Dressing for Success

Does it really make a difference how you dress for an interview? 

In many cases, it does. 

I'll never forget the gentleman I interviewed for an accounting position. He had been out of work for a few months and wanted to show me why. He took off his jacket, unbuttoned his shirt and started to pull down his pants (this is a true story) to show me the scar from a boat propeller that had injured him. He didn't get the job. Neither did the young lady in a bright red skirt so short and tight that she could hardly sit down! 

In a conservative business climate appearance do matter. In other environments it isn't as important. However, it does make sense to dress your best for the interview, regardless of the dress code at the organization. If you're in doubt about how to dress for an interview, it is best to err on the side of conservatism. It is much better to be overdressed than underdressed (or undressed). If you're not sure, check with the person who scheduled the interview and ask. 

According to Kim Zoller at Image Dynamics, 55% of another person's perception of you is based on how you look. Her 'Dressing for Success' information gives some tips on how to look your best, without necessarily spending a lot of money. 

Here's a quick look at the basics: 

Women's Interview Attire 

• Solid color, conservative suit 
• Coordinated blouse 
• Moderate shoes 
• Limited jewelry 
• Neat, professional hairstyle 
• Tan or light hosiery 
• Sparse make-up & perfume 
• Manicured nails 
• Portfolio or briefcase 

Men's Interview Attire 

• Solid color, conservative suit 
• White long sleeve shirt 
• Conservative tie 
• Dark socks, professional shoes 
• Very limited jewelry 
• Neat, professional hairstyle 
• Go easy on the aftershave 
• Neatly trimmed nails 
• Portfolio or briefcase 

PLACEMENT AND INDUCTION

What is placement?
Ans. Placement is a process of assigning a specific job to each of the selected candidates. It involves assigning a specific rank and responsibility to an individual. It implies matching the requirements of a job with the qualifications of the candidate.

Give the significance of placement?

Ans. The significances of placement are as follows: -

* It improves employee morale.


* It helps in reducing employee turnover.


* It helps in reducing absenteeism.


* It helps in reducing accident rates.



* It avoids misfit between the candidate and the job.


* It helps the candidate to work as per the predetermined objectives of the organization.


What is induction?

Ans. Once an employee is selected and placed on an appropriate job, the process of familiarizing him with the job and the organization is known as induction.

Induction is the process of receiving and welcoming an employee when he first joins the company and giving him basic information he needs to settle down quickly and happily and stars work.

What are the objectives of induction?

Ans. Induction is designed to achieve following objectives: -

* To help the new comer to overcome his shyness and overcome his shyness nervousness in meeting new people in a new environment.


* To give new comer necessary information such as location of a café, rest period etc.


* To build new employee confidence in the organization.


* It helps in reducing labor turnover and absenteeism.


* It reduces confusion and develops healthy relations in the organization.

* To ensure that the new comer do not form false impression and negative attitude towards the organization.


* To develop among the new comer a sense of belonging and loyalty to the organization.


What are the advantages of formal induction?

Ans. The advantages of formal induction are: -

* Induction helps to build up a two-way channel of communication between management and workers.


* Proper induction facilitates informal relation and team work among employee.


* Effective induction helps to integrate the new employee into the organization and to develop a sense of belonging.


* Induction helps to develop good relation.


* A formal induction programme proves that the company is taking interest in getting him off to good start.


* Proper induction reduces employee grievances, absenteeism and labor turnover.


* Induction is helpful in supplying information concerning the organization, the job and employee welfare facilities.

INTERVIEW PREPARATION

We need to prepare well for the interview, finding out about the history of the company, its structure, market position and management style, along with details such as: how big the company is, how long have they been operating, what are their key income revenues and core areas of business, who are their major competitors, and have they had any major upheavals or successes. 

 The easiest place to start the research is the website, or calling the marketing department and asking for a company profile or press kit. This will not only help you show your enthusiasm to the company but also enable you to be more relaxed about the questions asked. If you are preparing for a specific job interview, you will need to familiarise yourself with the job description, so matching your attributes to their requested skills. You will also need to prepare information about yourself by building up a personal profile to enable you to answer questions both quickly and accurately. 

