Tips For Interview, have a look before going for an Interview

Your resume is the first interface you have with your employerYour resume is the first interface you have with your employer. Make the most of this opportunity............. The employment market is changing all the time and so have resumes, evolving from a one-size-fits-all standard. Here are our tips to convert your resume into a catching one.Follow These Basic Standards....*Don't overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space.*Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.*Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum -- two at the most.*Use a font that is easy to read. Times Roman works well.*Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of the page to "rag."*Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features.*Make sure your name, address, and a phone number appear on your resume and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.*Print your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality printer.*Second- and third-generation photocopies must be avoided*Print on one side of the paper only. Avoid Mistakes:Spelling Mistakes:To avoid spelling mistakes:*Don't use words with which you aren't familiar.*Use a dictionary as you write.*Perform a spell check on your finished resume.*Carefully read every word in your resume.*Have a friend or two proof read your resume for you. Punctuation Mistakes:Things to look for:*Periods at the end of all full sentences.*Be consistent in your use of punctuation.*Always put periods and commas within quotation marks.*Avoid using exclamation points. Grammatical Mistakes:Grammar hang-ups to watch for:*Do not switch tenses within your resume.*The duties you currently perform should be in present tense (i.e., write reports)*Duties you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense (i.e., wrote reports).*Capitalize all proper nouns.*When expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and nine (i.e., one, five, seven), but*use numerals for all numbers 10 and above (i.e., 10, 25, 108).*If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral (e.g. Eleven service awards won while employed.).*Make sure your date formats are consistent (i.e.11/22/01 or Nov. 22, 2001, or 11.22.01. Choose one and stick with it.).*Choose Your Words Carefully:*Phrase yourself well:*Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words:*accept (to receive), except (to exclude)*all right (correct), alright (this is not a word)*affect (to bring about change), effect (result)*personal (private), personnel (staff members)*role (a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve).*Use action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed staff). References:In most instances it is not necessary to include names and address of references on the resume. If you include a reference, make it sure that the referenced person knows very well about you. It is also advisable to add the persons as references, whom the employer can contact easily. If possible add the phone number and e-mail ID of the reference. Never add a person as a reference, about whom you know nothingSTICK TO THE POINTEmployers have a busy schedule, so don't expect them to read through a long resume. Ideally, resumes should be of one page, or of two pages only if absolutely necessary, to describe relevant work experience.WORDS COUNTUse of language is extremely important; you need to sell yourself to an employer quickly and efficiently. Address your potential employer's needs with a clearly written, compelling resume. Avoid large paragraphs (five or six lines). If you provide small, digestible pieces of information, your resume will be read. Use action verbs. Verbs such as "developed", "managed", and "designed" emphasise your accomplishments. Don't use declarative sentences like "I developed the ..." or "I assisted in ...", leave out the "I". Avoid passive constructions, such as "was responsible for managing". Just say, "managed": that sounds stronger and more active.MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCEEmployers need to know what you have accomplished to have an idea of what you can do for them. Don't be vague. Telling someone that you "improved the company's efficiency" doesn't say much. But if you say that you "cut overhead costs by 20 per cent and saved the company Rs 20 lakh during the last fiscal year", you are more specific.HONESTY IS A GOOD POLICYEmployers will feel more comfortable hiring you if they can verify your accomplishments. There is a difference between making the most of your experience and exaggerating or falsifying it. A falsified resume can cost you the job later.DOUBLE-CHECK FOR MISTAKESCheck your resume for correct grammar and spelling - evidence of good communication skills and attention to detail. Nothing can ruin your chances of getting a job faster than submitting a resume filled with preventable mistakes. Make your resume easy on the eye. Use normal margins (1" on the top and bottom, 1.25" on the sides) and don't cram your text on the page. Allow for some space between the different sections. Avoid unusual or exotic fonts. Preferred fonts: Arial and Times Roman

