Facing an Interview

FACING AN INTERVIEW 

Communicating to a Group

Communication in small groups consists of three or more people who share a common goal and communicate collectively to achieve it. During small group communication, interdependent participants analyze data, evaluate the nature of the problem(s), decide and provide a possible solution or procedure

Additionally, small group communication provides strong feedback, unique contributions to the group as well as a critical thinking analysis and self-disclosure from each member. Small groups communicate through an interpersonal exchange process of information, feelings and active listening in both two types of small groups: primary groups and secondary groups

Benefits of Communication

Teams that communicate complete projects in a quicker and more efficient amount of time than others. They also are more accurate in their work than others. Effective communication also allows team members to understand their roles and the roles of everyone else on the team.

A Facing an Interview

B .Informal Discussions

C. Group Discussion

D. Debates

E. Making Speeches

F. Compeering an Event

G. Agenda, Notes and Minutes of a Meeting

A Facing an Interview

Facing an interview

1. Introduce yourself with confidence - “Self-introduction?” ...

2. Smile, be natural and speak with confidence.

3. Even if you don't feel confident, act as one emanating confidence. ...

4. Sit straight on the chair and look into the eyes of the interviewer.

How to face an interview confidently

Ø  Go prepared

Ø  On the day of Interview

Ø  Know what not to do

People feel stressed as they hear about INTERVIEW. Most of them focus only on the questions to be answered in the Interview. But the interview is the test of not only knowledge but behaviour and honesty too. It does not matter where you went to school, the number of degrees you may hold, the experience you have or whom you know. It is important do the interview successfully. It is vital to approach interviews in the correct manner and with the right attitude, as that is the key to success.

These tips will help you to stay calm and focused instead of being a nervous wreck. Follow these to remain cool and confident in your interview and so achieve professionalism and be successful.

Go prepared

Research the Company

·   Do some homework, e.g. Find out about the company’s vision, goal, strategy, products, finances, departments, competitive advantages, competitors, the work culture and the management from the website. If the company does not have a web presence look them up at the library, call the Chambers of Commerce, and find out everything you can about them. Make sure you know as much about it as you can, so that you can impress your interviewers and show them how much you care.

·   You can find ways to show that you know your stuff during the interview. You can say something like, “I’ve read all about your mission and I think being committed to educating the world for free is an amazing goal.”

·   Show that you know what the position entails, too. If you know the qualities the interviewers are looking for, then it’ll be easier to sell yourself and to show that you possess them.

Be thorough with your CV

·   You should be familiar with whatever is mentioned in the CV. Read it thoroughly so that you’re not stumped by any question regarding your past employment and education.

·   Come up with answers to common resume questions.

Prepare to answer common questions.

·   Though each interview is different, there are some common interview questions and if you’re prepared for them, half the battle is won. You’ll be less tongue-tied and appear more confident if you’re ready with the response. It’s good to have some answers prepared so you don’t look unprepared or caught off guard. Here are some questions you should be prepared to answer:

·   “What are your biggest strengths?” Pick strength or strengths that illustrate your capabilities.

·   Make a list of your main strengths and the things you are currently working on towards your professional growth, with examples of each.

·   “Why do you want to work at this company?” Instead, point out several things you like about the company and be as detailed as possible; also make it clear why you think you would be able to contribute to their team.

·   Also, be prepared to talk about your weaknesses and how you are trying to overcome them.

Prepare to ask at least two questions.

·   At the end of most interviews, your potential employers will ask you if you have any questions you want to ask them. You should prepare at least a handful of questions and pick the ones that are the most relevant to ask; this shows that you’ve done your research and are excited about the position.

·   Asking what your daily work life on the job would look like,

·   Asking about other ways you can get involved at the company in addition to the job description. For example, if you’re applying for a teaching job at the high school, you can ask if you can be involved in extracurricular activities too.

Prepare to explain why you’d be a good fit for the company.

·   Another thing you need to get ready to say is why you’d be a great fit for the company. Check out what the employees at the company are like and what the company values the most when it comes to the position you’re seeking; use buzzwords to show why you possess those qualities and why you’d be a perfect fit for the job you’re interviewing for. Here are some things you can say:

·   “I know that strong communication skills are essential for this position, and I would be a great fit for it because of my years of management, training, and hiring experience. I’ve communicated with employees, customers, and managers for years and have learned how to give positive feedback as well as how to respectfully discuss room for improvement.”

·   “I’m excited about all of the teamwork that the position requires. I’ve successfully worked in teams and have collaborated with my team members, and I would be eager to bring that experience to this company.”

