Tips for Success in Career Interview

The very thought on an interview brings fear in minds of some and it may cause mental blankness of many aspirants, who are otherwise keen to switch their career. They get worried about -“What will they ask? How should I answer? What if I say something wrong?”. The master key has three notches to dispel such fears and succeed in interview -- Preparation, Preparation and Preparation. If you have made up your mind to change your job due to prevailing uncertainty, you need to seriously select the suitable job from available job Portals, Websites, Job Journals, Newspapers/Magazines and placement agencies. The next step is preparation and appearing for the interview to first get shortlisted and then succeed through various stages of interview, depending upon type and level of the job.

The foundation for a successful interview is a good presentation of your CV, as it the showcase of your personality, professional knowledge, experience and skill set. Your CV is the gate-pass to the interview room and it must be prepared sincerely and well presented to impress the selection team. An interview is a process of match making between job requirements and your skill set .It is also an open competition against other applicants appearing in that interview. Lack of preparation for the interview or taking it casually may result in failure. Once you get shortlisted and get an interview call, you must visit the company website and contact any known employee of that organization to learn about their work culture, working ethos, business practices, management and HR policies.  The main stages for successful interview and action points are briefly discussed in succeeding paragraphs.

Selection and applying for the Right Job . You would have seen new advertisement in the news paper/magazine or on job portals, LinkedIn or through a friend or consultant about the job type, location and salary package. Remember every job may not be suitable to you and if you have a job in hand, pick the right job and choose  the right time to switch.  Be sure you are looking for a better career or  a short time job. You are going to serve at least for one or more years, therefore job should be of your liking which offers good working timings, perks and appropriate pay package. Suggested action points are:

·    Contact Consultants and Career  Counsellors. Keep in touch with consultants with whom you have filed your CV. They do match making and inform you about  suitable vacancies.

 ·    Networking. Keep in touch with your mentors, alumni, friends who are your well-wishers and will support your job migration. Your seniors and colleagues who are now working abroad can also help you in relocating for a suitable job, in their country.

·        Job Analysis. If you pick up the wrong job just for better perks, you may soon feel frustrated, since the job may not provide you professional satisfaction. Do give due consideration to followings:

·        Is it multinational company giving opportunity to visit abroad?

·        Is  it large business house /enterprise with multi  business units  at different locations

·        What type of business they have and  their future plan for growth?

·        Is it a SME?

·        Is it a public sector?

·        Is it Government job- State or central level?

Do thorough research about the chosen company using internet facility to know maximum about their business type / size, business practices, HR policy. Pay special attention to any press release in respect of your chosen company. You may also seek input from those who are already working there. Take a relook into job requirements as given on the portal/news paper and carry out match making with your skills. Identify gaps and plan to fill those before the final interview. If gaps are many, do not apply now. Plan to add new skills or upgrade existing skills and apply later.  Let us assume all is well and you have chosen the right sector and right job and you are all set to apply for this job.  Prepare a good CV along with proper (formal) covering letter which can be sent on-line or by registered post or as indicated in the job advertisement.

Preparation of good CV/ Resume.  Remember that hiring managers and recruiters have very little time to browse through all the CVs and shortlist probable candidates. Obviously, they cannot read through every CV minutely. In an emerging business scenario, jobs have become more competitive where job seekers need to be innovative and equipped with the latest skill set. Your CV is like an item displayed in show window of garments shop in a mall to attract the buyers. The first impression of any recruiter is from your resume / CV.  You should know what is important for the specific job and customize your CV accordingly. Do not have one general CV and push that for every recruiter. At the same time avoid padding your CV with less important contents. The contents which should be included and which can be avoided in your CV are given below:

Information which should be included in your CV --

•   Personal information. Name, Email, Mobile Phone for contact.
•    Experience. Include only important positions in last say 3 companies. If you have served for long time, include experience only of last 10 years.
•      Designation/Status. Indicate your present and past designation, role, your team size and your boss.
•       Achievements.  Include particular achievements which resulted in saving in terms of cost, time, effort or improvement in any process.
•        Research and innovations. Include ideas generated singly or as a team for innovations and research work.
•     Patent. Any patent, if submitted or approved , as an individual effort or as a team. It will be indeed a feather in your cap.
•       Publications. Include number of articles which have been published in national and international journals.  Also include titles of your books, if published.
•       Presentations. Include titles of presentations made during various seminars, and conferences.
•      Special Expertise. It may relate of special qualification , certification or process

Details which should be avoided in your CV.

