10-day preparation before facing any job interview
The
biggest mistake you can make in your career is to go under prepared for job
interviews. Here's the countdown to a state of readiness for the interaction.
DAY
10: Planning & resourcing
Speak
to the person scheduling your interview and find out about the selection process. Will there be written tests, psychometric
profiling, group discussions, etc?
What type of interviews should you expect—technical, behavioral, leadership or case study questions? Will it be in person, telephonic or via a video conference?
Will it be with an individual or a panel? Get a copy of the job description or requirements for the position.
Then rework your schedule for the next nine days to block time for your preparation. If you need to borrow technical books, or buy a suit or formal shoes, do it now.
What type of interviews should you expect—technical, behavioral, leadership or case study questions? Will it be in person, telephonic or via a video conference?
Will it be with an individual or a panel? Get a copy of the job description or requirements for the position.
Then rework your schedule for the next nine days to block time for your preparation. If you need to borrow technical books, or buy a suit or formal shoes, do it now.
DAY
9: Studying & experiencing
Research
the company. Use multiple information channels—company website,
LinkedIn/Facebook/ Twitter profiles, news articles, trade journals, company blog, even employee reviews on platforms such as
GlassDoor.
If interviewing for a managerial role in a public firm, read up on its financials. Next, try and get a first-hand experience of the service or product that the company provides.
If interviewing for a managerial role in a public firm, read up on its financials. Next, try and get a first-hand experience of the service or product that the company provides.
DAY
8: Meetings & homework
Reach
out to people associated with your prospective employer to learn about the
company, its culture, the team you would be working for, and the interview and selection process.
Based on the information gathered so far, make a list of deliverables that the firm expects from its new employees. This list will direct your preparation efforts.
Based on the information gathered so far, make a list of deliverables that the firm expects from its new employees. This list will direct your preparation efforts.
DAY
7: References & achievements
Call up
people in the industry and get their perspectives on the company.
Call up your referees and prepare them for a possible reference check by your prospective employer. Next, based on the role deliverables list,write down your achievements that signal your suitability to the firm.
Call up your referees and prepare them for a possible reference check by your prospective employer. Next, based on the role deliverables list,write down your achievements that signal your suitability to the firm.
DAY
6: Resume & story scripting
Refer
to the resume you have shared with the firm.
Formulate questions pertaining to each line and prepare a 30-minute or an
hour-long conversation around it.
Write down career highlights relevant to each line and prepare for at least two levels of questioning. Use numbers for a clear picture.
Write down career highlights relevant to each line and prepare for at least two levels of questioning. Use numbers for a clear picture.
DAY
5: Preparation & practice
Prepare
crisp responses for standard interview questions: Tell
me about yourself? Why do you want to leave your current job? Why should we
hire you? What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Rehearse your answers in front of a mirror. This will help you master non-verbal aspects of communication.
Prepare questions you want to ask the interviewer on job role, team, expectations.
Rehearse your answers in front of a mirror. This will help you master non-verbal aspects of communication.
Prepare questions you want to ask the interviewer on job role, team, expectations.
DAY
4: More preparation & mocks
Most
interviewers ask behavioral questions: Tell me about a time when you had to deal with
conflict in your team? Use situation, action and result technique to structure
your answer.
Your responses should show growth in key areas of interest for your employer. Enlist your friends or family members to conduct mock interviews for you.
Your responses should show growth in key areas of interest for your employer. Enlist your friends or family members to conduct mock interviews for you.
DAY
3: Consolidate & sleep
Organise
and revise your notes from the past seven days. Work on areas where you are not
confident.
Get a good night's sleep to shrug off the stress and strain of your daily job.
Get a good night's sleep to shrug off the stress and strain of your daily job.
DAY
2: Checklist & chill
Prepare
a checklist for the next day.
What are you going to wear? What do you need to carry? Where do you need to go? What time will you leave? With 24 hours to go, avoid any heavy lifting at your current job.
You should be fully rested. Take the evening off for your favourite activity and re-energise.
What are you going to wear? What do you need to carry? Where do you need to go? What time will you leave? With 24 hours to go, avoid any heavy lifting at your current job.
You should be fully rested. Take the evening off for your favourite activity and re-energise.
D-DAY:
Perform & follow up
Enjoy
your interview. A well-prepared candidate actually conducts the interview,
while the interviewer follows the lead.
