A Day At The BPO Interview - Listening Skills

Pretty HR: Tell me something about yourself ?

Confident Me: Well hmm .. What to say about myself ! I m 20 years young (Duhh ! what was I thinking !!) pursuing FyBcom (happily), dad is working, mom is homemaker, and hmm that’s it ( I was at loss of information about myself)

Pretty HR : OK ! Why you want to join this company ?

Confused ME: Well.. hmm !! .. hmm !! .. hmmm !! .. This company is good ! I like the building, garden and ambience (c’mon I was honest). Want to start my career in an international company where I will get good experience (I thought that was some good answer, yeah !)

Pretty HR: What kind of experience ? 

Really confused Me: Some good experience in working, you know ! I m a fast learner.

Pretty HR: OK ! what are your future plans ?

Confident Me: I wanna be rich and famous businessman. Start my company and have a fancy office like this one (that was too ambitious of me to say it ! )

[Then followed volley of cross questions, dissecting my thought flow]

Pretty HR: OK ! are you fine with working in night shifts?

Sure ME: yeah ! I m fine , I can work night shifts, will manage my studies (said that with a humble face)

Pretty HR: OK ! I will put you to some communication tests in English? If you clear them we can consider you for Ops round.


Phew ! I cleared the HR Round, whoa ! .. that was some mean meeting. So as she asked me to wait for 15 minutes = 1 Hour 45 minutes, I waited patiently in the lobby area, staring in the blank space what communication tests would be like, As I was asked to wait to anticipate next level of assessments, I was sitting eagerly (I was expecting something to move in 15 minutes, remember ! ) minutes turning in more minutes and eventually hours, I thought to myself, this may be some kinda test (patience test, I guess), may be some camera is watching me, so I put my best behavior, felt like wow, I m in some cool big shot MNC.

So finally the Indian restlessness got better of me and I enquired with the coordinator to give me a response what is happening when I m going to be put through another test ! and my concern was answered in another 45 minutes (every time I was told to wait just 10 more minutes).

As I sat in front of the computer laced with all applications to test my communication skills, listening skills to be the most important of all also there was psychometric set of questionnaire, I felt I m being tested for some real big stuff, this is it ! .. I m gonna make a career choice. I wanna be in this company, forever till I breathe. Everything is so cool, pretty girls, smart dudes, fancy computers, furniture etc. Tests after tests (Reading, listening, speech and grammar) I cleared anxiously, curiously, happily ! 

By this time, half day had passed, I was surviving on the junk breakfast I had early morning, I was tired (mentally and physically) so I was given a coupon to go to the company cafeteria and have some complimentary snacks. I was like wow ! (free free !! ) .. that it ! I wanna be in this company, till I breathe ! .. I was already visualizing myself as part of the company as I admired other employees who were relishing in their time-bound robotic break.

Fed and watered I came back to the lobby area, to join anxious and happy faces, also bid goodbye and wish luck to those who dint clear the rounds, I felt I was in an audition, met some good souls from different parts of the country and life. Suddenly my perspective of life began to change. Rejection scared me ! 

It was almost evening and I could see sun setting and activities increasing at the office. Waves and waves of smiling faces rushing into the office one after another through the turnstiles to go to their decorated desks and begin the day (actually night !). 

I had achieved the most patient and calm moments of my otherwise fast and restless life. After probing further I was told, that the Elusive Ops Manager for whom we were waiting so eagerly had finally arrived and had descended on his throne where he could decide our future ! So I walked through the fancy corridor to the interview room where sat a plum (I will call him fat) big round face, formally dressed, middle age man, wearing glasses of wisdom, experience and skills looking at me. I know I was being assessed non verbally !! 

I wish I had dressed formals Aaaw !! so I squeaked a formal hello and followed to the Hotter seat at nervous side of the table. He screened my CV (I Guess) and browsed through the scores I had achieved in the tests ! he looked up at me and did a “Hmmm” !!

A Typical start to the interview, like “tell me something about yourself?” I had mastered the art of replying to few set of predefined questions, which I was day dreaming (Art of Visualization) while I was waiting at the lobby area. OM seemed like a pretty chilled out person contrary to what I had perceived. He enquired about my technical skills in computer ( I m an average techie) so I kinda convinced him for that. He also shared his concern about working in night shifts and managing the health part of it. to which I assumingly said I will manage, however that was not convincing enough for him, as he dint understand my formulae’s of managing studies, lectures, assignments, exams and work-shifts, transportation at odd hours and odd seasons (monsoon and winter specifically). I also lost my ground on catching up with American accent, I was putting up a fake untrained Ahmehricaan akhsent (duhh ! it was bad) which did not impress him at all, and as interview progressed he was not convinced with me. However I had goofed up.

We bid goodbye at the end of a healthy but disappointing discussion, with a heavy heart I walked to the lobby area and sat as if I had lost the battle of BPO interview. Feeling of rejection and worthlessness was clouding over me but there was a thin ray of hope which kept my spirits as feedback was yet to come ! anxious and long wait of another 2 hours made me realize values of lot of aspects (Humility, Honesty, Patience and much more indescribable) in life.

Finally, came the dreaded list of selects, All through the day as I kept clearing the rounds, I was one of the important names in the list. Suddenly I was not at all required, names after names were called out of those who got the big ticket to this fancy factory. Smiles, cheers and happiness all around me, except within myself. As I sat there looking at winners who made it to the finish-line, a promising career and fat salary ! I walked away to exit after accepting a sympathetic rejection, it was d longest and heaviest walk I remember, My First Rejection !

Opportunity lost, but lessons learnt !! I was not the same person as I walked out of that office. Looked up into the Sky, and thanked God for this experience. As I walked towards my Bike…..

I got a telemarketing call selling BPO jobs, offering you the dream job of working in a world class infrastructure, fancy tall buildings of some firangi company or in short “MNC “ !! 

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What To Say When Interviewer asks Would you lie for the company?

In a job interview,what to say when interviewer asks would you lie for the company.Here are some tips to help you make a strong first impression .



Example 1:

    * No sir, ” why because lie is gives great profits for the company and its standing for short time and then disasting organisation. “.
    * Truth is “makes less profits but stands for long time and we can analyzing our mistakes in that period. “.

Example 2:

    * I will not lie. It may be profitable for business in short term but in long term organisation have to bear loss. It will harm the goodwill of organisation.

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HR Intereview Tips

1) Tell me about yourself: - The most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

2) Why did you leave your last job? - Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.

3) What experience do you have in this field? - Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.
  

4) Do you consider yourself successful? - You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have set goals, and you have met some and are on track to achieve the others.
 

 5) What do co-workers say about you? - Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specific statement or a paraphrase will work. Jill Clark, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was the hardest workers she had ever known. It is as powerful as Jill having said it at the interview herself.

  6) What do you know about this organization? - This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are the major players?

  7)What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year? - Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.

