SBEC III - INTERVIEW SKILLS
Semester – V Course Code:
U16MS5S3
Total Hours: 30 Credits: 2
UNIT – II - GROOMING
Grooming for Interview:
The Importance of Grooming & Dressing for a Job Interview
First impressions are seldom more important than on a job interview. A sharp appearance shows
that you are poised, polished and prepared. Your prospective employer should see that you take
the interview seriously and that you have taken care to look your best. If you have question about
what is appropriate, visit the company beforehand to pick up an application, and take note of the
company culture. Being confident about your appearance can enhance your interview.
Interview Dress for Men
A solid-color suit in wool or a wool blend, either navy or dark gray, clean and pressed, is
standard for a job interview. A long-sleeved white or light blue shirt and a silk tie in a solid color
or small stripe looks nice. Wear leather shoes with dark, mid-calf trouser socks that won’t show
skin when you sit. It's fine to wear a watch, class ring and wedding ring if desired but no other
jewelry. A conservative approach is generally best in an interview, so consider removing any
visible piercings and covering tattoos, depending on the position. Be sure that your hair is neatly
trimmed and facial hair is well-groomed. A close-cropped cut is more becoming to balding men
than a comb over. Fingernails must be clean and trimmed. Avoid strong-smelling after-shave or
cologne. Carry a briefcase or portfolio. Even if the job itself would not require a suit, it's
customary to dress more formally for the interview. A casual choice would be khakis and a dark
blazer.
Interview Dress for Women
A two-piece suit in a dark or neutral color is suitable for a job interview. Wear a tailored blouse
in a coordinating color under the suit jacket. Avoid ruffles or low cut tops. A tailored pants suit
should be fitted but not super snug. Skirts that are knee-length or slightly longer are best. Plain,
comfortable pumps are always a safe choice. Avoid open-toe pumps, sandals, high boots or
platform shoes. Wear neutral-colored pantyhose. Large, dangling earrings and clattering
bracelets should not be worn because they can be distracting. Avoid perfume and cologne; your
interviewer may be allergic. Aim for a natural look instead of heavy makeup. Avoid long
fingernails painted in crazy colors. Carry a small handbag or a leather briefcase.
General Guidelines
Good grooming is expected for a job interview. Shoes should be polished with no visible wear.
Be sure there are no buttons missing or stains on your clothes. Don’t chew gum. You may want
to pop a breath mint right before your interview. Bring along a fresh change of clothes if you are
interviewing after work to avoid looking sloppy. Shorts, T-shirts and sneakers are not
appropriate for most job interviews.
Tips to make interview successful:
1. Research the industry and company.
An interviewer may ask how you perceive his company's position in its industry, who the firm's
competitors are, what its competitive advantages are, and how it should best go forward. For this
reason, avoid trying to thoroughly research a dozen different industries. Focus your job search on
just a few industries instead.
2. Clarify your "selling points" and the reasons you want the job.
Prepare to go into every interview with three to five key selling points in mind, such as what
makes you the best candidate for the position. Have an example of each selling point prepared ("I
have good communication skills. For example, I persuaded an entire group to ..."). And be
prepared to tell the interviewer why you want that job – including what interests you about it,
what rewards it offers that you find valuable, and what abilities it requires that you possess. If an
interviewer doesn't think you're really, really interested in the job, he or she won't give you an
offer – no matter how good you are!
3. Anticipate the interviewer's concerns and reservations.
There are always more candidates for positions than there are openings. So interviewers look for
ways to screen people out. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself why they might not want
to hire you (“I don't have this,” “I'm not that,” etc.). Then prepare your defense: “I know you
may be thinking that I might not be the best fit for this position because [their reservation]. But
you should know that [reason the interviewer shouldn't be overly concerned]."
4. Prepare for common interview questions.
Every "how to interview" book has a list of a hundred or more "common interview questions."
(You might wonder just how long those interviews are if there are that many common
questions!) So how do you prepare? Pick any list and think about which questions you're most
likely to encounter, given your age and status (about to graduate, looking for a summer
internship). Then prepare your answers so you won't have to fumble for them during the actual
interview.
5. Line up your questions for the interviewer.
Come to the interview with some intelligent questions for the interviewer that demonstrate your
knowledge of the company as well as your serious intent. Interviewers always ask if you have
any questions, and no matter what, you should have one or two ready. If you say, "No, not
really," he or she may conclude that you're not all that interested in the job or the company. A
good all-purpose question is, "If you could design the ideal candidate for this position from the
ground up, what would he or she be like?"
If you're having a series of interviews with the same company, you can use some of your
prepared questions with each person you meet (for example, "What do you think is the best thing
about working here?" and "What kind of person would you most like to see fill this position?")
Then, try to think of one or two others during each interview itself.
