesh with goals and mission of organization.

Remember by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail!

Following are the steps to prepare for an Interview:

• Know Yourself
• Prepare Resume
• Prepare Introduction
• Research about the Company and Study Job Description
• Knowing Interview types and process
• Prepare Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
• Dressing for Interviews – Professional Grooming
• Right Body Language for Interviews

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Know Yourself:

• You have to sell yourself, so know the product called ‘YOU’

• Do your complete Self Assessment on following:

- Strengths
- Weaknesses
- Academic Performance
- Career Interests
- Personal Goals
- Internships, Projects and Certifications
- Technical and Soft Skills
- Achievements

• Know how you can benefit Employer with your Qualifications, Skills and Achievements.
• Be ready with specific examples to back up your strengths and skills.

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Prepare Resume:
Why Resume is important?

- To pass screening process of Employer.

- To give basic facts about yourself and your background.
- To show employer your direction, strengths and writing skills.
- To provide employer with your contact information.

Writing a Resume:

- Your name should be on the top and prominent followed by contact details.
- Write an effective objective to grab attention.
- Put the most important thing first. For Fresher – Academics.
- Use professional fonts like Ariel, Times New Roman or Verdana.
- Font size neither too small nor too big.
- Avoid paragraphs, try using bullet points.
- Use right keywords.
- Back up your projects and achievements with your qualities and strengths.
- Use action verbs like managed, enforced, coached, planned, lead etc.
- Use a good printer
- Always proof read your resume

Few of the above mentioned points explained in detail:

Writing an effective Objective:

An effective career objective can be used to grab attention of recruiters. Objective shows your
sense of direction. Your career objective is short summary in one or two lines about – “Who I am,
what I want to be and how will I make your company successful”

Always write Objective keeping need of the employer in mind. Use keywords and language found
in job advertisement to show your attention towards needs of employers. Don’t use same
objective for all jobs. Customize each resume objective to fit the position.

E.g.:

To obtain a position that will allow me to utilize my technical skills, experience and willingness to
learn in making an organization successful

Customizing Resume objective according to job description can help more:

E.g.:

Job Description for ABAP Programmer is following:

* The candidate should be proficient in evaluation as well as reassignment.

* Should be acquainted with the ABAP programming.
* Must have a good analytical knowledge.
* Must have a very good IQ level. It should be the best as most of the work requires high degree
of intelligence.
* Also required great inter personal qualities.
* Must have zeal to work.
* Should ready for 24*7 time shift.

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Campus Workforce Readiness Program

* Must have good knowledge of the C++.

* Knowledge of the database and the data warehouse is a must.

Objective for applying for Job Description above:

I seek a job as an ABAP programmer in your reputed firm where I can use my technical skills as
well as knowledge related to SAP software for the benefit of the company. I have a firm belief that
my technical knowledge as well as the eagerness to work can bring about a milestone for the
company.

While mentioning your skills, projects, achievements, strengths always keep needs of employer in
mind. The employer shall be able to make out that how you can benefit the company and bring
tangible results.

Strengths:

Always do your self analysis about which strengths you possess, Question yourself about your
qualities, what makes you perform better, recall the situation where you contributed, what made
you contribute, recall the situations where you performed good and why, when and why were you
appreciated. Such questions will help you in knowing your strengths.

Some of the examples of strengths are:

Learning Agility, Effective Communication skills, Self Motivated, Determined, Success Oriented,
Natural Leader, Team Player, Hardworking, Self Confident, Committed, Effective Interpersonal
Skills, Able to prioritize, Flexible, Punctual, Quick Learner, Problem Solving Skills, Positive
Attitude, Flexible etc.

Proof Reading Your Resume:

- Take a print out of your resume in form of hard copy and then read it with concentration.
- Check homonyms: Words like accept and except, complement and compliment. Using
wrong words can result to different meanings.
- Check Punctuation; focus on commas, full stops, uniformity in punctuation format.
- Watch out for numbers, quoting wrong numbers, dates, year can lead to a very wrong
impression.
- Read Resume backwards; When you read your resume in normal flow, you may miss on
your errors as you have written yourself and your brain adds words according to
meanings. Reading backward can help you in finding errors.
- Ask someone else to read it, this can be very helpful. Some one else can evaluate what
you have missed in your evaluation.
- Check out for inconsistencies in your format, font, layout etc.
- Reading your resume loud can also help.

