Groundwork the key to success in interview
Anureet Sibia Dhillon

David W. Crawley Jr had said: "Most people fail to get the job they really want not because they are not qualified but because they failed in the interview. And most failure occurs because they aren’t prepared." Before going for an interview an interviewee is stressed and anxious about what kind of questions will be asked and how he will fare. To feel relaxed and confident it is important that one prepares for the event.

Preparation should focus on three things: the company; knowledge; and self-assessment.

You must gather information about the company with regard to its

• background & history

• Vision & objectives

• organisational structure

• products & services

• products & services

• Location and work culture.

Go through its annual report & company literature and latest happenings covered by the Press. Try to match your qualifications with the requirement and objectives of the company.

Keep abreast with the current affairs, read magazines and newspapers, especially the articles by experts on their analysis of issues.

• Do a complete study of your own subjects both theory and application.

• Nothing can be more disastrous than not knowing one’s own bio-data. Keep a latest copy of your bio-data with you and remember the years of your degrees, percentages in academics, your research studies and experience.

* Request a rational and knowledgeable friend to act as an interviewer and conduct a mock interview for you.

• Practise describing yourself: your professional life, goals and your accomplishments and do not stress too much on personal life. Prepare for questions about your strengths & weaknesses, reasons for leaving existing job, and why you want the job.

• Arrange your folder with certificates and proofs of your experience.

• Dress in neat, clean and not very loud clothes. Your dress should be suited to the organisation in which you are going for an interview.

• Be positive and focussed, do not let competition threaten you. Have a win-win attitude.

Donald Kendall, Chairman of Pepsi, once remarked: " I am turned off by people who haven’t done their homework." Preparation will win the confidence of your potential employees as they will be impressed by your enthusiasm and keen interest in associating with them.

Barbara Walters offers this advice to prospective interviewers, "My best advice for dealing with destructive anxiety is homework... homework helps enormously when you apply for a job."