Practice answering these questions in different ways.

·   Have a friend read out your list of questions, or do it alone in front of a mirror. Answer them without reading from your paper, although glancing down at first is fine. Do this several times, trying to word your answers in different ways each time. The more you practice, the more natural you'll sound when the interviewer asks a similar, but not identical, question.

Be prepared to talk about any career changes you may have had.

·   Be prepared to summarize your previous work experiences, and to explain how they contributed to skills and knowledge that applies to the job you're trying to get.

On the day of Interview

Good Timekeeping is Essential

·   Travelling to the interview can be stressful, especially if you’ve to commute a long distance. Try Arrive at least 10 minutes early. Showing up a little bit early to the interview shows that you’re punctual and that you really care about your job. Remember, arriving late for whatever reasons is totally inexcusable. Plus, if you rush in there just before it’s time to begin, you won’t have time to decompress and get into a relaxed state of mind.

Dress professionally

·   The way you dress makes a statement about yourself. Avoid bright colours and loud jewellery. Regardless of the job that you are applying for, it is a good idea to wear a neat and clean suit, even in a casual business environment. you have to start off by dressing professionally to make a good impression in front of formally-dressed interviewers. Here are few tips.

·   Make sure to groom yourself well and to pay attention to your hygiene, too. If you don’t put time and effort into your appearance, it will show.

·   Try on your outfit at least a few days before to make sure that it’s flattering and that there are no problems with it.

Facing an interview

·   Introduce yourself with confidence - “Self-introduction?” Prepare your Introduction & Key points. The introductory speech is your two minute opportunity to enlighten the interviewer about yourself and what you have to offer.  When you walk into the room, stand tall, make eye contact, put a smile on your face, and give your interviewers a firm, confident handshake when you introduce yourself. Walk with confidence and avoid fidgeting or looking around the room; remember that you only have one chance to make a first impression, and you want it to count.

·   Smile, be natural and speak with confidence.

·   Even if you don’t feel confident, act as one emanating confidence. Your body language should be accurate and you should be making a positive impact during the interview.

·   Sit straight on the chair and look into the eyes of the interviewer. Remember, you’ve nothing to lose and go with that mind-set. This causes less palpable stress.

·   Be articulate when you answer the questions - Speak as clearly and confidently as you can and make eye contact when you share your thoughts and ideas. Try to avoid saying “like” or “um” too much and focus on getting your points across, even if that means pausing to think. The most important thing is that you deliver your words with confidence and sound like you really mean what you say.

·   Practicing saying what you have to say aloud can help you gain the confidence to be articulate during your interview. That said, you should make sure your words sound natural, not rehearsed.

Identify Achievements - Employers want to know how hiring you will make their organisation better and contribute to their overall success. (Assuming you did your homework as suggested in point 1 you can offer examples of innovations, process improvements or revenue saving ideas that may be of interest).

Engage in a Dialogue - Remember, a conversation is a two-way exchange. Be curious and ask lots of questions to get a good understanding of how the company, department and management operate. Ask about the job responsibilities and company culture, e.g. Employee Recognition Programmes, opportunities for Personal and Professional development, current and future challenges of the position, etc.

Be Open and Honest - When responding to the employer's questions, tell the truth! If you made a mistake, say it in a positive way, accept responsibility for it, and explain how you have benefited from the experience & what you have learnt. Do not pretend to be something that you are not, it will not work!

Avoid sharing overly personal information. - Though you may feel like your interviewers really like you and that they’re getting buddy buddy with you, you should avoid mentioning anything overly personal about yourself. Don’t talk about your significant other, your kids, or your personal problems at home; this shows that you’re not focused on the job and that you’re unprofessional. Of course, if you see that your interviewer has a big poster of your favourite sports team in his office, you can mention the connection in passing if it comes up, but don’t get much more personal than that.

·   Make sure to thank your interviewers in person.

·   When the interview is over, show that you’re grateful for the fact that your interviewers took the time to meet with you and to get a chance to talk to you about your skills and qualifications. As you leave the room, shake your interviewer’s hand again and make sure to look her in the eye and give her a sincere smile and a real thank you; this shows that you’re considerate and that you’re really grateful for the opportunity.

·   Just say something simple like, “Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me. This has been a wonderful opportunity and I really appreciate it.”

·   As the conversation wraps up, you can also ask about a time frame and next steps. They should tell you when they’ll get back to you and what the next steps would be.

