Dated March 09, 2005
Very recently, I applied for a position in a reputed firm. I had thought the job was in my grasp, but was later dismayed to find myself rejected. Any advice?
Sharat Kumar,
Hyderabad
It always is hard to deal with rejection. And it can especially frustrating if you get through the interview process thinking the job was all yours for the taking. But remember, there are other candidates who walked in with the same idea too. Ultimately, one post can be occupied only by one person and there usually are more than a handful of contenders for each post.
To begin with, résumés get interviews; interviews get jobs. Since you made it to the interview, your résumé did its job by getting your foot in the door. The focus should now shift to your interview. Were you prepared for the questions? Could you have answered them differently? Were you able to convey a suitable impression of yourself? Was your body language right? Ask yourself these questions and indulge in some introspection.
After an interview, always jot down some points on how the interview went. Make a list of the questions asked, the topics covered, and analyse your responses. Some interviews are structured, where others are not; so the responses you provide within casual conversation can also have an effect on the outcome.
Think about the interview process as a one-sided relationship. Every answer you provide, every number or percentage you quote, and every skill you mention, should evolve around a core theme: the hiring company.
The interview obviously indicates that the company considered you potential employee material, but something went wrong during the meeting. Whenever you get an interview call, try to strike a rapport with your interviewer and focus on offering answers that are centered around providing a solution.
I find myself nervous and unsteady during interviews. Consequently, even if I have anything to say, it is clouded by stammering and sometimes incoherent speech. I want to overcome this and make my answers interesting during an interview. Could you make few suggestions?
Jayanta Mukherhjee,
Cuttack
The first step is getting your resume right. If your résumé is crafted correctly, it can serve as a great reference sheet during the interview process. The interviewers will also respond better to you if your resume showcases your talents in the best possible light. Selectively extracting key points from your resume and talking about past experiences that reflect your ability to solve issues, cut costs, and increase revenue can certainly transform otherwise mundane answers. But be careful not to recite words verbatim from the résumé because your answers should be unique and accentuate the paperwork the interviewer has already reviewed, not be a verbal commentary of it.
Preparing your answers several days before the scheduled interview will help you formulate answers to varying questions. Create canned answers, but make them unique — and avoid sounding rehearsed.
I'm a couple of days away from an interview where there will be many interviewers asking me questions at the same time. This is going to be a first for me, since I've partaken in one-on-one interview sessions only. What should I expect?
Srikumar Rao
Nellore
Interviews can have two or more company representatives in attendance, ranging from department supervisors and managers, to executive personnel and owners. These group-style interviews can be beneficial for both sides because it eliminates the need for individual interviews with each person who is part of the hiring team. Think of the process as "speed interviewing." The forum also enables members of the interviewing team to later discuss candidates and make a hiring decision based on a collaborative analysis.
Unlike one-on-one interviews, group sessions can get off track and make it difficult for you to know who to focus your answers on: the individual asking the question or everyone in the room. Focus your answers towards the person asking them, and make eye contact with everybody while speaking so each person in the room feels a part of the conversation.
Practice for a group interviewing session much like you'd prepare for any type of interview. Forecast topics of interest to the interviewers, and prepare thorough answers. Good luck!
I have attended many interviews in my search for the perfect job. One question that crops up at every job interview is `what are your weaknesses?' What is the best way to handle this question?
Jiten Shah,
Bangalore
This question is often a test to see how you react to the question. Actual weaknesses, unless they sit on an extreme end of the spectrum, are of little concern to the interviewer. The objective of asking this question is usually to see your reaction to it; how comfortable you are revealing your weaker side And talking about issues that bother you. But by and large the question is asked as a formality. Interviewers have caught on to the fact that candidates dodge this question by talking about their strengths instead of weaknesses, so the best way to answer this question is by providing a fixable weakness; one that can be easily changed after action on your part.
For instance, resolve the inability to use particular software by volunteering to take a software class at a local community college or technical center in the evening.
I have been repeatedly told that frequent career shifts are the best way of getting ahead. I have also seen many people land up with plum posts after constant job switching. Is this right? What should be taken into consideration while making a career move?
Sameera Singh
Gurgaon
Making a career change can be a major life transition. You need to have clarity of purpose and confidence when deciding which direction to take. Be careful and use foresight while choosing your next career move - what industry you want to work in, what kind of work culture you'd like and what benefits you are looking for. Research the company you wish to work.
To make a career switch you should identify the skills and experience you've gained in your current field that are transferable to your new one.
Make a list of your general (e.g. management, organisation) and technical skills (e.g. specific software skills, other industry-specific skills). Don't stop until you've exhausted your list. List all your transferable skills also your preferred skill set-which responsibilities do you enjoy.
Connect experience and education, list the skills and experience you have acquired or earned in your professional experience and education. Match up the two lists. Seeing these connections in writing should help in interviews, writing cover letters and resumes.
Identify the key competencies required to be successful in your new field of interest. Talk to others in the line of work you wish to pursue-ask them to list the key competencies that enable them to be successful. Match these against your list.
If there are skills you don't have, ask how you might need to build them. You would also like to know what are the cost/benefits of making a change, which is more appealing to you? Once you've weighed the positives and negatives to both options, what have you found?
Once you know the answers to these questions, a clear choice should emerge, and you should be armed with key information to help you find work in your new field.
Having a list of your strengths and transferable skills, and a clear understanding of how this new field better fits with your lifestyle, interests, etc. can also help you present yourself in a compelling way to a prospective employer.
The FAQ column deals with career concerns addressed to The C&K Management LTD. PO Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com
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