Top Tips for face interview successfully

Before the discussion about how to face an interview confidently first, you just need to know about interviews, so Interviews are defined as “meeting of persons face to face, especially for purposes of consultation; Oral examination of a candidate for employment, etc.” An interview has now become an important criterion for the selection of all level Posts – Managerial, Executive, and officers, etc., in Government, semi-government, and private sector organizations.

The Objective of the Interview:

When you face an interview, what should be your objective? Let’s explain it. With the rise in competition and the universal demand for the best, judging one’s ability only by means of written tests is not enough. Written tests only provide an idea about the knowledge possessed by the candidate and have no clue, whatsoever, about his inanities, personality traits, behavioral patterns, reactions to uncommon situations, etc.

The objective of interviews is to assess a candidate’s intellectual qualities, social traits, mental caliber, and personal suitability for a job or a course. The Interview gives an opportunity for the interviewer to verify the facts stated in the application form or to know the facts that are missing therein.

Interview Technique :

During the face of the Interview, The technique involved in an interview is a natural, purposeful, structured, and spontaneous cross-examination by means of healthy conversation. An interview is never a question-answer session.

The observation of verbal and non-verbal responses is the main future of an interview. Under verbal response comes the manner of speaking, accent, and putting across of the answers. The non-verbal response comprises the Attire, the gestures, body movements, and the overall body language. These responses are properly observed, taken note of, and assessed against the job or course requirements.

Category of Interviews :

The following are in general categories of the interviews.

Screening Interviews
Walk-in interviews
Panel or Board Interview

Series interviews
Campus Interviews

Screening Interviews :

It is conducted with the purpose of screening a large number of candidates in order to retain the prospective ones and disqualify the mediocre ones.

Walk-in Interviews :

These are very common with smaller companies in need of middle or low-level staff for temporary or permanent jobs. The candidates are invited personally according to a predetermined date, time, and Venue. In such interviews, the selection is usually made on the spot.

Panel Interviews :

The Panel or Board interviews are just face-to-face interviews, a common feature in public or private sector undertaking, teaching or research institutions, and institutions offering highly specialized courses. A panel of members taken from specialized areas of management, finance, engineering, etc., interviews the candidate. Such an interview is presided over by a nominee of the organization.

Series Interviews :

Some very big organizations may conduct a series of interviews of a candidate with a different board of interviewers each time. The separate reports of the interviewers are analyzed and compared to decide on the suitability of the candidate.

Campus Interviews :

Nowadays, campus interviews are also very common. Some big organizations select the candidates in their final semester’s engineering, medical, pharmacy, Management institutes, etc., right from the campus of the institutes.

Role of the Interviewer :

The responsibility for conducting interviews rests upon an interviewer. He is the initiator of an interview, controls the proceeding, assesses the responses of the candidate, and finally decides upon his suitability. If an interviewee needs to prepare himself for an interview, the interviewer also needs to do his homework.

He advertises a job, course, etc., scans the resumes, screens and shortlists the candidates, and finally calls the best one for an Interview. He prepares questions and the proceedings of the Interview beforehand. He ensures that the Interview proceeds in an amicable manner and he selects the right candidates for the organization.

An interview extracts information basically on the Education, Family background, career aspiration, Experience, and other information given in the Curriculum Vitae. He ascertains that the candidates are intellectually strong, hardworking, can take up the challenge, have a positive attitude, and is totally committed to their Job.

He also provides information about the organization to the interviewee. A good interviewer would always put an interviewee at ease, build up a report, and instill confidence in him. He would initiate the Interview with easy and informal questions and try to make the candidate overcome the initial nervousness.

He would never put irrelevant and OFF mark questions just to confuse the candidate. He would be straightforward in his approach and not indulge in circumlocution. He would be a pleasant questioner and an unbiased assessor.

