UNIT I

READING COMPREHENSION

Read the following passage carefully. (12 marks)

1. That large animals require luxuriant vegetation has been a general assumption
which has passed from one work to another, but I do not hesitate to say that it is
completely false and that it has vitiated the reasoning of geologists on some points of
great interest in the ancient history of the world. The prejudice has probably been
derived from India, and the Indian islands, where troops of elephants, noble forests,
and impenetrable jungles are associated together in everyone’s mind. If, however, we
refer to any work of travels through the southern parts of Africa, we shall find
allusions in almost every page either to the desert character of the country or to the
numbers of large animals inhabiting it. The same thing is rendered evident by the
many engravings which have been published in various parts of the interior.

2. Dr Andrew Smith, who has lately succeeded in passing the Tropic of Capricorn,
informs me that taking into consideration the whole of the southern part of Africa,
there can be no doubt of its being a sterile country. On the southern coasts, there are
some fine forests, but with these exceptions, the traveller may pass for days together
through open plains, covered by poor and scanty vegetation. Now, if we look to the
animals inhabiting these wide plains, we shall find their numbers extraordinarily
great, and their bulk immense.

3. It may be supposed that although the species are numerous, the individuals of each
kind are few. By the kindness of Dr Smith, I am enabled to show that the case is very
different. He informs me that in one day’s march with the bullock-wagons, he saw,
without wandering to any great distance on either side, between one-hundred and one-
hundred and fifty rhinoceroses—the same day he saw several herds of giraffes,
amounting together to nearly a hundred.

4. At the distance of a little more than one hour’s march from their place of
encampment on the previous night, his party actually killed eight hippopotamuses at
one spot and saw many more. In this same river, there were likewise crocodiles. Of
course, it was a case quite extraordinary to see so many great animals crowded
together, but it evidently proves that they must exist in great numbers. Dr Smith
describes that the country passed through that day as ‘being thinly covered with grass,
and bushes about four feet high, and still more thinly with mimosa trees’.

5. Besides these large animals, anyone the least acquainted with the natural history of
the Cape has read of the herds of antelopes, which can be compared only with the
flocks of migratory birds. The numbers indeed of the lion, panther, and hyena, and the
multitude of birds of prey, plainly speak of the abundance of the smaller quadrupeds.
One evening, seven lions were counted at the same time prowling round Dr Smith’s
encampment. .As this, an able naturalist remarked to me, each day the carnage in
Southern Africa must indeed be terrific! I confess that it is truly surprising how such a
number of animals can find support in a country producing so little food.

6. The larger quadrupeds no doubt roam over wide tracts in search of it; and their food
chiefly consists of underwood, which probably contains many nutrients in a small
bulk. Dr. Smith also informs me that the vegetation has a rapid growth; no sooner is a
part consumed, than its place is supplied by a fresh stock. There can be no doubt,
however, that our ideas respecting the apparent amount of food necessary for the
support of large quadrupeds are much exaggerated. The belief that where large
quadrupeds exist, the vegetation must necessarily be luxuriant is more remarkable
because the converse is far from true.

7. Mr. Burchell observed to me that when entering Brazil, nothing struck him more
forcibly than the splendour of the South American vegetation contrasted with that of
South Africa, together with the absence of all large quadrupeds. In his travels, he has
suggested that the comparison of the respective weights (if there were sufficient data)
of an equal number of the largest herbivorous quadrupeds of each country would be
extremely curious. If we take on the one side, the elephants, hippopotamus, giraffe,
bos caffer, elan, five species of rhinoceros; and on the American side, two tapirs, the
guanaco, three deer, the vicuna, peccari, capybara (after which we must choose from
the monkeys to complete the number), and then place these two groups alongside each
other; it is not easy to conceive ranks more disproportionate in size.

