Checking Sociability

An individual’s sociability is going to decide her becoming a member of the team in an employed situation. One’s success to melt into a group and become a member of the team will very much depend upon one’s knowledge of social formalities, etiquette and manners. The first two are part of the culture in which the candidate would have grown up and the third is something which one can pick up even at the last minute. Further, one also needs enough knowledge about the hierarchical functioning of the organization to which she has applied.

Checking Attitudes

No one can create an attitude after getting information about an interview where a possible job is being offered. The attitude that a person projects depends on her belief systems or what is technically called values. As one possesses these, one is sure to exhibit them except that one can take a cautious path to avoid projection of an attitude which may go against the employment. One has no escape from exhibiting one’s genuine attitude.

Checking Skills

An interviewer also would like to check how skilled a candidate is. Technical, conceptual and human relations skills can be checked through different methods. While technical skills are easy to develop, conceptual skills are more difficult to acquire. The most important, human relations skill, will definitely be tested by any interviewer because in most employment’s people have to relate to each other. Therefore, ability to interact, co-act or even counteract need to be assessed by the interviewer.

Skills are developable and therefore, a candidate can take time to develop them. Though the intensity of these skills may differ from place to place or person to person, the need for each person to possess the skill cannot be overlooked. A candidate can get professional help in skill development.

Preparing for Interviews

Any activity or performance becomes successful or one of quality when the activist or the performer prepares for it. Efforts have to be taken to impress upon a group of people, especially experts, that the candidate is the best possible choice. This can be done by a person who has discovered herself and feels proud of her worth, in addition to being confident to project herself as the best.

Physical Grooming

A large area of impression of a personality is carried by a person through external appearance. Dressing neatly, combing the hair as it suits the face, accessories like a bindi or a tie or ornaments can add to the personality. The styles of walking, sitting, talking or any other activity can or may let down one’s personality. Therefore, a candidate has to take care to present herself with the personality that will influence the interviewers.

Intellectual  Grooming

An individual has to have a minimum level of intellectual exhibition to impress upon the interviewer that one is capable of intellectually interacting with others. There is no doubt that one has to go out of one's way to show one’s cognitive resources to the interviewer or employer. Showing does not mean exaggeration. It only asks for providing opportunities for the interviewers to measure and assess various aspects of the intellectual capacity of the individual so as to decide whether she fits into the job. A candidate has to keep in mind that any slip in this matter can be disastrous. Therefore, one has to become intellectually active by reading, studying, discussing and internalising various things that might come up in the interview.

Emotional Grooming

There is nothing wrong in a candidate being nervous because it is a moment of testing which will result in failure or success. What is important here is the fact that a candidate, who is nervous is under a certain amount of emotional disturbance and therefore, will not be able to maintain the composure needed to answer different types of questions that will be shot at her, Hence, a candidate has to believe that she will surely get the job and that should this job not come her way, there will be plenty others. A sense of desperation can totally destroy confidence. Even when a candidate fails to give the right answer, she should say sorry and await the next question with the hope to answer it. A candidate should know herself very well and should have a strong self-esteem which makes it easy to be very composed.

Five Interviewee Policies

Primarily, one should believe that honesty is the best policy. An interviewee who would try to tell lies or pretend is sure to be caught through cross questioning. A dishonesty once established becomes not only a discredit but also an embarrassment and loss of face by which even the succeeding questions cannot be answered. When one is truthful one does not have to make efforts to remember what was said earlier. All answers will be genuine. Honesty exhibits authenticity too.

In addition, if honesty is the first value, an associated value to be exhibited along with it is courage. An interviewee has to be courageous enough to tell an interviewer or a board of interviewers that she does not know an answer. This not only impresses the interviewers but also makes the person get relieved of the tension of not knowing and its consequences.

Further, an interviewee should use a sociable language. She should be able to use words like ‘thank you’’ please excuse me’ ‘beg your pardon’ or’ sorry’ wherever necessary. This creates a relationship between the interviewers and the interviewee and there is a level of trust that starts working.

More importantly, one has to avoid getting involved with controversies, especially those concerning communal or political subjects. An interviewee has to choose a mid path so that there is no conflict between the interviewer and the interviewee.

More important than what has been said above, is the need not to act very friendly while care is taken to be sociable. It is possible that the interviewers are very friendly but an interviewee has to remain serious and a sort of distance has to be maintained so as not to say or do something that may seem to be unbecoming in a future employee.

There are a few things that a candidate should do while there are also a few things that a candidate should avoid doing.