Role of Interviewee :

The interviewee is the person who is facing interviews. So he must be sincere in his approach. He must gather all the paraphernalia comprising his certificates and other documents and information related to the job/courses he is seeking for. He must dress suitably and display elegance, politeness, courtesy, and patience. He must think well before answering the questions.

He must provide the information that is asked for clearly and unambiguously. His approach must exhibit enthusiasm and honesty. In short, he must make himself worthy of the selection.

Information about Organization :

Once you know the vacancy, you must have basic knowledge about the organization in which you intend to work. Some other information regarding Promotion, regular salary increments, Job security, and other long-term benefits will be helpful for the career built-up. Yellow pages, Industrial Magazines, Stock exchanges, indexes of industries, Employee handbooks, and Marketing brochures can give you information about the organization.

You can ask your friends and relatives working in an organization that, is right to join the organization. You may apply only when You meet the minimum criteria of Qualification and Experience. Job makes your career, Job provides you the opportunity of learning and development, Job has Market Value, Satisfactory Salary, and other Benefits, You are temperamentally and intellectually suitable for the Job.

Preparation of BIO-DATA :

Bio-data or Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume is the first contact between Employer and Employee. It is the shortest information about Education, Experimental, and other activity and specialty. It is a mirror of one’s personality.

Bio-Data must have the following silent features :

Name
Permanent and Correspondence address with Telephone No. or E-mail

Qualification: Since S.S.C. with School, College Name, Board, University, Year of Passing, Class, or Order of Merit.
Experience: Start from present to last organization, Name, and Address of organization, Post held, Duration, Reason for leaving the organization. Project Undertaken,
Special interest,

Concise and well-organized information, Date of Birth and Marital Status,
Languages Known: Can read, Write and Speak and Understand,
Any saving is done by you in the past organization,

Documentation and Machine knowledge,
Regulatory Liaison Experience and Regulatory and Non-regulatory Audits Faced.
Passport Number, Driving Licence Number for foreign Emplacements,

Responsibilities that you have shouldered in a past organization,
Religion and status of marriage.
Expected Salary.

References of at least two well-known Persons who know you better.
Signature, Date, and Place.
Bio-Data should be typed or well handwritten.

It should be free of Spelling mistakes, Grammatical, and Typographical mistakes.

Enclosed are the Documents and Covering Letter :

All the documents that are demanded by the organization in the advertisement shall be enclosed with the application. Usually, the following documents may be asked Copy or References of Advertisements.

Photocopies of Birthdate proof certificates

Photocopies of Educational Qualification and Experience certificates.
No Objection Certificates from the present employer
Letter of recommendation if Any

Letter of Approval from State or Central Licensing Authority.
Enclose the documents serially as per the BIO-DATA sequence and Prepare the Covering Letter to enclose BIO-DATA and Supporting Documents with the cover letter.
The cover Letter shall be Short and to the Point, and Formal. The Letter could end with the expression of the hope of receiving a favorable response.

Preparation for Interview before face:

Once you sent Bio-data to the organization, the organization will shortlist the Bio-data, and a call letter will be sent to those candidates whose Experience and qualifications are suitable. But this process will require little time and forgetting the Call letter. During this period, you should be prepared for an interview.

Usually asked questions during interviews are Name, Family background, Information about the Organization, Field of work, Area of specialization, Description of present Job, Strengths and weaknesses, such as Dislikes, Career aspirations, reasons for leaving present jobs and Joining this Organization, Contribution to the organization after joining the organization, Expected Salary, Period for Joining.

The questions that are asked in an interview are meant to probe your inner self, make one divulge some personality traits, assess your knowledge, the presence of your mind, intelligence, and awareness of your surroundings. Questions are also asked to test your ability to remain poised while under stress. Some questions are asked to verify statements made in Bio-data.

Tips for Interview :

When you are asked about yourself, mention your education qualification, which is higher, your accomplishments, present status (job course, etc.), and the career path you have taken or are about to take in life. Let your enthusiasm, sincerity, and positive attitude flow out through your answers.