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Action Verbs

Following are the action verbs which can be used while describing your skills and achievements:

Technical Skills

Adapted Applied Assembled Built Calculated Computed Conserved Constructed Converted

Debugged Designed Determined Developed Engineered Fabricated Fortified Installed Maintained
Operated Overhauled Printed Programmed Rectified Regulated Remodeled Repaired Replaced
Restored Solved Specialized Standardized Studied Upgraded Utilized

Research Skills

Analyzed Clarified Collected Compared Conducted Critiqued Detected Determined Diagnosed

Evaluated Examined Experimented Explored Extracted Formulated Gathered Inspected
Interviewed Invented Investigated Located Measured Organized Researched Reviewed
Searched Solved Summarized Surveyed Systematized Tested

Communication/People Skills

Addressed Arranged Clarified Collaborated Communicated Composed Convinced Corresponded

Developed Directed Discussed Drafted Explained Expressed Formulated Furnished Incorporated
Influenced Interacted Interpreted Interviewed Involved Judged Lectured Listened Marketed
Mediated Moderated Negotiated Observed Participated Persuaded Presented Promoted
Proposed Publicized Resolved Responded Suggested Summarized

Creative Skills

Acted Adapted Began Combined Composed Conceptualized Created Customized Designed

Developed Directed Displayed Drew Established Formulated Founded Illustrated Initiated
Instituted Integrated Introduced Invented Performed Planned Revised Shaped Solved

Helping Skills

Adapted Advocated Aided Answered Arranged Assessed Assisted Clarified Coached

Collaborated Contributed Cooperated Counseled Demonstrated Diagnosed Educated
Encouraged Ensured Facilitated Familiarized Furthered Guided Helped Motivated Prevented
Provided Referred Represented Resolved Simplified Supplied Supported Volunteered

Management/Leadership Skills

Administered Analyzed Attained Considered Consolidated Contracted Controlled Converted

Coordinated Decided Delegated Developed Directed Eliminated Emphasized Enforced Enhanced
Established Executed Generated Handled Headed Hired Hosted Improved Incorporated
Increased Initiated Inspected Instituted Led Managed Merged Motivated Navigated Organized
Originated Planned Prioritized Produced Recommended Reorganized Replaced Restored
Reviewed Scheduled Secured Selected Streamlined Strengthened Supervised

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Some Donts for Resume Writing:

• Don’t use fancy paper or colored paper. Use quality white A4 sheet.
• Don’t use jargons or slangs in your resume.
• Do not include information that might sound negative in the eyes of the employer
• Don’t include irrelevant information.
• Don’t copy paste matter from net, prefer retyping.
• Don’t fold your Resume, esp. over the text line.

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Prepare Introduction:
Introduction helps in:

- Creating the favorable first impression

- Deciding the flow of Interview
- Giving idea of your Communication and Presentation skills

Introduction shall include:

- Name (if not discussed)

- Education
- Experience (Projects & Internships for fresher)
- Strengths
- Interests
- Goal/Belief

Introduction should be of duration of around 90 seconds to 120 seconds. Make sure to prepare
introduction well in advance. Write it, learn it and practice by speaking in front of mirror or partner.
It should not look like you have crammed, it should look natural.

E.g:

Well it’s a pleasure to introduce myself to you. I am Manish Kumar. I am pursuing B.Tech in
Information technology from ABC College and this is going to be complete by April, 2010. I have
worked on projects like Sales Software for simplifying sales process by using my knowledge in
Java. My other projects include Library Management System, Examination System and Event
Booking system. I have done summer training with HCL which helped me in enhancing my
technical skills. Through these projects and training, I have gained self-esteem, confidence, and
problem-solving skills. My Certifications include J2SE from HCL. Because of my strong
communication and interpersonal skills, I was selected as organizer of annual fest of college. My
other strengths are quick learning, positive attitude and flexibility. My career goal is to see myself
in top. So my knowledge of academics and my experience in projects and trainings make me
capable to start my career in field of Software Development and provide best effort to employer.

