Post by talk2santosh on Dec 5, 2003 1:48:38 GMT -5
What Interviewers Are Looking For
The interviewer must, based on his or her inquiry and your response, determine if you, among all candidates, are one of the best people for the job. To do this, the interviewer makes a judgement about the total candidate as a probable employee with the firm/company. This judgement is based on a number of factors called Predictors of Success:
Personal Impressions - A good interviewer generally relies heavily on the first impression you project. This is because an employee's ability to make a good first impression is a definite asset to the individual and the firm/company he or she represents. During the interview you will be evaluated on such traits as: Poise; Ability to communicate; Maturity; Integrity; Stability; Self-reliance.
Job Interests and Career Goals - A most important point is finding out exactly what you want and why you want it. To this end, the interviewer will ask questions that require you to make and justify career decisions. The interviewer will investigate factors relating to your: Adaptability; Initiative; Enthusiasm; Aptitudes and abilities; Willingness to work and learn; Ability to get along well with other people.
Job Qualifications - Your basic qualifications for the job are of course of paramount importance. No matter how great a person you are or how well you have defined and demonstrated what you want to do, the final decision regarding an offer of employment will be based on your qualifications, including: Level and appropriateness of academic training and achievement; Leadership potential (primarily managerial/supervisory potential); Special training; Work experience; Job related hobbies and interests; Faculty recommendations.
Remember, the interview is a two-way street. Be prepared to make something happen. Interviewers look for well-rounded individuals whose work interests seem to match acquired knowledge, skills and talents. It is your responsibility to ensure the interviewer gets the information needed to make an employment decision in your favor. If you fail here, you probably will not get another chance.
Parts of the Interview
To some extent, the format of an interview is the creation of the interviewer. No two interviews are the same. Individual personalities are bound to influence the conduct of an interview.
The basic structure of a job interview is quite standard. A typical interview has four parts:
Introduction - Establishes rapport; this is where the interviewer notes his/her first impressions and makes initial judgements on your appearance, manner, energy and enthusiasm.
Background - This is where the interviewer determines you basic qualifications for the job. He/she will ask you a series of questions. (See section below for Sample Interview Questions) While you are listening or responding to the questions, the interviewer will note how you handle yourself, evaluate your qualifications and suitability for employment and revise (or confirm) the initial judgement made during the introduction. The interviewer is also evaluating your ability to communicate in a clear and logical manner. He/she is also seeking clues to measure and evaluate your self-confidence, ability to relate to others, level of motivation, interest span, and personal values.
Also under review are your statements about career ambitions. Are they balanced with your past academic performance, work experience, extracurricular activities and other interests? A good self-assessment can make you more articulate and help direct your thinking in responding to such questions.
Don't short change yourself when talking about work experiences. All your background is important, whether or not it relates to the job you seek. This includes part-time, full-time, volunteer, internship and co-op experience.
Evaluate your work experiences in terms of attributes and skills you expect to bring to your new career. Relate them in a positive manner. Remember, employers want employees who are self-starters, self-motivators, and eager to work.
The Discussion - The discussion is a critical part of any interview. It is here that the interviewer tries to match your qualifications and career interests with the employment opportunities available.
Having read the company/firm literature and conducted other research on the firm/company and the types of jobs you qualify for and are interested in, you should now be able to enter a constructive dialogue about how you can fit into, and be profitable to, the company/firm. Sell your product - Yourself!
The interviewer must, based on his or her inquiry and your response, determine if you, among all candidates, are one of the best people for the job. To do this, the interviewer makes a judgement about the total candidate as a probable employee with the firm/company. This judgement is based on a number of factors called Predictors of Success:
Personal Impressions - A good interviewer generally relies heavily on the first impression you project. This is because an employee's ability to make a good first impression is a definite asset to the individual and the firm/company he or she represents. During the interview you will be evaluated on such traits as: Poise; Ability to communicate; Maturity; Integrity; Stability; Self-reliance.
Job Interests and Career Goals - A most important point is finding out exactly what you want and why you want it. To this end, the interviewer will ask questions that require you to make and justify career decisions. The interviewer will investigate factors relating to your: Adaptability; Initiative; Enthusiasm; Aptitudes and abilities; Willingness to work and learn; Ability to get along well with other people.
Job Qualifications - Your basic qualifications for the job are of course of paramount importance. No matter how great a person you are or how well you have defined and demonstrated what you want to do, the final decision regarding an offer of employment will be based on your qualifications, including: Level and appropriateness of academic training and achievement; Leadership potential (primarily managerial/supervisory potential); Special training; Work experience; Job related hobbies and interests; Faculty recommendations.
Remember, the interview is a two-way street. Be prepared to make something happen. Interviewers look for well-rounded individuals whose work interests seem to match acquired knowledge, skills and talents. It is your responsibility to ensure the interviewer gets the information needed to make an employment decision in your favor. If you fail here, you probably will not get another chance.
Parts of the Interview
To some extent, the format of an interview is the creation of the interviewer. No two interviews are the same. Individual personalities are bound to influence the conduct of an interview.
The basic structure of a job interview is quite standard. A typical interview has four parts:
Introduction - Establishes rapport; this is where the interviewer notes his/her first impressions and makes initial judgements on your appearance, manner, energy and enthusiasm.
Background - This is where the interviewer determines you basic qualifications for the job. He/she will ask you a series of questions. (See section below for Sample Interview Questions) While you are listening or responding to the questions, the interviewer will note how you handle yourself, evaluate your qualifications and suitability for employment and revise (or confirm) the initial judgement made during the introduction. The interviewer is also evaluating your ability to communicate in a clear and logical manner. He/she is also seeking clues to measure and evaluate your self-confidence, ability to relate to others, level of motivation, interest span, and personal values.
Also under review are your statements about career ambitions. Are they balanced with your past academic performance, work experience, extracurricular activities and other interests? A good self-assessment can make you more articulate and help direct your thinking in responding to such questions.
Don't short change yourself when talking about work experiences. All your background is important, whether or not it relates to the job you seek. This includes part-time, full-time, volunteer, internship and co-op experience.
Evaluate your work experiences in terms of attributes and skills you expect to bring to your new career. Relate them in a positive manner. Remember, employers want employees who are self-starters, self-motivators, and eager to work.
The Discussion - The discussion is a critical part of any interview. It is here that the interviewer tries to match your qualifications and career interests with the employment opportunities available.
Having read the company/firm literature and conducted other research on the firm/company and the types of jobs you qualify for and are interested in, you should now be able to enter a constructive dialogue about how you can fit into, and be profitable to, the company/firm. Sell your product - Yourself!