HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW

(WHAT TO DO BEFORE)
MAHENDRA KUMAR VERMA (B.TECH)

HOW SHOULD INTERVIEW

ResumeWriting:-

FRESHER PREPARE

FOR A

JOB

A resume is a great way of propagating yourself and therefore it should be meticulously crafted. The drafting of a resume will depend on whether it is for a fresher or for someone who has experience, fundamentally the architecture would remain the same, since the fresher has nothing much to show case in term of experience, the focus would remain on selling ones inherent capability in the form of strengths and leaning on projects and internships. I am listing down some important aspects to be kept in mind while making your resume:

The resume should be precise, crisp and to the point & should be written by you. It should not be copy pasted from a colleague or down loaded from sample templates in Google. Remember that the recruiter has less than a minute for reviewing your resume and therefore it is imperative that your resume catches the recruiters eye. A recruiter can differentiate easily between a self-written resume and a copied one. All achievements aside, the resume should be reader friendly, devoid of glossy jargons & should be written in an accepted font {either Arial or Calibri font size (11)}. It is astonishing to find that students fail to proof-read their resume for grammatical mistakes. For freshers, it is important to highlight their projects /internships and harp on any significant achievements while undergoing the project or internship. The Career Objective statement for a fresher should focus on the first 5 years and avoid any outlandish projections; in fact career objective should mirror an individuals approach towards their career and shouldnt be a borrowed idea. Last but not the least, a resume should convey consistency and as far as possible be customized and tailor-made for different job profiles and different organizations.

In addition to this, for freshers, extra-curricular activities should be used effectively rather than accommodating it to bring up the tail. Reading and writing are important components of extra-curricular activities and one must be ready with the last book you read or last letter /mail you wrote in case the question pops up during the interview . Avoid showing a bunch of certificates, like class representative, winner of spoon race competition, these are deterrents and can be avoided.

Pre-Interview
Research: - Before attending the interview, ensure that you go through the website of the company and
find out the salient features of the company, its product range, vision and mission, founders, customers etc. All your answers during the interview should originate from an understanding of the organization. Find out if you have any relatives or friends working in the same organization, an insight from an insider will help you fortify your views better.

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Interview:Body Language:- Maintain eye contact throughout the interview, keep your body flexible, sit upright in
the chair, limit your hand movements.

Prepare for basic open-ended questions:- The interview is a process by which the interviewer can
judge whether the job requirements and your profiles are both technically and personally aligned, so there is still a chance of the staple question Tell me more about yourself? The first question is the most important question and the appropriate answer to this will keep the rest of the interview live , so avoid too much of family , lead the answer to your area of strengths , avoid talking about how hard working and sincerity and honest you are , these are understood. Talk instead of how you can work in a team. Highlight persistence, ambition, execution, stability and growth through performance as your strengths. The second probable question can be Where do you see yourselves 5 years from now? The answer to this can be, I see myself growing through the ranks adding considerable value to both internal and external customers, aligning my vision and my organizations vision to reach a shared destination. Keep the responses short and crisp. Towards the fag end of the interview, the recruiter may provide you an opportunity of asking any question. This needs to delicately handled, when in doubt avoid asking questions. If you actually have a question, then put it across in a straight forward manner, avoid controversial questions like: may I know my CTC, so am I selected etc. Instead ask them about their long term plans or look at relevancy. Finally throughout the interview channelize your energy, dont panic or strain yourself, stay calm and retain your composure, be yourself and give it your best shot. At the end of the interview you will have get fair indication of your fate. So dont worry too much about the outcome. Life is about remaining nonchalant when the going is good or bad, because things always change.

Interview Body language

9 techniques to guarantee a strong interview performance

Interview skills and communication skills are not just about speech techniques and structures. You may have come across studies or statistics which state that up to 60% of the impression that you make is through your body language. Whatever the reality behind this statement, it is undoubtable that the way you dress and behave at an interview will strongly influence the person who is looking at you, even if it is subconscious. To make a strong impression, there are a number of rules regarding correct body language that you need to reflect upon and adopt:

Choose a good position within the room

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At an interview, you will normally be directed to a specific seat (i.e. you will have no choice). However, interviews can often be conducted in oversized environments (e.g. a meeting room with a table for 8 when there are only 3 of you). Make sure you choose a seat which enables you to see everyone involved without having to rotate your head exaggatedly. In most cases, it may be best to hover around to see which chairs the interviewers are aiming for before making your selection. If there is a window, choose a chair that faces it so that your face is lit from the front, unless there is good lighting all round. If you turn your back to the window, the interviewers may see you in sepia!

Maintain a good posture

If you are being interviewed at a table, make sure that you are not too close to the table. As a rule of thumb, your body language should be such that if you let your arms fall loosely on the table in front of you, they should fall with your elbows slightly outside of the table. If you elbows are actually on the table then you are too close. If your elbows are more than a few inches away (or you have to lean forward a lot to put your hands on the table) then you are too far. For most people, the ideal distance between chest and table is about 4 inches. Plant both feet onto the ground so that you remain stable; and put your hands on the table (people who place their hands below the table come across as having something to hide). Keep yourself upright, with a slight slant forward and relax our shoulders. Slouching is bad body language!If there is no table (or only a low table) then simply rest your hands on your lap.