PreparationsLet's say you are going for an interview tomorrow. You have prepared yourself well for the occasion - anticipating the questions and getting ready the answers - but have you given a thought to what you will wear?If you have not peeked into your wardrobe yet, it's time to take a real hard look now. Your application's fate depends not just on how well you answer the interview questions, but also on how well you project yourself physically. The first impression your interviewer makes about you is based on the way you look, and you know what they say about first impressions. According to Joe Hodowanes, J.M. Wanes and Associates career strategy advisor, "The way a person dresses is the single biggest non-verbal communication you make about yourself." The right dressing is a measure of the seriousness that you place on the position, as a person normally spends time on his looks if he considers an event important enough."Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job, a poor dress sense may exclude you from further consideration," warns Gerry Ditching, managing partner of Filgifts.com. Besides, given two equally good applicants, the company may choose to hire the person who is dressed more professionally. Here are some tips to give you a headstart.MenLong-sleeved shirt and dark slacks. White is still the safest and the best color for shirts. The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather. Also acceptable: pale shades such as beige, blue, and other pastels.Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves. Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an interview or any business purpose. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your executive image. Ties. Optional. But if you do wear one, choose a conservative pattern. Solids, small polka dots, diagonal stripes, small repeating shapes, subtle plaids and paisleys are all acceptable.Belts. Belts should match your shoes. Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look more professional.Socks. Black socks are the best, followed by blue or gray, depending on your attire. Never wear white socks! Check your sock length, too--no skin should show when you sit down or cross your legs. Shoes. Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them, because tassel loafers are very casual. Other suitable colors are brown, cordovan and navy.Hair. Keep neat, short and preferably parted on the side. And shave off all those facial hair.Jewellery. Wear no or little jewellery. The watch and wedding ring are the only acceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire. Thin gold or leather-strapped watches look professional but not digital watches. Also, avoid political or religious insignias, necklaces or bracelets. Definitely no pierced body parts, and cover up your tattoos!Accessories. As much as possible, use leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume. Use narrow briefcases and avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place.WomenThree-piece business suits, blouse and skirt or slacks, and cardigan twin-sets. Sleeveless shirts should be rejected. Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like look. Skirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee. Nothing too revealing, please!Panty-hose or stockings. A must for professional grooming, but nothing with overly fussy patterns. Bring an extra pair, just in case the ones you are wearing run.Shoes. Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1½-inch heels suggest a more professional look. Dark colors are best.Hair. Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back. Don't let it fall in front of your face and don't keep trying to fix it during the interview. Avoid large hair ornaments and trendy hairstyles.Make-up. Be subtle; natural is the key word. Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish are recommended.Jewellery. Be conservative. Studs of gold, silver or pearls are best. Do away with gaudy fashion jewelers, and those that clank and make noise when one moves.Accessories. Folders and bags should blend well with the total professional look. Women should match their purse with their shoe colour.