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Campus Workforce Readiness Program

Research about the Company:

Employers always want to check your seriousness towards job in their company. You should
always research about the company before going for interview.

• What the company does and what services or products it provides

• Size and History of Company
• Company’s Mission and Values
• Who’s Who of the company
• Information about Competitors

Study Job Description:

It is important to study job description before going for interviews. Job description will give you an
idea of what exact skill set employer is looking for. You will be able to understand needs of
employer and required skill set. You can answer questions and use examples linked with needs
of employer. Studying job description also helps you to customize your resume and introduction
according to employer.

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Knowing Interview types and process:

Most common interview types are:

• One on One interview

• Group interview
• Telephone interview
• Panel interview
• Behavioral interview
• Stress interview

Interview process varies from industry to industry and company to company. The most common
Interview process followed by companies is –

• Aptitude Tests
• Group Discussions
• Technical Interview
• HR Interview

There can be more rounds also like Managerial Round etc.

Above can vary in nature also, for ex. HR questions can be put by Technical Interviewer and
Technical questions by HR Manger. So there is no fixed format of interview process. You can
research on internet about interview processes followed by different companies. This will help you
in preparing for your target employer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Top 20 Frequently Asked Questions in Interviews:

1. Why do you want to join our company?

Research company’s size, type and values. Link them with your strengths and explain
why this company works well for you.

Eg:
I always wanted to work with a company which recognizes talent, as I want to grow and
contribute towards the growth of company with my technical and organizational skills.
Looking at the growth trend of your company from past 3 years, it will be an honor to
work with such an organization.

To seek a fruitful career in the field of I.T and to apply my knowledge in the I.T field. I
want to serve myself in your esteemed company and contribute towards growth with my
technical and interpersonal skills.

I heard from my friends that ABC has a very good work environment. Moreover, ABC is
one of the fastest growing companies in India. I want to be in such a company where I
can also grow along with the company using technical skills and willingness to learn.

This company has recorded huge profits in the recent months and has the potential to
grow. To get best out of somebody it is desirable there is a right kind of atmosphere and
where in a employee is rewarded for is hard work I think this company has all this so I will
very happy to work here

My Goal is to achieve the highest level of proficiency; I find your company which is India’s
most admired company, is right place where I can best utilize my education and skills.

(Don’t lie, research facts and achievements of company before quoting)

2. Tell some of your strengths?

Tell about the strengths you have written in resume. Back up your one or two strengths
with instances while answering.

For eg:
Communication skills is one my strength as I work well with different kind of people and
understand different prospective of everyone. Apart from that I am determined, hard
worker and active team player
.

3. Tell some of your weaknesses?

Never tell your weaknesses which can be negative for recruiters.

a. Either you can tell your weakness along with actions you have taken.
Eg: I had habit of procrastinating, now I am improving and becoming more
organized by using to do lists and reminders.
b. Or you can tell any weakness which may be a weakness for you but positive for
employer.
Eg: I am over friendly at times.

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4. Why should we hire you?

It is not a harsh question, it is actually a help which employer wants from you to help
him/her in hiring you. In your response, you should link your skills and qualifications with
the job description. Relate your abilities with the position and organization.

5. Share your achievements in non academics?

Describe your achievements and back them up with your strengths.

For Eg: Because of my strong interpersonal skills, I was elected President of Social Club
of College.

6. What do you look for in a job?

Your answer can include growth, team work, environment linking it with benefit of
organization.

For Eg: I look for opportunities that enable me to grow as professional and help me in
serving the organization.

7. What are your career goals?

List your long term goal along with immediate goal, they should be inter related.
Recruiters shall find benefit in your career goals.

8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?

You have to make interviewer believe that you will make a long term commitment with
company. You want to learn and stay at the position for good time and then your growth
will be automatically taken care of because of your qualities.

9. What challenges you faced while as a student and how you handled them?

This question gives you another chance to show your strengths linked with real strengths.
Always work on PAR (Problem-Action-Result) approach. Show them the challenge you
faced, what actions you took and how it benefited.

10. Tell us about your participation in extra curricular activities?

In answer to this question, you can show interviewer that you are an all rounder and you
have skills required for growth of individual and company. While telling about these
activities, tell them how they benefited you.

