Winning at Interviews

Cover
Dedication
Contents
Preface to the Fifth Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Chapter 1 : The Meaning and Purpose Behind Interviews
	What is the Purpose Behind an Interview?
		To Establish a Rapport
		To Get to Know the Candidate’s Views
		To Form a Hypothesis
		To Confirm the Hypothesis
	Qualities/Traits Generally Assessed During Interviews
		Knowledge and Intelligence
	What is Personality?
	General Interview Structures
		Job Interviews
		Admission Interviews
		UPSC Interviews
Chapter 2 : General Personality Traits and How to Improve Them?
	Appearance
		Your Clothes
		Your Hairstyle
		Your Facial Expressions
		Your Way of Entering the Interview Hall
		Your Way of Walking
		Your Way of Sitting
		Your Way of Leaving the Interview Hall
	Speech Mannerisms and Body Language
		Clarity of Speech
		Gesticulations
	How to Improve Your Speech?
	Self-Confidence
		How to Develop Self-confidence?
	Mental Alertness and Consistency
		Mental Alertness
		Consistency
Chapter 3 : The Interview Process
	Initiating the Interview
		Initiation Based on Candidate’s Bio-data
		Initiation Based on Candidate’s Interests
		Initiation Based on General Awareness
		Initiation Through Academic Topics
		Initiation Through Odd Questions
	Exposing the Candidate’s Academic Level and General Awareness
		Testing the Candidate’s Academic Level and Awareness
	Analysing the Candidate’s Psychological Make-up Through Behaviour
	Summing Up or Winding Up Process
	Arriving at a Conclusion
Chapter 4 : Various Types of Interviews
	Interviews Based on Modes of Communication
		Physical Interview or In-person Interview
		Written Interview
		Telephonic Interview
		Video-conference Interview
	Interviews Based on the Stage
		Screening or the First Interview
		The Second Interview
	Interviews Based on Number of Participants
		Individual Interview
		Group Interview
	Interviews Based on Other Aspects
		Behavioural-based Interview (BBI)
		Technical Interview
		Campus Interview
Chapter 5 : Questions Usually Asked in Interviews
	Probing Questions
	Off-shoot Questions
	Confusing/Odd Questions
	FAQs in a Job Interview and Model Answers with Tips
		Question 1 Tell us about yourself in detail
		Question 2 Where do you see yourself in five years?
		Question 3 Are you willing to relocate?
		Question 4 Are you willing to travel?
		Question 5 Do you have problem working overtime?
		Question 6 Have you ever owned your own business?
		Question 7 Do you mind if I contact your references?
		Question 8 Please let us know about your greatest strength or strengths
		Question 9 What you think is your greatest weakness or weaknesses?
		Question 10 Do you perform best working alone or as partof a team?
		Question 11 Are you organized?
		Question 12 Do you consider yourself to be a risk-taker?
		Question 13 Do you think being a self-starter helps?
		Question 14 Have you ever experienced unfair criticism from supervisors, and how have you reacted to it?
		Question 15 Can you handle change?
		Question 16 Do you hate doing a lot of routine work?
		Question 17 How do you handle disputes with co-workers?
		Question 18 Do you read books? What books are you reading these days?
		Question 19 Do you watch movies? Tell us about the last movie that you saw
		Question 20 Tell us about your hobbies and interests outside of work
		Question 21 What do you watch on TV and why?
		Question 22 How important is good health for you?
		Question 23 Please inform us of physical problems, if any,that could affect your ability to perform this job
		Question 24 How do you balance career and family?
	What Kind of Answers You Should Give
		Don’t Give Monosyllabic Answers
		Always Support Your Answers
		Try to Emphasize Your Point of View
		Avoid Flattery
		Always Say Yes for Experience
	Some Common Questions You Can Ask
		Ask the HR Manager
		Ask Your Prospective Supervisor
		Ask Your Prospective Co-worker
	Things to Look for and Think About
	When You Go for the Second Interview
		Be Prepared
		Don’t Forget to Follow Up
	Questions Asked in Most Interviews
	Concept Tuning—Interviewing
		Job candidates might be faced with illegal questions during interviews
		Candidates must be able to clearly describe the value they bring to an organization
		Candidates must ask important questions during the interview
	Rehearse for Interviewers’ Favourite Questions
Chapter 6 : Interview Checklist:Some Dos and Don’ts
	While Preparing for the Interview
	Preparing for the Job Interview
		Do Research Before the Interview
		Topics to be Researched
	Some Dos
		A Day Before the Interview
		On the Day of the Interview
		During the Interview
		After the Interview
	Some Don’ts
		On the Day of the Interview
		During the Interview
		After the Interview
	Preparation Guide for the Interview
		Information about Self
		Knowledge About the Company (for Job Interview); About the Institution or the Course (for Admission Interview); and About the Function (for UPSC Interview)
		Special Skills
		Information to Learn
		Contributors
		Likely Questions
Chapter 7 : Writing a Résumé for the UPSC Interview
	How to Write a Résumé for the Interview?