GDa) Be careful while you choose to discuss towards the topic or against the topic. Predict how others may depend and write downs short points in a scrap paper.c) If possible try to start first , if not no problem but try to speak atleast not keep mum.d) Be fixed to your attitude, it is if the opposite person argues strongly don't leave your topic go towards others.e) Never be in a neutral state i.e talking both towards as well as against. One girl in our batch did so. She was accepting both the arguments and she was eliminated.f) It's a discussion don't make it as DEBATE ,be cool. Don't jump on others. They test your patience too when you are at heavy argument.Patience doesn't mean silence but talk smoothly , try to convince your offenders.g) Always have a smiling face, that will carry you towards the success.h) Finally don't forget the conclude the discussion highlighting your strong points.1.Be alert abt what others r talking take a chance to give ur opinion,b sure that u have a strong n sensible point to speak out.2.Mostly ppl who initiate the talk r who conclude the talk will get through.Make sure u r anaysing the ideas of ppl there so that u can give a conclusion,there is a chance that u might b particularly asked to conclude the discussion.3.Be confident while u speak 4.Stick on the point which u r speaking( far r against) dont deviate from the topic.5.Stick on to one side either far r against till u finish unless n untill u r asked to change the side.6.Make frnds with ur grp mets know abt them(i mean their names) b4 goin.7.dont rise ur voice unnessesarily(dont speak much with out giving others a chance)A group of 10 was made and we were given a topic "Environment- Whose Responsibility".Try to initiate and plz dont start fighting to speak.They are just looking what u speak and not how much u speak.Speak relevant to topic and don't try to deviate from it.And in the end try to give a conclusion bcos more ppl are taken from those grp which finally presented some conclusion.Regarding Interview for me a panel of 3 members was there and asked me HR as well as tech q at the same time.Panel was really very gud and make u feel very comfortable.Don't try to bluff if u don't know something simply say sorry Sir/Madam I don't have any idea abt this.Rem to go thru the company website and look for same specific details like what are the major areas in which company has an expertise.Bcos 1 question is always there with every company that what do u know abt us?well I being Electronics Engineer 1st Ques was why did u choose electronics for ur specialisation.then they asked now why do u want to be a software engineer trainee?? Why don't u join ur core companies.Then why Satyam??? What do u know abt us.What prep have u done for Satyam Walkin(i.e for Written,GD and interview).Then asked abt my hobbies.I told them reading and travelling.they asked what type of books or magazines do i read?? Do i also read some journals related to my field if specialization??I said I do but i am nt regular abt journals?? He asked why so I told him that Its bcos I being from a small city its not possible to get those costly journals there.He looked satisfied and asked me how will ur hobby of travelling can help Satyam.Then he asked me to tell him abt some of my strong and weak points.Another member asked me abt my flexibilty for shifts and relocation and when can I join Satyam if I am finally given offer.Regarding technical I was asked abt difference between 8085 and 8086.Then some keys that is what is their purpose (related to microprocessors).Some q on interrupts.Then he asked me few q on C/C++.he asked what is the purpose of preprocessor.What is obj file.gave me a small code and asked the output.Asked me abt constructors.Then since in my biodata I had mentioned abt my desire to work in database he asked what is a database.What is relational database??Here I answered few q but since I have just started learning Oracle I told him frankly Sir I don't have much knowledge,I just started it a month back.Well he just asked me few more q.Fortunately I was able to tell all of them.Then he asked suppose u r given a project on a technology u don't prefer then how will u manage it?what will be ur reaction.Then he asked me abt my vocational training projects.What was my actual work there and what tech I used there.U need to be clear abt the project u have mentioned bcos they will def be asking u few q abt ur project.U can tell them any out of vocational or college projects.But be confident.That's all I rem abt interview.I hope it will help u atleast a bit for ur prep.The main thing they were looking up for was the right attitude.So Don't get panic.Remain cool and confident.As usual TELL ABOUT YOURSELFFUTURE ASPIRATIONSHOBBIESPOSITIVE AND NEGATIVE POINTS IN YOURSELF.
