personal Interview Techniques

                                                    

Dear friends,

A job interview is a process in which a potential employee is evaluated by an employer for prospective employment in their company, organization, or firm. During this process, the employer hopes to determine whether or not the applicant is suitable for the job. Personal interview is a test of inner thought where the inner understanding of a candidate is evaluated through various process and questions. There are various types of interviews are adopted by the interviewers according to the job description and requirement to mitigate the demand of the market as well as the organization. We must be awared about the different types interviews. They are such as:

1. Structured interview

2. Unstructured interview

3. Behavioral interview

4. Stressed interview

5. Case interview

6. Technical interview

7. Telephonic Interview

Many a time we blame to the employers for failing to shine in the personal interview. The basic reason of our failure is the ignorance about how to handle the interviews.Structured interview is all about the questions which are absolutely fixed and final.In this case we need to be very much specific and brief to the questions. Unstructured interview is completely unexpected where one needs to be creative and should apply his or her level of understanding. One of the most difficult type of interview is behavioral which is all about the behavioral questions that is all about attitude, aptitude, personality, understanding and presence of mind etc.Stressed interview is all about putting pressures in the mind of the students to examine the coping quality of stress by the interviews.The main objective of stress interview is to know the candidates capability to face the real stress of corporate. Case interview is given to test analytical skills of the candidates. Basically in the case interviews, one has to understand the case and has to apply the strategic concepts to bring innovations to the cases. In technical interview, one needs to be completely skilled about the technical concepts .These kind of interviews are conducted in Microsoft and in different IT industries etc.Telephonic interview is conducted while candidates are from a long distance and also to save the interview cost for both the interviewers and interviewees. So one needs to be careful about the voice and speed of the verbal communication. Speed should be moderate and voice should be clear enough to be understood by the prospect employers. Let us know about criteria of evaluation in an interview. It may not be equal for all the companies but it has more relationship with the evaluation procedures of all the industries. Let us have a look on the evaluation criteria:

                                                             [Company Name]

                                         (Specimen) Interview Evaluation Sheet

Name: -                                                                                                                Date of Interview: -

Post applied for: -

Award marks on a scale of 10 (10= highest, 1 = lowest)

Valuation Factors	HR Head	Functional Head	General Manager/CEO	Remarks
Technical Skills
Communication Skills
Appearance
Job Knowledge
Attitude
Confidence
Alertness
Interview Assessment* Re, Sl, Se

*Re: - Rejected,               Sl: -         Short listed         Se: -       Selected

Designation allotted: _______________________                        Date of joining: -             

Training Period: -                                                                                              Probation Period up to: -

Job confirmation on:

Remuneration: -

Basic:                                     DA:                                         HRA:                      Other Allowance:

Remarks: -

Signature of:HR HEAD                                                    DEPT.HEAD                         CEO/GENERAL MAN

This is just a sample of assessment form. This can be modified according to the job description. But one must be awared and have some knowledge regarding the facts.

 Let us pay attention towards some idea about “DO” and “DO NOTS” about the interviews.

Do you remember your first day in college? Your first motorcycle? You’re first Mercedes? Your first Boy friend or girl friend? And most importantly your first Job interview? We always remember the thing which we do for first time. And most importantly we also remember the effort, pain; planning etc we do for that first thing. There is always a first time for everything and so with the job interviews. In our life our first job is as important as our first job interview. We always learn every right from womb to the tomb. In India, every year more than 30 lakhs people pass out from their colleges, with a goal to enter in a good job, good professional life and this is the time when a student enters into the world of reality.

It’s very important for one to prepare for their first job interview as we do when first time we go on a date.

1. Collect information about the company and job where you are going
2. Be on time for the interview: -
3. Dress properly
4. Body Language

5. Brush up your concept on specialization
6. Think it as your last job interview

7. Feel relaxed

8. Update your resume and be sure whatever you have mentioned about yourself

9. Don’t be a bluff master

1. Collect information about the company and job where you are going
Before going for any interview, the first thing that you should do is to know about the company where you are going. Make sure you know following things about the company
a)Company name and the name of important management people.
b)In which business / industry the company is and who are main players in that industry
c)About the job you are going to do (If you get the job description before interview).
d)Basic Knowledge about the industry in which company falls.
e)Major clients of the company. (If you can find it)
Source of Information
a)Internet (search engines).
b)Company’s official website.
c)Your friends who may be working in that company.
d)The Placement agency who may have lined up for interview in that company.

2. Be on time for the interview

Punctuality is must at the time when you are going for an interview, unless and until there are some major problem. Always plan and keep spare time with you to reach the destination on time. But keep on thing in mind, even reaching one hour or two before interview timing is also not good. This makes you more nervous and most of the time you start feeling bore, so when you actually enter in interview cabin you feel exhausted and sleepy. And you tell me who needs a sleepy horse for the race.

3. Dress properly

Clothes are very important because its increase the confidence level of a person and make him / her comfortable. Always look good and be confident because the person on the chair in front of you always creates a first impression about you from your dress, dressing style, body language.
Dos” For males: Shirt and trouser are the preferred one in India.
For Female: Shirt and trouser or salwaar kameej.
Don’t: Don’t wear jeans, t- shirts or revealing clothes. Don’t put strong perfume on your cloths. Don’t have too much accessories on your body.

4. Body Language

Your interview starts from the moment you enter in the cabin as interviewer starts analyzing you body language. Before entering the interviewer cabin always take permission from the interviewer to come in. Maintain a proper eye contact (please don’t stare) and listen carefully what he is saying and show your interest in that. The best why you can show your interest is lean little bit forward, hand movements, if you don’t understand any point ask it (but don’t ask every time to repeat the sentence). Always be calm do not speak like a jet plane, take your time and think before giving any answer.

5.Brush up your concept in specialization

Please brush up your conceptualization In your specialization area. If you are a fresher, it is very much important to have sound knowledge in your specialization. If you are currently working, Be clear about your job responsibility and duties.

6. This is your last job interview

Keep in mind you have to get this job, there is no other option for you, so at any cost you have to get this job. This feeling and attitude will help you in giving your 150% in the interview and you will be more confident will do everything; give right answer for cracking the interview.

7.Feel Relaxed

Feel relaxed while you are going for interview or when you are in the interview panel. Don’t feel tensed which bring unnecessary sweating and nervousness.

8.Update your resume and be sure what you have mentioned about yourself

It is highly important to up date the cv regularly and prepare the cv according to the job description about the organization and be sure about yourself you have mentioned. Try to justify your mentioned facts in your resume. Because the employers may be interested to ask you about the mentioned facts about you.

9.Don’t be a bluff master

Be sure what ever you are answering. Don’t try to bluff to the interviewers because they are much more experienced than you. If you don’t know the answer of a particular question,feel free to admit and say sorry for your ignorance.

The above mentioned points are just some of the few things that you should do before going for an interview. There are many other things which one can do…but if you follow the above mentioned requirements it will considerably improve your selection chances. So, I am sure you will crack your job interview. So try to understand the emerging importance of personal interview and make your life bright and colourful.

So sunrise may be late but sunset is sure. Don’t be panic about the interview.You might taste the taste of failure in initial period of your interview attempt but you will be definitely successful after some attempts.Be cheerful dear friends and job hunters.

All the best!!!

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Dr.Rajib (Affectionately called by friends)

Sources of information

www.google.com,www.wikipedia.com,www.sitehr.com,www.slideshare.com

By Patricia Erickson,  Article Word Count and my previous experience of recruiting some of the staffs in Discovery Realcon services pvt, ltd, Balasore as well as a trainer in The British institute,Blasore Branch)