·   Lastly, it goes without saying, be relaxed and don’t worry too much. The job interview is for both parties, ie. Both for you and the employer to decide on the respective suitabilities; so go with an open mind and try to be calm.

1. What do you know about our company?

This is one of the most common questions to practice for. You’re very likely to hear it in an early-stage interview, especially a phone interview.

In the sample answers below, you’ll see that the goal is to show them you’ve done your research and didn’t apply to their company without knowing anything about them.

If you don’t seem like you know anything about them, you’ll come across as desperate – somebody who will take any job they can find. And that’s going to make you unattractive to any good employers out there.

So when they ask, “what do you know about our company?”, your primary goal is to show you’ve done your research or knew about their company before applying. If you do this, you’ll be fine.

Do:

·   Make sure to research the company before the interview (on their website, their LinkedIn page, and Google)

·   Understand what industry they’re in, what they sell and how they make money

·   Try to have some sense of their company size. Are they 100 employees? More than 10,000 employees?

·   In your answer, show you’ve done research and show that you’re excited about interviewing with their particular company

Interview answer example 1:

1. “From what I read, your company is one of the leaders in providing security software to other businesses. I read the list of clients on your website. Do you mostly serve Fortune 500 clients? I saw a couple big Fortune 500 companies mentioned on the list, including ___ and ___.”

2.  How did you hear about the position?

When they ask “how did you hear about the position?”, the interviewer just wants to know if you’ve taken the time to research the company and if you have a genuine reason for wanting to talk with them. Mention a product, a mission statement on the website, a reputation for talented employees, or whatever else seems applicable to that specific company. Come up with a great reason. Don’t make it seem like they’re just one company among many. Or that you’re sending your resume out to them for no particular reason other than wanting a job.

This is one of the simplest question and answer scenarios in any interview, but that doesn’t mean it can’t ruin your chances at the job if you answer incorrectly.

Do:

·   Be clear, direct and upfront

·   Tell the truth unless it’s something very embarrassing (for example, when I was much younger, my Mother actually found me a job to apply to. That does *not* sound great, so I told them a friend saw the job posting and mentioned it to me. A white-lie is okay but only when needed).

·   Explain why the job interested you, if possible (e.g. “I was excited to apply because ___”)

·   Compliment them if possible (e.g. “My colleague said you’re one of the top software firms in Dallas”)

Good answer examples:

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3. Why did you apply for this position?

When they ask “why did you apply for this position?”, pick something specific that interested you. If you say you love their products, tell them why. That’s the key to giving a convincing answer for this job interview question.

Stay away from sounding like you’re desperate, or that you want just any job. Yes, if you were laid off it’s okay to say that, but then re-focus the conversation on exactly what you’re looking for in the next opportunity and why you feel their company might have it.

You need to sound like you want the RIGHT job and that you’re being picky. Companies want the best performers, and the best performers are picky in their job hunt. Stay away from negatives and complaints too. Don’t bad-mouth your current company or boss. Focus on the positives of the company you’re interviewing with.

Do:

·   Make them feel like you’re interested in them for a specific reason

·   Show you’ve done your research and understand what the job involves

·   Phrase everything as a positive. Don’t badmouth your current situation, just talk about what you hope to gain by coming to work for them (experiences, challenges, opportunities).

Example answer 1:

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4. Why are you looking to leave your current company?

Now, not everyone is job searching while employed, but if you are – this is one of the most important interview questions and answers to know.

The most important thing when they ask why you are looking to leave your current job is to stay positive and never badmouth.

How do you sound positive? Rather than complaining or talking badly about your current situation, say that you’re looking for more of something.

Is your current boss a jerk ? Say that you’re looking for an environment with more leadership you can learn from.

 

Do:

·   Sound positive and focus on what you want to gain by making a move

·   Show gratitude for your current job (e.g. “This job has been great and I’ve learned a lot in the 2 years I’ve been here, but I feel I’m ready for ___ now.”)

·   Sound like you’re ambitious, motivated, and eager to find the next challenge in your career.

Good sample answer:

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5. Tell us about a challenge you’ve faced and how you handled it

Focus on a specific work-related challenge and talk about how you overcame obstacles, used it as a learning experience, used the resources around you (including people/colleagues if applicable), and ended up with a positive result! That’s how to answer this interview question. Keep it work related, not personal.

Do:

·   Explain the situation, the task you needed to accomplish, and what method you chose (and why)

·   Share the outcome. What was the result?

·   Share what you learned from the experience. Did you take away knowledge that has helped you in your career?

Answer example:

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6. How much money are you looking to earn?