While answering the question on your family, give a brief outline of where your family is and what the members do, laying stress on their contribution to the shaping of your personality. Project them in the image. When asked to speak about your performance improvements brought by you to the Job held presently; implementation of new technology, and achievements, refer to the methods, skills how you fared in job training, any out-of-turn promotion earned on account of some outstanding work done.

Extra or special responsibilities are entrusted to you because of your efficiency, capabilities, etc. Frame your answer in a way that the organization which you intend to join stands to benefit from performance and achievements. While giving the reasons for the present Job, never speak ill of the boss, Job, or organization. Portraying them in a good light, state that you have gained good Experience and want to shoulder more responsibility.

You find a greater scope and seek better avenues of progress, and you happen to be the person with the qualifications, Experience, and skills that the organization is looking for. If any unfair tricky, sarcastic or vague question is asked to remain cool-headed, think it over, and give the answer in a measured content with cleverness, straightforwardness, and poise.

Documents for Interview :

When before going to face the Interview, You must carry important original documents while attending the Interview. Following are the documents that you must carry with you :

Interview Call Letter.

Copy of the Advertisement.
Copy of Bio-Data and Application.
Degree Certificates, Proof of Birthdate, Marks memos, etc.

Letter of Recommendation.
Passport Size Photographs.
No objection Certificates from the Present Employer.

Organizational Information.
Any other certificates mentioned in Bio-data.
Police Clearance certificated for Overseas Appointments.

Passport for Overseas Appointments.Experience Certificates.

In addition to the above, you must keep with you the following: Plain Papers, pens, Visiting cards, Safety pins, Carbon papers, Clips, Rubber bands, Envelopes, Postage tickets, etc.

Dress and Appearance :

The dress is an integral part of your personality. For an interview, you must be formally and comfortably dressed. It should be such that it displays your attitude towards the occasion and the interviewers and exemplifies your sincerity of purpose.

The dress should be Simple, Conservative, and immaculate. You need not try something new. It is better to wear the dress to which you are accustomed. The clothes should fit in with the nature of the Job.

In Pharmaceutical Organization Good quality Black Pant, White Shirt, Tie, well-polished Shoes, and Clean Socks with tie pins and a clean Handkerchief, lightly perfumed and not so intense. Regular West belt with pants.

You can wear other dresses, but their color should be relatively conservative and not be Gaudy. Jeans, T-Shirts, Slippers, and chappals shall be avoided during the Interview. You can wear a suit for higher Posts and overseas jobs.

The males could wear plain, light-colored well-ironed shirts, with demand for dark-colored matching trousers. If the Weather permits, you may wear a tie also. The shoes should match the dress. You must never use Goggles for interviews.

Females should not attire themselves in too tight or too short dresses. A conservative and formal dress such as Saree or a suit could be worn by them. Shoes or sandals with high heels should be avoided at the time of the Interview.

Goggles and Intense Dark Make-up done for parties and shows should be avoided for Interviews. Hair Style should be matching with your dress and personality. The appearance of a candidate reflects his mental state.

In order to create a favorable impression, both males and females must be well-groomed. It is said that looks are more expressive and reliable than words. A fresh, lively appearance leaves an indelible mark in the mind of others.

Men who wear beards and mustache must ensure that they look clean and presentable. Possibly men should be well-shaven. The hairs should be well combed or turbaned. The women can wear light make-up but not jewelry. The hair should be clean and tidy.

The nail must be clean, short, and without paint for men. Nails of females must be Clean with or without well-matched Nail Paint. Along with all this, you must have a cheerful look adorned with a soft and sober smile.

This would serve to impress the interviewers and create a friendly and favorable atmosphere. Composure, enthusiasm, confidence, mental alertness, exuberance, impeccability, and all other positive pleasing traits go a long way in creating an everlasting impression. To avoid wasting time, you must visit the interview place before the interview date. You must reach the place of the Interview half an hour before the interview time.