8. After the above facts, we are compelled to conclude, against the anterior probability
that among the Mammalia there exists no close relation between the bulk of the
species, and the quantity of the vegetation in the countries which they inhabit.
Adapted from: Voyage of the Beagle, Charles Darwin (1890) [CBSE Sample Paper
2016]

A. On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following

questions by choosing the most appropriate option. (1 × 5 = 5 marks)

Question (i)
What is the primary concern of the author?
(a) Discussing the relationship between the size of mammals and the nature of
vegetation in their habitats
(b) Contrasting ecological conditions in India and Africa
(c) Proving that large animals do not require much food
(d) Describing the size of animals in various parts of the world
Answer:
Discussing the relationship between the size of mammals and the nature of vegetation
in their habitats

Question (ii)
According to the author, what has led to the ‘prejudice’?
(a) Errors in the reasoning of biologists
(b) False ideas about animals in Africa
(c) Incorrect assumptions on the part of geologists
(d) Doubt in the mind of the author
Answer:
False ideas about animals in Africa

Question (iii)
Why are the flocks of migratory birds mentioned in the passage?
(a) To describe an aspect of the fauna of South Africa
(b) To illustrate a possible source of food for large carnivores
(c) To contrast with the habits of the antelope
(d) To suggest the size of antelope herds
Answer:
(c) To contrast with the habits of the antelope

Question (iv)
Why does Darwin quote Burchell’s observations?
(a) To counter a popular misconception
(b) To describe a region of great splendour
(c) To prove a hypothesis
(d) To illustrate a well-known phenomenon
Answer:
(d) To illustrate a well-known phenomenon

Question (v)
What struck Mr Burchell, when he entered Brazil?
(a) South African vegetation
(b) Presence of all large quadrupeds
(c) South American vegetation contrasted with that of South Africa
(d) Equal number of the largest herbivorous quadrupeds
Answer:
(c) South American vegetation contrasted with that of South Africa

B. Answer the following questions briefly. (1 × 7 = 7marks)

Question (i)
What prejudice has vitiated the reasoning of geologists?
Answer:
The prejudice that large animals require luxuriant vegetation has vitiated the
reasoning of geologists.

Question (ii)
Why does Dr Smith refer to Africa as a sterile country?
Answer:
Dr Smith refers to Africa as a sterile country. Here, the traveller may pass for days
together through open plains, covered by a poor and scanty vegetation.

Question (iii)
What is the ‘carnage’ referred to by Dr Smith?
Answer:
Dr Smith refers to the number of prey animals killed by predators as carnage.

Question (iv)
What does Darwin’s remark, ‘if there were sufficient data’ indicate?
Answer:
Darwin’s remark indicates that comparison of the weights of herbivores is largely
speculative.

Question (v)
To account for the ‘surprising’ number of animals in a ‘country producing so little
food’, what partial explanation does Darwin suggest?
Answer:
To account for the ‘surprising’ number of animals in a country producing so little
food, Darwin suggests that food requirements have been overestimated. He also
suggests a rapid growth of plant material.

Question (vi)
Find a word from the passage (para-5) which means ‘the violent killing of large
number of people’.
Answer:
carnage

Question (vii)
Find a word from the passage (para-6) which means ‘animals that have four legs’.
Answer:
quadrupeds

III. Read the following poem carefully. (12 marks)

Invictus: The Unconquerable

1. Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

2. In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud,
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

3. Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

4. It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

– W.E. Henley

A. On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions by
choosing the most appropriate option. (1 × 5 = 5 marks)

Question (i)
What is the poem about?
(a) Courage in the face of death
(b) Holding on to one’s own dignity
(c) The soul after death
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer:
(d) Both (a) and (b)

Question (ii)
To what does the poet compare night?
(a) Pit
(b) Pole
(c) Black
(d) None of these
Answer:
(a) Pit

Question (iii)
What do you understand by ‘in the fell clutch of circumstance’?
(a) Under cruel circumstance
(b) Under sober circumstance
(c) Under good circumstance
(d) Under pampering circumstance
Answer:
(a) Under cruel circumstance

Question (iv)
What does the poet thank Gods for?
(a) Painful situations
(b) Unconquerable soul
(c) Dark night
(d) Wrath and tears
Answer:
(b) Unconquerable soul

Question (v)
How does the menace of the years find the poet?
(a) Unafraid
(b) Shaken
(c) Broken
(d) Peaceful
Answer:
(a) Unafraid

B. Answer the following questions briefly. (1 × 7 = 7 marks)

Question (i)
What does the poet mean by ‘horror of the shade’?
Answer:
Because of the bludgeoning of the poet’s head with various problems.

Question (ii)
Why is the poet’s head bloody?
Answer:
According to the poet, nothing can stop the events in the future and in fact, he cannot
prevent things from happening. The poet talks about the horror of death in these lines.

