Interviewing skills

1. Interviewing Skills

2. Why Prepare?
Competition is tough, and the way we
present ourselves is under closer
examination more than ever before.

3. Interviewing- What is it?
⚫ A structured meeting between you
and an employer
⚫ Interviewing is a skill

4. Interviewing is a two-way street
⚫ Employers are attempting to determine if you are an
appropriate fit for the job and their culture
⚫ You decide if the environment is right for you.

5. Some of the types of interviews
⚫ One-on-One: most common interview style and incorporates
you with the potential employer
⚫ Panel or Group: allows many individuals to interview you at
once
⚫ Second or On-site Interview: this allows one to get a tour of
the facility, meet the staff, and additional questioning from different
employees and/or administration

6. Pre-Interview Preparation
⚫ Research – Firm, Institute and college
⚫ Know yourself
⚫ Articulate skills, strengths, accomplishments, and
career goals
⚫ Prepare necessary materials (Copies of resume,
portfolio / pen, breath mints)
⚫ Ask for directions.

7. Arriving
⚫ Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to arrive at
your destination
⚫ Try to arrive 10-15 minutes early at the site to
allow you to park, walk to the interview, use the
restroom, or just gather yourself

8. Organize yourself
⚫Think of things you will need.
⚫Address and phone number,
⚫Copy of your resume and other documents likely
to be needed,
⚫Passport- size photographs if the company has
asked for them,
⚫List the details and be organized.

9. Create a good first impression
⚫Be there in Time: Don’t plan to be there on
time but in time. There’s difference between the
two.
⚫Put your mobile phone : on silent mode or
switch off.

10. ⚫Smile:
✔ Smile as you walk through the door, smile naturally when you
answer questions.
✔ Let the smile within you show itself on your face.
⚫Be confident:
✔ Without being overbearing or overconfident.
✔ Once you are well prepared, it doesn’t help to worry.
✔ Prospective employers look for confident people to work for
their organizations.

11. ⚫ Posture and body language:
✔ Stand tall without slouching, making it seem like a comfortable
posture for you.
✔ Also know that overconfidence kills, positive body language
work.
⚫ Accessories:
✔ At interviews, less is more. Wear simple and elegant cloths,
footwear, bag, etc.
✔ If you decide to use perfume, wear a light fragrance.
✔ Make sure you don’t smell unpleasant.

12. ⚫ Dress appropriately: Your attire should reflect
the job you are seeking, as well as the personality
you are trying to project. It is generally better to
be under-stated then attract unnecessary
attention with your attire.

13. Dressing for Success - Men
⚫ Suit-Single or double breasted
⚫ Polished shoes
⚫ Solid white shirt
⚫ Conservative tie
⚫ Neatly groomed hair, beard, and mustache
⚫ Avoid strong colognes, earrings, and body piercing

14. Dressing for Success-Women
⚫ Formal dressing
⚫ Salwaar or Punjabi suit
⚫ Shoes with closed toes and socks for formal dressing
⚫ Sandals for traditional dressing
⚫ Light makeup, perfume, and jewelry

15. Greeting & Introduction
Only 1 chance to make a good 1 st
impression
⚫ Dress appropriately
⚫ Smile.
⚫ Maintain eye contact
⚫ Firm handshake
⚫ Remain confident

16. Body Language:
What signals are you sending?
Positive Signals
⚫ Leaning forward = interest
⚫ Smiling = friendly
⚫ Nodding = attentive and
alert
⚫ Eye contact = curious and
focused
Negative Signals
⚫ Crossed arms = defensive
⚫ Fidgeting hands or tapping
feet = nervous or bored
⚫ Lack of eye contact =
untrustworthy
⚫ Leaning back= discomfort

17. Types of Interview Questions
Standard or traditional
Targeting your education,
work experiences, and
career goals
Sample Questions
⚫ Tell me about yourself?
⚫ What is your greatest
strength? Weakness?
⚫ Why did you choose to
interview with us?
⚫ What did you like most
about your last job? Least?
⚫ What are your short and
long term career goals?