Don't be afraid to "own the space"

Just because your are under observation, it does not mean that you should recoil in a corner. It is okay to stand or sit with your legs slightly apart, and in fact, it is a sign of confident body language (don't overdo it though, it would become indecent!)

Limit you hand and arm movement

It is perfectly okay in your body language to move your arms and hands around, and if that is the way that you normally behave then don't try to become someone else. Your personality and enthusiasm are as important as everything else. However make sure that such movements do not become distracting and do not take the focus away from your face. To achieve this, make sure that your movements are limited to the corridor in front of you, never higher than your chest, and never under the table. If there is no table, you can let your hands go as far down as your lap. If your hands go outside towards the left or right, your interviewers will follow them and may stop concentrating on you. If your hands go over chest level, you will most likely obscure your lips or eyes. If you have a tendency to fidget in a very distracting manner, entertwine your fingers and rest your hands on the table. Whatever you do, never cross your arms. It will make you look unreceptive, guarded and lacking in confidence. 3|M a h en dr a K uma r Ve rma

Smile
A nervous smile is better than no smile at all. No one wants to recruit a grumpy person or someone who looks like they are not enjoying themselves. Good interviewers will understand that you may be nervous and will make attempts to put you at your ease. Make sure you reward their efforts with an easy smile. No need to overdo it. It is not a contest for straight teeth, but simply a reasonable attempt to engage with them. Smile lightly also when you are being introduced to each member of your panel. With this body language you can build a good rapport. It is also perfectly acceptable to laugh if the situation warrants it (but avoid making jokes just for the sake of introducing a laugh into the conversation. You'll probably end up being the only one laughing, and you'll soon be crying.)

Maintain eye contact

If you do not make eye contact, you will come across as evasive and insecure which is poor body language. If you stare at people too much, you will make them insecure. There are two situations here: either you are being interviewed by just one person, in which case you will have no choice but to look at them all the time; or you are being interviewed by more than one person. If this case, then look mostly at the person who is asking you the question, and occasionally glance aside to involve the others (they will be grateful that you are trying to involve them into the conversation even if they have not asked that particular question).

Beware of the props

If you have a pen with you, avoid fiddling with it. It will only end up flying in the wrong direction. Similarly, if they offer you a drink (tea, coffee, water, etc), make sure that you can cope with it and that won't need to go to the loo or start crossing your legs half-way through the interview. Generally you should avoid picking up any drink if you can. Other than the fact that it may end up down your shirt or on your lap, the movement of the water in a glass that you have just picked up will reveal just how nervous you are.

Mirror the interviewer's behaviour

Mirroring (i.e. acting similarly) to someone is an indication that there is a connection through body language. It should happen normally but you may be able to influence it too, if only to give the interviewer the feeling that you are getting on. For example, if the interviewer is sitting back then you may want to sit back a little too; if he leans forward, you may lean forward to. Be careful not to overdo it though and do not mirror instantly, otherwise it will look like some kind of Laurel and Hardy sketch.

And relax ...

hands on the table or put your hands on your lap. When you are in a job interview, or just in the restaurant. At the end of the day, you can't spend all your energy focussing on body language. There is
no point having a brilliant body language if you are talking rubbish. Bearing in mind that body 4|M a h en dr a K uma r Ve rma

language is a reflection of your level of confidence, it is important that you build your confidence up first through good preparation and then go to the interview relaxed. You will be surprised of how much of the above you can do naturally. Avoid putting your hands on your face. To avoid this stop using your hands, such as when sitting on the table. DO not put your hands on your face and use it for hand resting. Put your hands in your pocket when you are just walking between places. While sitting down on a chair while in front of the table, lay your hands or hold your Stay relax, stop fidgeting and learn how to over come this bad habit.

Tips

Stay focused. Don't think about your hands to much. Learn to stay calm. Avoid putting hands on the face or touching the forehead / face.

Warnings

Putting hands on the face, this leads to a break out to the face causing acne, pimples, oily skin, black heads and such from dirt or bacteria. Putting hands on the face causes pores to clog up by sweat on the fore head or sweaty hands. Sensitive skin can have unnatural or oily skin look.

ZoomInterviews Guide to First Impressions

You have often heard that first impressions count - and they do, particularly when that first impression is related to your job interview. In a tough job market, where opportunities to interview are rare, it is critical to fully understand what goes into making that "good impression." If that first impression isn't a good one, chances are that you won't have another opportunity to make up for it. In the Zoom Guide to First Impressions we'll cover the key areas where you need to focus on in order to make the best impression during the interview.

Appearance and Hygiene

Your Appearance is Everything... Almost

During the job interview, your skills and experience are being formally assessed, and judgments are also being made on your appearance and behavior. The interviewer(s) will expect to see somebody who fits in with the other people working in the company. For some jobs it will help to be stylishly dressed, whereas for others a more conservative style is appropriate. An open neck shirt and chinos may be OK for some companies, but, if in doubt, opt for a suit. It is unlikely that you will ever look too smart. Although, if you are going for a job in a non-office environment, for example, you will be better off in "smart casual" 5|M a h en dr a K uma r Ve rma

attire. We all have a "look." Whether it is consciously or unconsciously created, you want this look to be accepted by your potential employer. The clothes you wear should be appropriate to the job and organization. It's when you look out of place that people notice, but you also want to wear clothes that make you feel good, and that will increase your confidence level. When your professional attire hits the mark, it shows that you understand what is required for the industry, function, and most importantly the company that you are going to be in. If you can find out in advance how people within the organization typically dress, you can put together the right look. It is permissible to ask the recruiter or HR professional you have been coordinating with during your interview process. It is almost always better to be overdressed for the interview rather than underdressed. So, if you're uncertain about the proper attire to wear, wearing formal business attire (i.e. a suit) is highly recommended. Try on your interview outfit and think about how your accessories, hair, and general physical grooming will contribute to the effect. Work on this as carefully as you worked on your resume. This attention to detail on your appearance sends the subtle message that you will be equally as conscientious about your work. You should try on your interview clothes in advance to make sure that they are comfortable and fit well (i.e. they shouldn't be too loose or too tight). Check to make sure that your clothes are crisp and don't wrinkle too much.

