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IMPROVING INTERVIEW SKILLS:Successful interview, Knowing the employer or Organization

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Human Relations­ MGMT611
VU
Lesson 28
IMPROVING INTERVIEW SKILLS
Successful Job interview
Interview is a technique to assess the interviewee by the interviewer whether he/she is fit for that particular
job for which he/she is being interviewed. The process of recruiting of suitable persons through interview is
essential to run the organizational affairs. Group interviews are commonplace to supplement individual
interviews. More emphasis is placed today on the behavioral interview in which a candidate is asked how
he/she handled a particular problem in the past. This technique of giving interview can be learnt. Becoming
a skilled interviewee requires practice. An effective technique is to videotape the responses and observe the
playback. A general guide for performing well in the job interview is to present a positive but accurate
picture of yourself. In an interview the interviewee need to tell the prospective employer what you can do
for the company or employer.
Interpersonal skills are more important than technical skills. How do you relate with others in an
organization is very important. Emphasize on presenting true and accurate picture of your skills instead of
pretending.
Successful interview
You can learn to be prepared for the interview. Some suggestions for having a successful interview follow as
under:
1.
Prepare in advance (including memorizing basic facts about yourself). You should know important
facts about yourself, like your educational background and skills. You should also get some information
about the organization for which you are giving interview.
2.
Dress appropriately (match the type of employer). Make good impression by wearing suitable attire.
If the nature of the job is formal, dress up formally. If you are appearing for some blue collar job dress up
accordingly.
3.
Focus on important job factors (not benefits and vacations). When you are being interviewed ask
questions about the nature of the job. Avoid asking about remunerations or vacations.
4.
Be prepared for a frank discussion of your strengths and areas for improvement. Openly discuss
your strengths and weaknesses so that your employer might know about you. If you know about your
weaknesses it will leave a good impression on the prospective employer. They might help you in improving
your weak areas. Hiding information or pretending is not a desirable attitude. Present the facts accurately.
5.
Do not knock former employers. Avoid talking negatively about your previous employers. It puts
bad impression on the employers.
6.
Ask a few good questions. Although you are being interviewed, yet you can ask some intelligent
questions about the employers or the organization. It can show your confidence.
7.
Let the interviewer introduce the topic of compensation. Try not to initiate the topic of
compensation. Leave it for the interviewer.
8.
Smile and exhibit a positive attitude. Don't show dejected or depressed.
9.
Emphasize how your skills can benefit the employer. (Get in a skills-benefit statement, a brief
explanation of how your skills can benefit the company.)
10.
Avoid appearing desperate. (For example, being open to taking any job). Show your interest in the
job but don't be desperate to get it.
11.
Ask for the job and follow through (with a thank you letter).
Frequently Asked questions
There are certain questions which are usually asked by the employers in interview. One should be ready to
answer these questions. It might be helpful for you to have a successful interview.
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Human Relations­ MGMT611
VU
Question Frequently Asked for Job Candidates
The following questions are of the same basic type and content encountered in most
employment interviews. Practice answering then in front of a friend, camcorder,
or mirror.
1.  Why did you apply for this job?
2.  Tell me about yourself.
3.  What are your short-term and long-term goals?
4.  What have you accomplished?
5.  What are your strengths? Areas for improvement?
6.  How did you solve problems?
7.  How would other people describe you?
8.  Why did you prepare for the career you did?
9.  What makes you think you will be successful in business?
10. Why should we hire you?
11. Describe how well you work under pressure?
12. What has been your biggest accomplishment on the job?
13. What do you know about our firm?
14. Here's a sample job problem. How would you handle it?
Source: DuBrin, Andrew J. `Human Relations: Career and Personal Success', Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005.
Relevant educational experience
One more thing that you should prepare for the interview is information about your education and skills.
Summarize your educational experiences as it relates to the position for which you are being interviewed
ˇ  Articulate your pertinent skills and abilities
ˇ  Cite examples of how you have developed and used particular skills
ˇ  Know your personal strengths and weaknesses
ˇ  Discuss your work and co-curricular experiences in detail
ˇ  Talk about your career goals and objectives
ˇ  Know where you want to work
ˇ  Identify any problem areas in your background and be prepared to discuss them
ˇ  Discuss variables you are willing to negotiate (e.g. salary or geographical preference)
Knowing the employer or Organization
You should also be familiar with the characteristics of the organization you are interested in for the job.
They are as under
ˇ  Type of organization and its function
ˇ  Mission and goals
ˇ  Products or services
ˇ  Divisions and subsidiaries
ˇ  Position description and career paths
ˇ  Sales and earnings (if company is a public, for-profit organization)
ˇ  Size
ˇ  Competitors
ˇ  Location, including international operations (if applicable)
ˇ  Projects
ˇ  New trends in the field
Psychological testing
Psychological and physical testing are two more challenges facing job candidates who have made it through
the interview. Psychological (or personnel) testing can help both the employer and job candidate find a
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Human Relations­ MGMT611
VU
mutually satisfactory fit. The good fit is most likely to be found when the tests are accurate and fair, and the
candidate answers them accurately.
Five types of psychological tests are widely used:
1. Achievement tests sample and measure the applicant's knowledge and skills.
2. Aptitude tests measure an applicant's capacity or potential for performing satisfactorily on the job,
given sufficient training.
3. Personality tests measure personal traits and characteristics that could be related to job performance.
4. Interest tests measure preferences for engaging in certain job activities.
5. Honesty tests measure tendencies toward telling the truth. Such tests can be in paper and pencil (or
computerized) form, or the polygraph.
