Infrox Solutions

INTERVIEW TIPS

Tell me about yourself

Sounds simple, doesn't it? On the other hand, where do you start? The interviewer is looking for a quick overview of your career and your academics. What the interviewer doesn't want to hear is about your family, pets, hobbies, boyfriend/girlfriend, or the funny thing that happened to you yesterday. What they're really asking is, "Tell me about your professional self." The best way to answer this is to give a brief summary of your career so far, focusing on specific activities. Try something like this: "My first job was as a <designation> at <Company Name>…. Work Experience like how many year you have experience like that."
Finally, explain why you're looking for a job. But don't bad-mouth your current job or your boss; it will reflect poorly on you. Say something like: "Now I'm looking for a new challenge." This is also a good time to throw in some of the information you've learned in your research about the company: "I'm looking for a company with a dedication to preserving the environment and I believe your company offers that."

Why do you want to work at this company?

This is where you get to show that you have researched the company and you are more than just an average applicant. Relate something you learned about the company and explain why this attracted you to them. If the company has a commitment to the community, you might say you appreciate their commitment and that is what draws you to them. Or you understand that they are in a competitive battle with another major company and you relish the challenge of helping them carve out a bigger market share. If you heard about the job from a friend of family member, you could mention that person. But don't forget to include something that shows that they should want to hire you. "My friend has worked here for years and says it's a great company to work for with great people to work with. I think I could really contribute to your team."

What is your biggest accomplishment?

Be specific. Tell about one thing that you did really well. Preferably, talk about something that was recognized and rewarded by your boss. You could say something like, "I created a system to organize my boss's projects and deadlines, which often overlapped. He or She was so impressed, he or She told other managers in the group, and I ended up training the other secretaries to create similar systems for their bosses." If you are applying for a position that involves being part of a team, recount something you did as a member of a team, and talk about the teamwork and cooperation that was required.

What is your greatest strength?

Even if your greatest strength isn't business-related, find a way to relate it to work. They will care that you have a great memory and are good at keeping information organized. If you're a great player in any games, talk about how well you deal with pressure and work as part of a team.

Do you prefer to work with others or on your own?

This is a question you should have asked yourself before you applied for the job. The interviewer wants to make sure that you are appropriate for the job for which you are applying. If you're going to be part of a team, you should enjoy working with others. On the other hand, if you're going to be lone, it might be a good idea if you enjoy working on your own. Remember, however, that companies don't want to hire workers who need constant handholding. A good answer might be, "I enjoy being part of a team and cooperating with others, but I also enjoy working on my own. At my last job, our team would meet to discuss our goals, then each work on our part of the project individually. There was a lot of communication and cooperation among the group, but I was responsible for completing part of the project on my own."

What are your career goals? or Where do you see yourself in five years?

The interviewer is wondering how dedicated you will be to the job and the company. If they are going to train you, they want to know that you aren't going to take the next job that comes along. On the other hand, most companies don't want to hire people who have no ambition at all. Even if you have no idea where you want to be in five years, don't say, "I don't know." Be positive. Say something like, "I hope to be in a position that continues to challenge me, and that allows me to use my skills and abilities to help the company reach its goals." Ideally, the job you're applying for is a step on your career ladder, so you can talk about the career ladder you've envisioned for yourself. Employers like to hear that you are interested in staying and growing with their company.

Tell me about a time that you had a lot of work to do in a short time. How did you manage the situation?

Here, the interviewer is looking for specific strategies that you use to manage pressure situations. Talk about prioritizing your work, cooperating with others, making to-do lists, breaking large projects into small batches, and taking care of your health so you could maintain your concentration.

Why should I hire you? What would you say?

All of the interviewer's questions that you will see in this section have a purpose, and that is to put solid meaning into your interview preparation. So, do study them, all of them. Interviewers have different styles, some you will like better than others. The keys to any successful interview are the four.

◊ Be likable
◊ Be able to give complete answers
◊ Be on time
◊ Be yourself

Never forget, that first impressions are very important. They help the interviewer decide whether he or she wants to hire you or not. Please make sure that you take advantage of this tremendous information that is so powerful, that I am convinced, it will catapult your efforts. As you read the reasons for rejection given below, ask yourself how you would rate in relation to each. There are 5 areas that you as a job seeker must be aware. One high level interviewer says MOST of the applicants she sees are rejected for not attending to the items listed below.

◊ Your Appearance
◊ Your Manners
◊ Your Body Language
◊ Your Attitude
◊ Remain Calm

Be clear for the subject of the interview

You must be familiar with the job you are going to give interview for so that you can show your expertise in the field and connect your abilities according to the company needs.

Gain knowledge about the company

It’s better to have information about the company before the interview. You can collect such information by researching and reading about their company on Internet or in newspapers or magazines.

Marketing yourself

You must be able to define your capabilities in a perfect manner and all these points should relate to the benefits of the company.

Appearance or dressing

The way you dress reflects your character; therefore you must never be too professional or unprofessional while dressing. It is your conduct, appearance and voice that make your impression in the mind of the interviewer.

Your hair should be clean and combed. Nails should be clean and trimmed.

Be conservative, if the company does not have a dress code.

Arrive at least 10 minutes before your interview. The extra minutes will also give time to fill out any forms or applications that might be required.

In an interview, honesty is the best policy. If you lie then it leaves a bad impression about you and the interviewer has the knowledge about what he/she is asking. So, do not try to fool the interviewer/s.

Finally ask some meaningful questions.

You must be prepared with around three to four questions that you would ask to the recruiter about the job or company. You must reference the correct questions at the right time. If you don’t ask questions then it depicts that you have not fully prepared for the interview.