How To face The Interview1.Are your work practices similar or different from ours? (If Experienced)2.Describe our (products/services). 3.Describe our company for me. 4.Describe our corporate environment for me. 5.Describe your work (methods/processes) in comparison to ours? (If Experienced)6.Do our competitors do things that we should be doing? 7.Do you have any concerns about working here? 8.Do you have any questions about (our/this) company? 9.Do you know how long we have been in business? 10.Do you know what products we make? 11.How could you have prevented your (judgmental) errors? 12.How do you think our company determines success? 13.How does you present employer communicate with others in your deprtment? (If Experienced)14.Tell me how you found out information about (our/this) company? 15.Tell me what you know about (our/this) company? 16.Was there anything your company could have done to be more successful? 17.What about our company do you like best? 18.What about your present employer (do/did) you like best? 19.What advantages do you think our competitors have over us? 20.What advantages do you think we have over our competitors? 21.What are the greatest challenges that this company faces? 22.What concerns do you have about this company? 23.What direction do you think this company is headed in? 24.What do you dislike about our company? 25.What do you know about (our/this) company? 26.What do you know about (our/this) operation? 27.What do you know about our competitors? 28.What do you know about our customers? 29.What do you know about our products? 30.What do you know about our products or services? 31.What do you know about our stock? 32.What do you know about our web site? 33.What do you know about the way our company (works/operates)? 34.What do you know about this position? 35.What do you think are the challenges facing this company? 36.What do you think are the greatest challenges facing this company in the near future? 37.What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like ours? 38.What do you think it takes to be successful in our company? 39.What do you think the atmosphere here is like? 40.What is the financial stability of your last company? 41.What questions do you have about our organization? 42.What would make someone successful in our business? 43.What is the (best/worst) thing you have heard about (our/this) company? 44. What is the (best/worst) thing you have heard about (our/this) department? Precautions to Take-up before you enter the Interview Room For your first few interviews your background is important - your school, the medium and the place you studied in, all serve to give the interviewer an idea about you. Carry a copy of the bio-data that you have already sent, and the interview letter. Keep the extra copy with you, just in case. Show the interview letter to the receptionist/interviewer to establish your credentials, but keep this letter with you. This gives you, for your future reference, a time and date record of your interview, gives the official address of the company for further correspondence and clarifications, and may give you the name and designation of the person you are to report to. Carry everything you need for the interview in a neat folder - do not have loose papers cascading to the floor because you are desperately hunting for the degree certificate, while the interviewers drum their fingers impatiently. And don't carry your papers in a plastic or cloth shopping bag either: invest in a good folder, plastic or even leather.Incidentally, don't feel shy or hesitant about calling up the office and getting details about location, landmarks/bus routes/other information to help you reach the venue of the interview. Again, if it is not a "mass" interview, where lots of people are being interviewed on the same day, and you do have a genuine difficulty about reaching on the scheduled day/time, many employers will re-schedule if you ask them nicely enough. The reverse is also true: a good impression is created if you take the trouble to inform the interviewer that you can/will not attend the interview. If you are in the same town go and "case the joint" - see where the office/interview centre is, and how long it will take you to get there. Always arrive at least fifteen minutes before your scheduled time - that gives you time to catch your breath in case you climbed the stairs too fast, allows you to compose yourself and not be too nervous, and to check out the competition. If the interview is in the offices of the company itself, this also allows you to get a "feel" of the company. See how comfortable you feel, how efficient the interview process is. Says a lot about what the rest of the company is.

Think about the following points. Do any of them apply to you?Oversell Trying too hard to impress; bragging; acting aggressively.UndersellFailing to emphasize the fact that you have related skills; discussingexperience using negative qualifiers (i.e. "I have a little experience...").Body LanguageIt is easy to create a negative impression without even realizing that youare doing it. Are you staring at your feet, or talking to the interviewer'sshoulder? Be aware of what your actions say about you.Lack of HonestyThe slightest stretching of the truth may result in you being screened out.Negative AttitudeThe interview is not an opportunity for you to complain about yourcurrent supervisor or co-workers (or even about 'little' things, such asthe weather).Lack of PreparationYou have to know about the organization and the occupation. If youdon't, it will appear as though you are not interested in the position.Lack ofEnthusiasmIf you are not excited about the work at the interview, the employer willnot assume that your attitude will improve when hired.

