General Aspects
What is Interview?
An interview is a conversation where questions are asked and answers are given. In common parlance, the word "interview" refers to a one-on-one conversation between an interviewer and an interviewee.
“An interview is a procedure designed to obtain information from a person’s oral response to oral inquiries.”
Objectives of Interview
To evaluate applicant’s suitability.
To gain additional information from the candidate.
To provide general information about the company to the applicant.
To create a good image of the company, among applicants.
Traits on which you will be judged
Personal Characteristics. Do you have good grooming? Do you have good manners? Do you maintain good eye contact?
Self-Expression : Are you confident in expressing your ideas?
Maturity : What about your overall sense of balance? Can you make value judgments and decisions?
Personality : What are you like? Outgoing? Shy? Overbearing? Quiet? Will you fit into their corporate culture?
Experience : What about your academic achievements? Involvement in extracurricular activities? Job skills?
Enthusiasm and Interest : Are you really interested in the employer? The particular job? Industry?
Career Goals : What do you want to do in your professional life? Is it consistent with the company goals?
Types of Interviews
Every employer has a preferred style of obtaining the information they need for their hiring decision. These are some basic types of interview styles you may encounter.
Structured Interview
A structured interview is typically formal and organized and may include several interviewers, commonly referred to as a panel interview
Usually begin with what is known as an “icebreaker” question (sed to relax you before the more serious questions are asked)
Next, the interviewer may talk for a few minutes about the company and the position
He or she may then ask you a series of questions regarding your past educational, co-curricular, and work experiences.
Finally, the interviewer may ask if you have questions for him or her. You should always have several questions prepared
Unstructured Interview
The unstructured interview is what the name implies. The only structure to the interview is the one that you provide. Basically, the interviewer is interested in hearing from you, so you may be asked a variety of different open ended questions
More conversational and less formal in tone than a structured interview
You may be asked questions about your hobbies, what you do on the weekends, or other casual questions designed to put you at ease
Caution : Many students prefer this laid back style of interviewing, but you must be cautious. Sometimes employers intentionally adopt this casual demeanor so that you feel comfortable enough to let down your guard and potentially reveal something that you normally would not.
If you find yourself in an unstructured interview, be friendly but maintain your professionalism
Remember that you are there to showcase your best assets and to convince the employer that you are the most qualified candidate for the job
Stress Interview
This style is used primarily by interviewers who are hiring for positions where there is a high level of daily stress in the work environment (i.e., sales, stockbroker, etc.)
The same questions that are asked during a structured or unstructured interview may be asked for a stress interview. However, there may be a difference in the behavior or demeanor of the interviewer.
The interviewer during a stress interview may appear distracted, contrary, or indifferent to you
The idea behind this type of interview is
Assess your reaction to the pressure of indifference
Assess your reaction to the pressure of rejection
Assess your reaction to the pressure of overall stress
Note: To be successful in the stress interview, it is recommended that you focus on the question that is asked and not the manner in which it is asked
Examples
Another hallmark of a stress interview is the “strange question.” For instance, some interviewers like to ask questions such as, “How many ping pong balls can fit in a 757 jet?” To answer a question like this, break it down into smaller, more manageable components. Verbally convey your decision making process. The interviewer will be less focused on whether or not you came to the “right” answer and more focused on your ability to problem-solve and think logically
The interviewer will put candidates in an uncomfortable situation. For instance, candidates may be given a test that takes two hours to complete, and are told to complete it in thirty minutes. Remember to stay calm throughout a stress interview, because that is what the employer is looking for – a candidate who has the ability to remain cool, calm and collected.
Behavioral Interview
Behavioral interviewing is a widely used method of job interviewing. This approach is based on the belief that past performance is the best predictor of future behavior.
In this type of interview, you will not be asked hypothetical questions about how you would handle a situation if confronted with it in the future. Instead you will be asked how you did handle a specific situation when you encountered it in the past.
Keep in mind that employers are not interested in what you should have done, or what you will do next time...they want to know what you actually did.
Behavioral interview questions generally start with any one of the following phrases:
Tell me about a time when you...
Describe a circumstance when you were faced with a problem related to...
Tell me how you approached a situation where...
Share with me an instance in which you demonstrated...
Techniques for Interview
THE STAR METHOD
The STAR method is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific situation, task, action, and result of the situation you are describing.
Situation: Describe the situation that you were in or the task that you needed to accomplish. You must describe a specific event or situation, not a generalized description of what you have done in the past. Be sure to give enough detail for the interviewer to understand. This situation can be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience, or any relevant event.
Task: What goal were you working toward?
Action: Describe the actions you took to address the situation with an appropriate amount of detail and keep the focus on YOU. What specific steps did you take and what was your particular contribution? Be careful that you don’t describe what the team or group did when talking about a project, but what you actually did. Use the word “I,” not “we” when describing actions.
Result: Describe the outcome of your actions and don’t be shy about taking credit for your behavior. What happened? How did the event end? What did you accomplish? What did you learn? Make sure your answer contains multiple positive results
Interview Questions
General Questions:
Tell me about yourself
Why should we hire you
What is your greatest strength
What is your greatest weakness
What are your salary expectations
Why do you want this job
How do you handle stress and pressure
Behavioral Questions
Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.
Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish and failed.
Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.
Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or coworker.
Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.
Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.
Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.
Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.
Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.
Please tell me about a time you had to fire a friend.
Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low).
Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone
Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it.
Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion.
Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.
Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.
Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping
skills.
Questions for Experienced
What are your salary expectations
Salary is Negotiable
Why are you leaving or why have you left your job