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The Interview-ready Look for Men

Jewelry/Accessories
You may wear a watch with a silver face, steel band or leather strap. Avoid casual watches with loud colors and oversized faces. Wear no more than one ring on each hand. If you wear earrings, you may want to consider removing them for the interview. You may also have a portfolio with extra copies of your resume, a notepad and high quality pen. 7|M a h en dr a K uma r Ve rma

Cologne
It's recommended that you avoid wearing cologne, Keep in mind that your interviewer could:

or

only apply a

minimal amount.

Be interviewing you in a small room where your cologne could be stifling and distracting Be allergic to colognes Negatively associate the scent of your cologne with someone they know who wears the same brand

Your Personal Hygiene on Interview Day

The matter of personal hygiene is just as important as how you dress, for the day of the interview, in terms of the impression you'll be giving to your interviewer(s). While we all are assumed to know what constitutes "good hygiene," habits that we learned from very young, a lack of attention to detail to one or two aspects of your personal hygiene on interview day could spell disaster. Below is a head-to-toe review of hygiene tips:

Hair

Make sure your hair is properly washed and doesn't look greasy. There is a difference between hair that has a sheen because of hair product, and greasy looking hair. Keep your hair well-trimmed and manageable. Depending on the position you are interviewing for, long hair or a pony tail on men is typically not appropriate. Since norms can vary widely, do your research ahead of time for your specific industry, function and company of focus to get an understanding of what is considered acceptable. For women with long hair, do a 30-second check in the mirror just before the interview to make sure your hair is in place, and you don't have any flyaway strands of hair. Flaky dandruff is a turn off for many people and looks unsightly on the shoulders of your dark suit. If you have a dry, flaky scalp, make sure you use an effective dandruff shampoo to remedy the condition. Certain hairstyles such as mullets or big, frizzy hair should be avoided. In general, conservative, well-trimmed and simply styled hair is universally acceptable for the interview.

Eyebrows

Your eyebrows are referred to in the plural because there should be two of them. Overly bushy eyebrows can also draw unnecessary attention. If you find yourself in either of these unfortunate predicaments, invest in getting your eyebrows done.

Facial hair

For men, being clean shaven or having a well-trimmed beard or mustache is usually acceptable in most professional environments. However, ultra-professional business environments such as investment banking may frown upon facial hair, at least for the interview - once you're hired, you usually have at least a little more freedom to keep your facial hair the way you want to.

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Moisturizing the face

If your face tends to flake or looks dry, make sure you use a light, non-comedogenic facial moisturizer that won't clog your pores. If you have chapped lips, apply a lip moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or greater.

Hands

Dry hands could lead to crackly skin and unsightly hang nails. To keep your cuticles looking healthy and well-manicured, apply a nourishing moisturizer often to your hands, gently working the moisturizer into your cuticle. Make sure that your fingernails are neatly trimmed and that no dirt is caught underneath your nails. If you wear finger nail polish, make sure that there are no chips in the polish. If there are, redo your nail polish or remove the polish entirely.

Oral hygiene

In addition to the obvious brushing, flossing and using mouthwash, make sure that you don't have food particles caught between your teeth. Have mints readily available to freshen your breath when needed. Do not chew gum during the interview.

During the Interview

First Three Minutes (The Entrance, Handshake, and Small-talk)
It is critical to establish a quick rapport with the interviewer from the first moment you meet them. Doing so will help you get the interview off to a good start. Awkward silence, speaking at the same time, and humor that misses the mark are just some of the ways you can fail to establish rapport with your interviewer. Below are the key things to consider during the first three minutes of the interview: The-Entrance Enter the interview room confidently, standing up straight, and with good posture (hint: practice proper posture by rolling your shoulders back and then allowing them to drop to your sides, while keeping your back straight). Look your interviewer in the eyes and greet him or her with a smile and a handshake. When the interviewer introduces themselves, repeat their name as you exchange pleasantries (e.g. "Steve, it's good to meet you."). The-Handshake There is nothing more disappointing than a limp or "dead fish" handshake. In any sort of business setting, a confident and firm handshake shows confidence and helps put you on more equal standing with the other person, regardless of your relative rank or social stature with them. This also applies to the 9|M a h en dr a K uma r Ve rma

interview, where the handshake is an important part of setting the tone and making a strong impression. When shaking hands with your interviewer, present a firm grip and give one to two short pumps, while looking the interviewer in the eyes and smiling. At this point, the interviewer will typically invite you to sit down. Always wait until your interviewer sits before you do so yourself. Likewise, if you are sitting in a lobby or interview room waiting for your interviewer/company representative, be sure you stand up to greet this person as they approach you. If you shake hands with this person, make sure to be either standing, or in the motion of getting up to stand, as you extend your hand towards the person. This shows respect and your awareness of proper business decorum. Small-Talk One of the hallmarks of US business interactions is small talk-the initial, conversational back and forth exchange between two people before actual serious business topics are broached. Small talk serves the purpose of allowing two people who have never met, or who do not know each other well, to find common ground, while at the same time allowing them to further establish their relationship through an interpersonal exchange. Common small talk topics you can use at the start of the interview include:

