As a student, I have appeared in many
interviews. I have learned many things and also including things after researching
online on this topic. I have tried to give a holistic view in this regard. I
hope the article will help you somehow.
A
personal interview is the last stage of the recruitment process. As you want to
crack the interview, you are to follow the steps religiously.
Job
analysis
Job analysis is the most important part
before going for an interview. This helps you to answer questions related to
the company which shows your sincerity towards the interview. So, the following
two points are worth preparing.
(i) Knowledge about the company or firm:
You need to check the background of the company or firm. You have to have an idea
about their products and services along with their annual turnover. Also, you
need to keep track of branch locations, employees, future expansion, etc. You
can gather this information from the internet or the CEO’s annual briefs.
(ii) Knowledge about the appointment:
You must have an idea about the appointment such as job title, responsibility,
prospects, job location, work hours, job safety & risks.
Selection criteria
As a training placement coordinator, I have
noticed companies or firms recruiting people having the following qualities.
(i) Academics: Sound academics always
help. Having a good track record indicates your sound knowledge. This is your
advantage. Therefore, one should try to have a good academic career right from
the beginning of the course.
(ii) Personality: Interviews are not
only knowledge test but also personality test. Organizations need people who
can manage things, get jobs done, and lead people. The panels look for
qualities such as confidence, enthusiasm, moral standards, humility, health, extracurricular
activities, leadership, and good communication skills in candidates. These
qualities are not easy to develop on a single day. It is a time-consuming
process long process. Therefore, one should start working on the qualities
right from the B.Tech first year so that one becomes ready at the end of the
course.
(iii) Company requirement: The company
wants you to be a reliable, loyal person with knowledge. In the case of a
fresher, they look for a candidate with sound course-related knowledge who can
be trained easily. Moreover, one should have a realistic package expectation
who can move anywhere if needed. Nobody likes to pay a hefty amount to a
fresher. Once you learn tricks of the trade, you can ask for raise or they will
give you a raise anyway based on your performance.
( Read B.Tech Guide Book to Support the Blog for Good articles: We rely on you for expenses)
Interview
Preparation
(i)
Interview process: The interview template is pretty much the
same for every recruitment drive. But you must have an idea of the process so
that you can prepare accordingly in due course of time. These are given below.
(1) Written-test
(2) Group discussion
(3) Personal interview (Technical)
(4) Personal interview (HR)
(5) Fitness/ Medical Test
(ii)
Academic preparation: In your UG/PG program, you have
been taught many subjects. You are required to have a good idea of the
subjects. For that matter, one should take the help of textbooks taught in
college days and other technical journals. Then, you will feel comfortable to
appear in the interview. Apart from that, you can check online various
questions asked by the company in various other campus recruitment. This
practice gives a good idea of the questioning pattern.
(iii)
Project work: In your UG/PG program,
you do a project on a topic that interests you. The project gives you practical
exposure and brings out your scientific mind. Frankly speaking, some companies
give importance to the project and ask related questions and some companies do
not ask anything. But, the candidate’s job is to always prepare and hence
revise your project thesis or give a quick reading. As you have learned by
doing, you can easily recall. And one should not forget to carry the thesis to the
interview. Somebody may ask for it during the interview.
(iv)
Training / Internship: In your UG program, you are bound
to take internship or training in various organizations. You should mention
your internship during your interview whenever you get an opportunity. There
might be follow up questions about your internships. So, one should be better
prepared for taking these questions.
(v)
Achievement, Extracurricular activities,
Hobbies: Many students excel in other fields too apart from studies. Such
achievements are positive things and add credibility to your personality. So,
mentioning them during your interview is a must. If you are into some
extracurricular activities like NCC, book reading club, technical fest, sports,
etc. then you are to cite them during the interview. But, such claims should be
certificated. Similarly, if you have hobbies like painting, singing, tracking,
debating, quizzing, etc. then you can cite. Sometimes, the interviewer himself
may be into the same hobbies and like to discuss it. You can connect with the
interviewer in a personal way.