The profile will comprise of both personal and business information. For example: 

 Personal:

 'I am an ambitious, organised and highly-motivated individual who is goal driven and excels at building long-term customer relationships.' 

 Business:

 'I am an experienced sales professional with five years specific experience in the automotive industry'... go into further details. 

Be positive, if you are negative the employers will not believe in you. You need to remember that you have been short-listed, and therefore must stand a good chance. It is good to feel a bit nervous before the interview as it shows that you want the job. 

Top Interview Techniques 

The interview is not only a chance for the interviewer to assess if you are the right person for the job, but it is also an opportunity for you to see if the job and the company are suitable for you. During the interview you need to look for opportunities to be proactive and ask your own questions or try to lead the discussion where appropriate. Questions should reflect your keenness to work for the company. Generally you should limit yourself to just a couple of significant questions such as: 

•  What are the key tasks and responsibilities of the job 
•  What support and guidance is available 
•  What training will be available 
•  Other aspects to talk about are: 
•  Structure of the organisation 
•  Success of the organisation,
•  it's profitability and product portfolio 
•  Future strategies and development 

Keep your concentration levels up during the interview and make sure you listen to the responses the interviewer gives you. The worst mistakes happen when people end up asking questions about topics that have already been covered, or don't hear or understand what the interviewer has said. 

 Key points: 

• Make sure you give the interviewer your full attention 
• Wait for them to finish speaking, before you answer the question 
• Make sure you ask open questions, to ensure you get full answers 
• Check you understand everything that has been said 
• At the end of the interview find out what will happen next: 
• When will I hear from you 
• How will I be informed 
• Do you need any more information from me

 

Candidates can easily find themselves on the defensive, trying to justify themselves, rather than sell their attributes. A good interviewer will often throw all sorts of challenging questions at you, in order to see if you are suitable for the job. To help you cope with these it is best to know the possible questions that you might get asked, these can be divided up into sections: 

• Selling yourself (mention your strengths) 
• What experience do you have to benefit this job? 
• Can you work well under pressure? 
• What is your greatest strength? 
• What interests you most about this job? 
• Why should I hire you? 
• Do you have any questions? 

Questions could include: 

1. what your first assignment would be, 
2. what type of training is required or given, 
3. requesting to see a job description, and 
4. who the company's major competitors are. Information giving (information on your experience and skills set) 

•  Do you consider yourself to be a natural leader? The interviewer will be interested in your ability to lead when necessary 
•  Tell me about yourself. This is an open question, and is a good opportunity for you to reveal the strengths that you mentioned in your personal profile. This is also your chance to reveal your personality, so just be yourself. 
• 
  
• What are your biggest accomplishments? This should be job related, and is a chance to show your competency 
• Where do you see yourself in five years time? 

 Dealing with objections 

• How do you handle criticism? Try to portray the attitude that all criticism has a benefit, providing an opportunity for improvement. Also elaborate by giving an example of a poor idea that has been criticised rather than a substandard piece of work. 
• How will you cope with a change in environment? Talk about how you can adapt and learn quickly. Turning negatives into positives (change your weaknesses into strengths) 
• What can you do for us that someone else can't? If you have understood the details of the job then try to answer this with a combination of your skills/experience which others are unlikely to have. Describe a difficult problem you've had to deal with. Clearly explain how you have approached a problem, the result and how the difficult outcome was averted. This will show that you have a positive attitude to all challenges, and you were not discouraged or intimidated by the situation. 
• What is your greatest weakness? This is your chance to show that you have identified and are working on reducing your weaknesses. Turn your weakness into strength. 
• How do you handle tension/stress? Explain how you avoid stressful situations, and if not how you deal with it, for example: exercising and going to the gym. 
• How do you take direction? Show by giving examples of how you can be briefed and finish the task without unnecessary disagreements/complications 
• Do you prefer working with others or alone? Explain how you can work well in both situations. 
• How do you handle rejection? Much of today's business is commercially orientated, therefore a good answer would tend to be that you move on but take on board what has happened and use it to benefit you in the future. Always speak clearly in a controlled range of tones. Do not speak in monotone and always pause before speaking, this avoids instinctively reacting and saying the wrong thing. 