The weather (a classic conversation starter) Where you live, where the interviewer lives; what you like about the city where the job you're interviewing for is located in How easy it was to find the company's offices (and as far as you're concerned, it was always easy to find the offices if you're asked) Current sports news, especially for professional teams from the city you happen to be interviewing in Any recent travels that you've been on or will be on in the near future; any great restaurants or other social venues that you've frequented lately

To make sure that the topics you cover are "safe" for the interview, apply the 30-day Rule - share only neutral or neutral-positive things that have occurred in your life within the last 30 days or that will occur in the next 30 days. Finally, pay attention to the flow of the conversation. In typical US business interactions, the conversation begins with small talk, then moves into the business portion of the discussion, before emerging at the back-end of the conversation with lighter topics which are small talk in nature.

You Send Messages with your Body Language. Posture

When the interviewer offers you a seat at the start of the job interview, sit upright but not too stiffly in your chair. This indicates that you are comfortable and feeling confident. Hunching down in your chair 10 | M a h e n d r a K u m a r V e r m a

gives the impression of nervousness and low self-esteem. A sloppy posture indicates a careless attitude and a lack of energy. Sitting on the edge of your chair can come across as being nervous and tense. Relax and lean slightly forward, about 10 degrees, towards your interviewer. This gives the message that you are both interested and involved. Leaning back makes you appear too relaxed and casual. Leaning to the side can be perceived as not feeling comfortable with the interviewer. How you position your head also sends a message. Tilting your head very slightly to one side comes across as friendly and open. Keeping it straight comes across as self-assured and authoritative. It is also important to pay attention to the posture of your interviewer. Sometimes you can establish rapport by adopting the same posture as the other person. This is called mirroring. If they have adopted a more formal posture do the same until you see that the interviewer has relaxed and become less formal.

Your posture conveys immediate messages to others about your confidence, level of comfort with yourself and others, as well as your overall mood and emotional state. The interviewer will notice your posture whether you are standing up, walking or sitting down. As you enter the interview room, walk in with your head held high, looking confident. Give the interviewer a genuine smile and a firm handshake. Wait until you are invited to sit down to actually seat yourself. Some people will slouch in their chair. This suggests laziness and a lack of interest. So, practice in advance sitting more upright with both feet on the floor. You can lean forward slightly, which subtly demonstrates interest in what the other person is saying. Avoid the temptation to lean on the interviewer's desk, as they are likely to see this as an invasion of their personal space, and that won't help you to develop rapport. Also, avoid having your arms crossed in front of your body. It might feel comfortable to you, but to others it looks defensive or standoffish, or at the very least, not open .

Gestures
Some gestures can be helpful, such as the way we will use our hands when we are talking to emphasize a point, and perhaps raising an eyebrow if something is interesting. We don't want to do too much, or it could become distracting to the interviewer. Keep your hand and arm gestures within an imaginary square that starts from the top of your head to the middle of your torso and from the outer edge of one shoulder to the other. This will keep your gestures controlled and not overly exaggerated, which may be distracting to the interviewer. Be mindful of the types of gestures and hand movements you exhibit during the interview. When some people are nervous they fidget, such as tapping the desk, playing with their hair, or twirling a pen. 11 | M a h e n d r a K u m a r V e r m a

Fidgeting occasionally is fine, but too much is distracting. Take care not to accidentally hit the table with your watch, or any rings you're wearing, while you are gesturing. And again, remember you can smile-you don't need to be serious all of the time, and this demonstrates warmth to the people you meet.

What to do with your Hands

If you are unsure of what to do with your hands, rest them, loosely clasped in your lap or on the table. Control your hands by being aware of what you are doing with them. Having your hands above the neck, fiddling with your face or your hair, is unprofessional and conveys nervousness and anxiety. Keep your hands away from your face. Interview body language experts will tell you that touching the nose or lips can indicate that the candidate is lying. Holding a hand behind your head is often a sign that you are annoyed or uncertain. Folding your arms across your chest suggests a closed and defensive attitude. Waving your hands and arms around can be perceived as uncertainty and a lack of professionalism. Common wisdom is that the less you move your arms and hands about the more confident and in control you are. Practice a comfortable way to loosely place your arms and hands while you are sitting, both at a table and in a chair on its own. Be aware of the interview body language message your legs are giving. Lots of leg movement is both distracting and indicates nervousness. Resting one leg or ankle on top of your other knee makes you look too casual and comes across as arrogant. Crossing your legs high up conveys a defensive attitude in the one-on-one context of a job interview. Crossing them at the ankles or placing both feet flat on the floor conveys a confident and professional look during the job interview.