Unfortunately this question is left off of many lists of job interview questions and answers examples. But it’s extremely important, and the wrong answer here can cost you thousands of dollars in the negotiation later on.

DON’T say a number. Why? you have the least amount of leverage possible at this point, assuming you’re early in the interview process. You haven’t finished interviewing with them, they don’t know if you’re any good or if they even want to hire you. So you can’t command a high salary right now. If you go too low with your price, they’ll hold you to it later. Go too high? You’ll scare them off before they even know what you’re worth!

It’s a lose-lose. Don’t do it. So remember… when you’re preparing what to say in a job interview, especially an early stage interview, salary goals should not be a part of it!

Do:

·   Stand your ground and tell them you don’t have a number in mind yet, or aren’t sure.

·   Repeat this multiple times if needed (if they pressure you or “push back” after your first response).

Example answer:

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7. Do you have any questions for us?

If you don’t ask good questions to each person you speak with, you are very unlikely to get hired.

You can ask  about the work, the training, the challenges you’d face, the overall direction of the company.

Don’t ask about salary, benefits, time off, or anything that isn’t related to the work. Wait for them to bring it up, or until you know they want to offer you the position.

FYI here are the 105 best questions to ask the interviewer.

Do:

·   Be ready to ask questions to every single person you meet with

·   Ask about the company, the team, and most importantly – the specific job

·   Ask about things you heard during the interview that you’d like more information about

·   Ask about the interview process: (e.g. “when will I hear feedback, and who will be in touch after this?”)

Example answer:

“Yes, I have a couple of questions actually. The first thing I wanted to ask: is this a newly-created position, or did somebody hold this role in the past? And if so, what did that person go on to do after this position?”

 

8. Why should we hire you?

Try to talk about them and how you’ll help them. What will be better for them if they hire you? What will you improve for them?

And show you’ve done your research. Make it clear that you know what this position involves, and you’re ready to perform the tasks.

Do:

·   Be confident in your skills and abilities

·   Talk about specific things you can help them do or achieve if they hire you

·   Do your research before the interview and understand their needs, so you can “tailor” your answers and target the specific things they’ll need if they hire you in this role

Example interview answer:

“I read on the job description that you’re looking for someone with experience in ____. I’ve done that for 3 years and can immediately help you accomplish ____”.

9. Why do you want to work here?

If they ask “why do you want this job?”, show you’ve done plenty of research to learn about them before coming in to interview. You want to make them feel like you chose them for a reason. This is very similar to the previous question: “Why did you apply for this position?”

Show them that you know what that their job involves (at least as much as you could learn from the job description and company website), and that you’re excited to be interviewing for this position.

Do:

·   Mention specific, work-related reasons why their job and company interest you

·   Talk about your own career goals and how this job and company fits those goals

·   Sound excited about the opportunity to work for them

·   Show you’ve done your research

Sample interview answer:

“I’ve been actively searching for jobs since graduating with my Nursing degree. I’m interested in intensive care and emergency medicine and I’ve seen your hospital mentioned as having one of the best ER’s in the region. I thought the job description matched up well with my background, and saw some of my personal strengths mentioned, like multitasking and being able to thrive in a fast paced environment, so I’d love to begin my career here.”

10. Tell me about yourself

This is one of the most popular interview question and answer examples people look for, because it’s extremely common to hear AND difficult to answer. Here’s how to handle it:

Keep it professional when answering the question of “tell me about yourself“. You don’t need to share personal details.

To answer, walk them through your background, starting at how you began your career or your current line of work. Take them through key accomplishments, key career moves you’ve made, and end by sharing what you’re looking to do next in your career and why you’re job hunting.

Do:

·   Focus on sharing your professional story only

·   Keep it under 2 minutes

·   Walk them through how you got started in your career, key moves you’ve made, and then bring them up to speed on your current situation

Interview answer example:

​“I started my career in Marketing after graduating with a Business degree in 2013. I’ve spent my entire career at Microsoft, receiving two promotions and three awards for outstanding performance. I’m looking to join a smaller company now, and take on more leadership and project management.”

11. Why did you leave your last job?

There are a lot of good answers to this interview question. There isn’t just one “right” answer. Here are some guidelines:

If you chose to leave on your own terms, stay positive and focus on what you wanted to gain from the decision, rather than bad-mouthing or focusing on negatives you wanted to avoid.

And if you were fired or laid off, be upfront and clear. You’re not going to make employers want to hire you by being vague or trying to hide something.

If you got fired, show what you’ve learned from the experience, and what you’ve done to make sure this doesn’t happen again. That’s how to spin it into a positive.

