Module 7 JOB INTERVIEWS Fehmina Khalique Assistant Professor School Of Business Galgotias University
According to Jucius Michael, “An interview is a face to face, oral, observational and personal appraisal method” The word interview is derived from ‘ entrevue ’ which means the sight between . It is an interaction between two or more persons for a specific purpose. It is most widely used method of selecting candidates. An organisation uses interview as a selection technique to know the accurate information and relevant details about the candidate. Job Interview
Panel Interview : Each member of the panel is closely observing the interviewee. Hence body language and eye contact is very important. The candidate must give the impression of speaking to all the members of the panel, and not just a single individual. Telephone interview : The interviewee should consider it as a face to face interview and use proper voice modulation to reflect his/her thoughts. The voice should be clear, steady and audible. Lunch/Dinner interview : It is conducted in an informal environment, but still requires that the candidate be careful about his/her body language and manners. Never drink alcohol. Types of Interview
Preliminary interview: It is a first stage screening test. This stage must be cleared before moving to the final interview. Sequential interviews : The candidate has to report to several people successively. He/she should be very careful about ones behaviour, speech, and manners in each interview as each interviewer is a prospective employer. Skill based interview : Such interviews require the candidate to demonstrate skills that are relevant to the job. E.g.. An actor or a sales man are asked to act or demonstrate his skills of persuasive oral communication. Types of Interview (Cont.)
Academic interviews : It is conducted in a question-and-answer format. The candidate must be able to demonstrate attentive listening, eye contact, clarity of ideas, and depth of knowledge. Personality interviews : It evaluates the interviewee as an individual in terms of his/her response to certain situation. The emphasis is not on the answers but how they are delivered. The entire range of non-verbal communication skills are brought into play to demonstrate a “well-rounded personality” Types of Interview(Cont.)
Clarity: in terms of academic subjects, career objectives, long term goals etc. Depth: of knowledge and understanding across a wide range of subjects. Personality: A candidate’s attitude, honesty, personal strengths and weaknesses. General awareness: about current issues of national and international concern. Application of concepts to real life problems Communication skills Integrity: employers look for consistency in what is written in the CV and the interviewee’s responses to questions during the interview. What does a recruiter Assess?
Know yourself: Identify your skills. Determine what you value-things that are important and influence your behaviour. Be clear about what motivates you and what you are looking for-Whether it is status, security, power, creativity etc. Describe your personality Find out how you think- if you are logical, intuitive or creative. Strategies for Success at Interviews
Know the Company: Job applicants must gather information and research the company they are applying to before the interview. They can learn about the work culture and norms of the company and read about the company’s products and other details. Know the job profile: The job should be considered in terms of its profile, scope of growth, and one’s professional goals and ambitions. Strategies for Success at Interviews(Cont.)
Tips for Interview Rehearsing for your Interview Rehearse your answers out loud before the interview to test how well prepared you are Identify any gaps in your delivery and answering techniques Rehearse with a real person. Your rehearsal partner can provide you with feedback and constructive criticism which is vital to improving your chances for success Rehearsing will help you build your confidence and delivery technique Rehearse multiple times until you feel your answers are flowing.
Dressing for the Interview For a white collar role, a crisp business suit and tie with formal shoes for men and business suit with either skirt or pants for women is recommended. Navy blue is always a good choice as it is business like and conservative. For a blue collar role in a less formal office environment, a crisp, clean shirt/top and jacket with either trousers or pants for a woman or shirt and tie and jacket for a guy with dress shoes and business socks is fine. As a general rule, take extra care with your appearance for a job interview. Make sure your clothes are clean and ironed.
Dressing for the Interview Wear clothes that are comfortable so you are concentrating on what is being asked of you Both women and men should go light on the fragrance and aftershave. If in doubt, do a full dress rehearsal before the interview and get a second opinion from a friend or family member.