Eye Contact
If the interviewer is talking and you want to show that you are actively listening, you need to instigate direct eye contact and maintain it. Avoid appearing as if you are staring aggressively by blinking at regular intervals and moving your head every now and then, such as giving a small nod. Interview body language experts suggest that when you are doing the talking you need to hold eye contact for periods of about 10 seconds before looking away briefly and then re-establishing eye contact. Overusing direct eye contact when you are speaking can come across as lecturing or challenging the interviewer. Typically the

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listener maintains direct eye contact for longer than the speaker who breaks it off at intervals. Looking constantly downwards makes you appear insincere or submissive. It is acceptable to look down if you are making notes or referring to information in front of you. However if you are speaking, or the interviewer is asking you something, raise your head and make regular eye contact to show that you are actively involved. With panel interviews it is best to look at and direct your answer to the person asking the question, with a glance periodically at the other interviewers. Eye contact is essential interview body language to establish rapport with your interviewer. Not making eye contact makes the interviewer feel disconnected from you. Eye contact should be a positive aspect of interview body language, if it is not used properly however it can quickly become negative.

We expect people to look at us, and people appear shifty if they don't. We may wonder if they are interested in us if they don't bother to make eye contact. You can try an experiment. Tell a friend that you are going to talk with them for 3 minutes, and they need to avoid eye contact. You'll find it hard to concentrate on what you're saying, and you will likely not feel that you're being heard. So when the interviewer is talking, do look at them as they talk. You don't need to stare, and it is fine to look away, especially when you are thinking of what to say. Return your focus to the other person or people as you begin to verbalize your thoughts. Two other important components that work with eye contact to convey a positive first impression are nodding and smiling. Studies have shown that these three simple actions are the most powerful ways to be viewed favorably by someone. Used in an interview, these actions can help you quickly build rapport with your interviewer. TIP: If you feel uncomfortable holding eye contact with people, look at their forehead, just above their nose.

Voice Delivery
Avoid speaking in a monotone by varying your tone and pitch, however don't overdo it and come across as overly excited or emotional. Breathe and pause before answering a question, this gives you time to react in a considered way and it ensures that the interviewer has finished the question. You should interact with the interviewer as an equal, not a subordinate. Ensure that your voice tone is not apologetic or defensive. Generally it is advisable not to show too much or too strong emotion during your job interview. Smile and nod at appropriate times but don't overdo it. Avoid erupting into laughter on your own, laughing along with the interviewer is far more acceptable.

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The Interviewer's Message

Watch for these interview body language signals from your interviewer to read the message they are sending you. Body language cues that can indicate boredom include resting head on hand, fiddling with hands and losing eye contact. If this happens wrap up what you are saying and move on by asking the interviewer a question such as, "Is there anything else you would like to know about that topic?"

If the interviewer crosses arms or leans away it could mean that they are feeling uncomfortable.Perhaps you are leaning in too close and invading their space in some way. Create more space between yourselves. If there is not a table between you that creates a safe degree of personal space, keep a distance of about two to three feet, this is a comfortable amount of personal space for most people. Drumming fingers and rubbing the face can indicate irritation. Clarify that you are answering the question with the information they want and not frustrating them with an off-the-point response. Preparing for your job interview includes not only knowing what to say but how to say it. The best way to be aware of your interview body language and the way you are coming across is to practice in front of a mirror. This way you can be confident that you are sending the right message in your job interview. The message that you are a professional, confident and enthusiastic candidate for the position!

Common Body Language Mistakes Committed During the Interview

Take note of the following common body language mistakes to avoid, and make sure you receive feedback from a friend, spouse, colleague or professional interview coach on whether you commit any of these mistakes in your interview performance. Eye contact

Do not roll your eyes when recounting something unpleasant about a past work experience or work colleague (and even better, avoid these topics altogether).

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Avoid fluttering your eye lids when you answer a question. This conveys insincerity or nervousness. Neither will help your cause during the interview. Be mindful if you tend not to make eye contact, or if you make minimal eye contact, with the interviewer. Eye contact is essential for establishing trust and making a connection. Do not look directly up when you are thinking about your response to a question you've been asked. This conveys uncertainty and undermines your credibility. Take a moment to look down at the table in front of you or down and off to one side of the interviewer as you collect your thoughts. Avoid staring at your interviewer. It is fine to occasionally look away (see previous point) as you gather your thoughts or as a natural pause in the conversation. In general, looking at your interviewer 80-90% of the time is ideal.

Gestures

Avoid using overly dramatic or pronounced hand gestures. Keep your gestures to the imaginary square that starts from the top of your head to the middle of your torso, and from the outer edge of one shoulder to the other. Avoid either intentionally or unintentionally hitting the table in front of you while speaking. Do not point at the interviewer with your index finger (you should always extend all fingers in any direction you may be pointing to - referred to as using "shovel hands," since your hand forms the shape of a shovel). Avoid giving the interviewer a weak handshake (known as the "dead fish" handshake.) This conveys a lack of confidence and engagement with the interviewer). Do not twirl or tap your pen during the interview. Likewise, make sure you do not doodle or start writing extensive notes during the interview. You should be engaged in conversation with the interviewer. When shaking hands with the interviewer (use your right hand), do not touch the interviewer's hand, arm or shoulder with your left hand. This is a more intimate gesture saved for familiar colleagues and friends with an ongoing and well-established relationship. Do not touch your face or hair during the interview. To that end, do not lace your hands together behind your head. Likewise, do not scratch yourself anywhere during the interview. If you have an itch, bear it until you are out of the presence of the interviewer. Avoid exaggerated head movements, either shaking your head, nodding or moving your head from side to side.