•    Text Style.  Do not use colour text or words in capitals.
•        Font size and type. Use a standard font size of 12 and type of “Times New Roman”, until asked for any other font by the employer/job consultant.
•        Objective or goals statements. Avoid including objectives in CV as these will bind you, leaving no room to maneuver during the interview.
•     Hobbies. These can be mentioned verbally, if asked during the interview.
•        Work Gaps.  There is no need to include all gaps in your service in your CV. These can always be discussed during the face-to-face interview.
•        All past jobs.  During the screening of job applications, the quality of work done by you matters more than the number of jobs held by you. In fact, too many jobs and frequent job hopping gives a wrong signal and you may not get even shortlisted.
•         Salary expectations.  Keep it negotiable and mention at a suitable time when asked by the interviewer, It can be better done through your smart communication and negotiation skills. 
•         Too much of contents. Be brief in your personal information. No need to include marital status, number of kids, religion, father/mother name and status, place and country of birth.
•    References. You should have references only from your previous job and this may be checked only after you have been shortlisted for the interview. Do not include too many references from other past jobs or names of friends / relatives.

Types of interviews. There are many types of interviews depending upon organisation, business type/size and level of job. It could be on-line (Audio/Video) + face to face (f2f) , structured or unstructured or video interview. Latest approach is to use AI and carry out exhaustive screening to get the best fit. This is machine dependent with embedded logic for various skills and competencies. These interviews are tougher than traditional interviews.

Types of assessment centres. There are designated centres for carrying out intensive quantitative assessment to choose the right candidate. It can have many activities spreading over whole day and you must be fully geared up to excel in that. The employing company will tie up with assessment centre and provide them with the job criteria. The designated centre will intimate you to register for the date and the time when you are to report to the assessment center and appear for the on-line test.

Preparation for the Interview

If you have got the interview call, it means your CV has impressed the employer/ hiring manager and he/she likes to talk to you on the phone, Skype or face to face. Be happy and congratulate yourself on crossing the first hurdle. Get set for the interview and prepare well to do well. You must take it seriously since fail to prepare is prepare to fail. In this competitive market, the employer is picking the best and leaving the rest. Therefore, go well prepared and well informed to excel in the interview and get the job. Any half-hearted preparation and casual approach will reflect mediocrity and lessen your chances of success in the interview A good old saying "Nothing succeeds like Success" is ever true and you must succeed in your interview and get the job you have applied for. Some tips are given in the following sections.

Face to Face Interview

Remember that in just first two minutes, the interviewer can discern a lot of information about the way you walk in, the way you greet interviewing committee members and seek permission to sit down and way you express yourself. The facial expression/composer will reflect your level of confidence. Following preparatory steps may help you to succeed in the interview:

•       Visit the company website to get details about their business and organization structure.
•         Know about company CEO, Company policy. Company vision and mission.
•        Learn about work culture from existing employees and through trustworthy friends.
•        Know about the health of the company from published quarterly financial results.
•        Know about HR department as they do the initial screening and invite shortlisted candidates for the interview.
•        Dress Code.  Do not put on faded jean or short skirt. Instead, you should put on formal dress which is clean, well pressed and comfortable. Avoid too flashy / gaudy colours and too much of jewellery or and over doze of perfume or too high heels which make noise as you walk. Any head gear, hat, cap or turban should be neat and worn properly.  Wear shoes which are  well polished.
•      Evidence of your work.  If you are a designer, or an architect or interior decorator or painter, do carry your portfolio.
•    Documents to be carried. Do carry small  a bag containing a  copy of salary slip/appointment letter of present/last job, copies of published papers and books, degrees/diplomas and certificates of any outstanding performance or honour or award and portfolio. Keep the bag handy with you  but show the required document  on demand.

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice

and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”—Pele

Preparation for online ( Video interview). Some people are shy of camera and have anxiety when they are invited to undergo video interview. However, as technology and access to the internet continue to grow at faster pace , many employers are conducting their interviews online. Particularly, when candidates are located overseas or  they are very far away within the country, video interview is most convenient for both sides. It is also very economical as it eliminates cost of travel and hotel stay of the selection team. Some recruiters will use low-cost facility such as Skype or Google Hangout to conduct a video interview. Your potential employer can send you a link to conduct the interview at your convenience. During mutually scheduled video interview, you answer a set of predetermined questions while your responses are recorded. Recruiters and hiring managers can watch your interview once or more number of times and when it’s convenient for them. In case you have qualified in this round, they may schedule  your  face to face interview with the senior management / subject experts.

While video interview using emerging technologies can be convenient for both recruiter and candidate, it has issues like scheduling interviews at odd times to accommodate different time zones. It can also be intimidating to those who’ve never been interviewed under camera. However, on-line technology becomes more prevalent, today’s professionals are preparing for an online interview. Here are some tips to succeed in a video interview.

·        Dress Code. Even  if  you are appearing for video interview from you home or some other chosen place like library, you  should wear dress as  if it were an in-person interview. You want to appear professional and polished and must demonstrate that you are taking the interview seriously. Wearing formal /professional clothings can also help you get into an interview mood and build your confidence.