  8) Are you applying for other jobs? - Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for this organization. Anything else is a distraction.
  

9) Why do you want to work for this organization? - This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on the research you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.
   

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Job Interview Tips:

• Be ready with your updated résumé, originals and photocopies of them. Do organize and present everything well.
• Do your research and know as much as you can about the company/organization.
• Know the vision and objectives of the organisation.
• Learn as much as you can about the position/job. Access a copy of the job description. Talk to someone employed in the same kind of position. Once you have this information, then make a list of what skills or knowledge you have that would be valuable to them.
• Dress appropriately. Don't wear anything too flashy. Wear neat and clean clothes but not gaudy ones. Look professional without overdoing it.
• Reach the venue at least 15 to 20 minutes ahead of your scheduled interview time.
• Walk slowly and tall upon entering the interview hall.
• Sit up straight.
• Maintain eye contact but do not stare.
• Use facial expressions matching your language.
• Be calm and confident but not tense and confused.
• Be smiling but not serious.
• Be vivid and enthusiastic but not dull and docile.
• Be aware of your posture. Don't have a too much laidback posture or too much of forward bend. Lean slightly forward to show interest.
• Answer questions carefully. Listen carefully to understand the questions. If you do not understand the question do not hesitate to ask the interviewer to clarify it.
• Do not be in a hurry while answering questions. Pause for a while to let the question sink in and then answer.
• Do not be in a hurry while answering. You must learn to pause and organize your thoughts before answering a question. Don't talk too fast or too slow.
• Don't speak too loudly or in low voice.
• Make sure your answers are backed up by sufficient reasoning.
• Make sure your answers are clear, concise and to the point. Be adequate and relevant with your information.
• Thank the interviewer(s) before leaving the interview hall.

Frequently asked questions:
i. Could you tell us about yourself?
Carefully prepare for this first and the most important question and create a positive first impression. Do not bore the interviewer by rambling on about what a hard working candidate you are. Instead, offer a razor sharp sentence or two that sets the stage for further discussion and sets you apart from your competitors. Give the interviewer your Unique Selling Proposition. The USP is a succinct, one-sentence description of who you are your biggest strength and the major benefit that a company will derive from this strength. Answer the question in such a way it will lead to a real discussion, not an interrogation process.
ii. What do you know about our company?
Give the answer that shows how much company research you have conducted. Provide relevant and current information about your prospective employer to the interviewer. To access information for this question you can start by researching the Company online. Review the "About Us" section of the company website. Use a search engine like Google and locate the company, and then read blogs that mention about it, and also check Discussion Boards and social networking sites. Remember, taking the time to research will help you make a good impression.
iii. What interests you about the position you are interviewing for?
Answer this by describing the qualifications listed in the job posting, then connect them to your skills and experience. That way, the employer will see that you know about the job you're interviewing for and that you have the qualifications necessary to do the job.
iv. What is your greatest strength?
Talk about your strengths which are relevant to your job and provide concrete and sufficient evidence to convince the interviewer.
v. What is your greatest weakness?
Be frank and admit your weakness and tell what you are doing to rectify it. Do you prefer to work independently? Or in a team? Remember, here the interviewer wants to know if you are a team player or would rather work on your own. Say that you are equally comfortable working as a member of a team and independently. Talk about your assignments/tasks/sports that required a great deal of independent work and research and others where the team effort as most effective.
vi. Do you take work home with you?
Say, if required, I will. But try not to give a long answer.
vii. How do you handle pressure?
Tell the interviewer that you handle stress by responding to your job situations appropriately. Talk about your stress busters like physical regime, yoga, and aerobics. Discus examples of how you have handled stress earlier.
viii. What type of position are you looking for?
Tell the interviewer that you would be willing to take any position that suits your experience and qualifications.
ix. Are you interested in a full-time or part-time position?
Tell the interviewer that you are more interested in a full-time position and wouldn't mind considering a part-time position.
x. When can you begin work with us?
Show your willingness to work at their convenience. But be sure when exactly you can join the organisation.
xi. How long would you expect to work with us, if hired?
Show your willingness to work for long. But do not give any specific date or year. Instead, put the ball in their court.
xii. How much do you expect us to pay?
Do not give any specifics. Instead, give a wide range if need be.
It is hoped these FAQs would help you to improve your job interviewing skills. Practice your replies often to these and other questions. Sit down with a friend and enact the interview as a role play. By repeating certain phrases often you will gain the much needed confidence.

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13 Resume Lies:

13. "I hold the experience to match your requirements." MEANS: You're probably looking for someone more experienced, because I made up what I wrote.

12. "I am a hard working person." MEANS: I can go hours sitting at my desk on youtube.

11. "I am a people person." MEANS: I can hold a conversation for more than 2 minutes without getting sidetracked.

10. "I don't take lunches." MEANS: I do, but at my desk while watching youtube.

9. "I am willing to relocate." MEANS: Anywhere is better than prison.

8. I appreciate hard workers." MEANS: Exactly what it says, because they do all the work!

7. "I am very professional." MEANS: I have an organizer.

6. "I am very adaptable." MEANS: I've changed jobs a lot.

5. "I have a great sense of humor." MEANS: I know a lot of over-said and un-funny jokes and I tell overuse them.

4. "I am great with co-workers." MEANS: I've been known as the loud mouth.

3. "I take pride in my work." MEANS: I blame others for my mistakes.

2. "I work well with computers." MEANS: I can use Microsoft Word and can make backgrounds for Powerpoint!

1. I look forward to hearing from you. MEANS: Yeah, I have applied for 3 more jobs.
Got Any Resume Lies?

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As all of us know, 2011 passed out students

As all of us know, 2011 passed out students were the people greatly affected by recession. I was one of them. After a long waiting, I got an email from CTS that I am shortlisted for the written test. With great excitement, I started my preparation. I searched for previous papers, practiced them and built my confidence. CTS basically has two rounds of interview.
1. Written test (Analytical ability).
2. Technical + HR.

I went to the centre that I was called for. I could see a huge crowd there. I thought it was an effect of recession. At first, I felt I might not clear the test as the competition was very high. Later, I built confidence in myself and went to the hall. We were asked to fill our personal, educational details, skills etc. Then we were given 2 question papers. One neednot worry about written test if analytical skills are good. Better knowledge in English helps. Time management plays a very important role. If one can manage to go through the whole paper within the given time, it helps a lot. So finally I tried my best to complete the whole paper. That day we were asked to check for results online after 7.30 PM. I checked my result and I was shortlisted. I was very happy to get shortlisted in written out of thousands of applicants.