Question (iii)
What does the poet intend to mean with the word ‘charge’?
Answer:
By the word ‘charged’, the poet refers to all the punishments that fate has allotted
him.

Question (iv)
What is the theme of the poem?
Answer:
The main theme is that one controls one’s fate more than anyone else ever will. In a
world that does not care for us and often seems to be trying to destroy us, we can
overcome all odds and be victorious because we alone can change our fate.

Question (v)
Which phrase has been used to signify ‘advancing age’?
Answer:
Menace of the years has been used to signify ‘advancing age’.

Question (vi)
Find a word from the poem (verse-1) which means ‘not able to defeat’.
Answer:
unconquerable

Question (vii)
Find a word from the poem (verse-2) which means ‘to hit someone hard with a heavy
weapon’.
Answer:
bludgeonings
 UNIT - III

Group Discussion, Resume Writing, Tips and Strategies of Resume Writing,

Evaluation, Interview Skills

TOPICS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION:

1. Sri Lanka’s economic crisis – Impact on India

2. Is equality a myth?
3. Internationalization of the Rupee
4. Technology – The death of Libraries
5. Future of the Internet
6. Is social media making us less social?
7. Post-Covid world
8. Impact of COVID-19 on Indian economy
9. India’s COVID-19 vaccination program
10. Social media influencers – Impact on youth
11. Impact of COVID-19 on the education sector

RESUME WRITING:

1. Keep your resume short and direct.

The No. 1 rule of writing a resume is to keep it short and to the point. The general rule
is no more than one page unless you have a very good reason for it to be longer, like
an extensive career or a lot of highly applicable work experience. 

An easy way to keep your resume concise is to include only recent, relevant
experience. While that yearlong first job might have taught you a lot about the field,
it’s not always necessary to include every detail from your entire career history. 

Most experts recommend including jobs from the previous 10 or 15 years only,
although this time frame may be shorter if you are new to the workforce. Including
too many unrelated work experiences can make your resume appear too busy and
draw attention away from your relevant qualifications. Your resume should be
focused, clear and concise.

2. Create an original resume template.

Employers appreciate originality. While it’s helpful to refer to a professional resume

template, don’t follow it rigidly. Zippia found that more than 60% of hiring managers
consider a customized resume as the top strategy for job applicants to increase their
chance of landing a job.
“I often pass over resumes that match Microsoft Office templates,” Claire Bissot,
SPHR and director of Kainos Capital, told us. “The templates are meant to be a guide
to get started, but it should be expanded on to make it your own.”

Format your resume so that it is easy to identify your qualifications. For instance,
Bissot recommended, if you advanced in a company quickly, draw attention to that
growth. If you excessively job-hopped, bullet those jobs without providing specifics
and detail more applicable positions. This will play to your assets. 

When structuring your resume, make sure the information is presented in a logical
order, said Veronica Yao, owner of CareerProse and marketing communications
manager at Fonolo. “A hiring manager [will] read your resume starting at the top and
ending at the bottom. However, if they don’t finish reading the whole thing – and they
often don’t – you still want to ensure your strongest points come across.”

3. Highlight relevant skills and experiences.

Using the same resume for every job you apply for is not a good approach. Instead,
your resume should target the specific job you are applying for. Be sure to prioritize
the skills, qualifications and experiences that are directly applicable to the job you are
trying to land.

Choose three or four former positions or experiences that best highlight the skills
required for the position for which you apply. Employers value brevity; this is not the
time to list every position you have ever held. For example, if you are applying for a
marketing position, you could include your former retail experience and bullet the
communication, branding and interpersonal skills you learned in that position.

If you don’t have a work history that directly relates to the job you are applying for,
get creative with how you present your other experiences. Draw on the skills you used
and how your contributions benefited the organization or project. [Read related
article: 38 In-Demand Skills to Help You Get the Job]

4. Demonstrate results with numbers and metrics.

When you write about your previous work experience, it is always a good idea to
quantify your successes with numbers. Using metrics can highlight your achievements
and give the hiring manager or recruiter a clear sense of how you impacted your
previous place of employment. For example, someone who previously worked as a
sales representative might say that they “executed more than 50 cold calls daily, with
an average 5% conversion rate.”

