Asha Kaul, professor and chair, communication area and former chairperson, placements, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Adapted from Harvard ascend.com) With contemporary India experiencing the phenomenon of jobless growth, particularly in the organised sector or formal economy, competition for the shrinking number of best jobs at the entry and middle management levels is intensifying. Here are some guidelines and useful tips for bagging that all-important job. When you enter the room and are facing the interview panel, the first question you are likely to be asked is, âTell me something about yourselfâ. Before you begin answering, bear in mind that these days, recruiters care less about grades and academic performance and more about soft skills â how quickly and creatively a candidate thinks, whether she will be able to cope in high-pressure environments, and what is the candidate organisation fit. Therefore itâs important to prepare yourself for the big day by being familiar with the organisationâs culture and values. Itâs easy to source this information from the companyâs annual or media reports, or by connecting with current employees over LinkedIn and reading up reviews on websites such as Glassdoor. Look for clues: For instance, is there age diversity and what is the overall attrition. Low attrition will indicate that the organisation nurtures its employees. Now comes the critical part of preparing for the difficult questions. Based on my interaction with recruiters as the former placements chairperson at IIM-Ahmedabad, I am aware that some questions are designed to unnerve the candidate and test her responses in a stressful situation. Here are some tricky questions you can expect, along with suggestions for conceptualising responses that will demonstrate your suitability for the job. âWhy should we hire you?â Your response to this question should be steered to indicate a âfitâ. Demonstrate confidence and present your personality traits which match the recruting organisationâs culture. âMy achievements match your requirementsâ (spell out the requirements which you have researched) is a starter to lead recruiters in a direction thatâs comfortable for you. The next question is likely to be, âWhat are your achievements and to what extent do they match our requirements?â This is a good time to detail your achievements in sports, academics and extracurriculars. Be careful, though, to link them to the position youâre discussing. For instance, tie your accomplishments in sports to leadership; in academics to project management; and in extracurricular activities to teamwork. Another question recruitment managers are likely to ask is: âWhat are some of your weaknesses?â This is a query framed to test your honesty. While responding, spell out some of your weaknesses in a straightforward and honest manner. You are human after all! However, the confessed weaknesses should not be ones that may be interpreted as detrimental to work. Responses such as, âI nitpickâ, âI am in the habit of interruptingâ, âI tend to talk while eatingâ are neutral and wonât hurt your chances of landing the job you want. Itâs advisable not to be too frank and confess … Continue reading Preparing for the all-important job interview