Points you need to remember: 

• Smiling is a good positive signal, as it reaffirms your good nature 
• Maintain eye contact 
• Relax do not rush or fidget 
• Mirror the interviewers techniques, if they laugh, laugh with them 
• Maintain an alert position, sit up straight, don't slump, but be comfortable 
• Always have a confident and honest attitude.

 Top Do's and Don'ts during the Interview 

• Always adopt a professional and business-like manner 
• Listen intently Use strong positive language 
• Ask the relevant questions 
• Wear a smile at all times 
• Never indicate that you're desperate for a job 
• Don't get into discussions about your personal life, and decline any bait to mention secrets of your present employer. The interviewer should respect your trustworthiness and integrity 
• Ensure that you don't smell of any strong odours, e.g. alcohol, garlic or even perfume 
• Don't fidget or play with your hair, clothing, items in your pockets etc 
• Avoid negative phrases such as: 'I don't know'. I'm not sure' 
• Be persuasive, speak in terms of what benefit you can bring to the company, rather than the other way around 
• Remain calm and don't rush your answers 

Psychometric Tests 

Psychometric means tools for measuring the mind. There are two types of test: Aptitude test: assess your abilities Personality questionnaires: which build up a profile of your characteristics.  Many employers believe that such tests give a good idea of whether you are able to do the job, and if your personality is suited to that of the job and the company. 

 Aptitude Tests: 

These test your critical reasoning skills under timed conditions. A typical test may have three sections each testing a different ability, such as verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning. The test would normally be about 30 minutes long for 30 questions. 

Personality Tests: 

Questions tend to focus on; how you relate to other people, your work style, your ability to deal with emotions (your own and others); your motivations; determination and general outlook and your ability to handle stressful situations. There are no right or wrong answers, just be yourself. top

HR INTERVIEW QUESTION 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 For the Candidate
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?

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?

What are the most important parameters along which this company evaluates an employee’s contribution? 

Some Useful Question Answers

1. Tell me about yourself?
I am down-to-earth, sweet, smart, creative, industrious, and thorough.

2. How has your experience prepared you for your career?
Coursework:
Aside from the discipline and engineering foundation learning that I have gained from my courses, I think the design projects, reports, and presentations have prepared me most for my career.
Work Experience:
Through internships, I have gained self-esteem, confidence, and problem-solving skills. I also refined my technical writing and learned to prepare professional documents for clients.
Student Organizations:
By working on multiple projects for different student organizations while keeping up my grades, I've built time management and efficiency skills. Additionally, I've developed leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities.
Life Experience:
In general, life has taught me determination and the importance of maintaining my ethical standards.

3. Describe the ideal job.
Ideally, I would like to work in a fun, warm environment with individuals working independently towards team goals or individual goals. I am not concerned about minor elements, such as dress codes, cubicles, and the level of formality. Most important to me is an atmosphere that fosters attention to quality, honesty, and integrity.

4. What type of supervisor have you found to be the best?
I have been fortunate enough to work under wonderful supervisors who have provided limited supervision, while answering thoughtful questions and guiding learning. In my experience, the best supervisors give positive feedback and tactful criticism.

5. What do you plan to be doing in five years' time?
Taking the PE exam and serving in supervisory/leadership roles both at work and in professional/community organization(s).

6. What contributions could you make in this organization that would help you to stand out from other applicants?
In previous internships, my industriousness and ability to teach myself have been valuable assets to the company. My self-teaching abilities will minimize overhead costs, and my industriousness at targeting needs without prompting will set me apart from others. Additionally, one thing that has always set me apart from my scientific/engineering peers are my broad interests and strong writing abilities. I am not your typical "left-brained" engineer, and with my broad talents, I am likely to provide diverse viewpoints.