	Specimens of Résumé
Chapter 8 : Group Discussion
	What is a Group Discussion?
	Features of a Group Discussion
		A Form of Conversation
		Different from a Debate
		No Interference from the Examiner
		Discussion Revolves Around a Given Topic
		Cordial and Friendly Atmosphere
	The Procedure for a Group Discussion
		Assignment of Serial Numbers
		Wearing the Number Tag
		Initiation of the Discussion
		Sitting Arrangement
		Selection of Topics
		Examiner’s Role
		Group Leader
		Type of Topics
	How to be Successful in a Group Discussion?
		Decide Your Strategy
		Mind Your Language and Behaviour
		Be a Good Listener
		Don’t Make Fun of Other Participants
		Support Your Argument with Valid Reasons
		Take Criticism Positively and Hold on to Your Temper
		Make Maximum Contribution
		Show Leadership and Co-ordinating Ability
	How to Prepare for a Group Discussion?
Chapter 9 : Model Interviews
Chapter 10 : How to Apply for a Job?
	Preparation of your Résumé
		Changing Trends
		How Should you Begin?
		Résumé of Working Experience
		If you have no Experience
		If you have Experience
	Describing your Present Job
		Why are you Looking for a Change?
		References
		Salary Drawn and Salary Expected
	The Job Search
		Understanding Employer’s Approach to the Employment Process
	Concept Tuning—Power of Netwirking Job Search
		Networking should be done on an ongoing basis, even when a person is not looking for a job
		Networking is about relationships and, potentially, the exchange of mutual assistance
		People, your relatives, friends, and associates know are usually the most helpful networking contacts
		“Personal” advertising is critical for successful networking
		When making networking contacts: (1) Be prepared; (2) talk to people who can help you; (3) create current or future valuefor the person you are talking to; (4) be energetic; and (5) be persistent
		Students should not confine themselves to one job sourcing activity
	Mechanics of a Good Résumé
		Type and Size of Paper
		Leave Sufficient Margin Space
		Number of Sheets
		Make Headings and Sub-headings Easy to Read
		Some Don’ts
		Build the Résumé that Employers Want
	Résumé -Writing Tips
		Creating a Global Résumé
	Some General Advice
		Translate Your Résumé for Electronic Eyes
		Buzzwords are the Key
		Make It Readable
	Tips for Electronic Résumés
	Concept Tuning—Résumés
		The résumé is a living, ongoing, working document
		The résumé includes past experiences, but must also link to a person’s future
		The résumé is an advertisement or marketing brochure
		The résumé is one of the crucial tools in a person’s career process
		The three Cs of résumés
	Some Sample Résumés
		Résumé 1
		Résumé 2
		Résumé 3
		Résumé 4
		Résumé 5
		Résumé 6
		Résumé 7
		Résumé 8
		Résumé 9
		Résumé 10
	Concept Tuning—References
		References play an important role in the job search process
		References do not play the only role in the job search process
		Reference checks are viewed and used in different ways by employers
		References can be asked for from anyone who is familiar with a candidate’s work habits and abilities
		References should not be asked for from close relatives
		Use proper etiquette in requesting references
		Different references can comment on different aspects of a candidate’s profile
		Letters of recommendation are a typical extension of references
	The Letter to Accompany your Résumé
		The Beginning
		The Middle Paragraphs
	Checklist for Covering Letter
	The Thank-You Letter for the Interview
		Components of the Follow-up Thank-you Letter
		Sending Thank-you Note Even if You Don’t Want the Job
		What if You Don’t Hear Anything After the Interview
	Important Dos After the Interview
	The Letter of Acceptance and Rejection
Chapter 11 : Importance of Social Mediaas a tool to Win Interviews
	How important is your social media presence for
‘Winning at Interviews’?
	What should be the strategy?
		Phone Interviews
		Video-Conferencing and How to Win Interviews Conducted Online?
	SKYPE Interviews/FACETIME Interviews
		Skype Interview Tips
Chapter 12 : How Recruiters Think?
	Analysing your Skillsets through Interviewer’s Point of View
	Look of the candidate
	Leadership
	Thinking out of box
	Teamwork
	Responsible and takes Initiative
	Good comprehension and communication skills
	Knowledge about business/industry
	Speed
	Challenge
	Customer focus
	Crisis awareness
	Agents to incremental improvements
	Recruiter’s point of view
Check-Lists