5. Craft a career snapshot. 

More recently, career experts have urged job seekers to do away with the old
“objective” statement and instead consider including a brief summary, called a “career
snapshot,” at the top of their resume. 

“With the career snapshot, you present a branding statement that briefly explains your
unique value as well as your skills and qualifications,” said Tomer Sade, CEO of
Book a Space. “This would then be followed by a few bullet points that highlight your
experience and your accomplishments. Whatever you list here should be relevant to
the position you’re applying to.”

“The top third of your resume is prime resume real estate,” added Lisa Rangel, an
executive resume writer and CEO of Chameleon Resumes. “Create a robust summary
to capture the hiring manager’s eye.”

Think of your career snapshot as an answer to the question “How would you describe
your work experience in one sentence?” The summary is an opportunity to sum up
your most relevant and important skills, experience, or assets right off the bat.

6. Optimize your text.

If a company uses an applicant tracking system (ATS) to collect and scan resumes, a
human hiring manager may never even glance at any application that doesn’t fit the
job criteria they’ve entered. Trish O’Brien, vice president of human capital operations
at PSI Services, emphasized adapting your resume to the position to increase your
likelihood of passing the first level. 

“Make sure you’ve carefully reviewed the posting and … [used] the appropriate
keywords in your resume to get past the screener,” O’Brien said. “Be truthful, but
understand that the first pass on your resume is likely via an ATS.”

A helpful tip is to make sure you include keywords from the job post in your resume.
You can copy and paste the job description into a word-cloud generator to identify the
most frequently used terms, and make sure the terms that apply to you are used in
your resume. You can also create a “core competencies” or “areas of expertise”
section of your resume to list all of your hard and soft skills, and then reiterate those
skills when you bullet your experience.

7. Think beyond your job duties.

Hiring managers don’t want to read a list of your job duties. They want concrete
examples of your accomplishments in previous positions that show how you can make
a difference in this new position. 

Rangel said that specific merits are more engaging to read than just your experiences.
For example, “I reduced operating expenses by 23% in six months” is far more
interesting to an employer than “I have 30 years of sales experience.”

When deciding what information to keep or cut out of your resume, focus on striking
abstract traits and qualifications in favor of concrete, quantifiable results.

“The best resumes highlight a job candidate’s actions and results,” said Bob Myhal,
director of digital marketing at CBC Automotive Marketing. “Employers want
employees who get things done and who take great joy and pride in what they do.
Rather than a laundry list of your qualifications, your resume should reflect your
accomplishments and enthusiasm for your career.”
You shouldn’t ignore your skills section either. Sade reminded job seekers to list any
industry-relevant apps or programs they’re familiar with and to find ways to
incorporate examples of their emotional intelligence (e.g., self-awareness, empathy)
and soft skills (e.g., work ethic, reliability) into their job descriptions.

8. Use the right language to stand out.

Trite, lackluster descriptions of your job duties and accomplishments won’t do you
any favors. Make sure you’re using strong action words, such as “achieved,”
“designed,” “improved” and “established,” to describe your roles and projects, said
Sade. This will make you sound confident while imparting vital information. But be
cautious about depending on action verbs – make sure to include details about how
you improved a process or achieved a goal.

“Words such as ‘professional,’ ‘results-driven’ and ‘detail-oriented’ provide very little

helpful information,” Sade said. “It’s better to use actual job titles than these words.”

9. List your social media profiles.

Many hiring managers today screen candidates on social networks. Save them a step
by providing your profile links on your resume. Seasoned applicants with a
professional social presence would do well to include URLs for their LinkedIn
profile, Twitter account and blog, if applicable.

“If, and only if, your social media accounts are filled with professional posts
pertaining to your industry, listing them on your resume can be advantageous,” said
Richie Frieman, author of REPLY ALL … and Other Ways to Tank Your Career.
“They can show you have a strong network and are up to speed with modern-day
marketing and communications practices. The hiring manager will see that you like to
keep up with what’s happening and that you care about learning more.”

Your social profiles can be a powerful recruitment tool to supplement your experience

and position as an expert in your field, but only if they are leveraged correctly.

10. Check for errors.

Triple-check your own work, and then have someone else look over your resume to
ensure it’s 100% clean. There is no room for sloppiness on your resume.