The InterviewInterview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather information. The employer wants to know if you, the applicant, have the skills, knowledge, self-confidence, and motivation necessary for the job. At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume. He or she also wants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organization's current employees and philosophy. Similarly, you will want to evaluate the position and the organization, and determine if they will fit into your career plans. The interview is a two-way exchange of information. It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselves. The employer is selling the organization to you, and you are marketing your skills, knowledge, and personality to the employer. Interview PreparationResearch is a critical part of preparing for an interview. If you haven't done your homework, it is going to be obvious. Spend time researching and thinking about yourself, the occupation, the organization, and questions you might ask at the end of the interview. Step 1: Know YourselfThe first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that you will know what you have to offer an employer. It is very important to develop a complete inventory of skills, experience, and personal attributes that you can use to market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process. In developing this inventory, it is easiest to start with experience. Once you have a detailed list of activities that you have done (past jobs, extra-curricular involvements, volunteer work, school projects, etc.), it is fairly easy to identify your skills.Simply go through the list, and for each item ask yourself "What could I have learned by doing this?" "What skills did I develop?" "What issues/circumstances have I learned to deal with?" Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic. Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job. For a laboratory assistant, technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures, slide preparation, and scientific report writing. For an outreach worker, technical skills might include counselling skills, case management skills, or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings. Following is a list of the ten most marketable skills. You will notice that they are all generic.*Analytical/Problem Solving*Flexibility/Versatility*Interpersonal*Oral/Written Communication*Organization/Planning*Time Management*Motivation*Leadership*Self-Starter/Initiative*Team Player Often when people think of skills, they tend to think of those they have developed in the workplace. However, skills are developed in a variety of settings. If you have ever researched and written a paper for a course, you probably have written communication skills. Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of a team player and leader. Don't overlook any abilities you may haveWhen doing the research on yourself, identifying your experience and skills is important, but it is not all that you need to know. Consider the answers to other questions such as:*How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position?*What are my strong points and weak points?*What are my short term and long term goals?*What can I offer this particular employer?*What kind of environment do I like? (i.e. How do I like to be supervised? Do I like a fast pace?)*What do I like doing?*Apart from my skills and experience, what can I bring to this job? Step 2: Know the OccupationThe second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation. This is necessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the experience and skills required for that occupation, you must first know what those requirements and duties are. With this information uncovered, you can then match the skills you have (using the complete skills/experience inventory you have just prepared) with the skills you know people in that occupational field need. The resulting "shortlist" will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interview.It is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position, or those similar. There are several ways to find out about an occupation:*Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human*Resources/Personnel) or check with Student Employment Services. If you are responding to an advertisement, this may also supply some details. The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations. Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupation. If you belong to a professional association related to the occupation, use its resources. These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars. It is also a good way to meet people working in the field. Conduct information interviews with people working in the field. Read articles about people in the occupation, and articles written by people in the occupation. Sources include newspapers, magazines and the internet. Find out what the future trends are in the area. Is technology changing the job? Step 3: Know the OrganizationThe more you know about an organization, the better prepared you will be to discuss how you can meet its needs. Some of the characteristics that you should know about an organization are:*Where is it located?*How big is it?*What are its products and who does it serve?*How is the organization structured?*What is its history?*Have there been any recent changes, new developments? There are a number of ways in which you can access this information. Most medium- to large-sized organizations publish information about themselves. You can access this a number of ways:*On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library*The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories*Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by searching by industry and company name*Finally, you can visit or phone the organization and request some information on their products, services or areas of research If the organization is fairly small, or fairly new, there may not be much information published. In this case, it will be necessary to do an information interview. Contact someone within the organization, introduce yourself, explain that you are considering moving into the field, and ask if it would be possible to meet with him/her to inquire about the company/organization and about what exactly the position would involve. Step 4: Prepare QuestionsHaving completed your background research, you are now ready to prepare questions to ask theinterviewer(s). Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily available in companyliterature. Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate your genuine interest in the position. Becareful how many questions you ask, however, as too many can imply you feel the interview was notsuccessfully run. Pick your questions with care - this is your chance to gather information, so ask aboutwhat you really want to know. Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you may havediscovered. This is one of the most effective ways to compare different employers, so for issues ofparticular importance to you (for example, whether they support staff upgrading), you should ask the samequestions of each employer. Some sample questions are: *What are the most significant factors affecting your business today? How have changes in technology most affected your business today? *How has your business/industry been affected by the recession?*How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years?*What future direction do you see the company taking?*Where is the greatest demand for your services or product?*Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company?*Which department feels it the most?*How do you differ from your competitors?*How much responsibility will I be given in this position?*What do you like about working with this organization?*Can you tell me more about the training program?*Have any new product lines been introduced recently?*How much travel is normally expected?*What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance?*Will I work independently or as part of a team?*How did you advance to your position?*What are the career paths available in this organization?*When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position? It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to demonstrate interest on your part. Exercise judgement when asking questions to an employer. When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile, one would not ask the question "What is the history of your company and how was your company started?" You can find the answer to this question in the company's annual report or articles in magazines/newspapers. However, small- and medium-sized companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may be difficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry. This question is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer.

Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job tableHone your interview etiquette................ Churn the right mix of deportment, attitude and dressingskills for a great job talk !Never make the big mistake of treating an interview lightly. It's not an impromptu thing where you depend on your improvisation skills. An interview requires careful thought and planning before you take it. Keeping in mind some basic attitudes and presentation techniques will help you sail through it with panache.So if you thought that going for an interview just meant pulling your best suit out of the wardrobe and updating your resume, please think again. You are forgetting the other essentials: body language, basic etiquette and attitude.Remember that you are actually selling an entire package and the packaging, in this case, is as relevant as the product inside. Ultimately you are presenting yourself as a valuable professional to a new job environment. And you can't do that without minding the basic interview etiquette to get you ahead of the rest of the pack.An interview is the sum total of many parts. It's not just what you say but how you say it that matters equally. So it's good to brush up on more than just your training skills when you do go in for an interview.ATTIREHow you dress for an interview is perhaps as relevant as the way you lay out your resume. Says Nina Kochar of Upgrade Management Services, an organisation which coaches' executives in the basic rules of corporate etiquette: "A person who is sloppy in appearance shows a sloppy personality, so you have to be decently dressed." Of course, decently dressed does not necessarily mean being dressed to the gills. In most cases, this would mean you would wear long sleeved shirts and a pair of formal trousers. In fact, Nina Kochar does not recommend suits, especially for younger people. "A lot of young people do not have the money to invest in suits, consequently, they wear ill-fitting or borrowed suits and that looks even worse. A tie, shirt and pant should do the trick for most junior level positions."Most HR experts would also tell you to mind the accessories like ties, belts and shoes. To be sure, badly matched shoes and ties can have a jarring effect on an interviewer. Similarly, please avoid heavy jewellery or personal accessories as they would look incongruous on you.ENTRANCE AND INTRODUCTIONEven though most of us are primed for the basic grilling that we would face during the interview, we seldom pay attention to the way we enter an interview room or how we introduce ourselves. Says Subhashish Mitra, deputy manager, Essar Cellphones: "A lot of people do not think it important to knock properly while entering the interview room. They assume that as an interview is taking place, the panel will be expecting them. To my mind this is a very major faux pas which really jars."In fact, the best way to enter an interview is to knock, ask for permission to enter and then wait for a while before you actually sit down. Few interviewees know this but the interview panel needs a little quiet time to discuss the previous candidate before they get around to the next one. So your silence till you actually get seated would be very valuable. Try and keep a bag with you for all your papers and certificates; make sure this bag is an unobtrusive as possible.ATTITUDE AND RESPONSEThis is a grey area for most interview candidates. While dressing up and resume writing are skills you can Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table handle with a little practice, cultivating the right attitude as an interviewee requires a lot of patience and reading between the lines. The usual complaint of most interviewers is that few interviewees are able to stri perhaps the best thing you can do for getting your answer right. Most interviewers like to give a lead to the candidate in the way they ask the question, so it's entirely up to you to note facial expressions and the tone of the words.Do you show your certificates immediately to the interview panel?Not till you are asked actually. You might already have sent in your resume, so you shouldn't try and offload all your achievements and skills onto the panel till a turn in the interview leads to such a situation.Try and take cues form the tonal variations, facial expressions and thrust of questions from the interview panel. That in itself will give you a clue as to where this interview is heading.TEN THINGS THAT AN INTERVIEWER LOOKS IN YOU!1. Family Background2. Education3. Experience4. Stability5. Initiative6. General Ability7. Interpersonal Skills8. Confidence9. Aptitude10. Pleasant LooksHow one wished that an interview were a simple meeting of minds and hearts. Just one casual meeting where an employee's future gets sealed. Unfortunately, it's not something as pre-ordained as you would like it to be; it's a pre-meditated exercise which fetches you dividends only if your homework is done right.