6. Practice, practice, practice.
It's one thing to come prepared with a mental answer to a question like, "Why should we hire
you?" It's another challenge entirely to say it out loud in a confident and convincing way. The
first time you try it, you'll sound garbled and confused, no matter how clear your thoughts are in
your own mind! Do it another 10 times, and you'll sound a lot smoother and more articulate.
But you shouldn't do your practicing when you're "on stage" with a recruiter; rehearse before you
go to the interview. The best way to rehearse? Get two friends and practice interviewing each
other in a "round robin": one person acts as the observer and the "interviewee" gets feedback
from both the observer and the "interviewer." Go for four or five rounds, switching roles as you
go. Another idea (but definitely second-best) is to tape record your answer and then play it back
to see where you need to improve. Whatever you do, make sure your practice consists of
speaking aloud. Rehearsing your answer in your mind won't cut it.
7. Score a success in the first five minutes.
Some studies indicate that interviewers make up their minds about candidates in the first five
minutes of the interview – and then spend the rest of the interview looking for things to confirm
that decision! So what can you do in those five minutes to get through the gate? Come in with
energy and enthusiasm, and express your appreciation for the interviewer's time. (Remember:
She may be seeing a lot of other candidates that day and may be tired from the flight in. So bring
in that energy!)
Also, start off with a positive comment about the company – something like, "I've really been
looking forward to this meeting [not "interview"]. I think [the company] is doing great work in [a
particular field or project], and I'm really excited by the prospect of being able to contribute."
8. Get on the same side as the interviewer.
Many interviewers view job interviews as adversarial: Candidates are going to try to pry an offer
out of the interviewer, and the interviewer's job is to hold onto it. Your job is to transform this
"tug of war" into a relationship in which you're both on the same side. You could say something
as simple as, "I'm happy to have the chance to learn more about your company and to let you
learn more about me, so we can see if this is going to be a good match or not. I always think that
the worst thing that can happen is to be hired into a job that's wrong for you – then nobody's
happy!"
9. Be assertive and take responsibility for the interview.
Perhaps out of the effort to be polite, some usually assertive candidates become overly passive
during job interviews. But politeness doesn't equal passivity. An interview is like any other
conversation – it’s a dance in which you and a partner move together, both responding to the
other. Don't make the mistake of just sitting there waiting for the interviewer to ask you about
that Nobel Prize you won. It's your responsibility to make sure he walks away knowing your key
selling points.
10. Be ready to handle illegal and inappropriate questions.
Interview questions about your race, age, gender, religion, marital status, and sexual orientation
are inappropriate and in many areas illegal. Nevertheless, you may get one or more of them. If
you do, you have a couple of options. You can simply answer with a question ("I'm not sure how
that's relevant to my application"), or you can try to answer "the question behind the question": "I
don't know whether I'll decide to have children in the near future, but if you're wondering if I'll
be leaving my job for an extended period of time, I can say that I'm very committed to my career
and frankly can't imagine giving it up."
11. Make your selling points clear.
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, did it make a sound? More important, if
you communicate your selling points during a job interview and the interviewer doesn't get it,
did you score? On this question, the answer is clear: No! So don't bury your selling points in
long-winded stories. Instead, tell the interviewer what your selling point is first, then give the
example.
12. Think positive.
No one likes a complainer, so don't dwell on negative experiences during an interview. Even if
the interviewer asks you point blank, "What courses have you liked least?" or "What did you like
least about that previous job?" don't answer the question. Or more specifically, don't answer it as
it's been asked. Instead, say something like, "Well, actually I've found something about all of my
classes that I've liked. For example, although I found [class] to be very tough, I liked the fact that
[positive point about the class]" or "I liked [a previous job] quite a bit, although now I know that
I really want to [new job]."
13. Close on a positive note.
If a salesman came to you and demonstrated his product, then thanked you for your time and
walked out the door, what did he do wrong? He didn't ask you to buy it! If you get to the end of
an interview and think you'd really like that job, ask for it! Tell the interviewer that you'd really,
really like the job – that you were excited about it before the interview and are even more excited
now, and that you're convinced you'd like to work there. If there are two equally good candidates
at the end of the search – you and someone else – the interviewer will think you're more likely to
accept the offer, and thus may be more inclined to make an offer to you.
Even better, take what you've learned about yourself from your MyPath career assessment and
use it to explain why you think this is the job for you: "I've done some careful career self-
assessment, and I know that I'm most interested in [one or two of your most important career
interest themes], and – correct me if I'm wrong – it seems that this position would allow me to
express those interests. I also know that I'm most motivated by [two or three of your most
important motivators from your MyPath assessment], and I have the sense that if I do well, I
could get those rewards in this position.
Finally, I know that my strongest abilities are [two or three of your strongest abilities from your
MyPath assessment], and I see those as being the abilities you most need for this position." If
you follow this tip, you'll be (a) asking for the job, (b) explaining why you think it's a good
match, (c) displaying your thoughtfulness and maturity, and (d) further disarming the tug-of-war
dynamic that interviewers anticipate. You'll be making the strongest possible "close" – and that's
worth a lot!
