Basic ethics to face the battle

Introduction.

It is a two way exchange of information.
Opportunity for both parties to market themselves.
Employer is selling the organisation to you.
You are marketing your skills, knowledge and personality to the employer.
Interview preparation is a critical part of the Interview.

Research about:

Yourself.
The Organisation.
Questions they may ask.
Questions you may ask.

Know Yourself:

Thorough self assessment required.
Develop a complete inventory of skills, experience and personal attributes to market yourself.
Start with Experience and then identify your skills.

Ten Most Marketable Skills

Analytical/ Problem Solving.
Flexibility/ Versatility.
Interpersonal.
Oral/ Written Communication.
Organisation/ Planning.
Time Management.
Motivation.
Leadership.
Self Starter/ Initiative.
Team Player.

Self Analysis:

How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position?
What are my strong points and weak points?
What are my short term and long term goals?
What can I offer this particular employer?
What kind of environment do I like?
What do I like doing?
Apart from my skills and experience, what can I bring to this job?
Know the Occupation:

Research the Occupation and convince yourself that you have the experience and skills for it.

Methods of research:

Use resources of a professional association if you belong to it.
Meet people working in that field.
Read articles about people/ written by people working in that occupation.
Read newspapers/ magazines; browse the internet.
Find out future trends in that area. Is technology changing the job?
Know about the Organisation:

The more you know about the organisation, the better prepared you shall be:

Where is it located?
How big is it?
What are its products and who does it serve?
How is the Organisation structured?
What is its history?
Have there been any recent changes? Any new developments?
Questions you can ask…
Intelligent well thought out questions will demonstrate your genuine interest in the position. Some sample questions are:

What are the most significant factors affecting your business today?
How do you differ from your competitors?
Can you tell me more about the training program?
How much travel is normally expected?
What are the career paths available in this organisation?
When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position?

Dress Etiquettes…Men

Pastel plane coloured shirts with dark trousers.
Tuck in shirts and do not roll up sleeves.
Ties(weather permitting) sober.
Belts should match your shoes. Belt buckles should be small square/rectangular.
Socks – black are the best. Shoes – leather black with laces on them.
Hair – Neat short hair preferably parted on the side.
Jewellery – Wear no or little jewellery. Watch and wedding ring are the only acceptable pieces of jewellery acceptable with men’s attire.


Dress Etiquettes…Women

Three piece business suit.
Shoes – Closed shoes or pumps, at least 1.5 inch heel, dark colours are the best.
Hair – hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back. Don’t let it fall in front of your face. Avoid large hair ornaments and trendy hair styles.
Make – up. Be subtle; natural is the key word. Light shades of lip colouring and nail polish are recommended.
Jewellery – Be conservative. Studs of gold, silver or pearls are the best. Avoid gaudy fashion jewellery.
Accessories – Folders and bags should blend with the total professional look. Women should match their purse with their shoe colour.

Mock Exercise…before the Real Talk

Hone your Interview Etiquette… Churn the right mix of deportment, attitude and dressing skills for a great job talk!

Never treat an interview lightly. An Interview requires careful thought and planning.
Keep in mind the body language, basic etiquette, attitude and presentation techniques.
An Interview is the sum total of many parts. Its not just what you say but how you say it that matters equally.
Seek permission before entering an interview room, introduce yourself and sit only when asked to do so.
Have a lot of patience; take clues from the interviewers tone and expressions; show the certificates only when asked.

Things that an Interviewer looks in You

Family Background.
Education.
Experience.
Stability.
Initiative.
General Ability.
Interpersonal Skills.
Confidence.
Aptitude.
Pleasant looks.
Interview is not a casual meeting but a pre – meditated exercise which fetches you dividends only if your homework is done alright.

Your Resume… the first Interface
Follow basic Standards…

Don’t overcrowd your resume.
Keep your Resume brief… max two pages.
Use max of two fonts… easy to read fonts.
Do not overemphasize… by use of italics, underlines, capitalisation.
Your name, address and contact number should appear at the top of the first page.
Print your resume on a white paper with a good printer.
Print on one side of the paper only.
Avoid Mistakes: spelling, punctuation, grammatical. Double check for mistakes.
Do not include names and references in the resume.
Use of language is extremely important. Avoid large paragraphs.
Verbs such as ‘Developed’, ‘Managed’, ‘Designed’ emphasise your accomplishments.
Avoid passive constructions such as ‘Was responsible for managing’, just say ‘Managed’…
State facts… Honesty is the best policy.

Types of Questions

Directive Questions.
What skills do you have that relate to this position?
Non Directive Questions.
Tell me about yourself.
Hypothetical or Scenario Questions.
On your first day of working in our laboratory if a fire breaks out, what would you do?
Behaviour Descriptive or Behavioural Questions.
Give me an example of a work situation in which you were proud of your performance.
Stress Questions.
Which do you prefer, fruits or vegetables?
Go through the Process

Establishing Rapport.

Smile and maintain eye contact. It exhibits confidence.
If the interviewer offers his or her hand, shake it firmly.
Wait until the Interviewer offers you a seat before sitting down.
Participate in the talk with the Interviewer. Keep your answers short and positive.
Exchange of Information.

When you answer a question, look the Interviewer in the eye.
Be aware of the Interviewer’s reactions. If he/she looks confused, ask if you can clarify anything.
Be aware of what your body is saying. Avoid closed postures. Sit upright but not stiffly.
Control your nervous habits: don’t swing your feet; talk with too many gestures; fiddle with your jewellery, buttons, pen, etc
Show that you are interested in the job by asking questions.
Try not to look bored or anxious. Don’t look at your watch.

Closing the Interview.

Thank the Interviewer for his/her time and consideration.
Ask when you can expect to hear from him/her.
If it is not known when a decision will be reached, ask if you can phone in a week’s time to inquire about the progress.
If the interviewer offers his/her hand, shake it firmly.
Do Any of them Apply to you?

Oversell: Trying too hard to impress; bragging; acting aggressively.
Undersell: Failing to emphasise the facts that you have the related skills.
Body Language: Be positive; don’t look gloomy.
Lack of Honesty: Slightest stretch of the truth may result in you being screened out.
Negative Attitude: Don’t complain about anything.
Lack of preparation: Know about the organisation and the position.
Lack of Enthusiasm: Show interest about the position and the job.
Six Common Interview Mistakes

Don’t discuss pay too early.
Talk tech to techies only.
Keep your philosophy to yourself.
Don’t climb the advancement ladder in the Interview.
Avoid the dreaded electronic interruption.
Remember to say ‘Thank You’.
Ground work for Interviews

Enter in a state of relaxed concentration.
Act spontaneous but be well prepared.
Set goals for the Interview.
Know the question behind the question.
Consider the Interviewer’s agenda.
Expect to answer the question, ‘Tell me about yourself’.
Watch those non verbal clues.
Be smart about money questions.
Don’t hang out your dirty laundry.
Follow up with an effective “Thank You” letter.

ALL THE BEST-- see you in next blog -- Thota