Posture

Avoid slouching or leaning back in your chair. You should be sitting up straight in your chair, leaning slightly forward to show engagement and interest. Do not sit with your legs extended in front of you or with your feet resting on a rung of a chair. Both your feet should be planted on the floor directly, or nearly directly, below your knees. Avoid nervous leg movements, such as bouncing your leg up and down or moving your leg from side to side. These movements are highly distracting to the interviewer and detract from what you might be saying. Do not cross your arms during the interviewer. This suggests defensiveness at worst, and a general lack of openness at best.

Voice Inflection
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Voice tone Make sure your voice projects a positive energy, and that you come across with enthusiasm for the role. Any sort of tiredness that the interviewer picks up in your voice will lead him or her to believe you lack the energy and drive to perform well in the role. This sort of tiredness can come out particularly if you've had a succession of unsuccessful interviews, and if your frustration or disappointment about your job search comes through in your voice. It is absolutely critical to manage this aspect of your first impression. Make sure your voice projects a positive energy, and that you come across with enthusiasm for the role. Any sort of tiredness that the interviewer picks up in your voice will lead him or her to believe you lack the energy and drive to perform well in the role. This sort of tiredness can come out particularly if you've had a succession of unsuccessful interviews, and if your frustration or disappointment about your job search comes through in your voice. It is absolutely critical to manage this aspect of your first impression. If you have had quite a few interviews, you may find that you have answered the same question over and over again. Make sure you still sound fresh, despite having to repeat the same answers. You have to convey enthusiasm and make your answer sound as though you are saying it for the first time. This can be a challenge, especially if your answers are very polished from repeated practice. In order to sound more natural, try to insert transition phrases into your answer such as "Like I was saying before...", "I think one of the things that was notable was...", and "...and, perhaps you've experienced the same thing." These are just a few simple examples. The key is to keep your answer sounding conversational, enthusiastic and engaging - you're sharing your experience, thoughts, and ideas with another person, not simply pushing "play" on a recorded answer.

Answer-delivery
In an interview situation, which can be seen as quite stressful, our voice may often change from our normal speaking style, delivering answers that are high pitched, jumbled or trail off at the end of a sentence. This is when practicing answers to questions can help. The more you practice answering interview questions out loud, the more your voice is likely to sound confident. There is also a tendency for people to rush though their answer - talking so fast that the interviewer can't grasp what they have said. Take your time and speak more slowly, putting emphasis on certain words. This is particularly important if you tend to speak quickly when you're nervous. By speaking more slowly, you will not only be better understood, but you will also avoid going down a string of conversation that may make you say something you didn't intend to. Also, for individuals who speak with a heavy accent, speaking slowly is the best cure for those hard to pronounce, or hard to understand, words. Many people have a tendency to use filler words such as "um," "ah," "you know" and "like." These filler words can be a difficult habit to break. We are often not aware when we use them. So, be conscious of this habit and try to reduce the number of times you use these verbal crutches. Also, keep in mind that people tend to use filler words when they are unprepared or less prepared than they'd like to be. This is, of course, all the more reason for why you need to prepare very well for your interviews through practice.

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The Day of" Details You Need to Consider

While you will probably have many things on your mind the day of the interview, it's important to be mindful of specific things that will help you make the best first impression you can. Below is a checklist of things to keep in mind on interview day. Most are small, common sense action items for you to consider, that done together, help to form the impression that you are a candidate who is well-organized, professional and serious about the position you are interviewing for.

Make sure you know how to get to the location of the interview in advance, taking into consideration traffic delays, public transportation delays and the like. Take the phone number of the person who arranged your interview to the company's offices (or wherever your interview is being held). This is usually an HR professional/recruiter or the hiring manager. Bring a professional looking (usually dark-colored) portfolio or folder to hold copies of your resume, a notepad and a pen. Be sure to bring enough copies of your resume for all the people you are scheduled to interview with, plus a few extra copies. Arrive 10-15 minutes early to your interview and leave yourself enough time to do a 30-second check of yourself in a bathroom mirror. Straighten your suit. Make sure your hair is in place with no flying strands, your face isn't shiny and you don't have any food particles stuck between your teeth. Be prepared to address the interviewer by "Mr." Or "Ms." unless they address themselves by their first name, which give you inherent permission to use their first name, as well. Listen carefully to the interviewer's questions, and let them finish asking a question before you begin your answer. Do not interrupt the interviewer mid-question. Don't bring unnecessary personal items with you to the interviewer. A portfolio containing several copies of your resume, a notepad, pen and perhaps any supporting documents are all that you should carry into the interview room. Be sure to completely turn off your cell phone or other mobile device. Putting your phone on vibrate is not acceptable. By no means should you answer your phone during an interview. If your phone rings and/or vibrates, turn it off as quickly as possible and apologize to the interviewer(s) for forgetting to turn it off. At the end of the interview, have 3-5 well-prepared questions to ask your interviewer(s). These could be a combination of questions covering the interviewer's perspectives on the industry/business, expectations for the person to be hired into the position, the interviewer's own career path, things they enjoy about their work, etc. Be careful not to bring up controversial subjects such as recent negative company news (e.g. layoffs, missed quarterly earnings, corporate malfeasance, etc.) After the interview, send your thank you notes within 24-36 hours of your interview. In your thank you note, thank the individual for their time speaking with you and briefly make any additional points you think would help support your candidacy.