Presenting On self and Documents

. Use formal dress to appear for an interview.

· Avoid using new clothes because one may not know how to function in them.

· It is not wise to change usual hair styles or clothing patterns as they will inconvenience the candidate.

· Use executive clothing, deep and bright colours may not suit the occasion.

· Clothes have to be clean and ironed to represent order and discipline.

· Carry a pen in the pocket or in the folder.

· Carry all the documents in an order in a folder.

· Avoid carrying documents in an envelope as it will take time to show them to the interviewers.

· It is difficult to present the documents if they are filed, keep them loose but in an order.

· Carry only relevant documents. Copy of the application sent and bio-data and certificate of qualifying examination are important documents.

· Carrying certificates and documents in a plastic bag will not give an impression of quality and class.

· Do not present any certificate or document unless asked for.

· Remember to collect all the certificates given for perusal at the interview.

Entry, Seating and Exit

· Knock at the door and then enter even if your name is called out.

· Greet the interviewers as soon as you enter, the lady first and the gentlemen thereafter.

· Sit down only after your are asked to.

· Remember to say “Thank you” before being seated.

· Avoid pulling a chair. Instead, lift it if necessary and always enter from the right side of the chair.

· Sit without crossing legs and sit straight.

· Look at the interviewers instead of looking down.

· Keep whatever paper materials you carry on your lap, and not on the table.

· Bend forward while answering questions.

· While answering a questioner, remember to look at the other interviewers also.

· If you have to use a handkerchief, use it gently without making a noise, like blowing one’s nose.

· Avoid fidgeting like touching moustache, scratching nose or arranging hair.

· Avoid carrying anything like a key bunch or pen in your hands.

· While thinking of an answer, avoid rolling of eyes or looking at the ceiling or outside.

· At the end of the interview, get up and move out only after thanking the interviewers.

· While moving out, step back first, then turn and walk away.

Answering Questions

· Listen to questions carefully to comprehend.

· If you have not understood a question, politely request for a repeat.

· Give short answers unless asked for longer ones.

· Exude confidence but not arrogance.

· Be firm when you are sure, otherwise start statements with “I think” or “As far as I know”.

· Mouth all words clearly and speak loud enough to hear.

· Answer immediately without wasting time.

· Avoid being humorous or ironical in your answers.

· Keep looking at the interviewers and never at other things in the room or outside.

· Give authentic information about any details connected with your bio-data.

· It is discourteous to take anything from the table in front of the interviewee.

· Avoid tightening a tie or pulling at the dress while answering any question.

· Answers should not be given in a raised voice even when the question comes in that manner.

· Answer questions in simple single sentences.

· Avoid giving additional information unless asked for.

· If you are complimented for the answers, remember to thank the interviewer.

· If your answer or opinions are rejected by the interviewer, remember to say ’sorry’

· Avoid repeating answers, phrases or words.

Demeanor and Interactions

· Keep a smiling face so as to welcome any question.

· Avoid any disagreement with the interviewer unless it involves your belief systems.

· If or when an interviewee has to disagree with the interviewer do it politely after expressing regret or asking for pardon.

· It is unwise to contradict an answer through a subsequent answer.

· If an error is brought to the notice of a candidate, she should accept the same.

· Use a language that is easy to understand but formal in its usage.

· A candidate should avoid offering her hand for a hand shake. All the same, if offered by the interviewer, she should accept it.

· While a male candidate has to stand up to shake hands, a lady may accept an offer while being seated.

· There is no need for requesting the interviewer personally or formally to offer the job to the candidate.

· A candidate’s behavior should convince the interviewer about the quality of personality that the candidate has.

· Avoid any exhibition of emotion about an answer that a candidate considers very dear or correct.

· The interviewee should not condemn or deprecate any other person, group, community or nation during an interview.

· If or when a candidate is asked about achievements or success she should take care to list only those which can be proved with evidence.

· There is nothing wrong in requesting an interviewer to ask a candidate questions on a subject of her choice.

· Once the subject is announced as the favored one, a candidate should make sure that all questions are answered.

A successful Interviewee

A candidate who goes through an interview becomes successful not when she is selected for the job but she is satisfied with her performance. Performance is not a situation where all questions have been answered but state of mind where there is satisfaction for having done what one thought to do. This type of a state of mind is possible only when one has worked hard to perform. An interviewee should walk out of a Board Room after an interview with an attitude which says that if this company or organization does not appoint me they are surely going to be the losers.