Physical examination
The Physical Examination and Drug Testing
The physical examination gives some indication of an applicant's ability to handle a particular job. A
disabled applicant can only be rejected if the workplace poses a threat to his/her safety or the safety of
others. A survey showed that pre-employment physicals are associated with fewer post-employment injuries
and lowered medical insurance costs. Approximately one-half of employers test applicants for illegal drug
use. Some employers test for personality factors associated with drug use.
Managing the downside of conducting a job search
The successful job hunter must not be overwhelmed by rejection--persistence leads to success even with
average job qualifications. "Every `no' is a step closer to a yes." Job hunters may also encounter rudeness
frequently because so many people apply for desirable jobs. To repeat, the entire job-search process is
inefficient but effective.
An analysis of 36 studies involving 11,010 job seekers found that individuals who engaged in higher levels
of job search behaviour were more likely to obtain employment.
References:
Dubrin, A.J. (2005). Human Relations: Career and Personal Success. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey,
07458.
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Table of Contents:
  1. HUMAN RELATIONS:Some Guidelines for Effective Human Relations, Communication has 3meanings
  2. CULTURE AND PERSONALITY:Definition of sub culture, Definition of Personality, Types of Persons
  3. PERSONALITY AND STRESS:Personality, PERSONAL TOOLS TO CONTROL STRESS
  4. PERCEPTION AND INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOUR:Three concepts of personality, Bias in Perception
  5. PERCEPTION AND GROUP BEHAVIOR:Characteristics of Groups, Individual and Group Behavior
  6. ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOUR:Types of Attitudes, Steps to turn attitude into action
  7. PERSONAL MOTIVATION AND ACHIEVEMENT:Needs and Motivation, Self-discipline and motivation
  8. SOLVING PROBLEMS SKILLFULLY:Problem solving and cognition, Ways to solve problems
  9. CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING:Barriers to creativity, Tips to solve problems creatively
  10. HANDLING PERSONAL ISSUES:Self-Defeating Behaviour, Positive attitude to tackle personal problems
  11. CONFLICT RESOLUTION:WHY SO MUCH CONFLICT EXISTS, TECHNIQUES FOR RESOLVING CONFLICTS
  12. COMMUNICATION AND HUMAN RELATIONS:Process of communication, Improving gender barriers to communication
  13. ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION:To improve listening skills, Types of organizational communication
  14. UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATION STYLES:Modeling communication style, Sociability continuum
  15. SELF-ESTEEM:Building process of self-esteem, Self-esteem and public image
  16. BUILDING SELF-CONFIDENCE:The importance of self-confidence and self-efficacy, Balanced Self-Confidence:
  17. BECOMING A LEADER-1:Assessing leadership role, Traits and Characteristics of Effective Leaders
  18. BECOMING A LEADER-II:Theories of leadership, Developing leadership potential
  19. GLOBALIZATION AND CROSS-CULTURAL DIFFERENCES:Religious Values and Bicultural Identities
  20. IMPROVING CROSS-CULTURAL COMPETENCE:Strategies to improve cross-cultural relations, More steps to improve Cultural Relations
  21. BUILDING GOOD RELATIONS WITH MANAGERS:Impressing your manager, Coping with a problem manager
  22. BUILDING GOOD RELATIONS WITH CO-WORKERS:Make Co-workers feel important, Maintain Honest and Open Relationships
  23. BUILDING GOOD RELATIONS WITH CUSTOMERS:Salesperson Represents the Business, Approaching the Customer, Excuses vs. Objections
  24. CHOOSING A CAREER-1:Ten Myths about Choosing a Career, Attitude toward and Perceptions about Myself
  25. CHOOSING A CAREER-II:Choosing a career and developing a portfolio Career, Suggestions for career Preparation
  26. FINDING A JOB:Targeting your job search, The Internet and Résumé Database Services, Extreme Job Hunting
  27. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESUME:Major types of resumes, Electronic Submission of the Résumé
  28. IMPROVING INTERVIEW SKILLS:Successful interview, Knowing the employer or Organization
  29. IMPROVING WORK HABITS-1:Reasons of procrastination, Techniques for Reducing Procrastination
  30. IMPROVING WORK HABITS-2:Developing the proper attitudes and values, Time-management techniques
  31. NEW MODEL OF CAREER ADVANCEMENT:Career portability, HUMAN RELATIONS SELF-ASSESSMENT
  32. TAKING CONTROL OF YOURSELF:Develop Outstanding Interpersonal Skills, Business etiquettes
  33. EXERTING CONTROL ON OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENT:Important communication tip, Exerting control over the outside world
  34. MANAGING PERSONAL FINANCES-1:Your personal financial plan, Steps in budget making
  35. MANAGING PERSONAL FINANCES-2:Basic investment principles, Tolerance for Investment Risks, Types of investments
  36. ACHIEVING HAPPINESS-1:Finding happiness and enhancing your personal life, The key to happiness
  37. ACHIEVING HAPPINESS-2:The Five Principles of Psychological Functioning, Your mind and Happiness
  38. ACHIEVING HAPPINESS-3:Need for intimacy, Working out issues with relationships
  39. APATHY AND ITS REMEDIES:Let us try to understand the various definitions of apathy, Coping strategies for apathy
  40. ENHANCING PERSONAL ETHICS-1:Influence of Culture, Common ethical problems
  41. ENHANCING PERSONAL ETHICS-2:Common ethical problems, Guidelines for Behaving Ethically
  42. HELPING OTHERS GROW:Being a Nurturing, Positive Person, A list of mentoring behaviour, Coaching skills and techniques
  43. REVIEW-I:What is a Human Relation?, Meanings of Communication, Two types of stress, Some personal problem, Communication style
  44. REVIEW-II:Steps to build self-confidence, Globalization, Building Good Relations with Co-workers, Good work habits
  45. REVIEW-III:New model of career advancement, Choosing your investment, Tactics for Dealing with Difficult People