Interview, this one word has capacity to send the pulse and adrenalin of an audacious person on F1 racing circuit. A complete trial by fire is what in the end requires to come out with the grin of surviving the ordeal. The "first impression is the last impression" do stand on concrete ground in this scenario.
Every HR wishes to get the gem for their organization and this is like a complete marketing where you need to advertise the skills and why you are outstanding and outshining candidate (read gladiator) facing the panelist or interviewers.
The Resume
Ohh! so you want such a man, here I am coming Boss...
1. Understand the job profile and find the key words or expected key task for the job. Make them as they are your Key Result Area flashing in your resume. Since many HR consultants and HR department do not go for manual screening of application, they use the screening software or applicant tracking system that identify the words related to job profile and if they matches maximum time in your resume, expect the call.
Moral - customize your resume as per to job profile.
2. Do not make thesis of your resume. Short sweet crisp is the flavor of all the season. Your "I, Me, Myself" is not of much interest to the HR who is overloaded to read pile of applications like yours.
3. Make your work ex the starry thing in your resume. Enlist achievement extraordinaire. HR people prefer to read the application from bottom to up, make sure it has magnetic pull to keep him glued to it.
Highlight not only academic but extra-curric achievements showing you are an all-rounder leader.
4. Get a short and polite cover letter as well.
5. Get good references, coz they will have your background check. If you are not on honey sweet terms with your immediate boss, enlist your current HR people as reference. All the seekers might come know is your joining date and designation.
6. Get a good and official email address, do not get some funky address like cool_guy or i.m.so.hot kind of stuff.
D-Day - You have got a call...
Appearance - "Trust me, I am Sauve, Sombre and dependable"
Wear the best of your formals for this occasion. Young freshers should not make blunder of wearing casuals ( it shows your casual approach and no one wants to hire such a person). Check your shoes, get it polished and shining.
Get your hairstyle checked as well, do not make yourself look geek, at the same time avoid looking the funky youth. Women should see their hair do not run riotous. A systematically presented you is what reflects your style of working.
If your are gaining weight, then hit the tread mill soon coz people stereotype the fit people with great personality.
Moral - look good and if possible great, but never a geek or nerd.
The Interview
"how else can I shoot this sitting duck!!!"
Interview is not for the verbal questioning, but trying to read between the lines, trying to find the hidden attributes of your behavior. So let your language speak but at the same time allow your body language to speak volumes.
In the lounge - Try always to be polite to the front desk office. Do not outrun your patience if you are kept waiting. Coz your interviewer might busy observing you how you take this waiting time. Try if possible to engage with light chit chat with fellow contestants. You never know your interviewer might give you an A+ for social skill while observing you on his CCTV.
Really observe the lounge. Your interviewer might want to test your awareness asking how do you find the interiors of the lounge. Bowled him by genuine appreciation.
Entering the cage
Get the confident look in your body language. Enter the room with the etiquette befitting a gentleman.
Make a firm yet modest handshake. Follow the mannerism and protocol of giving a handshake. A loose handshake is always noticed, and so is a tightly shake that makes your interviewer seeking medical opinion ( and also visiting his attorney to see if he could sue you, if any damage done)
Facing the Ballistic missiles - Questions that can sweat you out
Be modest yet sound like a good marketing person selling himself ( proving I am the man or person you are taking so much pain to find, Mr. Interviewer). Summarize your biography in not more than 6-7 lines when ask " so tell me about yourself"
The Nailing Questions :
Do not be tongue tied, at the same time do not be aggressive. Do not ever loose your trusted friends i.e. your logical mind, your thinking ability, your confidence and calm cool composite exterior as well as interior when fired the "now I will have the mighty to fall" kind of questions. Answer in simple way, do not give answers in haste, do not get excited or anxious.
They have filtered you on the basis of your resume and archetype you on the basis of appearance, now they are trying to throw drilling and grilling situational question at you to find if you are as strong as you appear.
USP - Show the unique you that stands ahead of crowd. And for that do not boast but highlight your accolades and strength.
"We didnt advertise for the post of Critique". Never complain about your previous organization when asked why you want to change from current job.
The million dollar question - at the end of interview, often interviewer ask if you want to ask any question, be sure to give a question that could send them running to find the answers. Analyze the past record of the company, visit the site, figure out the projects of the company, news, information and latest updates of the company. The Question should make them feel as if you really made it your business to know about the company.
Genuinely praise the people and the work culture, but do not turn it into senseless flattery. A real appreciation is easily distinguished from flattery and no one wants sycophants.
Give your best shot and get this feather in your cap.