Putting it all together

It is said that "the devil is in the details," and indeed, making a strong first impression is all about taking care of many small details that collectively help you to present your best self to the interviewer. By consistently making these behaviors and skills a regular part of your interview performance, as well as a 17 | M a h e n d r a K u m a r V e r m a

regular part of all your business interactions, you will show yourself to be a professional who is highly polished and "gets it." That "it," of course, would be the makings of a great first impression. First one should ask permission for entering the room.Then one should greet the interviewer/examiner.Once he offers you a seat,then only you should seat.This shows that one has respect for them.Sit with back straight.Don't bend.Show confidence & smile on your face.Have a look at all the people who are supposed to conduct interview.Look into their eyes.Don't look down or away from their eyes.One can fold his or her hands or keep on thighs.This is to prevent any unnecessary gestures.Don't argue with interviewer.Be polite & answer properly.Your voice should be clear & loud.If you can't hear interviewer's voice,say "Pardon or sorry" & requeest him to talk loudly. Don't show "hurry,worry,curry"nature.Have presence of mind.You can take a few seconds before answering a question.Be firm about your opinion.Interviewer will try to change your mind & test you.Interviewer will check all these things. You have asked regarding sitting in the interview room.First you should take permission to enter the room.After that you should greet all the members by saying good morning sir/s or madam/s according to the situation.You remain standing near the chair till the board member asks you to sit down.Wait for five seconds,they would say sit down.After sitting down you should say thank you.Your manner of sitting should be uncrossed legs or hands other it will send negative nonverbal communication.Try not to keep your hand or files on the table.Your gaze should be social gaze.Here I need to explain the social gaze.Suppose you want to see a person in social gaze;assume an inverted triangle whose base is a line joining his both the eyebrows and apex is the chin,the lateral sides are made by line joining lateral end of corresponding eyebrow to the chin.try to see the person you facing in that very triangular area.That is the social gaze.Your non verbal communication becomes positive in social gaze.You can practise social gaze by making such triangle on picture and fixing your gaze in triangular area.

Job Interview
Pay attention to your body language using these tips to ensure you are giving the best impression during a job interview. 1. Handshake. Everyone knows that a handshake is an important element of first impressions. Offer a firm handshake that shows confidence in yourself. 2. Dont cross arms and legs. Crossing your arms or legs is seen as a defensive position and is not what you want to present to your prospective employer. 3. Sit or stand with legs slightly apart. When you sit or stand with your legs slightly apart, this gives the impression that you are self-confident. 4. Keep your hands and legs still. Fidgeting exudes nervousness. Instead, keep your hands relaxed in your lap and be aware of what your legs are doing. 5. Chair movement. If you are sitting in a chair that swivels, be sure you arent accidentally turning back and forth as it can be distracting and also makes you appear nervous. 6. Voice tone. Be aware of your voice tone qualities. Dont be monotonous, yet dont let your voice tone vary to such extremes that you sound excited or nervous. One helpful tip is to take a deep breath before speaking. 7. Be aware of the interviewers body language. Pay attention to what the person interviewing you is saying through her body language. Not only can you determine if she is interested in what you have to offer, you can also match your body language to the level of formality. 18 | M a h e n d r a K u m a r V e r m a

8. Palms up. Use hand gestures that keep your palms up, which indicate you are open and friendly. Gestures with palms down tell the interviewer that you may be dominant or aggressive. 9. Keep eyes focused. Shifty eyes moving all around the room will give your prospective employer the feeling that you are being dishonest, or at best, uncomfortable. 10. Active listening. Be an active listener during the interview. Make eye contact, nod your head while others are speaking, and interject a few verbal acknowledgements such as "yes" or "I see." 11. Relax your shoulders. When many people feel tension, they pull up their shoulders. Be conscious of this and relax your shoulders. Not only will this help prevent neck and back pain, it makes you appear less stressed, too. 12. Be mindful of your head position. Holding your head level both vertically and horizontally indicates confidence and asks others to take you seriously. If you want to show that you are listening and open to the other person, tilt your head slightly to one side. 13. Use your hands. Hanging your hands down by your side during a presentation indicates depression. Instead, keep your hands active and use gestures to show involvement and energy. 14. Remove the opportunity for eye contact in conflict. If negotiations have turned sour or coworkers are disagreeing, moving them to a different form of communication that does not involve eye contact, such as email or IM, may diffuse the situation and allow for a better flow of communication. 15. Keep your hands out of your pockets. Standing with your hands in your pockets may send several signals to those around you, probably none of them what you intend. Unless you are trying to look less confident, as if you are holding yourself back, you are bored, or you are hiding something, then take your hands out of your pockets. 16. Women, learn the "business gaze". For women, a key element to being taken seriously is the "business gaze" or holding your line of sight on the area from the eyes to the mid-forehead. A gaze held lower indicates a more "social gaze." 17. Make eye contact with everyone. If you are in a meeting or giving a presentation, make it a point to make eye contact with each one of the people involved (unless its a packed house and physically impossible to do). 18. Watch your stance. Standing in a commando stance, with legs spread and hands on hips, tells others you are feeling disapproving, superior or are arrogant. 19. Keep your hands from behind your head. Sitting back with your hands clasped behind your head is another position that communicates arrogance or superiority. 20. Interruptions. If you are in the middle of a conversation with a superior or in a meeting that has been interrupted, it is best to look away from the person dealing with the interruption in an effort to give them privacy and to indicate you have disengaged yourself from something that is not your business. 21. Make eye contact, but not too much. This one may feel a bit tricky, but it is important to make eye contact, yet you dont want to go overboard on it. Not making eye contact appears weak, but staring too long makes others feel uncomfortable. 22. Smile. Smiling while in conversation with others shows you are welcoming, relaxed, and interested in what they have to say. 23. Give personal space. Dont stand or sit too close to others. Personal space is important, and when you breech that invisible boundary, others feel incredibly uncomfortable. How much space you give depends on the situation, how well you know the person, and cultural expectations. In the US, good friends should be about 1.5 to 4 feet away and acquaintances, 4 to 12 feet. 24. Good posture. This is another body language with a fine balance. You want to stand or sit up straight to give off that look of confidence, but standing or sitting ramrod straight just looks odd. 25. Lean in or away. While talking with someone, lean in to them to indicate you are interested in what they have to say. Leaning a bit back shows self confidence. 19 | M a h e n d r a K u m a r V e r m a

