The branch of the company is fully computerized and is working on-line. The company has developed its own, state of the art software which supports the online operations. The head office of the company is in Patiala and is further spreading its wings in other states also.
We deliver a unique value proposition by leveraging from our access to India’s highly accomplished professionals and scalability of technical resources. Complete customer satisfaction, prompt service, on-schedule and within-budget delivery are our guiding principles.
2. ∂
INTERVIEWS
You can assume that, because you’ve got past the application form/CV
:
• They feel that you can do the job
• That they want to know more about you
So why select further?
• To assess the knowledge that you have marketed in your initial
application
• To evaluate your transferable skills under pressure
• To judge how you would fit into their organisation
BUT It is also an opportunity for you to judge
whether you want to work for them
3. ∂
TOUGH QUESTIONS
Why do you want to work for…?
What is it about the position that you most like?
Take me through a task that you have completed from
beginning to end?
Was it successful? Why?
What were the main obstacles that you had to overcome?
4. ∂
TOUGH QUESTIONS
What would you describe as your greatest strength?
What would you say is your major weakness?
What would you say is your greatest achievement and
why?
Give me an example of when you have worked in a team
and tell me what role you took on?
What are the current issues facing…?
5. ∂
Tough Academic Questions
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Who are the leading researchers in your field worldwide? Are
any of them willing to work with you?
What innovations in teaching would you like to implement
given sufficient resources?
What are the 5 most outstanding advances in your field in the
last 5 years?
6. ∂
Preparation
Re-read the job advert, application pack, job description
What skills have they asked for?
What personal qualities are desired?
What type of organisation are they? (ethos, management style,
culture)
Review CV or application form & covering letter
How do you meet the criteria / where are there gaps?
What would you ask if you were them?
Are there any weaknesses you might be probed upon?
What probing questions might they give about your answers
• What other action did you consider?
• What might you do differently the next time? etc
7. ∂
Research
Company
• Products they make / sell
• Locations
• Clients
• Turnover
• World Ranking (if multi-national)
• Main competitors
• Recent expansions / contracts won / cut backs / mergers
Sector
• Upturn / downturn profits
• Effect of new technology or legislation
• Market leaders
Academic
• Institution, Department, staff, Higher Education issues, subject issues
8. ∂
YOUR INTERPERSONAL
SKILLS / REACTIONS
What impression are you hoping to create?
Dress code:
formal/informal
‘company culture’
Body Language
handshake
eye contact
mannerisms
open/close posture
Smile
9. ∂
Academic Interview Format
Panel Interview – 4/5/6 members,
• Impartial Chair – represent the interests of the
university not dept.
• Head of Department
• Head of Section (research group / area of teaching)
• Member of different department – lateral
comparability
Questions split according to panel members area of
interest and map onto person specification
10. ∂
Non-Academic Interview
Format
Individual interviews or a panel interview
One in a series or one off interview
Technical Head of Department, Human Resources,
Occupational Psychologist
Part of Assessment centre?
Other tasks – group activities, presentation, in-tray / e-tray
exercise
11. ∂
YOUR INTERPERSONAL
SKILLS / REACTIONS
What approach are the interviewers adopting?
style of questions
pace of interview
body language inc. note taking
friendly/business like
13. ∂
Final Tips
Be yourself
Give interesting examples to questions that they ask
Be willing to expand on any responses that you make
Don’t be thrown by the unexpected question
Stay calm
Buy time to think
Remain positive throughout
Show them that you are right for the position and for them!
At the end of the interview think about what impression you want to
leave with them:
‘If you can’t think of good questions [to ask them] don’t ask stupid
ones.’ Ian Jackson BT