After the interview, send a thank you e-mail to the interviewer and the person who coordinated.
Follow up with the coordinator and seek feedback in two days' time, and again within a week.
If the feedback is delayed, drop a reminder e-mail in the second week and move on to other opportunities.
After the interview, send a thank you e-mail to the interviewer and the person who coordinated.
Follow up with the coordinator and seek feedback in two days' time, and again within a week.
If the feedback is delayed, drop a reminder e-mail in the second week and move on to other opportunities.
Interview
tips for freshers
Appearance: Lack
of presentation spells disaster. Unkempt hair, body odour, casual air may work
in the classroom, but not at a job interview. Get a
shave, trim your hair and nails, put on formal clothes, polish your shoes and
carry your documents in a folder.
Timing : Be 15 minutes early and have enough time to freshen up. Account for traffic jams, rainfall and delayed transportation. If you don't know the location, check it out a day earlier. If you get late, call up the HR in advance and apologise for it.
Body language : Body language influences a large part of your interview. Practise walking into an interview room with a smile and a firm handshake, where offered. Sit upright with both your feet planted on the floor. Limit your gestures and look people in the eye.
Listening : Practice your listening skills in mock interviews. Lean forward slightly, look at the person talking to you. Don't interrupt the interviewer. If you haven't understood the question, ask him. Pause for a moment to gather your thoughts before responding.
Speaking : Smile and speak loud enough to be heard. Don't resort to slangs or derogatory references to age, religion, politics or gender. Answer the question crisply and avoid rambling. It's okay to say that you don't know the answer rather than giving a wrong one.
Timing : Be 15 minutes early and have enough time to freshen up. Account for traffic jams, rainfall and delayed transportation. If you don't know the location, check it out a day earlier. If you get late, call up the HR in advance and apologise for it.
Body language : Body language influences a large part of your interview. Practise walking into an interview room with a smile and a firm handshake, where offered. Sit upright with both your feet planted on the floor. Limit your gestures and look people in the eye.
Listening : Practice your listening skills in mock interviews. Lean forward slightly, look at the person talking to you. Don't interrupt the interviewer. If you haven't understood the question, ask him. Pause for a moment to gather your thoughts before responding.
Speaking : Smile and speak loud enough to be heard. Don't resort to slangs or derogatory references to age, religion, politics or gender. Answer the question crisply and avoid rambling. It's okay to say that you don't know the answer rather than giving a wrong one.
Interview
tips for freshers
Appearance : Lack
of presentation spells disaster. Unkempt hair, body odour, casual air may work
in the classroom, but not at a job interview. Get a
shave, trim your hair and nails, put on formal clothes, polish your shoes and
carry your documents in a folder.
Timing : Be 15 minutes early and have enough time to freshen up. Account for traffic jams, rainfall and delayed transportation. If you don't know the location, check it out a day earlier. If you get late, call up the HR in advance and apologise for it.
Body language : Body language influences a large part of your interview. Practise walking into an interview room with a smile and a firm handshake, where offered. Sit upright with both your feet planted on the floor. Limit your gestures and look people in the eye.
Listening : Practise your listening skills in mock interviews. Lean forward slightly, look at the person talking to you. Don't interrupt the interviewer. If you haven't understood the question, ask him. Pause for a moment to gather your thoughts before responding.
Speaking : Smile and speak loud enough to be heard. Don't resort to slangs or derogatory references to age, religion, politics or gender. Answer the question crisply and avoid rambling. It's okay to say that you don't know the answer rather than giving a wrong one.
Timing : Be 15 minutes early and have enough time to freshen up. Account for traffic jams, rainfall and delayed transportation. If you don't know the location, check it out a day earlier. If you get late, call up the HR in advance and apologise for it.
Body language : Body language influences a large part of your interview. Practise walking into an interview room with a smile and a firm handshake, where offered. Sit upright with both your feet planted on the floor. Limit your gestures and look people in the eye.
Listening : Practise your listening skills in mock interviews. Lean forward slightly, look at the person talking to you. Don't interrupt the interviewer. If you haven't understood the question, ask him. Pause for a moment to gather your thoughts before responding.
Speaking : Smile and speak loud enough to be heard. Don't resort to slangs or derogatory references to age, religion, politics or gender. Answer the question crisply and avoid rambling. It's okay to say that you don't know the answer rather than giving a wrong one.
10-day preparation before facing any job interview
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