11. Tell us about your internships and what you learnt from them?

Give details of your internship and what all you learn from in internship experience. This
helps employer to know about the exposure you already have.

12. Tell about your college and why did you select this college?

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Never speak anything negative about college and don’t blame college to cover your
negative points. Tell them the good things about your college. What you like about it and
made you choose this college.

13. Why did you choose career in this field?

Your goal clarity shall be visible. There should be reasons for choosing your career field
linked to your skills, aptitude and qualities. You should be passionate about career and
enjoy working in this field.

14. Tell about the mistake you learned from?

Share an incident with your learning from it and how you took benefit from learning.

15. What type of Salary do you expect for this job?

Don’t answer directly in terms of amount. Show them that you are more interested in job
and you trust them that they will pay is consistent with the rest of market.

16. Describe ideal working environment for you in an organization?

Your answer can include Team Work, Growth Opportunities, Ethical etc.

17. What if I say that you are rejected?

This question can be asked to check your stress level and emotional maturity. Your
answer should be positive and show learning attitude.

Eg: I see rejection as an opportunity and I learn from it.

18. What do you think about your academic scores?

If scores are good, your answer should show sense of achievement and how you worked
hard for it. If they are not good, you should support them with reasons. You have to prove
that you are still best fit for this job.

19. Have you ever failed in any of your decision? How and why? Share.

Everyone has failures in life, there is no harm in sharing them. But your answer shall
include what you did to overcome the failure and what you learnt from failure.

20. Give me an example of your (persuasiveness, initiative, resourcefulness ,

leadership skills)?

Such questions are asked to check your behavior and qualities. Refer to incidents,
situations and accomplishments to answer these questions.

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Other Frequently Asked Questions:

Questions about You:

1. What have you learnt in 4 years of your BTech

2. Tell me about your values in your life?
3. Explain how you would be an asset to this organization?
4. How do you plan to achieve career goals?
5. What position do you expect to have in two years?
6. How do you stay up to date in your field?
7. What is your dream job?
8. What skills do you bring which other candidates may not have?
9. Apart from study, what else you have done in college?
10. How has your college experience contributed in your career growth?
11. Your favorite movie/book/celebrity?
12. If I don’t select you, what will be the reasons?
13. What are your favorite subjects?
14. What subjects you don’t like?
15. Tell us about your favorite teacher and why?
16. What motivates you?
17. What are you passionate about?
18. What kind of people you find difficult to work with?
19. If you had your choice of companies, where would you go?
20. What has been the greatest disappointment in your life?
21. If you get choice to relive your academic life, what would you do differently?
22. What are your biggest accomplishments?

Questions about Company:

23. What do you know about our company?

24. What are you looking for in our company?
25. What attracts you to this company?
26. Who do you think are competitors are?

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Questions about Behavior and Qualities:

27. Tell about most difficult team project u have worked on.
28. Which environment you hate/is frustrating?
29. Tell about accomplishment you are proud of...
30. Give an example of biggest/most demanding team leading you have done?
31. Share your experience of when you talked about some thing to a group like given a
presentation or seminar etc?
32. How did u get around obstacles that prevented you from completing the task/project?
33. Tell a situation in which you took the lead without being asked to do so and why?
34. Tell a situation when you found your results or your work which were not up to the mark,
what did u do to rectify?
35. Tell a situation when you did more than what was required?
36. Tell a situation in which you found that work could be done much easier and others
weren’t following it?
37. Tell me about your values in your life?
38. Give any situations where you were criticized?
39. Tell me a situation/ issue where you identified a problem on your own, and drove to
resolve it.
40. Describe a situation where you and your partner/professor had a conflicting view, but you
were still able to get across your point?

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Campus Workforce Readiness Program

Professional Grooming:

Importance of Right Dressing:

ƒ Dressing conveys a feeling of strength and dignity.

ƒ It is a business tool and skill.
ƒ It helps in setting an emotional and physical climate of success.
ƒ Our dressing affects the perception of people about us.
ƒ Right dressing always benefits the occasion.

Hair

- Should be clean.
- Should be well combed and frequently shampooed.
- Should be kept in place, but not oily.

For Men:
- It should be neatly cut.
- Sideburns should be small.

