Dated September 14, 2005
(Questions answered on career concerns)
While going to attend an interview what are the things one needs to watch out for?
REKHA
Chennai
Preparing for the interview is an important first step. Preparation or the lack of it will affect the overall success of the interview. Researching the company, thinking of the questions you may want to ask, considering the type of clothes to wear, and practising your answers to stock questions— after this preparation you are ready to attend the interview.
Learn about the organisation; the employer will want to know why you want to work there and how you think you can contribute to the organisation's overall goals.
Review the job description for the particular job.
Identify the relevant skills and experience you can bring to the job.
Prepare two or three questions to ask the interviewer; but avoid asking about benefits until you have been offered the job.
Is there a right way of responding to questions in an interview?
AMARNATH
Chitradurga
While answering questions there are four things to be kept in mind: listen carefully, make your answers specific and organised, frame the answers positively while emphasising your strengths, and discuss your weaknesses honestly.
Listening carefully is important because you want to make sure you hear the question correctly. It would be very embarrassing if you answered a question inappropriately because you were only listening to how it was phrased.
Second, make your answers specific and organised. Think about the question and then consider your answer before you speak it. Organise your thoughts, so if the question is, "What were your main responsibilities at your last job?" you can concentrate on the top duties and avoid unnecessary information. The more you tell the interviewer the bigger the risk you run that they might forget something you said. If you stick to only the most important information, it won't get lost among the unimportant facts.
Form your answers positively. An example of this would be replacing " I work hard," with " I am very determined."
This leads to the fourth and final point- Honesty enhances your credibility. More likely than not you will be asked what you believe is your greatest weakness. Answering this question insincerely (for example, "I am a workaholic"), will be noticed by the interviewer and will reflect poorly on you. You can discuss your weaknesses and then tell the interviewer what you have learned from them and how you intend to improve upon them. You can turn a weakness into a positive learning experience.
How many pages should a fresher's CV be and what should be its contents?
PRASAD
Karnataka
Depending on the nature of the job you are applying for, you need to decide on the contents of your résumé.
For a fresher, mentioning details like schooling is also important since the recruiter may look to assess you on the basis of your academic performance. Besides, you won't have too many things to talk about, like experience or projects undertaken.
Also, you should try and draft your résumé in such a way that it doesn't merely appear to be a formal documentation of your academic details; it should also delineate you as a proactive student, a volunteer or participant etc. Remember, your résumé speaks on your behalf, so make it eloquent.
Can a manager make out whether an employee is motivated enough to perform his job well when he happens to see one?
KUMAR SEN
Delhi
A motivated performer is a person whose values, needs, and preferences match the requirements of the work situation.
Satisfaction with the work itself is typically the most critical ingredient. A person experiencing a good job fit enjoys the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities that are important to successful job performance. Satisfaction with work can also include the opportunity to demonstrate preferred skills and talents.
Factors that affect work motivation include individual differences, job characteristics, and organisational practices. Individual differences are the personal needs, values, and attitudes, interests and abilities that people bring to their jobs. Job characteristics are the aspects of the position that determine its limitations and challenges. Organisational practices are the rules, human resources policies, managerial practices, and rewards systems of an organisation. The supervisor must consider how these factors interact to affect employee job performance
How should I answer when an interviewer asks, "How do you handle pressure?" . Give some examples.
SUREKA
Via email
By asking such a question, interviewers try to assess your ability to handle work pressure. You can answer saying, ` When under stress, I do the best possible job. The appropriate way I deal with stress is to make sure that I have the correct balance between good stress and bad stress. I need good stress to stay motivated and productive. I react to situations, rather than to stress'.
Or something like, `I actually work better under pressure and have found that I enjoy working in a challenging environment. I manage stress byreading a book or listening to music. I prioritise my responsibilities so that I have a clear idea of what needs to be done and that has helped me manage job pressure effectively'.
This way, the interviewer will get a clear picture of how well you can work in stressful situations.
The FAQ column deals with career concerns addressed to the C&K Management Ltd. P.O. Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com
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