1. Interview Techniques
M.H. Saboo Siddik Polytechnic
March 02, 2013

2. Types of Interview:
• HR Interview
• Technical
• Others
• Panel
• Telephone/video
• Combination, e.g. 1st
interview on telephone,
then 2nd face to face.

3. Interviewers’ Objectives:
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Find the most suitable person for the job
Look for specific skills or expertise
Encourage you to express yourself fully
Assess whether you would ‘fit in’ to the
organisation/team
• Assess whether you would be a good representative for
the company
• Sell the company

4. Your Objective:
JUST GET THE
JOB DAMMIT!!!!

5. BEFORE THE
INTERVIEW

6. The Employer and “U”
• KNOW THE EMPLOYER:
- Product, turnover, core areas, departments
- Website, brochure, company annual reports,
business plan, newspaper articles, friends
• WHERE DO “I” FIT IN??
• Believe in yourself and your abilities

7. Interview Preparation
• Draw up a list of skills/competencies you think the
company is looking for, and think of examples how you
can demonstrate these
• Consider your ‘Unique Selling Points’ – i.e. what makes
YOU the ideal candidate—SWOT Analysis
• Find out who will be interviewing you

8. Types of Questions:
• Biographical : Tell me about your education/ career/
experience to date
• Motivation/Commitment : Why are you interested in
this job? Why have you applied to us ?
• Competence : What are the key skills for this job ?
What are your strengths ? What can you bring to this job
?
• Scenario : What would you do if…?
• Opinion : What do you think about…?

9. Types of Questions:
• Current Issues : e.g. the state of Indian politics
• Business Awareness : What experience do you have
of the business world ?
• Off The Wall : Who would you like to be stuck in a lift
with and why?
• Ethical : Should the generating companies be sued if
there are high flue gas emissions?
• Worst Question!!!
Beware of trick/ what if/ difficult questions!

10. Skills Employers Look For :
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Communication skills
Honesty / integrity
Teamwork
Interpersonal Skills
Organised approach
Commercial awareness
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Motivation / initiative
Strong work ethic
Analytical skills
Flexibility / adaptability
Computer skills
Drive and ambition

11. Questions That Test These Skills:
• Commitment : Tell me about a time when you have
perhaps doubted your decision to study engineering?
• Team work : Have you been involved in a project where
a colleague was not pulling their weight ? What did you
do about it ?
• Organised approach : Tell us about a deadline you have
had to meet which you found challenging/ what did you
do ? How did you resolve any problems ?

12. Skills Based Questions cont...
• Initiative : Tell me about a recent situation where you
have been really thrown in at the deep end ?
• Drive and ambition : Can you give me an example of an
occasion or task when you felt you had stretched
yourself ? How did you react ? What was the outcome ?

13. Preparation
Practicalities :
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Check timetables/route; overnight stay if necessary.
Allow extra time for delays
Plan what to wear : dress code - formal
Need to feel comfortable
Techniques for dealing with nerves
Confirm your attendance in advance

14. THE D-DAY

15. General
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Reach at least 15-20 min early
Read company magazines, circulars if get one
Re-read application form/CV
Feel Confident
Feel great!
RELAXXXX!!!!!

16. The Interview
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ENTERING
HANDSHAKE
SITTING
POSTURE
RELAX
ANSWERING QUESTIONS
SMILE

17. Handling Questions :
• Allow yourself thinking time : Not too long or employer
may conclude you cant think on your feet
• Seek clarification : “Would you like me to continue?”,
“Would you mind repeating the question?”, “Can you rephrase that ?”
• Answers to open ended questions should avoid
rambling/ going off at a tangent
• Think of body language – open/confident; eye contact;
expansive gestures;
• SMILE!!!!

18. Your Questions :
• The Organisation : strategic goals; challenges they are
facing; which markets/clients are most important to them
and why
• Training : Explore training/development opportunities,
• Working Conditions : line management, assessment of
performance; growth
• Avoid questions on salary, holidays, bonuses until you
have been offered the job. Avoid questions that could be
seen as a criticism.

19. The Group Discussion
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THE ARRANGEMENT
YOUR POSITION
INITIATING
LISTEN!!!
THE GOLDEN RULE – “PEST”
REMEMBER NAMES
SUMMARISING

20. The Aptitude Test
• FORMAT
• ENGLISH, QUANTITIVE APTITUDE, MATHS,
TECHNICAL
• THINK ON YOUR HEELS
• MOVE ON!
• BOOKS

21. Common Mistakes :
• Poor/lack of preparation
• Lack of knowledge about job/ employer/ current industry
issues
• Negative about self
• Using “We” instead of “I”
• Not giving examples to back up statements
• Not relating answers back to the job
• Lack of motivation and enthusiasm

22. Post Interview :
• Reflect on performance : were you positive; were your
answers full enough
• Note down questions asked for future reference
• Request feedback on your performance from employer
• If unsuccessful, learn from your mistakes
• Stay positive!

23. REMEMBER
If you can conceive it,
and if you can believe in it,
then you can achieve it!

24. THANK YOU
AND
ALL THE BEST
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS