INTERVIEWING SKILLS

K B L Srivastava
 STEP 1: Analyze Yourself
• What are my personality strengths and
weaknesses?
• What are my intellectual strengths and
weaknesses?
• What are my communicative strengths and
weaknesses?
• What are my accomplishments and failures?
• What are my professional strengths and
weaknesses?
 STEP 1 (cont’d)
• What are my professional interests and
disinterests?

• What are my most valued needs as a human

being?

• What do I want in a position or appointment?

 STEP 2: Do Your Homework
• Know your field or fields.
• Know the organization.
• Know the position.
• Know related current events.
• Know what “typically” happens in interviews.
• Know the questions you want to ask.
 STEP 3: Arrive Alive
• Be there a little ahead of time.
• Be neat.
• Be appropriately dressed for a formal professional
meeting.
• Be courteous to everyone you meet.
• Be self-confident to avoid a self-fulfilling
prophecy.
 STEP 4: The First Crucial
Minutes
• Give a firm but not crushing handshake.
• Maintain good eye contact.
• Use a confident, pleasant voice.
• Exhibit a friendly manner.
• Smile.
• Have an appropriate attitude.
• Participate actively.
 STEP 5: Act, Answer, Act
• Be alive and dynamic.
• Be interested and show it.
• Listen!
• Think!
• Be honest!
• Appear in manner, answers, and questions to be a
DOER.
 STEP 5 (cont’d)
2. Answering questions:
– Answer to the point.
– Answer thoroughly with evidence.
– Use good grammar and choice of language.
– Avoid phony, canned answers.
– Give reasons for past actions, not excuses.
– Take full responsibility for past actions.
– Never bad mouth a department, school,
supervisor or employer – past or present.
 STEP 5 (cont’d)
3. Asking questions:
– Avoid common question pitfalls.
– Avoid the “me…me” complex.
– Ask questions in their order of importance to
you.
– Never begin by asking about salary.
– Never ask a question merely to ask a question.
 Expect some tough questions:
• Critical Incident Questions: “We’re struggling
with this problem… What would you recommend
we do?”
• Historical Critical Incident Questions: “Two years
ago we were faced with…If you had been a
member of our team, what would you have
recommended?”
• Hypothetical Questions: “Suppose you were
supervising (designing, contacting, dealing with)
…What would you do?”
 Expect some tough questions:
• Past Performance Questions: “How did you deal
with…in your last position (in class group
projects, in a team effort, during your
internship)?”

• Task-Oriented Questions: “Sell me this ball point

pen.”

• Problem-Solving Questions: academic, technical,

interpersonal.
 Expect some tough questions:
• Question Exercises: simulations, role-playing,
case studies, presentations, performance: selling,
teaching, designing, managing, writing
 Answer tough questions
carefully:
• Think through an answer before opening your
mouth.
• Ask for repetition of strategic portions of the
question.
• Ask for clarification if warranted.
• Ask for additional details if needed for your
answer.
• Ask about relevant organizational policies.
• Structure your answer like a mini-speech with an
opening, body and closing.
 STEP 6: The Closing

“It’s not over ‘til it’s over.”

• Be careful of everything you do and say.
• Take an active part.
• Discover what will happen next and when
and who you should contact and how if you
need to get in touch.
• If appropriate, express your interest in this
position with this organization.
 STEP 7: The Follow Up
• Debrief yourself immediately
• Write a professional thank you note.
• Do not expect an immediate decision.
• Do not make a pest of yourself.
25 ways to slip up during the
interview
(from 188 college recruiters)
1. Lack of awareness about company or position.
2. No interest or enthusiasm.
3. Lying or telling the recruiter what you think he/she
wants to hear.
4. Poor communication skills.
5. Too money oriented.
6. Arrogant or cocky.
7. Unclear or unrealistic goals or objectives.
8. No relevant experience.
25 ways to slip up during the
interview (cont’d)
9. Not team oriented.
10. Poor eye contact.
11. Poor appearance.
12. No campus involvement.
13. No motivation.
14. Disrespecting the recruiter.
15. Performing poorly in school.
16. Not having any questions to ask.
17. Not smiling.
18. Cursing or being rude.
25 ways to slip up during the
interview (cont’d)
19. Negativity or bad attitude.
20. No support for answers.
21. Inflexible.
22. Arriving late for the interview.
23. Poor listening skills.
24. Stereotyping.
25. Indicating job is just a stepping stone.