7. What sort of criteria are you using to decide the organization you will work for?
Most importantly, I am looking for a company that values quality, ethics, and teamwork. I would like to work for a company that hires overachievers.

8. What made you choose your major?
My academic interests are broad, so I sought civil engineering to achieve a great balance of mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, and writing.

9. Have your university and major met your expectations?
The College of Engineering at MSU has exceeded my expectations by providing group activities, career resources, individual attention, and professors with genuine interest in teaching.
My major has met my expectations by about 90%. I would have enjoyed more choices in environmental courses, and would have preferred more calculus-based learning.

10. What made you choose this college?
I chose this college for the following reasons: my budget limited me to in-state schools, I was seeking an area with dog-friendly apartments, the MSU web site impressed me, I saw active student groups, and the people were very friendly.

So with the help of these tips you would be able to crack the final round of interview and can get your desired job.

How To Excel In The Interview At Short Notice

You have an interview scheduled tomorrow. With less than 24 hours to prepare, you don't know where to start from.

Here is a simple exercise which will not take you more than two hours. Follow the guidelines and make that first impression which will help you get you your desired job
. On the Interview day

Non-verbal Messages: 

Non-verbal language speaks larger than words. As you walk in the interview room, here are a few things that you must keep in mind:
Start it off like a winner.

The handshake: 

Offer your hand, and give a firm handshake, a pleasant smile and a positive and confident attitude. Introduce yourself.

Posture: 

Stand and sit erect

Don't Fidget: 

There is nothing worse than people playing with their hair, clicking pen tops, tapping feet or unconsciously touching parts of the body.

Eye Contact: 

Look the interviewer in the eye

Move your hands: 

Gesturing or talking with your hands is very natural, but keep it in moderation.

Be comfortable. 

Take a seat facing the interviewer, however, slightly off center. Be sure that you are in a comfortable position

Listen attentively:

Look at the interviewer directly, but don't get into a stare down! Sit up straight. Try to relax. It's okay to take a few notes if the questions are lengthy, or you need to remind yourself of something you want to stress

Avoid nervous mannerisms:

 Pay attention to nervous mannerisms. Everyone is nervous to some extent, the key is to appear calm and composed

Speak clearly:

 Use good grammar and a friendly tone. Never answer just "yes" or "no" to a question. Always clarify, expand on your answers. Be sure not to go on rambling

Be positive and enthusiastic:

.Pump up your enthusiasm prior to the interview. Never whine, gripe or complain about past employers, jobs, classes etc

Ask pertinent questions:

 Be prepared to ask a few questions. Do not monopolize the interviewer's time, particularly if you know they have appointments scheduled following your interview. Do ask thoughtful questions. Don't ask about salary and benefits, this can be discussed when the company is definitely interested in you

While giving answers to questions:

Be Concise:

Listen to the questions carefully and answer to the point. An interviewee rambling on is likely to turn off the interviewer.

Provide Examples:

Support your contentions with examples. Think of recent strong strategic examples of work you've done, then when the question is asked, answer with specifics, not in generalities.
Be Honest: It is always better to state the truth than beating about the bush. If you don’t know something then state the fact.

 
Keep Your Guard Up: 

Always maintain your professionalism. Don’t get swayed by the friendly behaviour of the interviewer and disclose everything. For all you know it might be a trap laid out by him.

After the Interviews

Say thanks:

 The next day write the interviewer a brief note reiterating your interest in the job. Spell his or her name correctly!

Follow up:

 If you haven't heard from the interviewer within the time frame indicated at the close of the interview, call them to relay a polite reminder that you're still interested in the job. Ask when they plan to make a hiring decision.
If you aren't hired and you are still interested in the company, it pays to keep in touch with the interviewer. Often, through persistence, you may be offered a position at a later date.

Chin Up:

 If you don't get the job, don't be disheartened. Gear up for your next interview. After all the more interviews you tackle the more polished you become. You may want to contact the interviewer who rejected you and see if you can get any pointers on what to improve before your next intererview.