·        Be aware of the background. Make sure that background walls etc do  not have any poster/photo which could  divert attention of the interviewer . For example, a cluttered messy drawing room may communicate to a recruiter or hiring manager that you lack organizational skills. Find a neat area with minimal distractions behind you so that recruiter can focus on you and not your surroundings.

     Minimize background noise . Choose a quiet location to minimize background noise that could make it hard for an interviewer to hear you. If you have children, make arrangements for someone to keep an eye on them so that they don’t barge in while you’re in the middle of a thought and ask your spouse to refrain from performing a noisy chore, such as vacuuming, using grinder /mixing machine/juicer while you  are under camera.

·        Bottom of Form

·        Some noises in a house or public place like library are inevitable, but keeping them to a minimum will demonstrate that you are taking the interview seriously.

·        Practice Pre-Interview. Many video interviewing platforms allow you to perform a trial run before getting started.  If this is your first time interviewing online, it’s wise to do a practice run with a friend.  You must check and recheck   internet connectivity, standby power/UPS, equipment like webcam, audio speakers and mike that these work fine. Also ensure that the background looks fine on camera. Remember that small items that can easily be overlooked in person, can appear amplified on soft screen. During  your practice session  with help of a friend , keep talking into the camera as you give your answers, avoiding shifting your eyes or looking around,  Do keep a smile as you are talking.

·        Keep your answers concise. Try to keep your answers brief and concise. Speaking more than asked for can invite more questions.

·        Interview Timing. When you are given the option by the interviewing agency to choose convenient time, you must choose a appropriate location and time when you will be at your best and most relaxed

·        Be yourself and trust yourself. Recruiters are not looking for perfection when evaluating video interviews.  In fact they are looking for is getting to know you as a person beyond your accomplishments on your CV.  Therefore take a deep breath, relax, and don’t tense up, all will be fine as you proceed.

 Expected questions during an interview.  Prepare answers to likely questions which may be in written form prior to the interview or during the interview. Be alert and listen to the question being asked. Avoid asking the interviewing person to repeat the question as that will show your low level of comprehension and lack of focus. While answering a question be smart to lead the interviewing person to ask you next question, for which you know the best answer. The questions will vary with the type of job and the level of the job.  A set of likely questions are:

       ·     Tell us about yourself.  It is not a very simple question but lays the foundation for subsequent questions. They expect you to briefly cover your education, family background, higher education, last job, the company you worked in and your personal contribution to that company. Be brief and to the point.

           ·      How do you handle stress and job pressure?  Keep your answer related to workplace and no need to mix up with family pressures.

·        How do you handle an awkward situation? Here the hiring manager is looking into your ego factor, maturity level and negotiation skills. It could be situation faced in dealing with customers or vendors or teammates or even with seniors. You may explain a simple situation related to a teammate where you had amicably resolved the issue. However, be ready to answer if a question is related to any other situation of varying complexity.

·        What has been the greatest disappointment in your life? Do not mention any past interview or last job. Instead, you may talk about any opportunity which you had missed.

·        When was the last time you were angry and what happened? Here interviewer is judging your temperament and ability to stay calm during the adverse situation. Avoid narrating the story of your last workplace. Instead, give some simple example of misunderstanding among friends or some family members, which you could resolve amicably.

·        What is your greatest weakness? Don’t say you had no weakness since no one is perfect. You may talk about lack of interest in outdoor sports or trying to be over meticulous and take on others job and become a bottleneck.

·        What is your greatest strength? Must relate to information given in your CV. Highlight your hardworking nature, team building and sense of commitment to the organization and the team.

·        Do you take some work home and why?  You may say that you carry home only non-confidential and very urgent work, on the need basis and that too only on working days. No work is taken home of holidays / Sundays, as that time is for the family.

·        How many hours do you normally work?   You may say 10-14 hours.

·        Any innovation or idea implemented by you?  Indicate your own efforts and also combined effort of the team for the innovation, which benefited the company.

·        Tell us about your last Job.  The interviewer is keen to know who your boss was and who all reported to you. Ensure you speak well about your organization, your boss, teammates. Indicate numbers of people who reported to you. Do bring out any special success or innovation.

·        Tell us about your family. Be truthful, frank and respectful while telling about your family members. It does not matter whether they are at a low or high position or just in school/college.

·        What were your gross salary and take-home pay in your last company?   Here you should have done a lot of homework and quite clear about your worth and prevailing market going pay-scale. Do include perks like Employee’s Provident Fund (EPF), Gratuity. House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Leave Travel Allowance (LTA). Medical insurance of self and family (including dependent parents), Transport Allowance (Car Allowance), Driver’s pay, any special allowance for your specialization and incentive for research.

