Things to Avoid During an Interview

It is a known fact that everyone tries to be on their best behavior while appearing for an interview. However, in our efforts to do everything right and answer questions correctly, we sometimes forget to watch out for the smallest and perhaps the most important things that should never be underestimated.
When appearing for a job interview, always keep in mind that the first impression is the last impression. Even the smallest mistake on your part can prove to be very costly.
Here are a few things you must watch out for while appearing for a job interview -

Being Late - It is okay to show up early but do not be late for you interview.

Cribbing & Complaining - Refrain from bad mouthing your previous employer and colleagues. No one wants to listen to someone who only knows how to complain.

Being distracted, nervous and excessively negative - Remember: the way you conduct yourself says a lot about your personality. Make sure that you are physically as well as mentally present while appearing for your interview. Keep your cool and give it your best shot. And most important - be positive.

Not stating Facts - In your efforts to make a good impression, never give in to temptations of lying. Answer questions truthfully and be honest about your work experience and qualifications.

Going on and on - When the interviewer gives you the chance to speak, stick to what is important. Being over talkative and opinionated can adversely effect your interview.

Trying to be funny - You might be a funny person and you might enjoy cracking jokes every now and then. Don't do it during your interview. Remember - there is a place and time for everything. Refrain from cracking silly jokes and testing your interviewer's patience.

Being unprepared and unaware - Before appearing for any interview, it is good practice to research the Company background and other details. Prepare yourself for obvious questions and do not forget to carry your latest, updated resume and other important papers.

A little bit of mental preparation before appearing for an interview can help you in avoiding stupid mistakes. Above all - be calm, composed and positive.

Interview Tips

Are you a job-seeking fresher, for whom the thought of appearing in an interview brings sleepless nights and nail-biting sessions? You can shed away all your worries now! Browse through the interview tips offered here and bag the job of your dream. Even if you are an interviewer looking for the perfect human capital for your organization, you can go through the interview tips on our site and hone your interviewing skills.

You can prepare for an interview by gathering information about the recruitment trends in your industry. Interview tips, however, can vary depending on the job you are applying for, your industry, your experience and the nature of the interview.

Interview Tips for Employees:

The first impression that you create after appearing in an interview is retained by your potential employer. Thus, it is important that you prepare for the interview and boost up your confidence beforehand. You also need to confirm the details of the time, schedule, location and the interviewer before the D-day and update your resumé. You can also carry a copy of your resumé and your photograph for the interview.

While it is necessary that the candidate shows a keen interest in the employer and the job profile he is applying for, he can answer in a short and crisp manner without talking too much during the interview. You also need to establish eye contact with the interviewer and show a positive attitude. While talking about some special achievement in your life, you can also mention your weakness. When you talk about your past job experiences, you need to specify the reason why you resigned from your former service.

The job seeker needs to sell himself as a potential employee by stating his qualities relevant for the job opening and asking specific questions. Don't panic if you get nervous during the interview and groom yourself mentally to accept any kind of feedback and decision of the interviewer. When the interview is rounded up, thank the interviewer.

Interview Tips for Employers:

Even the potential employer can update himself with a few interview tips. In order to tap the right kind of human resource for a company, the employer can make crucial use of an interview. He needs to be a good listener and can prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewees. You can have a set of common questions to compare the potential employees and fix an equal amount of time for each interview. The employer can begin the interview by a short introduction. You can choose a place suitable for the interview and offer tea or coffee to make the candidate feel comfortable.

While asking questions, the interviewer should give a fair hearing to the candidate. The interviewer also needs to update himself on each applicant's resumé and other details so that he can shoot specific question relevant to a particular interviewee. For knowing more the candidate's career plan and attitude, you need to build up a rapport with him and gain his confidence during the interview. It is recommended that you inquire of his potential and inherent qualities by inviting him for self-assessment. Before you conclude, ask the interviewee to ask questions. You can formally round up an interview while informing the candidate how and when he or she can be contacted in case he is selected for the job.

As you gather several tips for appearing in an interview, you can get the best deal from your recruiter! Even an employer can browse through our site for interview tips and make the perfect recruitment for his company.

HR INTERVIEW QUESTION AND TIPS

Introduction

Okay, so you have managed to hold your nerves in control and brave the questions of the HR. You are now at the end of your interview session. What next? The answer is, there are a few more steps to go. For instance, the HR person may ask you if you have anything to ask of him/her. How do you respond to that? It is quite likely that you are stressed out and nothing comes to your mind. This article deals with this situation and gives you a few intelligent questions that you may ask.

The Rationale

First of all let us try to understand why the HR person puts you in such a situation. Is he/she simply being nice to you or is there more to it? One possible reason is that the company wants to project an image of transparency. The company wants you to know that it encourages two-way communication between the top management and the subordinates, an atmosphere where everyone can ask relevant questions and expect to get answers. In other words, the company respects the employee’s need to know about matters that affect him, no matter where he is in the hierarchy.

Next, and more important, this situation checks your presence of mind and ability to form intelligent questions. So far you have been simply answering questions asked of you. How do you behave when you are in a position to ask questions? What kind of questions do you ask? It also shows how serious you are about the company and the job.