26. Mirroring. Mirroring is an unconscious act that people do when they have a connection with each other. Pay attention the next time you are sitting down with a good friend or close family member. Do you see how when one of you leans in, the other does too, or when one of you picks up your drink, the other will also? This is mirroring and is an indication to the other person that you share a connection. 27. Face the other person. Whether sitting or standing, face the person squarely to indicate you are engaged and paying attention to them. Turning your body away or looking away for long periods indicates you are not interested in them. 28. Learn signs of flirting. Flirting body language may include casual touches, leaning in toward you, and women touching or playing with their hair. 29. Start a conversation. Use body language to start a conversation. Something as simple as a smile or the expression in your eyes can start a conversation as easily as words. 30. Facial expressions. Your emotions are easily communicated via your facial expressions. If you are trying to communicate happiness, surprise, fear, anger, or any other emotion, learn what the face looks like while experiencing these emotions.

Reading Body Language

Understanding the body language you observe in others is as important as managing your own body language. Brush up on these secrets to learn what others are saying. 31. Going from open to closed. If someone starts out in a conversation with you in an open way with arms relaxed, leaning forward slightly, and nodding in agreementto a more closed presence that may include folded arms, leaning away, and steepling fingers, then you have lost your audience. 32. Scrunching forehead. If you see someone sitting still and scrunching his forehead, he is probably deep in thought or concentrating hard on something. 33. Hand over mouth. If someone is covering their mouth, they are either feeling insecure or may be lying. 34. Lying. Learn a few simple ways to recognize when someone is lying, such as avoiding eye contact, scratching their nose or behind their ear, gestures and expressions dont match, and stiff arm and hand motions. 35. Palm position. If someone offers you a handshake with their palm down, they are demonstrating their sense of dominance or authority. Likewise, a handshake or a significant-others hand-hold with the palm facing up indicates they are open and more submissive. 36. Take it in context. One single element of body language may not tell the whole story, so be sure to take into consideration several different non-verbal cues, the social situation, and any cultural differences that may affect body language. 37. Precision grip. When someone is speaking to you and uses a precision grip, or the thumb and forefinger touching with the other fingers closed on the palm, they are trying to relate something to you that they want you to understand. 38. Body turned away. If someone turns their body away from you while you are talking, they are telling you that they want to leave and are finished talking to you. Ignoring this signal means you will irritate them further if you continue to talk. 39. Walking away while talking. This is probably a sign that the person is in a hurry and is trying not to be rude. If you see this, let them go with an acknowledgement that you can catch up later. 40. Embodied cognition. The idea of embodied cognition is that the body reacts to what the brain is thinking in a literal way. If someone is thinking about the past, they may lean back slightly as opposed to leaning forward when thinking about the future. Also, someone holding a warm mug of tea may react differently to the same situation as someone holding a glass of iced tea. 20 | M a h e n d r a K u m a r V e r m a

What Not to Do
In order to make the best impression in any circumstance, stay away from these actions that may impart a negative image of yourself. 41. Lean way back. Leaning too far back while engaged in conversation puts off a negative signal, saying you are too confident in yourself. 42. Touch your face. Touching your face appears insecure and can also be distracting to those talking to you. 43. Cover your heart. Dont hold a drink or anything else right in front of your heart as this indicates a guardedness that you probably dont intend to project to others. 44. Blank stare. If you have stopped listening to someone and have let your thoughts take you away, it will show as a blank stare, indicating you are no longer listening. If you feel yourself drifting away, at least try to keep your face animated in an attempt to indicate you are still listening. 45. Tap your feet. Tapping your feet indicates boredom, so unless you are trying to drop a not-sosubtle hint, then make sure to keep your feet still. 46. Clench you fist. Fist clenching is an overt sign that you are angry, frustrated, or holding back your opinions. 47. Slouch. Slouching down in your chair tells others that you are not interested in what is going on. Whether sitting in a business meeting or listening to someone talk, sit up straight to show you are paying attention and engaged. 48. Drumming fingers. Nothing shows boredom like drumming your fingers on a table or desk. Well, except maybe rubbing the back of your neck or pointing your body or feet toward the door. 49. Bright red lipstick. Ladies, if you want to make a professional impression in business, save your bright red lipstick for your night on the town and opt for a more muted shade instead. 50. Coughing or yawning. While it may be difficult to suppress these physical reactions, they usually indicate restlessness or boredom.

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