14. Bring a copy of your resume to every interview.
Have a copy of your resume with you when you go to every interview. If the interviewer has
misplaced his or her copy, you'll save a lot of time (and embarrassment on the interviewer's part)
if you can just pull your extra copy out and hand it over.
15. Don't worry about sounding "canned".
Some people are concerned that if they rehearse their answers, they'll sound "canned" (or overly
polished or glib) during the interview. Don't worry. If you're well prepared, you'll sound smooth
and articulate, not canned. And if you're not so well prepared, the anxiety of the situation will
eliminate any "canned" quality.
16. Make the most of the "Tell me about yourself" question.
Many interviewers begin interviews with this question. So how should you respond? You can go
into a story about where you were born, what your parents do, how many brothers and sisters and
dogs and cats you have, and that's okay. But would you rather have the interviewer writing down
what kind of dog you have – or why the company should hire you?
Consider responding to this question with something like: "Well, obviously I could tell you about
lots of things, and if I'm missing what you want, please let me know. But the three things I think
are most important for you to know about me are [your selling points]. I can expand on those a
little if you'd like." Interviewers will always say, "Sure, go ahead." Then you say, "Well,
regarding the first point, [give your example]. And when I was working for [company], I
[example of another selling point]." Etc. This strategy enables you to focus the first 10-15
minutes of the interview on all of your key selling points. The "Tell me about yourself" question
is a golden opportunity. Don't miss it!
17. Speak the right body language.
Dress appropriately, make eye contact, give a firm handshake, have good posture, speak clearly,
and don't wear perfume or cologne! Sometimes interview locations are small rooms that may
lack good air circulation. You want the interviewer paying attention to your job qualifications --
not passing out because you've come in wearing Chanel No. 5 and the candidate before you was
doused with Brut, and the two have mixed to form a poisonous gas that results in you not getting
an offer!
18. Be ready for "behavior-based" interviews".
One of the most common interview styles today is to ask people to describe experiences they
have had that demonstrate behaviors that the company thinks are important for a particular
position. You might be asked to talk about a time when you made an unpopular decision,
displayed a high level of persistence, or made a decision under time pressure and with limited
information, for example.
Step 1 is to anticipate the behaviors this hiring manager is likely to be looking for. Step 2 is to
identify at least one example of when you demonstrated each behavior. Step 3 is to prepare a
story for each example. Many people recommend using SAR (Situation-Action-Result) as a
model for the story. Step 4 is to practice telling the story. Also, make sure to review your resume
before the interview with this kind of format in mind; this can help you to remember examples of
behaviors you may not have anticipated in advance.
19. Send thank-you notes.
Write a thank-you note after every interview. Type each note on paper or send them by email,
depending on the interviewers' preferences. Customize your notes by referring specifically to
what you and the interviewer discussed; for example, "I was particularly excited about [or
interested by, or glad to hear] what you said about ..." Handwritten notes might be better if you're
thanking a personal contact for helping you in your job search, or if the company you're
interviewing with is based in Europe. Whatever method you choose, notes should be sent within
48 hours of the interview.
To write a good thank-you note, you'll need to take time after each interview to jot down a few
things about what the interviewer said. Also, write down what you could have done better in the
interview, and make adjustments before you head off for your next interview.
20. Don't give up!
If you've had a bad interview for a job that you truly think would be a great fit for you (not just
something you want badly), don't give up! Write a note, send an email, or call the interviewer to
let him or her know that you think you did a poor job of communicating why you think this job
would be a good match. Reiterate what you have to offer the company, and say that you'd like an
opportunity to contribute. Whether this strategy will get you a job offer depends on the company
and on you. But one thing's for sure: If you don't try, your chances are exactly zero. We've seen
this approach work on numerous occasions, and we encourage you to give it that last shot.
Mock Interviews:
A mock interview is an emulation of a job interview used for training purposes. The
conversational exercise usually resembles a real interview as closely as possible, for the purpose
of providing experience for a candidate.
It can help a job applicant to understand what is expected in a real job interview, and can
help an applicant improve his or her self-presentation. Mock interviews can be videotaped; the
candidate can view the tape afterward, and get feedback. There are coaches who can provide
feedback on aspects of the interview process. Mock interviews are most common for job
interviews, but may also be used to train public figures to handle interrogations by journalists, as
well as help candidates for office prepare for debates. Some organizations schedule mock
interview events to help many students prepare for job interviews. [1] For example, some schools
have mock interview training days, often organized by career and guidance counselors. [2] While
the usual sense of the term is an exercise done as a form of preparation prior to applying for jobs,
[3]
there is another sense of the term which describes a playful or non-serious interview. [4] Mock
interviews can help a person gain confidence for real interviews, as well as provide the
interviewee with information about how to handle an upcoming interview.
