Checklist for Giving a Great Interview.

Hi there!

As promised, my very own personal checklist for ''Giving a memorable interview". Now although there are many other parameters which will decide how your interview goes when you go to interview, which can change from one person to the other, from one time to another, from one employer to another, I've carefully compiled some of the greatest hits, which ideally should give you a rough framework to give a good interview. For personal counselling & interview grooming, pls write to me, & we can take it from there, But for now, read on.

Pre Interview Preparation:

1> Fact Fishing!

Get all the facts you possibly can from the HR Representative/Consultant/Job description, etc whichever medium through which you came to know about the job opening. For eg: Everything the job includes (travel/field work/desk work/presentations/P & L accountability/team handling/training/factory visits/production/etc). This way, when the Interviewer asks you how good you are at that particular thing or how much of experience you've already had in that area, you won't be totally blindsided, and will actually have an intelligent answer which comes up confidently, well worded & genuine sounding. It saddens me that half the people who interview these days, don't know anymore than 25% of the job profile they're interviewing for. Also, the moment you don't know about something which is part of that job & you go, "Travel? Erm...ok. Well I recently got married, but that should be ok." Reject. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for spontaneity, but trust me when I say, a seasoned interviewer comes to know when you're faking it. :)

2> Research, Research, Research:

 I can never stress on this bit enough. Its always has been & continues to be one of the easiest & most important factors which give you brownie points with the Interviewer as well as help boost your own confidence while interviewing. And you know what, you lazy job seeker? You have the INTERNET!! Information Superhighway. Get on it, look up what just may be your future workplace, look up its employees on sites like Linkedin, see what they do..you have apps like Glassdoor, where employees rate the workplace, its still at a very nascent stage in India, like Linkedin was say, back in 2005-2007...but it might just give you an idea of what current employees are saying about their work places & help you decide, although ofcourse, as I always say, you should first try to get inside information from someone who you know works there, & can give you an unbiased, real picture. Look up the website, wikipedia article (surprisingly more informative than a company website in some cases), company news, etc. And while you're talking about yourself, you can definitely use the knowledge to your advantage & slip in a little bit here & there, for eg: about their LOBs, markets they function in, annual revenues, Mergers & Acquisitions, etc.

3> Go Pro:

Consulting with a well known, well informed, industry savvy, Recruitment Consultant who can groom you, tell you what to say, what preferably not to say, how to project your profile, how to handle your job jumps, reasons for quitting (surprisingly even people on a VP/AVP level sometimes fumble with these things..an outside perspective always helps. We always think we're right & might just say something that doesn't sound right to someone else.) But there is always a way to phrase things right. Reasons for various drawbacks on your cv (drawbacks like academic gaps, job jumps, short stints at consulting/or starting your own business which closed down, geographical relocation, change of industry &/or job function, bad blood with ex employers, unemployment for a substantial period of time, salary cuts, job cuts, etc etc) can be explained in a good light & don't necessarily have to always be deal breakers for you. Ofcourse, once again, your explanation & what a prospective employer ''Hears'' may be two different things without you even knowing that, so it helps to get a professional tip/counsel on handling these many, many minefields on your cv. Instead of being frivolous with your money in places which have no real value add, put your money into getting a professional opinion on your career, your interview possibilities (which in a time of slowdown are lesser, so why not give those few opportunities your very best..) I do around 50 interviews a week, of which more than 95% of the applicants make grave, near fatal mistakes & have to be corrected. We at HR Interface Corporate Services happen to have 9 out of our 10 candidates selected at job interviews because of pre interview counselling. I would say 10 but sometimes, even after getting the right grooming, some interviewees stay adamant & say things which get them rejected!

Pre Interview counselling & grooming can make a difference of 70 to 80% in whether or not you get that call back for a 2nd interview & subsequently that Offer Letter.

Interview TIPS:

1> On the clock: Being late is a complete no no. Aim to reach 30 minutes prior to the interview slot, so after the harried commute, you can visit the washroom, compose yourself, give yourself time to acclimatise to the new surroundings, go over your interview material one more time, etc. Plus you're already nervous whether or not you'll get selected, why add to it with the worry that you may be running late!

2> Not so Hard to carry a Hardcopy!: Whether they have your cv already or not, softcopy or hardcopy, you always have/need to carry atleast 2 hardcopies of  your Resumé. I won't even explain it. Just do, ok? Says a lot about you. Your printer isn't working, cyber cafes aren't open, blah dee blah dee blah. No one cares. Carry a fricckin hardcopy. Its not rocket science.

3> Suit Up!: You may be going to interview for a copywriter or web designer or shark diver or flamenco dancer position, & these folks are known to dress in cool threads! Though..mainly non conforming attire... but YOU, you shall suit up. Ok lose the suit, but a well ironed pair of trousers, sharp looking formal shirt & a tie (for men) & Smart business formals for women (trousers/skirts, minimal jewellery & a perfume that isn't very loud, for that matter, pls keep makeup low key, fresh & in neutral shades too) you will be taken seriously. Men, please shave. Pretty please. It is not a western movie where a day or two day old stubble will make you look like the fastest gun in the west.

4> Greet before you take a seat: An inaudible "Hi..erm..hello...", is SO not happening. Are you talking to yourself? Loud & proud, pls say Good morning/Good Afternoon/Good Evening like you mean it! A nice smile goes miles with that greeting. Do look the interviewer/s in the eye while wishing them, a non dead fish, gentle yet not bone cracking handshake is appreciated. Say the perfect  handshake would be not too fast, not too slow, not sweaty, lingers for just a second & not more, just about a shade lesser than a palm squeeze should be perfect. Wow, I now intend to teach the subtle art of the Handshake at Harvard. But you get my gist. If you're a hand shaker, you have already communicated a lot non verbally, that says good things about you & at the same time establishes a interviewer-interviewee connection even before the interview has begun.