Great interviews arise from careful groundwork. You can ace your next interview if you:1. Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the state from which great basketball players or Olympic skaters operate. You'll need to quiet the negative self chatter in your head through meditation or visualization prior to sitting down in the meeting. You'll focus on the present moment and will be less apt to experience lapses in concentration, nervousness, self-doubt and self-condemnation. 2. Act spontaneous, but be well prepared. Be your authentic self, professional yet real. Engage in true conversation with your interviewer, resting on the preparation you did prior to coming to the meeting. Conduct several trial runs with another person simulating the interview before it actually occurs. It's the same as anticipating the questions you'll be asked on a final exam. 3. Set goals for the interview. It is your job to leave the meeting feeling secure that the interviewer knows as much as he or she possibly can about your skills, abilities, experience and achievements. If you sense there are misconceptions, clear them up before leaving. If the interviewer doesn't get around to asking you important questions, pose them yourself (diplomatically) and answer them. Don't leave the meeting without getting your own questions answered so that you have a clear idea of what you would be getting yourself into. If possible, try to get further interviews, especially with other key players. 4. Know the question behind the question. Ultimately, every question boils down to, "Why should we hire you?" Be sure you answer that completely. If there is a question about your meeting deadlines, consider whether the interviewer is probing delicately about your personal life, careful not to ask you whether your family responsibilities will interfere with your work. Find away to address fears if you sense they are present. 5. Follow up with an effective "thank you" letter. Don't write this letter lightly. It is another opportunity to market yourself. Find some areas discussed in the meeting and expand upon them in your letter. Writing a letter after a meeting is a very minimum. Standing out among the other candidates will occur if you thoughtfully consider this follow up letter as an additional interview in which you get to do all the talking. Propose useful ideas that demonstrate your added value to the team. 6. Consider the interviewer's agenda. Much is on the shoulders of the interviewer. He or she has the responsibility of hiring the right candidate. Your ability to do the job will need to be justified. "Are there additional pluses here?" "Will this person fit the culture of this organization?" These as well as other questions will be heavily on the interviewer's mind. Find ways to demonstrate your qualities above and beyond just doing the job. 7. Expect to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." This is a pet question of prepared and even unprepared interviewers. Everything you include should answer the question, "Why should we hire you?" Carefully prepare your answer to include examples of achievements from your work life that closely match the elements of the job before you. Obviously, you'll want to know as much about the job description as you can before you respond to the question. 8. Watch those nonverbal clues. Experts estimate that words express only 30% to 35% of what people actually communicate; facial expressions and body movements and actions convey the rest. Make and keep eye contact. Walk and sit with a confident air. Lean toward an interviewer to show interest and enthusiasm. Speak with a well-modulated voice that supports appropriate excitement for the opportunity before you. 9. Be smart about money questions. Don't fall into the trap of telling the interviewer your financial expectations. You may be asking for too little or too much money and in each case ruin your chances of being offered the job. Instead, ask what salary range the job falls in. Attempt to postpone a money discussion until you have a better understanding of the scope of responsibilities of the job. 10. Don't hang out your dirty laundry. Be careful not to bare your soul and tell tales that are inappropriate or beyond the scope of the interview. State your previous experience in the most positive terms. Even if you disagreed with a former employer, express your enthusiasm for earlier situations as much as you can. Whenever you speak negatively about another person or situation in which you were directly involved, you run the risk (early in the relationship) of appearing like a troubled person who may have difficulty working with others.