Succeeding at a Personal Interview

A while back  we had published a guide to crack a campus interview. Based on the feedback received from students we are continuing the series to provide in-depth knowledge for your benefit.

As a student most organizations and companies take into consideration your performance in the written test, Group Discussion, Personal Interview, your academic record and extracurricular activities before selecting you.

Out of all of the above, We believe that that Personal Interview has the power to make or break your career prospects. The interview panel closely observes how you react to various situations. A good interview involves thinking on your feet, and helps the interviewer understand your thought process and your attitude.

Let’s understand the various types of interviews and the etiquette expected of you.

Interview panel

The people who interview you collectively form what is called the interview panel, which normally consists of three interviewers. There could be more than three interviewers too.
These comprise relevant field experts. Sometimes, the panel may include a psychologist to observe your behavioral patterns.

The It may vary between five and 45 minutes. However, a five-minute interview does not indicate that you have not done well. Similarly, an interview lasting 40 minutes does not indicate that you have done well. What matters is the quality of interaction you have with the panel.

Some organizations conduct only one interview; others may have two or more.

Types of interviews

You may face an individual interview or a group interview. This varies from organization to organization.

In an individual interview, you will face a panel and answer the questions put to you. In a group interview, a group of candidates are interviewed simultaneously by a panel. In the latter, the questions may be addressed to an individual or to the group as a whole.

Moreover, Individual interviews may be further classified into two types:

• Stress based interview
• Non-stress based interview

The latter proceeds with questions asked in a normal, business-like manner and the candidate is given enough time to answer the questions. In a stress interview, the candidate is deliberately put under a lot of stress by the interviewers to gauge behavior under stressful conditions.

Interview etiquette

Besides the way you speak, the panel also observes your overall conduct.

• Dress code
  You are expected to dress formally. Men should wear a freshly ironed formal full-sleeved shirt (no party wear, please), trousers, polished formal shoes (black or brown), a belt and a tie (knotted properly). Do not forget to shave. Use a mild deodorant if you feel the need to. Before you go into the interview room, comb your hair. Women can wear  a sari, or a skirt and shirt. If you have long hair, plait or tie up neatly. Formal shoes apply to you too. Sandals meant for formal occasions are fine too.

• Entry into the interview room
  You may be asked by one of the panel members or one of their assistants to enter the room. Before entering, ask for permission. Do not be in a hurry and rush to the table. Greet the panel (using the appropriate time of the day) with a smile. On being asked to sit down, thank them.

• Sitting posture
  You may cross your legs if you wish to. Your arms may rest on the armrest of the chair or on your lap. Sit comfortably. Avoid postures that reflect a casual attitude. For instance, avoid rocking the chair or placing one leg horizontally over the other leg.

• Language to be used
  Try to speak in English only. Some of us have the habit of mixing English with the vernacular. Avoid doing this. Do not use slang. Use short sentences that convey the meaning of what you wish to say. Avoid complicated sentences.

• Conduct inside the interview room
  Listen carefully and attentively to the questions. If you are unable to comprehend the meaning or hear the question, request the panel member to clarify/repeat the question. Always speak in a slow, measured tone, so that everyone in the panel is clearly able to hear and understand what you are trying to say.
  There is no need to spit out the answer to the questions asked. Take a few moments to collect your thoughts and then answer. Maintain eye contact with the panel members at all times. Be pleasant to the interviewers, irrespective of the mental state you are in. Lean a little forward to show the panel that you are interested in what they are saying. D o not lean or rest your arms or elbows on the table.

Try to use these pointers as a reference to perform and excel at personal interviews.

IAIT provides interview training and counseling sessions to its students, as a part of the regular course modules  to ensure their success. IAIT conducts courses in conjunction with Sikkim Manipal University, Punjab Technical University and the Karnataka State Open University. Check out our website or give us a call for more information.