 Spelling, grammar and punctuation: A hiring manager will likely

automatically dismiss your application if they spot a typo or grammatical
error. “Make sure it’s error-free and easy to read,” Obeid said. “HR reps
equate typos and errors with laziness. Use good English – the written word has
a huge impact on the employer.”
 Formatting: “Review formatting very closely, including font, alignment and
spacing,” Bissot said. “Related issues can often be perceived as a sign of
lacking technical skills and/or attention to detail.”
 Headings: Yao said that candidates often submit applications addressed to the
wrong employer or outline experience that’s irrelevant to the role. “Receiving
a resume that’s crafted and addressed to someone else – or worse, a competitor
 – can be a huge turnoff and will set a negative tone even if they do choose to
continue reading your application.”

Interview presentations
These assess your ability to communicate clearly and formally, testing your skills in
timing, persuasion, analysis, public speaking and creativity. Interview presentations
usually last 10 to 20 minutes, and are prepared in advance using Microsoft
PowerPoint or similar software.
Employers using assessment centres may set impromptu presentation tasks based on
an exercise you've already completed. You'll be given around 30 minutes to prepare,
which tests your response to pressure. Regardless of the scenario, ensure that you:

 discover how you'll be assessed

 focus on your primary aims and desired outcomes, tailoring your presentation
accordingly
 include an introduction, main section and conclusion
 minimise visual prompts, highlighting key messages using figures, bullet
points and short sentences
 familiarise yourself with background information.

When giving your interview presentation, ensure that you:

 maintain eye contact with your audience

 remain calm
 speak loudly enough to grab everyone's attention
 stay within the allotted time, leaving room for questions
 use pauses to allow the audience to absorb your words.

In-tray exercises
Also known as inbox or e-tray exercises (if completed digitally), these business
situations require you to organise your workload. They're popular with large graduate
recruiters as they're reliable predictors of job performance, and assess key
competencies such as analysis, decision-making, time management, accuracy,
organisation and communication.
You'll have around 30 to 60 minutes to work through 10 to 30 items of paperwork
such as emails, letters, memos, minutes, reports, organisation charts, policy
documents and telephone messages. Your primary goal is to prioritise your items,
explaining what action is required for each. This could involve responding to queries,
drafting replies, making decisions or delegating tasks. You may also be given new
material during the exercise.
Ensure that you:

 check how you'll be assessed, and whether you can write on the documents
 note actions in bullet form, paying attention to detail and referring to the
material provided
 justify your decisions
  read all instructions and materials that accompany the in-tray exercise
carefully before starting, making a rough plan based on any identifiable key
issues
 work quickly, accurately, systematically and logically.

Group exercises
Usually involving eight to ten candidates, group exercises are often used in
assessment centres or when organisations have multiple vacancies. The recruiter will
usually provide an industry or workplace-related problem that requires a solution.
Candidates are assessed against performance criteria that account for key
competencies including teamwork, leadership, enthusiasm, decisiveness,
persuasiveness, problem solving, critical thinking, communication and commercial
awareness. Typical group exercises include:

 Ice-breakers - aimed at relaxing and bonding the team, this is one of the most
common interview exercises. They often involve completing a task such as
building a tower from straws, paper and pins.
 Discussion - you're usually given a business scenario and asked to reach a
logical conclusion. Usually, no member is designated leader so candidates
may be asked to lead the discussion in turn.
 Role play - candidates are provided with a particular role, background
information and a brief. One common example is a mock meeting, where each
candidate assumes a specific function and is expected to fulfil individual and
group objectives.

Throughout all group exercises, ensure that you:

 actively contribute, making your points clearly, concisely and confidently

 don't criticise, interrupt or undermine others, but politely intervene if someone
is dominating
 follow instructions carefully, relating everything to your brief
 include others and delegate appropriately, choosing the best person for each
task
 offer praise and appreciation for others, understanding and building upon their
comments
 stand up for your opinion if criticised
 stay calm, but work quickly and decisively.