(vi)
General knowledge: One should have
decent general knowledge and current affairs. For that matter, one should try
to read the newspaper at least 15 minutes daily. This broadens your mind and
awakens awareness surrounding you.
(vii)
Communication skill: A good
communication skill helps to connect the interviewer effectively. Many a time,
candidates are sound in technical knowledge but lack communication skills.
Hence, they get rejected. Therefore, one
should try to improve English speaking for better interview performance. English
can only be improved by practice. You can talk with your friends or take
professional help. If friends are not available, you can take the help of
online apps or websites. I have come across a website named Learn English. The
link is provided below. You can check the courses there going through this
verified referral id: Learn English Really. If you go through this referral id, the
website supports us which helps us to overcome expenses.
(Viii)
Curriculum Vitae or Biodata: CV is very
important. The interviewer will have a copy of the CV with him. One must be
clear what to put and not put in the CV because there will be questions and
follow up questions based on what you have written there. Therefore, one should
prepare all the points in the CV.
Entering interview room
After though preparation is discussed
above, you become confident to face any kind of interview. But, you have to
take care of the following things while entering the interview room.
(i)
Punctuality: You need to reach the
venue 30 minutes prior to the interview. This helps you to get accustomed to
the surrounding environment and complete the paperwork if required.
(ii)
Dressing: Candidates need to wear
formal dresses for the interview.
(iii)
Manners:
While entering the room, one should knock ask for permission. Again, you can
ask for permission to sit down or you can wait till the interviewer tells you
to sit. You can shake hands if the interviewers extend or you can skip it.
While communicating you should be warm and non-aggressive. Above all, you have
to hear them correctly to follow them. The candidate should not unnecessarily
move their feet or hands during the interview. Your posture needs to be correct
too. One should communicate with the interviewer by maintaining eye contact.
(iv)
Sell yourself: Interviewers always look for what you
can offer to them rather than what you want. For that matter, you have to
showcase your qualities, skill, and experience before them. In other words, you
have to market yourself in tandem with their company’s requirements. The job
analysis beforehand helps you find the necessary areas where you need to stress
so that it appeals to them. You articulate the points in your mind and present them
in a manner of a nice story. You can
read “ How to sell yourself” in the
blog [Click the hyperlink: Verified by the author].
(v)
Volunteer information: Sometimes your
biodata cannot fill the gaps. You can offer more information about your points.
But, one needs to be honest and frank while volunteering information. Fake
information should be strictly avoided.
(vi)
Salary expectation: If your
interview is going well, the interviewer may ask for your salary expectation.
As a fresher, you should know your worth. India is filled with crores of
people. There are crores of people lining after you to take the position. So,
one should focus on learning tricks of the trade as a fresher. Once you gain
experience you can ask for a salary hike. Hence, you offer a valid expectation.
(vii)
Interviewers' attention: It is very important to grab the interviewer's
attention. One needs to understand that interviewers take interviews throughout
the day. People come and go. They feel tired. The study says that in such a situation,
the interviewers take decisions in the first 10 seconds of the meeting.
Therefore, it is very much important to seek their attention with your fresh
perspective. One should offer information and present your points nice manner.
(vii)
Ending the interview: Generally, the interview goes for
20 to 30 minutes. At the end of the interview, you can ask questions related to
the company, working hours, job locations, career prospects, career
advancements, etc. You can also ask for results but you should not press for
it. In the end, you need to thank for the opportunity by maintaining eye
contact. If the interviewers offer a handshake, you can shake hands or you can
leave. You gently close the door and leave the room. Generally, one should wait
for sometime after completion of the interview in the venue.
You can really support The Review by buying 'B.Tech Guide Book' by Madhurjya Saikia. You can gift it to someone you by directly delivering the book to their device.
Available
in Kindle and Paper back at Amazon.com: B.Tech Guide Book
Follow us on Twitter for updates: The Review
The Review on Tee Spring