5> Prelude to a Magnum Opus: Sorry, in simple words, that means, your self introduction before you get into your Career profile in depth. I Love Being Dramatic.

Ok, your cv hardopy (I hope you brought one) is with the interviewer. Their first question will be, 'Please tell us about yourself' or 'Please run me through your profile/cv'. You WILL NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT just do a reading of your cv, Ok? They HAVE your cv! So rather, please make it sound interesting, lead it in a story format, don't be repetitive, talk about yourself/your jobs/ your family/hobbies, etc whatever, but make it sound interesting.

For eg: Rohit has a a basic lean cv. He has worked with 3 companies, done his MBA in Marketing, stays in Andheri, has 2 dogs, hobbies are cycling, reading & listening to music, his family has 4 members including himself.  Now he can either just read it out from his cv verbatim (Boring, & I am on my 8th interview for the day, so may not listen if he  talks like that) 

OR he can say the following, my thoughts in plain, Rohit's commentary in bold.

Rohit: "I thank you for this lovely opportunity to interview with ABN Corp. Its a company I deeply admire.  

Neha: (And you have a happy employer listening to you now) 

Rohit: I turned 30 last month, I have 8 years of experience working in various areas of marketing after I completed my graduation.

Neha: (Not necessary to state the year, I have your cv).

Rohit: My very first job was with SGD Advertising  in client servicing which I was very lucky to get albeit with a lower than expected salary, which I didn't mind because the role had so much of learning in it, which I don't believe a lot of fresh graduates get.

Neha: (Go in a chronological manner, its better to construct your profile in. Also now I've pegged you as better than average since you got a job not a lot of fresh grads get, positive because you appreciate what you got & saw its best side, also, it sounds like a story, & everyone likes a story :)] 

Rohit: "I worked with them for a good 2 years, post which I had to move because since I was a beginner's salary & couldn't really make ends meet, since I'm an independent individual and was saving up for my future studies at the time."  

Neha: [Ok, Honest, Not really very money oriented enough for me to raise a red flag, because reasons stated were reasonable, independent, self sufficient, has a vision, stability decent, 2 years is acceptable for a 1st job]  

Rohit: "Post SGD I joined a Market Research Firm called XYZ Research & Analytics, since I also wanted to learn about the technicalities of Research in marketing, where I worked as an Analyst for 3 years 

Neha: [Ok, vision again, efforts to make a well rounded Marketing profile, testing new waters, stability again, 3 years is a good period before the next jump] 

Rohit: It had been 5 years since I started working & I felt it was the right time to also get some formal education in that area, & hence took the time to pursue an MBA from a good Tier 3 institute (State name of institute) majoring in International Business & Marketing, post which I got a great opportunity to work with a leading FMCG/Retail brand [State Name] in the Marketing function though, not via Campus placement, where I joined as Asst Manager - Marketing & have now grown to Manager Marketing within a year of joining, been there for 3 years now. Looking to move purely for growth, since I believe in not getting too comfortable, which is happening right now with my current employer. I do not want to slip into a comfort zone 

Neha: [MBA with relevant majors, check. Good planning on the education front, check. Good growth..check. Fair enough reason for moving on..I'm liking him this far]

Rohit: I'm health conscious & I bike everyday after work, I have 2 dogs I love very much & take care of. I currently live with both my parents & a younger brother. Some hobbies I give time to on weekends are gardening..given I have a green thumb :), listening to music, mostly Indian classical, I also love old hindi songs. And every now & then organizing get togethers for my friends, Where I end up cooking most of the times, which I also enjoy. 

Neha: [ Ok, overall a well rounded individual, health conscious that's good, because he won't be taking a lot of sick leaves, people's person as he organizes get togethers..]

So, Rohit managed to keep his profile interesting, precise, & still all inclusive. I didn't lose focus even for a moment since it was interesting. Now, pls compare this with you said at your last interview & see where you can tweak it. Keep it under 60 seconds, keep it crisp & interesting, in a chronological format which helps you not forget anything.

6> Look at the questions from an Employer Point of View: That is basically the secret recipe for getting your Interview replies right. If you're only thinking from your own point of view, many questions asked will get skewed replies from your side if you don't truly understand why the questions are being asked. For eg: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? Your answer: ''Ah, after 5 years, I see myself growing & earning more money since I would be getting married soon, & having kids. Possibly being a leader in the XYZ (a different line from what you're interviewing for) industry. And of course growing in the company, doing some further courses, etc.'' Now that brings up so many red flags that I can't even count them. Marriage & Kids is all fine, but that means you'll be taking holidays, for women..kids means you will take a larger leave of absence. RED FLAG. You're just interviewing & already seeing yourself in a different job/industry from the one you're interviewing for. Big Red Flag. So pls understand why a particular question is being asked, & how best to address it, simple tip. Imagine how you wouldd respond to it, if you were interviewing for your own company & someone said that to you.

6> Intelligent Follow up questions: Now your research beforehand will ensure you don't end up asking any questions to the interviewer which will make them question your pre interview prep. Instead, ask intelligent questions like company hierarchy, your reporting structure if you get selected, training programs employees go through, etc. which are not usually published on the internet. This also gives you an edge as having a relevant thought process.

7> Thank yous & Good byes : Once your interview is done, thank you person using a suitable prefix & a last name/first name if they prefer, & say you will look forward to hearing from them. One more customary hand shake. And you're out the door.

Happy Interviewing!

My Best as always, & Good luck on your job hunt!

Neha Asthana
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNehaAsthana
Email: careerconnect.neha@gmail.com
Mumbai | India