The very next day was the technical interview. There were many panels each with an interviewer. I was finally called after a long waiting. This was the discussion went on between me and the interviewer.
Interviewer: Hello!
Me: Hello! Goodafternoon(Giving my file with resume and certificates). Interviewer: Take your seat(while taking my file).
Me: Thank You!
Interviewer: So, tell me something about yourself.
Me: I explained about my educational background, my views about why I want to work in IT industry and some questions that he asked.
Interviewer: Then he asked about my projects and where I did them.
Me: I explained him about my projects, their functionality and how I could do them in a government organization.
Interviewer: What is MVS architecture?
Me: I knew the concept but couldn't remember much. So explained him whatever I could get back in my mind.
Interviewer: What is Software Life cycle? What are its phases? What are software models?
Me: I explained everything. Some discussion on those topics went on.
Interviewer: What have you done for the past 10 months?
Me: I was working for a publications company as a technical writer. Simultaneously, I prepared for Gate and so I could gain lot of technical
knowledge.
Interviewer: Are the results out?
Me: Not yet. The results will be announced tomorrow.
Interviewer: How did you write the exam? Are you expecting a good rank?
Me: I prepared very hard for it and I am sure I will get a good rank.
Interviewer: What will you do if you get selected here and also you get a
very good rank in GATE? Will you reject the offer?
Me: No. I would be very glad if I get selected here because I want to
support my family financially. I want to do my higher studies but not now.
Interviewer: Ok. How good are you at programming?
Me: I am very good at programming.
Interviewer: Can you write the program to generate Fibonacci series?
Me: Sure. I wrote it and he has checked.
Interviewer: Your academics seem to be very good. Didn't you get selected in any company through college?
Me: I got selected for Satyam in my third year of B.tech. But as you know,
it got collapsed. Later due to recession, there was no recruitment.
Interviewer: Ok you can leave now. We will intimate you through email.
Me: Thanks, bye.

When I came out, the person standing there asked me to wait in a room. Then I confirmed that I cleared the technical round. Then I was called for HR interview. HR interview was very cool. He asked me my educational details, what I know about the company, why I wanted to work there and all. I gave him all the answers. Finally he stressed on 2 things.
1. Will you be able to relocate to any place if you get selected?
2. Will you be able to work if you are directly placed into project?

I said YES for both. Finally, he asked what salary I was expecting? I said, "As per company norms". He said that I would get to know the results through email. I thanked him and came out. Two days later I got a mail that I got selected. I was very happy.

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An Interview of Wipro BPO

HR : Good Afternoon.

Me : Good Afternoon  Sir.

HR : So you opted for Pune, why Pune and not Mumbai ?

Me : The work culture of Pune is better than that at Mumbai.

HR : Is that so? I do not agree with it, Mumbai’s work culture is much better.

Me : I have been in Pune and Mumbai for some time and I feel Pune is better.

HR : But I say Mumbai’s work culture is better besides you will learn faster in Mumbai than in Pune, then why Pune and  not any other place.

Me: Sir actually speaking I do not have any objection in working at any of your centre but as I was asked to decide amongst Mumbai and Pune I would prefer Pune.

 

(A/N -> He was testing how firm can you be on your decision and I utterly failed in interpreting this)

HR : By the way many happy returns of the day.

Me : Thank you Sir.

HR : Its your B’day but still you appeared for this interview ?

Me : Yes sir, B’day comes every year but job opportunities don’t come every year.

HR :  No, job opportunities do come every year !

Me :  But sir having a job in hand before completing education is much better.

HR :  So you are determined to take a package home with you ?

Me :  Yes Sir.

 

(Then he asked some personal information about family background and I replied comfortably)

HR : It seems that you have been living with your parents for last 21 years . Are your parents willing to send you outside for doing a job? Won’t you be homesick?

Me : There is no problem with me leaving my home for the job. And as it goes for homesickness I have lived in Mumbai for about 2 months earlier so the question of homesickness doesn’t arise.

HR : Do you have any problems with night shifts – any medical reasons – high BP , diabetes etc.

Me : No sir.

HR :  You have excellent grades in your previous exams , why don’t you try for software companies instead ?

 

(This was the turning point of the Interview. the candidates who faced interview before me had warned me about it. They were putting a condition before giving the offer. They said that if you accept the letter but do not join, you would be blacklisted and would never be able to join any of the Wipro Companies. I being a computer engineer could not afford to leave all future chances for a BPO. So I decided to play foul.)

 

Me : Definitely sir if I get a better opportunity I would surely grab it.

HR : Do you mean that if you get an offer form some company say Infosys you would not join us.

Me :  Yes sir definitely.

HR : In that case why should I select you if you cannot guarantee  me job stability ?

Me : Sorry sir I cant promise you any of such things as per your demand.

HR : Well then that’s all from me . Anything you would like to ask?

Me : No Sir.

HR : Thank You . You may leave.

Me : Thank You Sir.

 

For those who are serious about joining BPO please be very sure that you agree to their terms and conditions. (They had rejected some candidates who asked for some time to think over the bond or joining centre issue).

 

The package is negotiable as long as your demand is not illegible. Its not hard to get into the BPO just keep your cool and prepare your pronunciations well.

 

Best Of Luck 

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HR Questions A question on why IIT Roorkee for MBA.

Q1: Tell me something about yourself.

Me: gave whole history and present of myself. Right from my birth to my education, areas of interest

Q2. Being a fresher, how would you justify your selection into MBA course vis-à-vis people with work experience?

Me: It is always better to have a healthy mix of students with work ex and without it. I justified by giving my strengths and how my strengths will make me a promising MBA student e.g. optimistic approach, good communication and presentation skills, analytical ability, cool minded approach to solve problems.

Q3. Whom do you consider your role model and why

Me: I have always looked upon Kiran Bedi as my role model. And I gave lot many reasons to convince them. The fact that she not only appeared for Civil Services and emerged as First IPS woman officer despite facing so much opposition from her family members (make sure you have your facts correct while answering such questions). I admire her for the way she has carried out her duties facing all the political pressure. And for the immense contribution that she has made towards Tihar jail inmates.

This discussion was two way. The panel was well versed with what Kiran Bedi has done so there was no scope of lying or distorting facts.

Q4. What are your weaknesses and what have you done to overcome them? (whatever be it, make sure that your weaknesses do not make you a misfit for the course/ job you are applying for )

Me: sometimes I am way too straightforward and people take me as being rude. I am learning to put across things politely. Another would be that I am a bit of introvert and I take my own sweet time to open up.

Q5. What are your hobbies-

Me: reading, cooking, sketching. This was followed by discussion on reading. I lead my interview to this point. For 5-6 minutes we kept on discussing about works of fiction that I have read, my favorite author etc. they asked about my views on Taslima Nasreen as I told them I have read her work. I was asked whether I agreed with her views about men.

Q6. After B.Tech why did not you go for a job and opted for MBA instead?

Me: explained that MBA would offer me wide spectrum of areas to explore rather than B.Tech where I could have only gone in technical line. And then I went on to explain fundamentals on added value that MBA would give me.

Q7. A question on why IIT Roorkee for MBA.