Let us get on to some questions now.

Some Useful Questions

Before you set out to ask questions, keep the above reasons in mind. It would be good to sincerely thank the HR person for such an opportunity. You can start with something like “I have really enjoyed this opportunity to meet you and your team at .. (the company name). Yes, there are a few things I would like to know, thank you for asking” However it is not wise to ask the HR a volley of questions and turn it into a counter interview. Consider the questions below and choose one or two from them that you find the most useful to you.

• What do you personally find the most enjoyable part of working for this company?


• May I ask why or how you joined this organization? / What brought you here?


• I would like to know about the work atmosphere here…


• Would you be able to tell me about this company’s vision/philosophy?


• How would you evaluate this organization’s strengths and weaknesses?


• I would like to know a little about my day-to-day responsibilities.


• Is this an immediate requirement? How soon would you be taking people on board for this position?


• I would like to know how my skills compare with the other people who have applied for this position.


• I am really interested in this opportunity and I feel I have the required skills for this position. What would I have to do next?


• Now that our interview is coming to close, is there anything you would like to know about my ability towards this job?


• Would you be able to tell me a little about what the company expects from its employees? What are the most important assets and skills for this company?


• Does the company follow a structured path in promoting the employees? How does it go?


• If the company finds me good at the job, how would it advance me? What would be the next step in my career growth?


• If I performed well in the current position, what are the additional likely opportunities for me within this company?


• Are there any special areas in this company that the top leaders emerge from?/ Are there special areas like say sales or engineering that have more prospects for growth within this company, or do the leaders come from a cross section of different areas?


• The company has decided to recruit for this position from outside. How does the company choose between recruiting from within or outside?


• How far does this particular position contribute to the bottom line?


• What advice would you give to someone selected for this position?


• What are the current challenges of this position/department within the company?


• Before I leave, can I have a formal/written description of the position? This would help me to review the activities and evaluate what is expected of me.


• Is this job likely to lead to other positions in the company? What is the usual route?


• Would you be able to tell me a little about the people I will be working with?


• Before I take your leave, let me check my understanding of the position. The designation is …., the responsibilities are …., it is in the ….. department, and I would be reporting to ……. Please correct me if I have got it wrong anywhere.


• How does this company promote equal opportunity and diversity?


• Would you be able to tell me who the company regards as its stars? What have been their most important contributions?


• How do the subordinates address their seniors in this company?


• Could you tell me about the management style of this company?


• If you selected me for this position, what assignment would I be starting on?


• Does this company have a formal mission statement? Am I allowed to see it?


• What are the most important parameters along which this company evaluates an employee’s contribution?

Some Usefull Question Answers

1. Tell me about yourself?

I am down-to-earth, sweet, smart, creative, industrious, and thorough.

2. How has your experience prepared you for your career?

Coursework:

Aside from the discipline and engineering foundation learning that I have gained from my courses, I think the design projects, reports, and presentations have prepared me most for my career.

Work Experience:

Through internships, I have gained self-esteem, confidence, and problem-solving skills. I also refined my technical writing and learned to prepare professional documents for clients.

Student Organizations:

By working on multiple projects for different student organizations while keeping up my grades, I've built time management and efficiency skills. Additionally, I've developed leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities.

Life Experience:

In general, life has taught me determination and the importance of maintaining my ethical standards.

3. Describe the ideal job.

Ideally, I would like to work in a fun, warm environment with individuals working independently towards team goals or individual goals. I am not concerned about minor elements, such as dress codes, cubicles, and the level of formality. Most important to me is an atmosphere that fosters attention to quality, honesty, and integrity.

4. What type of supervisor have you found to be the best?

I have been fortunate enough to work under wonderful supervisors who have provided limited supervision, while answering thoughtful questions and guiding learning. In my experience, the best supervisors give positive feedback and tactful criticism.

5. What do you plan to be doing in five years' time?

Taking the PE exam and serving in supervisory/leadership roles both at work and in professional/community organization(s).

6. What contributions could you make in this organization that would help you to stand out from other applicants?

In previous internships, my industriousness and ability to teach myself have been valuable assets to the company. My self-teaching abilities will minimize overhead costs, and my industriousness at targeting needs without prompting will set me apart from others. Additionally, one thing that has always set me apart from my scientific/engineering peers are my broad interests and strong writing abilities. I am not your typical "left-brained" engineer, and with my broad talents, I am likely to provide diverse viewpoints.

7. What sort of criteria are you using to decide the organization you will work for?

Most importantly, I am looking for a company that values quality, ethics, and teamwork. I would like to work for a company that hires overachievers.

8. What made you choose your major?

My academic interests are broad, so I sought civil engineering to achieve a great balance of mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, and writing.

9. Have your university and major met your expectations?

The College of Engineering at MSU has exceeded my expectations by providing group activities, career resources, individual attention, and professors with genuine interest in teaching.

My major has met my expectations by about 90%. I would have enjoyed more choices in environmental courses, and would have preferred more calculus-based learning.

10. What made you choose this college?

I chose this college for the following reasons: my budget limited me to in-state schools, I was seeking an area with dog-friendly apartments, the MSU web site impressed me, I saw active student groups, and the people were very friendly.