Dressing for the Interview Whether you're going for a blue collar job or a white collar job, a creative role or a business role, there is one general rule when it comes to what to wear: dress up. The general consensus amongst the recruiters is that dressing to impress for that first job interview not only tells the interviewer you are serious about the job but also that you're serious about yourself. Even in cases where the company culture allows casual dress every day or where the role requires you to wear work denims, it's still a good idea to dress in formal office gear for the initial job interview.
Be on time! This means not only don't be late, but don't be too early, and don't arrive with "baggage". 10 minutes early is good. Smile. Make eye contact and give a firm handshake. Arriving on Time
Check out the Competition Who is sitting next to you? How many people applying for the position? How do you rate compared to them? What are their qualifications and experiences? Ask them if they know any other company looking for people?
Dress for Success Dressing the part of the job has often gone to the wayside of many interviewees. In reality, this is the first impression that your interviewer will get of you and how you're dressed can deeply reflect on you as a potential candidate. Dressing down can make you look like somebody who is far too relaxed and doesn't take themselves or the job seriously. Being over dressed can been seen as a sign of over compensation. If you are genuinely unsure, then always dress sharply but don't overdo it. Build Repertoire The purpose of the face-to-face interview is to establish your candidacy as an employee. This includes how you handle situations and how you'll get along. Be calm and relaxed but don't be aloof. You will be asked a ton of questions. Ask questions back, even if you already know the answer. By being engaging, you will build a repertoire with your interviewer. This will weigh heavy in the interviewer's mind and will likely have you moved up to the next level of consideration based on this alone. Tips for Interview(Cont.)
Don't Talk Too Much There's an old military saying that goes something like: Loose lips sink ships. It's easy to get into a habit of putting your cards all on the table in order to show your worth. In all honesty, this provides a shock to the interviewer and could be detrimental. The interviewer wants to maintain control of the situation and if you begin to dominate the conversation, you can easily find yourself on the "we'll call you" list. Save the conversation for the right opportunities when they ask for questions. Also, keep your conversation related to the interview. Create a Presentation Keeping in mind your surroundings and company, providing a formal presentation of who you are and what you can offer the company is an excellent way to find yourself next in line for that position. Don't go overboard but be creative with it. Include facts and figures and put a little bit of personality behind it. Tips for Interview(Cont.)
Close the Deal The interviewer surely already has their mind set by the final handshake of the interview whether you advance or not. During that handshake, be direct. Confidence goes a long way. If you think things went well, boldly ask your interviewer where you stand. If not, your answer will make it clear. Tips for Interview(Cont.)
Body Language In the Job Interview Since body language actually affects how one feels about oneself, it doesn’t hurt to set the tone of communication before you’ve even left your car. Sit up straight, smile, and keep your chin up, shoulders squared. If you portray confidence outwardly, you’ll actually begin to feel confident. As you approach the interview location, meet the eyes of others you pass and offer a friendly smile, nodding when appropriate. The more you look like a confident person who has it all together, the more you’ll begin to feel like one during the job interview. Body Language Do’s The ideas conveyed by your answers in a job interview are the same ideas you want to convey with your body language. Employers usually seek employees who will listen, and combine congeniality with a practical dose of assertiveness. Often, an aggressive demeanor is less desirable than a calm, and gently commanding presence. Additionally, employers want to see trustworthiness in an employee. While it’s easy to state you possess these qualities during a job interview, it takes a bit more to convince a prospective employer that you really have them. Once your interview begins, meet the eyes of your interviewer, and smile. Relax, and while listening, lean forward just slightly to convey interest. Body Language during Interview
Body Language Don’ts While you want to appear relaxed, it is important not to appear too relaxed or too dominant. Stretching your legs out in a job interview, raising your arms behind the back of your head with your elbows out, and leaning back are all messages that you are overconfident. In a job interview, overconfident body language may convey the sense that you feel you have nothing to learn, or consider yourself above the job or the interviewer. While confidence is a boon in an employee, arrogance is generally not. Finally, while in the job interview, don’t wildly gesticulate. Gestures are a good way to add emphasis to your statements, and help you relax, but too much gesturing is distracting and can even be seen as aggressive. Body Language (Cont.)
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