Me: being an IIT this is true center of learning and IIT Roorkee is the only IIT which offers dual specialization in MBA. Of course excellent faculty, vast number of facilities,

Q8. Questions about family, siblings etc


Technical ques>

Having done B.Tech (Computer Science), there were questions on SQL, C, Java (very basic questions), algorithms, probability, permutation etc.

DBMS- questions on DBMS, Data mining,

Questions about my final year B.Tech project> I had made a full fledged website using JAVA, SQL and HTML


The atmosphere was chilled and the panel was very friendly. The bottom line is lead the interview where you want it to go. I made sure to keep them busy with HR related questions on areas which were of my interest. And never try to fool them by lying or bragging about your qualifications/ profile etc.

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HR Interview Questions & answer

1)  What is your greatest strength?

Ans: my greatest strength is my strong and positive thinking.
honesty is my policy and i am hardworking...

2)  WHY SHOULD I HIRE U?

Ans:Since I am a organized and self motivated person I can do my level best to improve your company?s standards without much supervision and also I have physical and mental fitness to face any stress condition.

3)  What is the main role of HR in an organization?

Ans:Well, The role of HR is not only managing the human resource but also it is a strategic business contributor. It is not worthless to say that HR provide the support to management in accomplishing the organizational objectives. Intellectual Management or Human Resource Management in this transition phase is handling by HR.

4)  What are your weak points?

Ans:Never say any single weak point which is related to your carrier nor to the interview you've come for. That may definitely effect your performance in the interview. Nevertheless, if you feel that you have any, try to overcome henceforth, provided you don reveal the same to any one.

5)  How would describe your ideal job?

Ans  :   It should have healthy environment to work with in a well established company. it can give a better platform to improve our skills and way of working which will be more effective for growth of the company and for our growth too.

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HR-Interview-Questions

1. Tell us something about yourself.

This is the first question, you can expect during any interview you face. This usually is a question to start the communication and set the ball rolling for the interview. You can answer this question by providing some information about your work experience, technologies you have worked upon, educational qualifications. If you are a fresh graduate, you can provide some information about your family also.

The trick is to put the full stop at the right place to provoke the next question you want. For e.g. “Recently I developed a website using Drupal. It was quite an interesting but challenging job which I enjoyed.”
2. Why do you consider yourself a suitable candidate for this position?

The answer to this question lies in the preparation you did before the interview. It is extremely important that you research the requirements of the position well and match them with your skills.

For e.g. if the position requires an Asp.net developer with good knowledge of health care domain, tell the interviewer about your technical skills and your domain knowledge.

Fresh graduates can talk about their technical skills, ability to learn and grasp things quickly.
3. Why do you want to leave your present job or company?

You may want to leave your present job for any reason but make sure that you do not talk bad about your manager, company or job. It reflects your complaining attitude.

Provide a sincere reason for e.g. “I think, I have grown up with my last employer as much as I could. I want to grow further and I believe that is possible with a new employer.”
4. You have stayed in your current job for quite a long time, why?

There are many people who do not change their jobs for years and when they go out looking for a new employer, this is one of the most important questions they are asked. Some people might look upon staying with the same employer for long as “lack of ambition”.

A good answer to this question can be something like, “Yes, you are right. I stayed with my last employer for almost 5 years but I was continuously growing in the company, doing new things, handling bigger challenges. So, I was quite happy working with them for these many years.” You can then talk about how you grew with your last employer.
5. What do you know about us?

Research the company and its business a bit before appearing for the interview. Also, find out a bit about the technologies they work upon. You don’t need to know everything inside out but having a fair idea about the company makes you appear interested in the position, to be taken seriously.

For e.g. I see that your company does a lot of projects based on OpenSource platforms like Joomla, Drupal, Magento which is quite interesting as I have a similar kind of experience.
6. What do you do to improve your knowledge?

The field of IT is very revolutionary. It is extremely important to keep yourself abreast with the new technological developments and this needs you to take some time out of your work schedule so that you can keep sharpening your saw.

To answer this question, you can tell the recruiter about the forums which you keep visiting, blogs which you keep reading. It will be an advantage if you are a member of some local user group.
7. Can you perform under pressure?

Most of the times, the job of software development is that of working under pressure. Sometimes, it will be the pressure of delivering on time while it can be that of a bug that has sprung all of a sudden in your code.

So, expect pressure in everything you do. It is important to maintain your performance and develop strategies to deliver under pressure. You can then go ahead an talk about your way of dealing with pressure and performing under it.
8. Tell us some of your strengths.

Again, it is important to study the requirements of the position before you appear for the interview. List out your strengths and offer the ones that this role demands.

For e.g. if you are appearing for the position of a Tech Lead – VB.net, talk about your VB.net skills, any extra knowledge which you have about coding with VB.net in comparison to other candidates, your team management skills etc.
9. Tell us some of your weaknesses.

You have to be careful while answering this question. Do not offer a weakness which will directly affect your selection but at the same time saying that you do not have any weakness will not be right too. Every human being has weaknesses, so it is perfectly OK for you to have some too.

The best way to answer this question will be to turn one of your strengths as a weakness and say that others accuse you of having this weakness but you think it is important to work in this manner. For e.g.: “My colleagues accuse me of paying to much attention to syntaxes but I believe it is important when you are writing the code to avoid spending too much time on finding and fixing the bugs later on.”

Another way to answer this question is to offer a totally un-related weakness for e.g. “I have been staying alone for so many years now but I still can’t cook independently.”
10. Are you comfortable working in a team?

The whole work of software development or IT is a team work. So, the only answer to this question can be: “Yes, I am comfortable working in a team.” If you have any problems in working as a team, it is important to work on them and develop yourself as a team player.
11. How do you rate your communication skills?

Again, IT is about dealing with people within and out of the company. So, it is important to have good communication skills. By good communication skills we mean, ability to understand and explain in a common language. So, if you believe that your communication skills are weaker, you need to work on them.

Anything less than average or good is not acceptable here.
12. You do not have all the experience we need for this position?

It is not possible for a candidate to have all the experience an employer requires. Even if you match yourself up to the expectations on technical front, there will be some difference in the work environment. And, it is absolutely fine.

The best way to deal with this question is to analyse the requirements of the position well and match your skills as close to them as possible. If something is still left untouched, offer your quick grasping power and ability to learn quickly as a solution & back it up with an example from the past.
13. How would you compensate for the lack of experience you have for this position?

As we discussed in the last question, your ability to understand and pick up new things quickly should be able to compensate for the lack of work experience you have.
14. If you were hiring for this position, what qualities would you look for in a potential candidate?

Closely understand the qualities and skills a person holding the position would need and match them with the qualities you have.

If you believe that you are missing a big quality required for the position under discussion, say that, “I understand that this is an important quality required in the person holding this position but given a chance, I will inculcate it in me.” Back it up with a confident body language.
15. Do you know anyone who works for us?