Group interviews
Another common group exercise is an interview alongside fellow candidates.
Employers are interested in your engagement with others in a competitive situation.
Stand out in a group interview by displaying your knowledge of what's being
discussed, and highlighting the skills and experiences that make you unique.
It's not only about performing well - you'll need to think carefully about the way you
answer questions and the answers that you give. Here are some suggestions of good
ways to start your answer:
  I agree and would like to add that - this gives you a chance to elaborate on a
point that someone else in the group has made. Be careful not to just repeat
their answer though.
 Another approach would be - here you're demonstrating that you can accept
other points of view but that you also have an opinion on what should be done.
Make sure to not just completely dismiss someone else's point.
 We seem to agree that we'd take the following action - you're showing the
recruiter that you understand what's going on, want to drive the task forward
and that you have some leadership skills. Be careful not to overpower others
and make it seem like you're just rushing the task.
 Does anyone want to add to this? - an important part of a group interview is
teamwork and this is a great opportunity to show you can include others and
are interested in their point of view.

Case study interviews

Particularly common for management consulting and accountancy firms, case studies
test your analysis, creativity and problem-solving skills.
The recruiter will describe a situation and you'll need to respond with advice, in the
form of a report or verbal explanation. Your conclusion is reached by collating and
analysing provided information. Anticipate the type of case study you could receive
by researching the organisation and sector. Also ensure that you:

 can justify and defend your decisions

 identify the real issue by looking for patterns, inconsistencies and
contradictions
 manage your time carefully, but pay attention to detail
 read all instructions and materials before you start, to understand what's
expected of you
 treat the task like a course assignment, arranging your material and drawing
conclusions.

Written tests
These interview tasks usually involve writing an essay, email, letter or report on a
given topic, though you may sometimes be asked to proofread, review or summarise a
document.
Tasks typically last 40 to 60 minutes, and assess your common sense, comprehension
and written communication. Ensure that you read all the instructions and materials
carefully:

 use a combination of headings, bullet points and writing styles to add

emphasis
 use acronyms only after you've explained them
 use correct spelling and grammar
 write for someone who doesn't have your knowledge.

Social events
These 'informal' sessions allow you to socialise with other candidates, assessors,
recent graduates and senior management. They're excellent opportunities for you to
learn more about the role. Remember to behave yourself though, as you're being
assessed - despite social events not being an obvious interview test. Try to appear
socially confident and capable of relating to different people.
 UNIT - V
Data Interpretation - Problem Solving - Interview Skills - Mock Interview

1.Directions: The bar graph, given here, shows the number of tickets sold by 6
students A, B. C, D, E and F during a fair. Observe the graph and answer questions
based on it.

Question 1: Total number of tickets sold by A, B and C is

(1) 45
(2) 44
(3) 42
(4) 40
Question 2: The least number of tickets were sold by
(1) B
(2) F
(3) A
(4) D
Question 3: Total number of tickets sold by D, E and F is
(1) 47
(2) 46
(3) 45
(4) 44
Answers and Explanations

Answer 1: (2) From the graph given in the question: Ticked sold by A = 16 Ticked
sold by B= 8 Ticked sold by C = 20 Hence, the total number of tickets sold by A, B
and C = 16 + 8 + 20 = 44
Answer 2: (4) From the graph given in the question: Least number of tickets were
sold by D. He sold 7 tickets.
Answer 3: (3) From the graph given in the question: Ticket sold by D = 7 Ticket sold
by E = 24 Ticket sold by F = 14 Thus, the required answer is = 7 + 24 + 14 = 45.

PROBLEM SOLVING:

1. What is your course of action when you face a problem?

The interviewer may be trying to find out your problem-solving process when they
ask this question. They may want to understand if your logical problem-solving
process involves gathering information, analysing the information and making
decisions based on what you have found.

Example: "When I face a problem, first I look for examples of how others have
solved the same problem. This research equips me with various approaches to solving
the problem and helps me select the one that best suits me and the organisation. Then,
I determine what is the course of action that I can take to solve the problem which
involves communicating with my managers and colleagues."

2. Tell me about the time your organisation assigned you a task, but you lacked
the necessary skills to complete it.

The interviewer is trying to know how resourceful you can be when employers assign
you demanding tasks. They want to understand how you face challenging situations,
test your accountability and if you are a professional who may bring problems or
solve them.

Example: "I held the position of junior sales executive in my previous organisation

and progressed from it to area sales manager despite not having the proper training.
With little training, it compelled me to figure out things mostly by myself. This
exercise trained me to take up responsibilities that were sometimes beyond my job
description. Now, when I am assigned a task for which I lack the necessary
knowledge, I gain an understanding of it on my own and give my best to accomplish
it."

