TIPS & TECHNIQUES to shine in an Interview

IT JOB INTERVIEW TIPS & TECHNIQUES

Here you are...the toughest part of getting throught any job is nothing but the interviews -Before looking at how you need to be prepared for the interview, it is important to understand why an Interview is conducted. If the resume matches with the job requirement, then what is that they want to look for in the interview. Do they ask the same questions to all the people attending the interview??

Expectations

The expectation basically depends on the job requirement. There are some regular job requirements for which the interviews are conducted regularly and when ever they find some one suitable, they will recruit. There are also the ones which need to get filled quickly.

Essential homework

Find out as much as you can about the job, analyse the job description, try and work out what sort of person is required and match that to your own strengths and skills.If you are going through an employment agency such as Kelly Services then your consultant will be able to give you a detailed job description and make sure you know all about the position before you get there.Research the company, find out all you can about them to show you are really interested in joining. Local reference libraries can often help here or you can contact the company direct and ask for information such as the Report and Accounts and other literature. Again, if you are using an agency then you will be given relevant information.Plan your route, giving yourself plenty of time to get to the appointment - ideally you should aim to arrive 5-10 minutes early to give yourself a chance to look around and to relax.Think carefully about what to wear - the importance of first impressions cannot be overstated. Make sure that you look smart and professional.Think about what it is you want to achieve from the interview. Remember it is as much for you to find out about them as the other way round. Try rehearsing with a friend giving you the opportunity to go over key points.Make a note of any questions to ask on the day or any points you would like to cover at the interview.

Handling difficult questions

Employers often ask questions designed to discover how you would deal with certain situations and how you would behave. For instance 'describe a situation where you have shown yourself to be flexible' or 'describe how you dealt with an unexpected situation' are both ways of trying to find out more about the way you operate as a person.Producing answers isn't as difficult as it may first appear, particularly if you have given some thought to these type of questions coming up. You can draw on your past experience and you don't necessarily have to contain yourself to the workplace. Even being able to successfully share a flat demonstrates that you are a team player with the ability to negotiate!

Telephone interviews

Some companies use telephone interviews to draw up their shortlist so it is worth giving some thought to how you would cope with this technique. In many ways you need to prepare for a phone interview in the same way as you would for a face-to-face interview. In this instance it is particularly important to think of some questions that you want to ask the interviewer. You should also try and ensure that you have some privacy - so try and find a quiet phone that you can use and then you need to get yourself into interview 'mode'. Try and imagine you are sitting in front of the interviewer and use facial expressions as you would in a one to one interview because your attitude and frame of mind is always reflected in your voice - so don't forget to smile and be positive.Don't forget the 5 W's - Who, What, Where, Why and When.

Work out honest and persuasive answers to likely questions such as:

Why do you want to join us?
What can you bring to the job/company?
Why did you leave your last job or why are you leaving your present job?
Tell me about your last/present job?
How will you set about tackling this job if you are successful?
What do you think the main changes will be between your last/present job and this one?

On the day

Give yourself plenty of time - don't put yourself under extra pressure by having to rush. Always take an up-to-date copy of your CV that is clean and crisp together with a notebook and pen. When you meet the interviewer look directly at the person, smile, and give a firm handshake - this shows confidence.

DoBe positive

Watch your body language - e.g. don't cross your arms (it gives the impression of putting up a barrier between you and the interviewer); make frequent eye contact; good posture is importantListenReply to any questions clearly and conciselyMake a note of points to return toBe courteous to everyone you meetBe honestDon'tInterruptFidgetLet your mind wanderBe afraid to sell yourselfJust answer with a yes or no - expand
Remember to thank the interviewer for seeing you and again shake their hand firmly and confirm that you want the job. Remember to believe in yourself, your skills and abilities. You wouldn't have been selected for the interview in the first place if the company didn't think you could be the right person for the job.

Every interview is a learning experience and each one teaches you a little bit more about what to say and do and what to avoid. If you are unsuccessful then don't be too dismayed - there is always next time and the better your interview technique the more likely it is that you will succeed.

Ask me and I am here to clarify!!

This is mainly for the people who are just out of colleges and looking for jobs. Some people get proper guidance and help to be in right direction in achieving their goal and some people do not have any support and guidance and struggling alone. I am here to answer such people.

Also If you are looking for some information on jobs and you are not able to pick correctly, please let me know and I will help you in getting the right information for you.

What an Organisation looks for in any Job Aspirant

1. Communication - Clarify of thought, Expressive, Articulate, Assertiveness and Attitude.

2. SDLC and Process - Life Cycle Models, Standards, Methodologies like Agile, Lean, CMMi etc.,

3. Technical Knowledge - Depending on the Technology looks more at applied knowledge

4. Confidence level - How confident are you in basics, ready to discuss details

5. Expertise in Specific functionality

6. Overall Knowledge on all Packages and Products OR

7. Specific knowledge on relavant product/package

8. Business Knowledge

9. Organization structures

10. External certifications

Known issues of Fresher

1. Lack of Information

2. Lower Confidence levels

3. Lack of proper guidance

4. Not sure what can be aimed at

5. Having enough funding for getting rightly trained

6. Pressure from the Parents

7. Keep the interest levels and get going

8. Competetion from others

9. Doubt on self??

10. Improper Resume

JOB Vs CAREER

Point 1 -Please remember....Your problem is not just getting a JOB. This is the starting point of your 30 + years of Career...