For Women:
- Should not come on face.
- Could be left open only if till shoulders.
- French knot, figure of 8 or a simple bun is preferable

Face

- Moisturized regularly in winters.

- Should be washed or cleaned regularly.
- Skin should be well cared of.
- Teeth shall be clean and white.

For Men:
- Clean shaven men should shave daily.
- Moustaches shall be well trimmed and above lip level.
- Avoid Beard (except for religious requirements)

For Women:
- Make up should be light, subtle and carefully applied.

Hands

- Hands should be clean and washed multiple times a day.

- No marks or stains on hands.
- Nails should be kept short, even length and clean.

For Women:
- Nails must be well shaped and filed.
- Avoid extremely long nails enameled with very bright or dark shades of nail polish
should be avoided.
- Nail polish should never be chipped.

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Shirts and Trousers

- Light colored shirts with dark colored Trousers.

- White colored shirts are the most elegant and formal
shirts.
- Pastel shades of colors like cream/beige/blue/grey are
acceptable colors for shirts.
- Black, blue, brown, steel grey and beige are acceptable
colors for trousers.
- Clothes should be well ironed and of proper fitting.
- Check loose ends, threads, seems, piping, buttons a day
before.

Business Suits

For Men
- 2 piece matched suit is best choice.
- Color can be Steel Grey, Blue,
Black or Brown.
- Double breasted suits and 3 piece
suits are out of fashion.

For Women
- Matched skirts and jackets
- Pants and blazers

Ties

- Should be well knotted.

- Should be of coordinated colors.
- Length of the tie – Tip of tie should reach the bottom of belt buckle.

Footwear

- Black footwear with black/grey/blue trousers.

- Brown footwear with brown/beige trousers.
- Well polished and in good condition.

Belts

- Choice of belt shall be made between black and brown according to color of shoes.
- No flashy or large sized buckles
- Breadth of belt should not me more than 1.5 inches.

Socks
- Socks should be clean and should co ordinate with trousers.
- Socks should be high and stay up.

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Jewellery/Accessories:

For Men:
- Men should restrict Jewellery.
- No bracelets and necklaces (except for religious requirement)
- Smart cuff links and watch can support attire.
- Hide body piercing or tattoos.

For Women:
- Light Authentic Jewellery.
- A nice office wear watch.

Fragrance:

- Fragrance should be bare minimum, only to prevent body odor.

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Body Language:
Posture

- While sitting on chair, sit upright front but don’t stiff.

- Hunching down on chair and sitting on edge of chair shows nervousness.
- Sloppy posture shows lack of energy and attitude.

- Relax and lean forward 10 degrees towards interviewer.

- Leaning back shows casual approach.
- Leaning to side shows being uncomfortable with speaker.

Head

- Slightly tilting head is considered open and friendly

- Straight head comes across as authoritative and self assured.

Hands

- Rest your hands on your lap, table or armchairs.

- Control your hand moments.
- Fiddling with your face or hair shows nervousness and anxiety.
- Holding hands behind head is a sign of being annoyed or uncertain.
- Folding arms closed at chest suggest defensive and closed attitude.

Legs

- Lot of leg movements distracts and shows nervousness.

- Resting one leg on other knee is casual approach.
- Place both feet flat on floor, it coveys professionalism and confidence.

Eye Contact

- Eye contact is essential to establish rapport with interviewer.

- Looking downwards constantly shows being insincere and submissive.
- In panel Interviews, direct your questions to the person asking questions, and periodically give
glance at other interviewers.

Other points

Voice should not be monotonous, tone and pitch shall vary to make your answers more effective
and meaningful.
Breathe and pause before answering a question.
In panel Interviews, direct your questions to the person asking questions, and periodically give
glance at other interviewers.
Practice your answers in front of mirror and observe your body language.

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Few other tips for Interviews:

ƒ Go inside Interview room calm and relaxed with smile on face.

ƒ Treat each person as important individual and greet them.
ƒ Be Confident and Positive
ƒ Make eye contact with everyone in panel.
ƒ Be alert and focused, don’t get distracted.
ƒ Actively listen the question completely before Answering.
ƒ Communicate clearly
ƒ Even if the interviewer is rude, remain calm and tactful.
ƒ Reach well before time.
ƒ Carry extra copies of Resumes.

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