Offer some one’s name if they really know you well and can offer a positive feedback about you.
16. What is your style of management?

In today’s scenario, everything needs customization, so here also, one size can’t fit all i.e. one management style won’t work in all situations. So, offer “situational” as your style of management.
17. Have you ever fired anyone? How would you go about firing a person, if required?

The basic purpose of asking this question is to check your EQ and see if you have the guts to make tough decisions. If you have fired anyone in the past, discuss your experience and approach. If you have never done so in the past, discuss the approach you would take to make and implement such a decision. Keep the focus of your answer on the fact that you would try to do your best to ensure that your team performs to its best but if a particular member is not able to perform even after you taking all the steps to help him, you would make the tough decision to ensure that the project doesn’t suffer.
18. What irritates you about co-workers?

The purpose of this question is to see how well you can fit into a team. Basically, you should not have a problem with a person, although you can have a problem with the style of working.

So, to answer this question you can simply say, “I understand that IT is about team work, so we can’t afford to problems with co-workers but if someone is not serious about their work or does a low quality work affecting the whole project, I definitely do not like it”
19. Is there any particular kind of person you can not work with?

For the reason given in the above questions, the answer to this question should be a “No”. This is basically a different way of putting up the last question.
20. What qualities would you look for in your senior?

You can mention some generic qualities like intelligence, good sense of humour, dedicated to his team etc., which all the managers think that they have in abundance.
21. What motivates you at work?

To answer this question, you can mention things like – new challenges, good environment which all employers think that they offer.
22. Will you be happy to work in night shifts or over the weekends?

You need to answer this question taking into consideration what is suitable for you. Say that you can work in the night shifts, only if you can really do it.
23. Have you ever committed a mistake at work?

To err is human. So, it is perfectly OK if you committed a mistake at work but before answering the question analyse the magnitude of mistake you did and the effect it had on the company.

What is more important is – what did you do to rectify the mistake and make sure that you don’t do it again?

So, mention the mistake you committed and keep the focus of the answer on the steps you took to rectify it.
24. What position would you prefer while working on a project?

This question is for you to answer based on the skills and qualities you have. If you have the capability to handle different positions, discuss that also in the interview.
25. What are the most important things for you as a manager?

The two things which should be most important for a manager to succeed in his role are:
a.) His team should be happy and keep performing
b.) The project he is working on with his team is successfully finished with minimum problems.
26. Will you be happy to re-locate, if required?

Again, a question for you to answer based on your position. If you are anticipating this question in the interview, it is better to discuss this with your family also before you go to face the interview.
27. What kind of a salary are you looking for?

Try to put the ball back in interviewer’s court by asking him about the salary they offer for a position like this. Most of the big companies will have a fixed remuneration for each level.

However, if this is negotiable, you will have more negotiation power if you have some work experience. So, know your lower limit (amount below which you can’t go) and also know the maximum salary in the industry for the position then put forward a figure which is not very exact. It is better to mention a range. For e.g. if you are expecting something around 55 K, say that you expect something in mid fifties. Don’t keep the range to broad otherwise you will be offered something towards the lower end.

If you are a fresher, most of the times you will have to accept the company’s offering for the position. However, if you find it too less, you can definitely discuss that during the interview.
28. Do you have any questions for us?

This is usually the last question you can expect during an interview. It is extremely important to have some intelligent questions to ask the interviewer otherwise you may just sound dull and un-interested. Research the company a bit and discuss if they have been in news recently. You can also discuss about the growth prospects for you within the company etc.

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HR Interview Questions and Tips

Introduction

Okay, so you have managed to hold your nerves in control and brave the questions of the HR. You are now at the end of your interview session. What next? The answer is, there are a few more steps to go. For instance, the HR person may ask you if you have anything to ask of him/her. How do you respond to that? It is quite likely that you are stressed out and nothing comes to your mind. This article deals with this situation and gives you a few intelligent questions that you may ask.

The Rationale

First of all let us try to understand why the HR person puts you in such a situation. Is he/she simply being nice to you or is there more to it? One possible reason is that the company wants to project an image of transparency. The company wants you to know that it encourages two-way communication between the top management and the subordinates, an atmosphere where everyone can ask relevant questions and expect to get answers. In other words, the company respects the employee’s need to know about matters that affect him, no matter where he is in the hierarchy.

Next, and more important, this situation checks your presence of mind and ability to form intelligent questions. So far you have been simply answering questions asked of you. How do you behave when you are in a position to ask questions? What kind of questions do you ask? It also shows how serious you are about the company and the job.

Let us get on to some questions now.

Some Useful Questions

Before you set out to ask questions, keep the above reasons in mind. It would be good to sincerely thank the HR person for such an opportunity. You can start with something like “I have really enjoyed this opportunity to meet you and your team at .. (the company name). Yes, there are a few things I would like to know, thank you for asking” However it is not wise to ask the HR a volley of questions and turn it into a counter interview. Consider the questions below and choose one or two from them that you find the most useful to you.

    * What do you personally find the most enjoyable part of working for this company?
    * May I ask why or how you joined this organization? / What brought you here?
    * I would like to know about the work atmosphere here…
    * Would you be able to tell me about this company’s vision/philosophy?
    * How would you evaluate this organization’s strengths and weaknesses?
    * I would like to know a little about my day-to-day responsibilities.
    * Is this an immediate requirement? How soon would you be taking people on board for this position?
    * I would like to know how my skills compare with the other people who have applied for this position.
    * I am really interested in this opportunity and I feel I have the required skills for this position. What would I have to do next?
    * Now that our interview is coming to close, is there anything you would like to know about my ability towards this job?
    * Would you be able to tell me a little about what the company expects from its employees? What are the most important assets and skills for this company?
    * Does the company follow a structured path in promoting the employees? How does it go?
    * If the company finds me good at the job, how would it advance me? What would be the next step in my career growth?
    * If I performed well in the current position, what are the additional likely opportunities for me within this company?
    * Are there any special areas in this company that the top leaders emerge from?/ Are there special areas like say sales or engineering that have more prospects for growth within this company, or do the leaders come from a cross section of different areas?
    * What are the most important parameters along which this company evaluates an employee’s contribution?
    * The company has decided to recruit for this position from outside. How does the company choose between recruiting from within or outside?
    * How far does this particular position contribute to the bottom line?
    * What advice would you give to someone selected for this position?
    * What are the current challenges of this position/department within the company?
    * Before I leave, can I have a formal/written description of the position? This would help me to review the activities and evaluate what is expected of me.
    * Is this job likely to lead to other positions in the company? What is the usual route?
    * Would you be able to tell me a little about the people I will be working with?
    * Before I take your leave, let me check my understanding of the position. The designation is …., the responsibilities are …., it is in the ….. department, and I would be reporting to ……. Please correct me if I have got it wrong anywhere.
    * How does this company promote equal opportunity and diversity?
    * Would you be able to tell me who the company regards as its stars? What have been their most important contributions?
    * How do the subordinates address their seniors in this company?
    * Could you tell me about the management style of this company?
    * If you selected me for this position, what assignment would I be starting on?
    * Does this company have a formal mission statement? Am I allowed to see it?

