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.
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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.
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