3. Tell me about the time when you faced an unexpected situation at work and
how did you solve the problem?

You can answer this question by using an example of an incident that happened at
your workplace. You can employ the STAR method here, which stands for situation,
task, action and result. Briefly narrate the situation, your part in that, the action you
took and its outcome.

Example: "When I was working as a showroom manager, there was a customer who

had come to pick up a car he had booked a few months ago. When I checked the day's
delivery list, I found that someone from the team had accidentally delivered the car to
some other customer. I quickly called up my contacts in other showrooms to arrange
for the same car model and within a couple of hours, I got it to the showroom and
delivered it to the customer."

4. How would you handle an unhappy and angry customer?

The interviewer realises that sometimes a disgruntled customer can add to the
pressure of the job. Through this question, they want to know how you behave in such
situations and what are your ways to tackle the dissatisfied customer. Briefly describe
how you can address the problem.

Example: "When I come across an agitated customer, I make sure that I stay calm
and genially approach them so that I do not upset them any further. Next, I ask them
the reason behind their dissatisfaction, which helps me gather all the details to solve
the problem. Once I have understood what has gone wrong, I assure the customer
that I and my team may take all the steps to fix the problem swiftly. I even give the
customer regular updates so that they know their issue is getting resolved
adequately."

5. What are the distinct steps you take while making a crucial decision?

Here, the interviewer wants to figure out your decision-making abilities. This question
allows them to better understand how effectively you solve problems while
accomplishing the task. The interviewer wants to figure out your process of thinking
and how good are the outcomes.

Example: "I was holding the position of associate editor at my previous

organisation. My managing editor was on leave one day and because of some factual
discrepancies in one article, I had to take the call if we required rewriting it or create
a new one. I figured out that writing the new article would take only a couple of hours
more than rewriting the existing article. I wrote a fresh one to avoid the risk of
encountering future issues with the existing article. My editor completely agreed with
it when he was back from the leave."

6. What are the different metrics that you track regularly? How do you use this
data to rework your approach?

Companies that have their businesses based on analytics often ask this question.
Through this question, the interviewer is trying to know how you deal with figures
and data and how it influences your decisions. Select a couple of metrics that you use
daily to showcase how you rework your approach to boost the outcome.
Example: "As a search engine optimisation (SEO) content writer, I often use web
analytics tools to find out the success of my content. If my articles are not ranking in
higher positions in search engines, I rework my content to ensure that it becomes
relevant for the audience. I use the analytics tools to see what people are reading the
most and why certain articles are not driving much traffic. Then, I use that data to
write my articles accordingly and target keywords that people are searching for while
keeping the content engaging and pertinent."

7. Your supervisor wants to purchase new software to help boost the team's
productivity, for which he asks for your recommendations. How do you
respond?

Here, the interviewer is trying to determine what are the steps that you take during the
research phase of the problem-solving process. You can start by mentioning how you
weigh the pros and cons of the decision and then talk about your research and data
gathering processes.

Example: "Before I present my recommendation, I would ask my supervisor to share

the company's budget and the team's requirements. Once I have the information, I
would start reading about the productivity software options that can suit both the
team and the budget. Apart from features and price, I would also consider how
future-proof the software is so that the company does not spend on other software
soon. Finally, I will give my top three software options to the supervisor with all their
pros and cons."

8. What are the factors you take into consideration while weighing the pros and
cons before making a decision?

An organisation may thoroughly test your problem-solving skills and the process that
is involved before they hire you. With this question, they want to ensure that you can
make intelligent decisions driven by available information and facts.

Example: "My first step is to make sure that I carefully examine the pros and cons
and what each of them can cause. Next, I contemplate the obstacles I or my team can
face because of the cons. If they can create a hindrance to achieving targets, then the
approach probably may not be effective. Then I consider how the pros are
outweighing the cons and what positive results they can deliver. If they outdo the cons
in terms of accomplishments, then I will prefer to pursue them and deal with the
impediments as they come my way."
INTERVIEW SKILLS:

Some key points include:

 Appropriate manners and body language

 Communication skills
 What professional attire to wear
 What to bring to an interview (resume, references, etc.)
 Questions an interviewer may ask
 Good questions to ask the interviewer