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answers to Interview questions

1)  Tell Me Something About Yourself ?


2) What Is (Are) Your Strength (Strengths)?


3) What Is (Are) Your Weakness (Weaknesses)?


4) Can You Work Well Under Pressure?


5) What Are Your Short Term Goals?

6) What Are Your Long Term Goals?


7) Where Do You See Yourself 5 Years From Now?


8) Why Should We Hire You?



9) What Kind Of Salary Are You Looking For?


10) Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?


11) Do You Prefer To Work Alone Or As A Team Player?

12) What Made You Choose Your Major / Stream?


13) Why Didn’t You Pursue A Career In Your Major / Stream?


14) Why Do You Want To Work For Us?


15) Are You Willing To Travel?


16) Are You Willing To Take Risks?


17) What Do You Know About This Company?

18) What Do You Seek From A Job?


19) How Do You Evaluate Success?


20) During Your Performance Reviews, What Criticism Do You Hear The Most?

21) Is There Anything Else That We Should Know About You That Would Impact Our Decision?


22) If I Tell You, You Are an IDIOT, a FOOL, a RASCAL; Can You Think Anything Positive About It?


23) If You Were an Animal / a Can Of Soup / Some Other Random Object Which One Would You Prefer & Why?


24) What Will You Do If You Are Asked To Give a Bribe?


25) Suppose I Tell You I Don’t Like Your Face? Then Why Should I Select You?


26) If Your Boss Is Taking All The Credits For Your Work, What Will You Do?

27) Suppose You Find Yourself In a Deserted Island. What Three Things You Will Need To Survive?


28) How Do You Think You Conducted Or Performed During This Interview?


29) How Mobile Are You?


30) Why From ECE To IT Domain?


31) If After Sometime You Start Disliking The Job? What Would You Do?


32) What Have You Learnt From Your Failures?

33) Tell Us An Incident Where You Had a Problem With Your Team-Mate. How Did You Handle It?

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Questions for the HRM Processes in Organizations

1.    What is the mission statement of your organization?
2.    How does your organization conduct the SWOT analysis?
3.    What are the strengths and weaknesses of your organization?
4.    Does your organization maintain the HRIS, replacement charts?
5.    Do you conduct the job analysis? If yes then which method does your organization use?(observation,interview,technical method,group interview)
6.    What is the process of recruitment and what are your recruitment goals?
7.    Do you think any constraints on the recruitment process in your organization?
(Government interference less budget etc)
8.    Which recruitment sources do you use e.g. external sources or internal search?
9.    Do you use blind box advertisement?
10.    What about recruitment Alternatives (if employees are needed on the emergency basis)?
11.    What are the main steps of the selection your organization follows?
12.    Who is the last and final authority who selects the candidate?
13.    How doest your organization follow the orientation and socializing process?
14.    What do you think is the purpose of the orientation process?
15.    How does your organization determine the training needs for employees?
16.    What approach does your organization use in training employees?(on the job ,off the job)
17.    How does your organization conduct the employees’ development?(job rotation, committee assignment, seminars and lectures etc)
18.    How does this effect the organization in your view?
19.    How does your organization evaluate the employee performance?
20.    What appraisal method does your organization?
21.    How does your organization evaluate the employees’ job?
22.    What evaluation method does your organization use?
23.    What sort of incentive compensation method do you use?

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75 questions to ask yourself

An old proverb says, “He that cannot ask cannot live”. If you want answers you have to ask questions. These are 75 questions you should ask yourself and try to answer. You can ask yourself these questions right now and over the course of your life.

1. Why not me?

2. Am I nice?

3. Am I doing what I really want to do?

4. What am I grateful for?

5. What’s missing in my life?

6. Am I honest?

7. Do I listen to others?

8. Do I work hard?

9. Do I help others?

10. What do I need to change about myself?

11. Have I hurt others?

12. Do I complain?

13. What’s next for me?

14. Do I have fun?

15. Have I seized opportunities?

16. Do I care about others?

17. Do I spend enough time with my family?

18. Am I open-minded?

19. Have I seen enough of the world?

20. Do I judge others?

21. Do I take risks?

22. What is my purpose?

23. What is my biggest fear?

24. How can I conquer that fear?

25. Do I thank people enough?

26. Am I successful?

27. What am I ashamed of?

28. Do I annoy others?

29. What are my dreams?

30. Am I positive?

31. Am I negative?

32. Is there an afterlife?

33. Does everything happen for a reason?

34. What can I do to change the world?

35. What is the most foolish thing I’ve ever done?

36. Am I cheap?

37. Am I greedy?

38. Who do I love?

39. Who do I want to meet?

40. Where do I want to go?

41. What am I most proud of?

42. Do I care what others think about me?

43. What are my talents?

44. Do I utilize those talents?

45. What makes me happy?

46. What makes me sad?

47. What makes me angry?

48. Am I satisfied with my appearance?

49. Am I healthy?

50. What was the toughest time in my life?

51. What was the easiest time in my life?

52. Am I selfish?

53. What was the craziest thing I did?

54. What is the craziest thing I want to do?

55. Do I procrastinate?

56. What is my greatest regret?

57. What has had the greatest impact on my life?

58. Who has had the greatest impact on my life?

59. Do I stand up for myself?

60. Have I settled for mediocrity?

61. Do I hold grudges?

62. Do I read enough?

63. Do I listen to my heart?

64. Do I donate enough to the less fortunate?

65. Do I pray only when I want something?

66. Do I constantly dwell on the past?

67. Do I let other people’s negativity affect me?

68. Do I forgive myself?

69. When I help someone do I think “What’s in it for me”?

70. Am I aware that someone always has it worse than me?

71. Do I smile more than I frown?

72. Do I surround myself with good people?

73. Do I take time out for myself?

74. Do I ask enough questions?

75. What other questions do I have?

Source from: lyved.com)

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TYPICAL QUESTIONS THAT AN INTERVIEWER WOULD ASK

1.Tell us about yourself

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. limit it to work/Study-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done well at your college and how you wanted to perform in the
first job.

2. Why Should We Employ You?

For this question, your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the job. Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers. However, structure them to suit your requirements. I have good co-ordination skills, Good analytical skills.

I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work done.My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people. Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool. I have good entrepreneurial skills. I have consistently met my deadlines and targets Can say no to people when required to do so! I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see them grow.I am a good team player.I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions

I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give appropriate details and examples)


3. Do You Have Offers From Other Companies?

This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously, you must have applied to other companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?

Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

4. What Salary Are You Expecting?

Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

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Interview structure

Assess on
•    Competence         Can he / she do the job ?
•    Motivation         Will he / she do the job ?   
•    Match             Will he / she  fit in (Team / organisation )?

Interview structure
1.    Opening, rapport building and basic knock out items
2.    Current and previous roles
3.    Aspirations and Awareness
4.    Education and upbringing
5.    Circumstances and interests
6.    Closing, wrap up

Current and Previous Roles
•    Tell me about your career to date starting with your current job and responsibilities?
•    How did your interest in this job develop?
•    How are you measured? How well are you doing comparatively? Why?
•    What are the most satisfying aspect of your role, and the most frustrating? (What do you enjoy most, and the least?)
•    What aspect of your job is the most challenging (and easiest)?
•    What part of the job do you consider to be your most successful? Why? and least successful?
•    What are your greatest achievements at work? Most significant disappointment or failures?
•    What is the most complex task you have undertaken?
•    Take me through your typical working day?
•    Tell me about your current and previous bosses. (What kind of people are they? The best, the worst )
•    Tell me about your previous roles? - Why did you move? What factors influenced your move to ..? How would you describe your career to date?
•    Describe the work you do.
•    Why do you like your work?
•    What areas of your work that you do not enjoy?
•    Why do you describe your achievements as achievements?
•    What areas do you need to improve in?
•    If I were to ask your Manager to describe you, what do you think he would say?
•    If I were to ask the people in your team to describe you what would they say?
•    What are your goals for the next 3 years?
•    What would you like to be remembered for?
•    How would you do things differently in your work?
•    What are the points when you find people in your team getting stressed?
•    When do you feel stressed? Can you tell me about the last time you got stressed?
•    If you had to run your team (or company), what would be your priorities?
•    What are the 3 most critical things in your job?
•    How do you handle your people? If they have a grievance, what do you do?
•    How do you check for quality?
•    When do you know there is a quality problem?
•    What do you do about it in your present job?
•    When you retire what would you like people to say about you?

Aspirations and Awareness

•    What are the most important factors you consider before taking a job? How should it be structured to provide you with satisfaction? What motivates you (and demotivates)
•    Where do you want to be in two years time?
•    What do you see as your strengths and limitations? (what will help you achieve your aspirations?)
•    How would your colleagues / boss customers describe you, etc.?
•    Anything you would like to change about yourself? Why?
•    What do you see as the qualities of a successful ...?
•    How do you stack up against them? (strongest / weakest ) What experience have you had using these skills? and evidence
•    To what extent do you consider that progress in your role or career is representative of your ability?
•    How do you cope with conflict? (Any examples?)
•    What have been the high points in your life?
•    What have been the low points?
•    What would you have like to have done differently?
•    What do you consider have been the critical points in your life?
•    How would you describe your life today?
•    Which role in your life do you enjoy the most?
•    What do you like about yourself? What do you not like about yourself? What are you proud of in life ?

Education and Upbringing

•    Tell me about your education - any achievements, any regrets / How successful were you? Would you recommend that your younger brother/sister goes to the same school? Why?
•    Why did you study (etc.) and why select.......?
•    What did you learn out of university which is relevant to a .....role?
•    Apart from your studies what other university activities did you get involved with / How do you relate that experience to your career?
•    In retrospect do you feel you should have done something different?
•    Tell me about your childhood? How do you get on with your parents ( On which occasions have you disagreed with your parents)
•    What sort of expectations did your parents have about your career and education? What do your brothers and sisters do (older, younger)? Have you discussed this job with your parents?
•    Who has influenced you the most? Why?
•    How do you relate to your father/mother?
•    Who has most influenced your personal development?
•    What would you have liked to study if you had a chance all over again?
•    What do you like about your studies?
•    How much of it do you feel applies to your work now?
•    Which areas do you think you need to upgrade yourself?
•    What do you think of the present education system?
•    What are your colleagues doing now?
•    What relevance do grades have to the workplace?

Circumstances and Interests

•    How is your health? Any days off in the last year?
•    What is the most serious illness you have had?
•    Any plans for marriage? (for non married people)
•    What are your major interests outside work? Any notable achievements? How much time do you devote to your leisure activities?
•    Any positions of responsibility? How did you come to be ...? Why do you think you were selected? What is involved in the role? How successful were / are you?
•    What do you know about the IT scenario in India? Describe.
•    Can you compare your approach to your work versus leisure activities?
•    What risks do you see in moving to... (Company)
•    What do you do in your spare time?
•    How do you divide your time between your professional growth and personal growth?  What is the nature of investments made?
•    Have you attempted to carry on your early interests? What prevented this?
•    What do you expect your company to do to enhance your interests?
•    How watertight are your interests from your work?

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Good Interview Questions

Good Interview Questions
1. Tell us a little more about your professional experiences, particularly those not mentioned on your resume.
2. Why are you interested in leaving your current assignment and why do you feel that this assignment would be better for you?
3. Do you feel this position is a promotion, a lateral move, a broadening of your professional experience, or just a change? Why do you think so?
4. How does this position fit into your overall career goals?
5. Describe the duties of your current job.
6. What do you dislike most about your current job?
7. What is your favorite part of your current job and why is it your favorite part?
8. What is the best method of creating a _______________? [a relevant product]
9. What qualities or experiences make you the best candidate for this position?
10. Describe two or three major trends in your profession today.
11. On the basis of the information you have received so far, what do you see as the major challenges of this position and how would you meet them?
12. Describe a situation in which you did “all the right things” and were still unsuccessful. What did you learn from the experience?
13. Discuss the committees on which you have served and the impact of these committees on the organization where you currently work.
14. Why did you choose this profession/field?
15. What new skills have you learned over the past year?
16. Think about an instance when you were given an assignment that you thought you would not be able to complete. How did you accomplish this assignment?
17. Have you ever had a great idea but been told that you could not implement it? How did you react? What did you do?
18. Describe the best boss and the worse boss you have ever had.
19. Describe your ideal job.
20. What would your coworkers or your supervisor say about you?
21. Can you describe how you go about solving problems? Please give us some examples.
22. What is the biggest conflict you have ever been involved in at work? How did you handle that situation?
23. What new programs or services would you start if offered the position?
24. Tell us how you would learn your new job in the absence of a formal training program.
25. How would you characterize your level of computer literacy? What are some of the programs and applications with which you are familiar?
26. Think about a coworker from the present or past whom you admire. Why?
27. What are the characteristics that you prize most in an employee? What behaviors or characteristics do you find intolerable?
28. Can you share with us your ideas about professional development?
29. Describe some basic steps that you would take in implementing a new program.
30. What are one or two of your proudest professional accomplishments?
31. How do you feel about diversity in the workplace? Give us some examples of your efforts to promote diversity.
32. Tell us how you go about organizing your work. Also, describe any experience you have had with computers or other tools as they relate to organization.
33. Please tell us what you think are the most important elements of a good _________. (service, activity, product, class, etc.)
34. What professional associations do you belong to and how involved in them are you?
35. Tell us about your preferred work environment.
36. What experiences or skills will help you manage projects?
37. Tell us how you would use technology in your day-to-day job.
38. In what professional development activities have you been involved over the past few years?
39. What volunteer or social activities have helped you develop professional skills?
40. What things have you done on your own initiative to help you prepare for your next job?
41. Do you have any concerns that would make you have reservations about accepting this position if it is offered to you?
42. What do you think most uniquely qualifies you for this position?
43. Do you have any additional information that you would like to share?
44. Do you have any questions for us?