Note: Proper Dress up And Personality is very impotent during the face-to-face interview.

When Walk to an organization to face an interview:

After reaching the place of the Interview before the time, you need to introduce yourself to the receptionist or concerned person so as to have your presence recorded. Then you must wait patiently for the call to enter the interview room. While waiting, it is better to involve yourself in useless chats, and you may go through Periodicals, Organization Literature, Magazines, etc., kept in the Reception or Waiting room. You may say a silent prayer in order to vitalize yourself and become focused.

Avoid Nervousness: Nervousness is a natural state of mind but becoming nervous is quite dangerous for all. You lose confidence, become impatient and shaky, and cannot think coherently. Hence you must try not to become nervous. “The interviewers are impressed by my bio-data. That’s why I have shortlisted me and called me for the Interview,” “I am going to make it.” “I have prepared myself with all earnest efforts and have all the desired knowledge and qualifications.

Try walking around briskly before the Interview. Take controlled deep breaths. Perform stretching and cleaning of fingers and toes to remove the tension in hands and feet to some extent. If candidates are nervous, interviewers are too get nervous, for they are also human beings! They have the mammoth task of selecting the right candidates for the organization. Why bother and be nervous? Then they are also in the same boat!

The Interview: during the walk-in for an interview, everyone is worried about how to face the InterviewInterview? so follow these simple steps.

When your turn comes, you should gently knock on the door and then enter. There is no need to peep into the room before making an entry. It would show a lack of confidence. It is better to ask permission to enter. Make the entry calmly, slowly, and sincerely with measured steps.

Close the door gently. Before sitting, wish “Good morning” or appropriate to the hours. Don’t initiate the handshake, but if offered, shake your hand boldly and confidently with eye-to-eye contact. The hold should be firm but brief.

You must remember that handshake is a gesture of friendship during face to face interview. It must be accompanied by a smile. Do not sit on a chair without permission. Put the handbag on the floor. Sit down when instructed to do so. Let the interviewer start the discussion.

If the InterviewInterview is being conducted by the panel, it is usual for the chairperson to introduce the other panel members. The introductory phase of an interview tries to relax a candidate and comprises questions on Weather, mode of traveling, the rush of traffic, etc. Such questions are very simple, and you should answer them in brief.

Next is the actual interview phase. It comprises questions on your qualification, family background, working experience, achievements and weaknesses, reasons for the change of Job, contribution to the organization after joining, and other questions framed in order to a complete picture of your personality and suitability for the Job.

During the face of the InterviewInterview, your body movements are also assessed, so you must be aware of the fact that one is under constant observation, and your reactions and responses are being closely evaluated.

Following are some points on body language during interview time:

While talking, make eye contact.
Sit with a slightly forward lean, with elbows resting on the table, if necessary, and put your hands in a natural and comfortable position.

Speak with a slight smile adorning the face.
Keep a cool, controlled, distinct voice with a usual accent.
Control movements of hands and fingers.

Overall, body posture should neither be too stiff nor too relaxed.
Maintain a confident, self-assured style.

Following manners and gestures must be avoided during the face interview:

Scratching yourself.
Leaning back.
Speaking in whispers or hushed tones.

Folding arms or crossing legs.
Losing patience and arguing unnecessarily.
Remaining too reserved or too arrogant.

Giggling and mumbling.
Smoking during the Interview.
Finally comes the concluding phase of the InterviewInterview. In this, an interviewee may be asked to put any questions or clarify any doubts. If given a chance, you could ask about the intimation or publication of the results or even ask a point or two doubts about the organization during face to face interview, or any other way. While leaving the room, you must thank the interviewers. Walk gently to the door and close the door gently behind you, with a feeling of optimism towards getting the Job, of course!

7 interview tips for candidates?

Research the company and the role you are applying for
Prepare for common interview questions as per the job applying for
Practice active listening and good communication skills

Dress appropriately
Be positive and confident
Ask questions about the company and their vision

Follow up after the interview