Do:

·   Be clear and direct and address the question head-on

·   If you were fired, own up to it and share what you’ve done to make sure this never happens again

·   If you chose to resign, focus on the positive things you hoped to gain by moving to the next opportunity, rather than badmouthing or talking about the negatives in your last role

Example answer:

“I was hired for a project management role, but over time that changed and I was no longer being given the opportunity to do the work I was interested in. I left to pursue an opportunity that I felt was more aligned with what I’ve chosen to focus on in my career.”

You can also get more ideas for how to answer this on our list of 20 answers for “why did you leave your last job.”

12. What is your greatest weakness?

When they ask, “what’s your greatest weakness?” , you want to name a real weakness.

I highly recommend picking something skill-based, not personality-based.

You never want to say you struggle working with others, or you’re bad at resolving disagreements, or taking direction from a manager, etc. Those things will get you rejected in the interview.

So pick a specific skill, but pick something that won’t severely impact your ability to do this job. 

For example if the job involves data entry with Excel spreadsheets all day, you do not want to say Excel is your weakness. Or that you struggle paying attention to details.

Finally, end your answer by explaining what you’re doing to overcome or improve your weakness.

Take a look at the do’s and don’ts, and the interview answer example below, to get a sense of what your answer might sound like.

Do:

·   Name a real weakness

·   Pick something that’s skill-based, not personality-based. For example, say, “I’m not particularly strong in Microsoft Excel…”, rather than, “My weakness is working on a team and following directions.”

·   Mention what you’ve done to overcome this weakness and improve recently

Example interview answer:

“I’m not particularly strong in social media marketing. For the first few years of my career, I focused entirely on email marketing. That’s still what I specialize in, which is why I applied for your Email Marketing Manager job. But I’ve realized it’s also helpful to understand the principles of social media marketing because some of the strategies that work there also work well in email. So I’ve started spending a couple hours a week of my own time studying and learning this new area, and it’s helped me a lot.”

13. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

​​There are three big reasons interviewers love to ask “where do you see yourself in 5 years?“:

1. ​They want to see if you’ve thought about your professional future

2. They want to make sure you’re ambitious and hard-working

3. They want to make sure the job they’re offering fits with your goals

So, pick a work-related goal of where you’d like to be 5 years from now, and make sure it’s slightly challenging or ambitious-sounding.

You don’t want to say, “I see myself in the same position 5 years from now.”

And make sure to share a goal that is related to the type of job you’re interviewing for. You want to sound like the experience you’ll gain in this job fits your long-term goals.

Otherwise they’re going to be scared to hire you. Why would they offer you the job if it doesn’t fit the goals you described to them? You’d be unsatisfied, bored, and would probably quit within the first year. No company wants this.

Do:

·   Show you’ve thought about this topic and question

·   Sound ambitious and motivated

·   Be realistic. Don’t say you want to be CEO in 5 years if you’re entry-level

·   Make sure your answer is related to this job. They won’t hire you for a job that has nothing to do with your 5-year goal

Example interview answer:

“I’m glad you asked. In 5 years I see myself taking on more responsibilities, either through management or higher level individual contributions. I’m not sure which path will make sense to pursue, but I know my goal right now is to build a strong foundation and gain valuable experience so that I’ll have a successful future in this industry.”

14. Tell Me About a Time You Failed

This is a common interview question that employers ask to see if you’re able to learn from mistakes and bounce back when things don’t go your way.

They always want to see if you can own-up to it and be accountable and actually admit to your failures.

So when you answer, “tell me a time when you failed”… here are the most important do’s and don’ts to follow:

Do:

·   Admit to a real failure

·   Describe the situation and what went wrong

·   Show that you take responsibility (rather than blaming others), and show you learned from it

·   Ideally, talk about how you used that lesson to get a different outcome next time you were presented with a similar challenge (e.g. how you turned a past failure into a future success)

 Sample interview answer:

“In my most recent position, I had recently been promoted to Supervisor, and was managing the department on my own right before the department closed. An employee was acting out and I confronted him in front of everybody. It made the situation worse and caused a lot of distraction for every employee on the floor. I failed to lead properly in this situation, and spoke to my manager the next day to discuss what I could have done differently. We both agreed that I should have handled this in-private with the employee, by asking them to step inside my office with me. If I had done this instead of reacting the way I did, the situation would have turned out much better. From that point onward, I am always conscious of whether a discussion with a team member should occur in public or behind closed doors, and it made me a better leader.”