Interview - Inner View

Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do.    

Attitude determines how well you do it.

The previous day I was taking the interview and suddenly got an idea of sharing some views and tips with my friends regarding the interview process and tricks. Here are some :

During the Interview

First impressions - First impressions take only thirty seconds.Establishing rapport, direct and sustained eye contact, a firm handshake, a warm smile, good posture, and introducing yourself in a confident manner are important ingredients. A well-groomed, professional appearance is critical. Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, whether it is a woman or a man. (No one likes a weak handshake.) Always maintain eye contact while shaking hands.

Smile - A smile denotes confidence in a candidate. Try to smile often. Also, don't be afraid to use some hand animation while answering questions. This suggests enthusiasm in a candidate.

Body Language - Use good posture, and look the interviewer right in the eye. Sit up straight. Never slouch.

Speak Clearly - Don't mumble. It portrays a lack of confidence. Speak with assurance. This indicates confidence.

Listen Before Answering - Allow the employer to begin the interview, but be prepared with some opening statements or questions such as, "I understand that this position involves…," or "What are you looking for in a job candidate?" Make sure you understand the question. If not, ask the interviewer to clarify it. Don't be afraid to take some time to think before answering. Interviewers are impressed with someone who thinks out an answer before speaking.

Give Brief Answers - Make your answer concise and to the point. Rambling tends to suggest that you really don't have the answer to the question(s) asked.

Previous Employers - Never, ever say anything negative about your present or previous employers. No matter how much you may have disliked someone, find a way to give your experiences a positive spin.

Be Truthful - Don't lie when asked about something you haven't done. The next question will be "tell us about it."

Know Your Resume - Be prepared to talk about every fact that is on your resume. Many people embellish their accomplishments on their resumes. Avoid this, since the only point of reference an interviewer has about you is the resume you provide to him/her beforehand.

Keep things at a professional level - Sometimes near the end of an interview, the two parties start feeling comfortable with each other. Don't let this comfortable feeling lead you to telling them something about yourself that they really shouldn't know. Always keep things at a professional level.

Look for Something in Common - This is something that has given us an edge in the past. Try to find a common bond between yourself and your interviewer. If you are being interviewed in an office, look at  how the office is decorated. Look for something you can identify with. Is his/her college diploma hanging on the wall? Did you attend a nearby school, or perhaps one in the same Division? If so, make a quick comment about it: "Did you attend Penn State? I attended the University of Michigan. What a great football conference." Interviewers sometimes feel more comfortable with people with whom they have something in common. This approach has helped several candidates obtain a position over other qualified candidates. 

Above all, be sincere.

Here are some Tests & Tips to be noted :

Psychometric Test?

A  Personality Profile Tests comes under the category of Psychometric Test.  The Personality Profile Tests are designed to help the employer dissect whether you have the ability to meet the requirements or the skills required for the job.   The employer typically looks for behaviours that are important in a job profile.   This also helps the employer understand your personality traits.

No Right or Wrong Answers in Psychometric Test :

There are no right or wrong answers in a personality test.  In answering questions for a personality test, go with your gut feeling - or the first answer that comes to your mind.  Cheating will not help here since if your personality traits do not match those of the requirements of the job, either you or your employer will be unhappy even if you get the job.

Normally the questions are set against a time limit so that you give instinctive answers and do not think too much about the questions.

Challenging Questions :

Challenging questions are sometimes used to find out how you react under pressure. Any question can be challenging if you have not prepared for it so it's important to:

* Prepare well for anticipated questions;
* Admit you don't know the answer, rather than waffle or lie;
* Provide balanced responses if the question seeks your views;
* Give practical examples to illustrate your answer;
* Be honest and avoid responding with something you think the interviewer might want to hear as you could get it wrong.

You can refuse to answer the personal questions :

Yes. If you don't think a question is relevant to the job application, then you can refuse to answer. All candidates should be asked the same questions; it would be considered highly unethical for an interviewer to ask female candidates about how they manage childcare, but not to ask males. 

Once the decision to offer a job has been made however, it might be in your interests to respond to a personal question if it relates directly to fulfillment of the role. For example, if you have disclosed a health consideration on an application form, it would reasonable for an employer to ask for additional personal information in order to enable you to access the job safely.

The important distinction here is whether you have been offered the job. Personal information, such as family circumstances, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and health matters should be considered when job competency has been fully explored - and only if relevant to fulfillment of the role. This will often arise in a follow-up interview.

This makes good in Group interview :

Group interviews are carried out by prospective employers to observe how candidates perform in a competitive group situation.

They take the form of:

* Group discussions where candidates are given a topic to discuss or a task to complete; or
Questions that are put to the group by a questioner/group leader. There is often a note-taker or observer.
* Group interviews are an opportunity for you to show your group or teamwork skills and: how your knowledge of a topic;
* Demonstrate you can listen and understand the views of others;
* Act as a leader by bringing all group participants into the conversation;
* Intervene positively if a group member is dominant;
Summarize, build consensus and agree action.

Effective group working is a skillful activity and benefits from practice and feedback. Your university careers service may offer training in how to manage your contribution in groups.

Good answers include:

* I agree and would like to add that… (elaborate);
* Another approach would be to… (provide alternatives);
* We seem to be agreeing that we take the following action… (summarize);
* Does anyone want to add to this…? (include others).

 Asking questions to interviewer makes identifiable…

Asking questions shows you are interested in the job and it's a good idea to have two or three prepared in advance. For example:

* What kind of further training would be provided?
* Does the organisation have plans to develop in…?
* What is the proposed start date for the role?

If you have had all your prepared questions answered during the interview, then simply explain that and indicate you look forward to hearing the outcome.

Finally...

Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity ;)