Interview Skills

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 Interview
Means “to see between”. It is a meeting between two
people where questions are asked and answered to elicit
information.

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 What is a job interview?
An interview gives a prospective employer the opportunity to
speak with you and consider your appropriateness for the job
in question.
 A well written resume will get you a call for an interview;
the soft skills you exhibit during the interview will get you
the job.

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 Importance of interview
• Important for both job seekers and employers as it connects
both of them at the professional level.
• Assists employers in selecting a right person for a right
job.
• It helps job seekers to present their job skills and acquire a
desired position on merit.

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Types of Interviews
Interviews
Some interviews may be very formal, others may be
very informal and seem like just a chat about your
interests. Remember always you are being assessed.

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Nondirective / Informal interview
An unstructured conversational-style
interview. The interviewer pursues points of
interest as they come up in response to
questions.

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Directive / Formal interview
An interview following a set sequence of
questions.

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Screening Interviews
Screening interviews are generally conducted when an
employer has a large applicant pool which they want to
narrow down to a more manageable number. They tend to
be very short, and the questions will focus on basic
qualifications.
Screening is usually done by phone.

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The Telephone Interview
Companies request an initial telephone interview before
inviting for a face to face meeting in order to get a better
understanding of the type of candidate.
Benefit is that you can have your notes out in front of you.
You should do just as much preparation as you would for a
face to face interview, and remember that your first
impression is vital. 
 Phone interviews may become longer and more detailed if
its overseas on video conference.
The Panel Interview
These interviews involve a number of people
sitting as a panel with one as chairperson. This
type of interview is popular within the public
sector.

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The Group Interview
When candidates are required to perform a task in a group
the selection is done in a group interview and the
candidate along with a group is asked to solve a particular
problem.
 The performance and behavior is, however, assessed and
rated individually.
You may be asked to interact with each other by usually a
group discussion.

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 Stress interview
An interview in which the applicant is made
uncomfortable by a series of often rude questions.

This technique helps identify hypersensitive

applicants and those with low or high stress
tolerance.

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Competency Based Interviews
These are structured to reflect the competencies the
employer is seeking for the particular job.
Usually detailed in the job description so make sure
you read it through, and have your answers ready for
questions such as “Give me an example of a time you
worked as a team and look a leadership role to
achieve a common goal.”

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Situational / Behavioral interview
Situational interview: A series of job-related
questions which focuses on how the candidate
would behave in a given situation.
Behavioral interview: A series of job-related
questions that focus on how they reacted to
actual situations in the past.
Job-related interview: A series of job-related
questions which focuses on relevant past job-
related behaviors.
The Sequential Interview
These are several interview with different interviewer each
time. Each asks questions to test different sets of
competencies.
Unstructured sequential: An interview in which each

interviewer forms an interview independent opinion after

asking different questions.
Structured sequential: An interview in which the
applicant is interviewed sequentially by several interview
supervisors and each rates the applicant on a standard form.
Depth Interview
In such a interview, questions are based upon a

specific area of the interviewee’s interest.

The person has to answer in detail.

The academic competence and knowledge is tested

thoroughly in such type of interviews.

Candidate-order error
An error of judgment on the part of the
interviewer due to interviewing one or more
very good or very bad candidates just before
the interview in question

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The Interview Process
Interview acts as a filtering device through
which the interviewer screens the desired
candidates. It is a method to shorten the
candidate list to those who are the required fit
in the job profile.
Interview Preparation
First Impression
Information Exchange
Closing the interview
Interview Follow-up www.FreeManagementeBooks.com
STAGES OF INTERVIEW

• PRE INTERVIEW - Preparation

• INTERVIEW - First Impression,

Information Exchange, Closing the
interview

• POST INTERVIEW – Follow-up

Pre-Interview Process
Preparation
Employer Research
Practice Questions practice
What to wear / what to bring

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 Preparation
Do a SWOT Analysis – Find your strength and Weaknesses
Check Resume for any updation.
Rehearse your answers loudly in front of the mirror to identify
any gaps in your delivery and answering techniques
Rehearse a mock interview with a friend/person and seek an
honest critical feedback
Do not fumble or get confused during the actual interview.
Find the location so that you know how long it will take you to get
there.
Get proper rest the night before.
Arrive early and use this time to freshen up.
 Employer Research
The biggest mistake you can make in a job interview is
knowing little to nothing about the company with which
you are interviewing!
Read about the company products/ services, operations,
history, CEO, international/national partnerships etc.

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 FAQs/Prepare Answers
Some frequently-asked interview questions
“Tell me about yourself.” (The interviewer is looking
for communication skills and clear thinking about your
recent history, not your childhood).
“What is your biggest strength?” (Know your top 2 or 3
strengths and be prepared to discuss each with an
example).
“How will you handle stress on the job?” (Provide a
good example of how you have dealt with stress in the
past. It’s possible that stress can actually help some
people perform better!)
Describe your most significant accomplishment.
(Relate the situation, the obstacle and the outcome.
Tell what qualities were needed to achieve this.
Mention a life experience that illustrates your best
attributes ).
What do you see yourself doing in five years?
(You should assure the employer that you’re worth
the investment in time and training, and that you
plan to be around for awhile – learning and
contributing more along the way).
 What to wear/bring
Formals – Well ironed, formal
suit, polished shoes, neat hair,
minimal jewellery and make-up
(girls), look smart and elegant.
Confident Smile
Professional-looking
portfolio/briefcase
Two copies of your resume and
photographs
Copies of result card
Nice pen and paper for note-
taking
Brush/comb, Breath freshener
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 The Interview
Recruiters will size you up in the first 30 seconds
of your interview. Make sure that you create a
good first impression by being aware of the
following:
Good eye contact
The importance of a smile
Firm handshake
Clear, well spoken introduction
Show confidence and poise
Maintain good posture
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
Information Exchange
Listen carefully
Take time with your answers
Respond positively
Focus answers on the needs of the employer
Ask insightful questions, showing your
knowledge of the employer and subject.
Give examples and provide details: tell stories
that illustrate your achievements
Closing the Interview
Mention anything relevant that you feel is
important. Repeat your “sales pitch” as you
show enthusiasm for the job.
Take the employer’s business card and thank
him/her.
Ask what the next step in the hiring process is,
if you get confirmed.
Interview Follow-Up
Send a prompt thank you letter or email.
Follow up if you have not heard from the
employer in the time period earlier specified.

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Interview Don’ts
No bad manners or rudeness (treat all office
staff nicely)
DON’T whine or complain about others or
about your ‘bad luck.’
DON’T be a know-it-all.
DON’T try to be funny (but a genuine sense of
humor is a good thing).
DON’T discuss salary or benefits until you
have been offered a job.
 Top 10 Interviewing Blunders!
Don’t prepare
Dress inappropriately
Poor communication skills
Cell phone goes off
Talk too much
Don’t talk enough
Fuzzy facts
Give the wrong answer
Badmouthing past employers
Forget to follow up
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 General Interview Preparation
Here’s a list of questions that you should consider your
answers for when preparing…
• Why do you want this job?
• Why are you the best person for the job?
• What relevant experience do you have?
• Why are you interested in working for this company?
• What can you contribute to this company?
• What do you know about this company?
• What challenges are you looking for in a position?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• Why should we hire you?
 Best of Luck!
Interview is like public speaking – it
gets easier the more you Prepare and
Practice.

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References
www.businessnewsdaily.com/5836-top-
interviewing-skills.html
www.interviewskills.com.au
www.ceswoodstock.org/job_search/inter
vuintro.shtml
https://www.udemy.com/find-a-job-
interview-skills-training-course/