To get the job you want, three traits are necessary: knowledge, skills and attitude. Let us see, through examples, how these matter in an interview.
Some years ago, I was doing a workshop on interview skills in a leading law college in Pune where three students volunteered to play the interviewees. Three panels comprising six students interviewed them. Barring one student, who was marginally better, the other two were unclear about their subject concepts. Their own fellow students rejected them. When asked why, they unanimously replied that they wanted to select ‘employees’ who were knowledgeable. The rejection taught both sides a lesson in the importance of knowledge to interviewers.
Knowledge
Interviewers do not measure knowledge in marks. Marks count only in exams. Scoring 75% or 100% in an exam is irrelevant in an interview if you cannot answer questions on the subject.
Besides subject knowledge, there is another kind of knowledge which matters in interviews. That is the knowledge about the organisation you have applied to. Do you know its current turnover? Its past and present challenges? An interview panel can question you on these.
I was once asked by the Chairman of my interview panel where I saw my institute in the next five years. I answered I would like to see it come out with a journal of its own, exchange complimentary copies with journals all over the world and save lakhs of precious dollars. The panel liked my answer. I am no genius. I had only prepared for possible ways in which the panel could test my knowledge.
Skills
The second quality that organisations look for is the skills needed to do the job well. Knowledge is essential; skills are desirable. Few think of acquiring them but skills help organisations eliminate candidates who possess bare minimum qualifications. For example, an engineer who is knowledgeable, creative and possesses team skills is more likely to get selected. If you wish to get a job, then master the skills.
Attitude
Attitude is the third and perhaps the most important quality needed in winning a job. Knowledge and skills are external and can be acquired through courses. Attitude is a personality trait. Every interviewer assesses our personality as we answer questions. Do you seem alert? Proactive? Responsible? Committed? Positive? Remember the student in the movie “3 Idiots” who got the job despite low grades because of character and honesty? No organisation wants a dishonest, irresponsible employee.
If knowledge and skills are the most important content-based traits in an interviewee, our attitude is what finally gets us the job. Most candidates are subtly tested if they are the right fit for the organisation. Your attitude, maturity, flexibility and ability to blend into the organisational culture will be quickly picked up by the interview panel. Candidates for high paying jobs have to go through several rounds of interviews. In one of them you will give away your real temperament in case you were pretending. So be genuine, work on your knowledge, attitude and skills, and get the job.
The writer is a trained coach and corporate consultant.