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HR Questions

Job interviews usually have two parts -- technical and HR. While the technical interview deals with your knowledge in the field, HR tests your personality and presence of mind. Here are a few tips on how to make a good impression at your job interview:

• Confidence is the most important aspect. You should appear confident, keep your wits about you and listen to every word of the question. Often, prospective employees usually don't even hear the question properly in their nervousness. Fumbling and stammering (if not a medical problem) will not work in your favour.
• While confidence is good, never appear over-confident. This presents you as a pompous and bossy person, definitely not the qualities of a team player.
• Never panic. If you don't know the answer to a question, try this old trick -- ask the interviewer to repeat the question. It lets you hear the question again, gives you time to think and eliminates any embarrassing pauses.
• Thinking on your feet is very important. In a situation where three or four pairs of eyes are staring at you, it is easy to get intimidated. Practice thinking on your feet by having mock interviews with friends. Quick-wittedness is not something you can learn but mock interviews help you think faster than you otherwise would.

Dinesh Samtani, Divya Pinge and Srilaxmi Pai have only recently started working and are fresh on the job market. Here are some tips they had on how tackle difficult interview questions:

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: This is possibly the most common question asked; it is the answer to this question that gives your prospective employer the supremely important first impression. Most people tend to talk about their family -- what their parents do for a living and what their siblings are doing at the moment. This is NOT what the interviewer is interested in. Talk mostly about yourself -- your education, previous jobs, achievements, interests and strong points of your personality. Once you're done, give a very brief description of your family.

Q: What are your weaknesses? Or what would you like to change about yourself?

A: Although being honest is always better, make sure that your answer does not project you in a bad light. Saying things like "bad at decision making" or "not punctual" go against you. Always say things that can be converted into a positive. For instance: "I am forgetful but I am now trying to get over my weakness by keeping reminders on my phone and writing what I might forget"; You could even say: "I used to be disorganised but now I carry an electronic organiser to keep my phone numbers, deadlines etc". Never say things like "I don't see any weakness in myself", you might just end up annoying the interviewer.

Q: What are your strengths?

A: Some people might get carried away here and end up boasting. The interviewer is looking for skills that will benefit the company, so base your answer on what the company might want. Being a good team player, leadership qualities, analytical skills are among common virtues employers are looking for. Never lie about your virtues, it will catch up with you sooner or later. As always, honesty is the best policy.

Q: What is the one thing you would like to change about your college/ previous office?

A: Always say things that are not too negative. Complaining about your prior bosses or professors shows you in a bad light. Talk of things that are small but not inconsequential. Srilaxmi, for instance, said that she wanted the library timings to be extended.

Q: What would your prior boss/ professor have to say about you?

A:  It is good to be prepared for this question. Ask your professor or boss to write a recommendation letter for you if possible. This is useful to present to the interviewer. State what the person would say and then present the letter as proof. This gives the impression of a well-prepared and confident person.

Q: What do you know about our company?

A: Make sure you do your homework before you appear for an interview. Read up on the company's history, progress report and statistics. A small margin is permissible while stating figures but it is best avoided.

Q: Why should I hire you?

A: It's a safe bet to say that you are the best person for the job. But don't sound boastful or pompous. Base your claims with solid results, tell the interviewer why you stand out among all the others and give examples of your expertise.

Q: Name one thing you want to change about yourself.

A: Here, the interviewer will tempt you to sound negative. Never say that you are perfect but at the same time, touch upon you weaknesses in such a way that they seem insignificant. Name an incident in the past that you faltered in, then show that you have now improved.

Q: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

A: It's good to talk of your progress with respect to the company. The interviewer needs to understand that you are not just job-hopping. Things like you see yourself at a much higher post that the one you are applying for, will work in your favour. Tell them that you hope that this job will make you a better professional than you already are and you will also help the company to improve in the department you are going to be working. Then go on to show by your examples what you are doing to reach your goals and objectives.

Q: Do you think your qualifications make you eligible for this job? What has the course taught you?

A: The interviewer probably knows all about your course pattern and has probably studied it himself/ herself. There is no point in discussing it academically; use a more behavioural approach. Your education has made your basics are clear, you have a strong foundation on which to build a career, it has not only taught you the technical aspects of the job you are about to take up but also made you a better professional are all good responses.

Q: Would you call yourself a team player?

A: The obvious answer to this answer is yes. But the way you support this answer is what makes all the difference. Always keep a few instances of when you showed team spirit in mind. It helps to display your ability. Another way in which this question can be asked is by giving you an actual case. The interviewer puts you in a situation and asks what you will do. It is important to think quick and come up with answers showing that you can bring out the best in others and yourself, believe in organisation, communication and delegation of tasks etc.

The following questions test not your character but your presence of mind. It is important to be alert when faced with these questions, don't take too long to answer:

Q: What part of your body would you hide if you were on the street completely naked?

A: My face, obviously, so no one would know it's me.

Q: What is the colour of the wall behind you?

A: The same as the colour of the wall in front of me. Never turn back and answer this! There is a possibility that the colour might be different but most rooms are painted the same colour. Looking at the interiors of the room you can gauge whether it has a feature (differently coloured) wall or not.

Q: Suppose you have a brother. You go home and open the door and there he is totally naked in front of you. What would u do?

A: I'd pick him up and go put his nappies on him. No one told you your brother's age!

Q: Why are manhole covers round and not square?

A: Because the square cover can fall down if kept vertically along the diagonal.

Q: What is the fastest thing on earth? Why?

A: The mind is the fastest thing. It can be at two places at once and can travel continents in a matter of seconds.

Q: If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?

A: The last thing you want to do here is say any random colour that comes to your head and then give a justification. Think about your best quality, and then associate it with an appropriate colour. For example: "I think I would be blue because I'm very calm and composed at all times. I can keep my head cool in the most stressful situation and take difficult decisions."

These questions are tough but are not really a deciding factor in the interview. Your overall personality and disposition can always convince the interviewer to consider you for the post despite whatever happens in the interview. Calm your nerves and think clearly. Honesty and clarity can impress the employer but a know-it-all attitude is career suicide. Keep these simple tips in mind and you should sail through those nerve-racking interviews!

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