           ·   What is your expected salary? Be reasonable and do not ask for the moon but definitely higher than what you were getting in the last job. You must carry proof of salary and perks as they may ask for this. Be flexible and negotiate carefully to get a good deal.

           ·  What can you contribute to this company?  You should go through their website and know their vision. Be clear while suggesting any change in their processes. They are looking for innovations and research work.

           ·   How do you describe loyalty? Briefly indicate loyalty towards the organization, seniors and the team.

           ·   Why are you changing the present job? This is a tricky question and you may say that you are changing for better prospects and the opportunity to learn new tools and work practices.

•     When can you join us, if selected? Indicate a genuine time frame say one month      to three months. If you had already left the previous job, you may indicate 7 to 10 days but don’t say you can join tomorrow.
•          Negotiate position, salary and perks You may bargain to get the best offer at the time of recruitment but once you take up the job, you must put in your very best.  Therefore, go prepared and be good in bargaining for salary, Provident Fund, perks, working days/hours, leave rules, medical; facilities/insurance and travel claims. They will often ask proof of salary and salary sip showing other benefits. Be very clear what to ask for and when to yield, because you will not get another chance at least until the next appraisal, which may be one year.

·        Leaving the interview Room. If you are a selected candidate or waitlisted candidate, you may be told to meet the president /CEO for the final interview at a particular time, date and place. Accept the offer by thanking the interview panel. You may be told that you will be intimated later. Leaving the interview room in a dignified manner is as important as during entering the interview room. Irrespective of your performance during the interview, you should get up with a good composer, taking all your papers /bag etc. You should leave the room on a cheerful note, thanking the committee members.
§  Follow up. You may get intimation that you are selected candidate or waitlisted candidate and you are to meet with president /CEO for the final interview. Respond gracefully in writing and get ready for the final round. If you do not hear in 5-7 days, you have not made it. Even then, you should send thanking email as a courtesy. Keep your consultant updated about the outcome of the interview as they will keep you on the active list and plan your positioning elsewhere.

Suggested action before joining the job.  

You must read your Letter of Appointment (LoA) fully and carefully. Send your formal acceptance through email or letter by post.

§ If you get a call to join the organization, you should provide all additional documents as required by the HR department or the person who sent you joining instructions.

§  Be soberly and neatly dressed and carry your bag/laptop on your shoulder or hand properly.

§  Be on time to meet the HR manager, who will get the required documents completed and direct you further.

Managing your new job . Be happy about your efforts and success in the chosen job and get set to put in your very best from day one. Few common tips are:

·    Reach before time and leave a bit late or as per the company's policy.

·    Be respectful to your reporting officer and other seniors.

·   Be courteous to the existing staff and conduct yourself in a formal way.

·    Be prepared to learn on-the-job and from existing staff to quickly align with company norms and standards.

·    Get quickly familiar with the vision and quality policy of the company

·    Respect your seniors and be supportive.

·    Be friendly with your team members and seek their help. Take advantage of their experience and start contributing to the company at the earliest.

·    Work hard and fast to be a role model for your teammates .

 Leave a good impression even if rejected. Do not get depressed due to rejection and take it is an experience and challenge to reassess your strengths and weaknesses. There can be many reasons for your rejection like there were better candidates or company had limited vacancies.  You may be waitlisted and called later on a need basis. Therefore it is imperative that you leave a good impression on the interviewers. In some industries, like advertising & media, people move around a lot and key players tend to know each other. Therefore stay in touch with the interviewers who may refer you to other similar positions in other companies. Some professional etiquette which can help you in maintaining contact with the employer are:

·     Send thanks. Send a letter/email (Not SMS or WhatsApp) thanking the recruiter stating that although you have not been selected, yet the interview was a great experience for you. This will keep your hope alive and if the company has openings later, they may call you. 

·   Seeking feedback . Ask the company for feedback, such as "If there's anything I can do to improve my candidacy for similar positions”. There may be just 20% chances that you will get a response and therefore do not get worried and never send a reminder. If you get a reply to your request, it can help you to improve your professional competency.

Get set for another chance. You might have missed the chance as there were better/more experienced candidates. It could also be that you have been rejected due to lack of experience or some skill. There are instances when even well-prepared candidates feel nervous and mess up their interview. Look into what went wrong and accept challenges to start working on those. This may mean doing some additional degree/ courses or hands-on training. Get ready for a new emerging opportunity and if you are well prepared, you will get through. Today's job market is quite dynamic and there will be many more opportunities. Keep your network alive and God bless your success.

For more info – please refer to my book “Career Challenges during Global Uncertainty” available on www.amazon.com

Dr Sarbjit Singh, Former Principal  Apeejay  College of Engineering, Gurgaon , Haryana, India