18. Types of Interview Questions
Behavioral Questions
- These focus on your
actions and/or behaviors
in a previous setting.
� Past behavior provides
clues to future behavior
Sample Questions
⚫ Describe a time you had to
make a difficult decision?
⚫ Tell me about a time you
worked under a deadline?
⚫ What do you do when a
team member is not pulling
his/her weight?
⚫ Think about a time you made
a mistake. What did you

19. Types of Interview Questions
Inappropriate or unethical
questions
- Questions which probe into
your private life or personal
background
- Questions about your
ethnicity, religion, sexual
orientation, disabilities,
marital status
Sample Questions
⚫ How old are you?
⚫ Do you have
children?
⚫ Do you have a
disability?
⚫ What religion do you
practice?

20. Types of Interview Questions
Questions asked by
the interviewee
To determine if you are
an appropriate fit for
the company and
position, prepare a list
of questions for the
interviewer
Sample Questions
⚫ What type of assignments can
I expect within the first year?
⚫ What do you like most about
this organisation?
⚫ What skills are you looking
for in this position?

21. General Interview Strategies
-Be prepared to talk about yourself and your
experiences
-Master the art of storytelling
-Provide specific and concrete examples
-Remain positive, enthusiastic, poised, and confident
throughout the interview process

22. ⚫ Remember an interview is a formal conversation--
avoid filler words like “Um”, “Ah”, & “You know”
⚫ Avoid indecisive phrases like: “I think,” “I guess,”
“probably”
⚫ Think before speaking
⚫ Avoid long verbose answers -- limit your response to
1-2 minutes
⚫ If you do not hear or understand a question, ask them
to repeat or clarify it for you

23. General Interview Strategies
⚫ Remain calm, relaxed, and be yourself
⚫ Try to focus on the message you are trying to
convey -- NOT how well you are doing!

24. FOLLOW-UP
⚫ Ask good questions
⚫ Thank the interviewer
⚫ Request a business card
⚫ Inquire about next steps in the process

25. Final Thoughts
⚫Remember that only 15% of the success of
an interview is out of your control
⚫Take some time to reflect
- Overall, how well did I do?
- What went well?
- What steps can I take next time to
improve?

26. Suggestions
⚫ Conduct a test run the day before the interview
⚫ Practice! Practice! Practice!
•Obtain a list of practice interview questions and jot down short
answers
• Stand in front of a mirror and rehearse your answers
•Schedule an appointment for a mock interview with Career Services
⚫ Get a good night’s sleep-be well rested and alert for the interview
⚫ Be relaxed and be yourself!

27. Question bank
for Interview
visit:HR interview
questions & answers

28. Tell me about yourself?
• Good morning sir,
First of all thanks for giving great opportunity to introduce myself in
front of you.
Myself, I am SAI NARASIMHA and I belongs to ANANTAPUR, ANDHRA
PRADESH.
Now I am pursuing my bachelor degree final year in National Institute
Of Technology, Silchar. I am a civil engineer.
My hobbies are playing cricket and enjoying with my friends.
I am interested in learning the new things.
I am an honest, self-motivated and hard working person with positive
attitude towards my career and my life.
That's all about me sir, thank you.

29. Why should I hire you?
• Thank you, sir/ma'am, for giving me the opportunity to tell how I can
become an asset to the company.
Sir, by nature I am very dedicated to my work. I always put in cent
percent effort to get the results. I also look at the overall development
of the team and not just myself.
I have also felt that whenever I am under a good leader or mentor I
have a tendency to diversify my talents as needed by the environment.
Also, I find that during difficult scenarios and situations, I am able to
motivate and up the mood of my friends.
Because of all these reasons, I feel that I can become a good asset to
your company.
Thank You.

30. • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why do you want to work at our company?
• What is the difference between confidence and over
confidence?
• What is the difference between hard work & smart
work?
• How do you feel about working nights and weekends?
• Can you work under pressure?
• What are your goals?

31. •How long would you expect to work for us if hired?
•Are not you overqualified for this position?
•Describe your ideal company, location and job.
•Explain how would be an asset to this organization?
•What are your outside interests?
•Who has inspired you in your life and why?
•What was the toughest decision you ever had to
make?
•What motivates you to do good job?
•What makes you angry?
•Give me an example of your creativity.

32. •How do you define success and how do you measure
up to your own definition?
•How much salary do you expect?
•Where do you see yourself five years from now?
•On a scale of one to ten, rate me as an interviewer.
•Do you have any questions for me?

33. Thank You!