In the current scenario of IT Industry the young aspirants are assured to get a job even they do not get through at Campus. In my experience of more than 11 years.....I have seen many freshers and job aspirants getting the jobs even though they shouldn't have, considering their knowledge levels and you would wonder how they could got this job. But they have gone through those stumbling blocks, overcome their shortcomings to become to new breed of professionals. They took a methodical approach in resolving their problems and made a success in getting the job.

If it is just a job then there are lot of short cuts you would take in achieving the same, which would block your growth in your future career. I request you to look at this period as good time in shaping up your career. Think and Plan for long term. Do not let those problems force you to take up short cuts.

You will definitely think that I am crazy...suggesting looking at long term career...as you are already suffering with your immediate problem of not having the job...You also think that ..."If I get the job...I will be secured and stable to think and plan your long term Career." But it does not happen like that.

Example:
Prasad was looking for a training which will fetch him a job and enquired with his friends on what is hot course available in the market. He joined the course on that product. On completing the course when he started looking for the job and got the job but soon he came to understand that the product is not being supported well, due to which the demand has come down. Since the company was not able to get the projects, they had to ask the employees to go out. Prasad lost time and effort in learning one product and he had step back and take the right direction to reach his goal.

Please keep in mind that the changes in current world is very fast and it is important for us to keep up with this pace.
My point is very simple. Please think of long term before making any decision that you take in getting the job. Your Career is not just the initial 1-2 years but it's a long way. Doing courses on just one programming language or the other will not fetch the job. My suggestion is to pick a training programme which contain a series of relavant courses to provide good time and knowledge for you to learn and with which you can fare well in an interview to get the job.

All your decisions, right from picking a course for training to attending an interview, should be based on long term career and never on short term benefits. This will ensure that you are not impacted by small failures.

Usual Problem!!!!! I am out of my college.....What next???

What to do next.....This is a typical question that comes into every ones mind when they are 1 year away from their graduation or when they are just out of their college and they haven't been able to get through the campus placement. When ever this Q comes into our mind, we just think how easy our lives had been in the college and why can't we continue to be in the same college and with the same friends. But life moves on and we have to face the reality of survival. In western countries, usually the survival part comes very early due to their way of earning once you attain the age of 14. But in India the parents usually support till the graduation and we do not start working until then...

In searching for a job, We contact our friends, relatives and seniors to understand what they are doing...the friends who have better information and funds go to the cities, be part of the elite group of people in search of jobs. We also do the same. Take money and go to a City like Hyderabad, Bangalore to do a relavant course. The guys who live in cities are in better position as they are already used to the environment. But not the people who come from rural background.

BIG Q :

The big Qs that keep bothering us is....if all the companies take the freshers from the college and laterals from another company...how on earth we will be able to get the job...or our first break into a company. Don't I deserve a place in the industry. The companies take brigter people and not the ordinary and If I am ordinary in my studies, am I not eligible to get into an IT company. What is it that I want, earning money by being part of that elite people with tags around their necks and look enjoying their time. Do I deserve to be like that? What should I to do to be like that..
In India...this is what the current issue is from my perspective....My education drives me to be a graduate in something...and my aspiration is to earn money. None of my teachers told me how to earn money but they told how to study and understand the subject better....and here I am...out into the world thinking on my own that earning job is the only way to earn money.

Problems :

First thing that keeps troubling us on our way is...

Confidence...

We know one thing very clearly that we did not study very well...So our confidence levels are generally low and we think that the market is out there for the people who studied well. Hmmm...In one sense it is correct, the people who study well are deemed to be the people who work hard and who believe in achieving. But the other important point is, now you have a goal to achieve and you are ready to do the necessary by acquiring relavant knowledge. I can tell you one thing very clearly that there is no direct connection between what we studied and what we are going to do in the job. There are chances that the person uses his already acquired knowledge while solving some problems. But there is no direct connection. You can always learn what is relavant to the job and still succeed. Keep your confidence high by acquiring your knowledge in a methodical way. I have seen many people who were moderate in their studies, excel after started working. Acquiring relavant knowledge in methodical fashin is the Key....

Understanding the situation...

Which one should I focus on...what course would get me a job...What course is hot in the market...what course can make me travel around the world and I am percieved as big shot. There are lot of others I can see even after doing the course...they are still searching for the job. There are lot many issues like this bothering and keeping yourself down.

Language

The important parameter that hits our confidence is Communication which is nothing but speaking English. Our typical thought process is that if we do learn english all other things become easy which is to some extent correct. The key is, you should express your thought process clearly by using the language to the best extent possible. Learning english is easy...it is just by way of practicing. The practice comes only when you get mixed with people who come from different parts of the world and your common language is English. You comfort is always with your mother tongue. Please understand that today India is being showcased in IT field is because of it's advantage of having large pool of English speaking work force.
Work on English. It is the first step.

Information

You need to have right information to grab the right opportunity at right time. There are plenty of opportunities and some times due to lack of information you may not be able to tap that opportunity. So, spend good amount of time in brigning yourself up to date on what relavant resources like websites, contacts etc., There is plenty of information available in the net and you need to use it.

Knowledge

Read, Read and Read.