If I provoke you to fight with me what will be your reaction ?

Most Students find difficult to answer such questions when asked in interviews because they never experience such conditions. Such questions may have hidden intentions. 

Possible Intention:

• To know if you have a spirit to fight.
• To know you stay firm on your stand or give up easily.
• To know if you can distinguish between aggressiveness and assertiveness.
• To know if you can take a stand and have clarity of thinking about it.

Insights:

• It is a very crucial quality not to give up easily.
• If you are sure that your point of view is legitimate, stand for it. You may have to work little extra to convince.

Example Answer:

If the fight is on legitimate issue, i will fight. This means that I will not give up when I am convinced that my approach is correct. I will try to give more information to prove my point and simultaneously be open to positive views.

Anti pattern:

• Never claim that you are correct all the time and others should change their views.
• Never leave your politeness while answering because this is still acting and not real situation.
• Do not loose temper if any such type of hurting question is asked.
• Do not accept things because interviewer is senior. This shows you are gullible.

Interviewer's Interpretation:

• Gullible or confused candidates are not good because they can land into trouble while dealing with aggressive clients.
• Too much aggressive body language and tone indicate defensive nature.
• Polite, calm and firm response is what interviewer looks for.

What would be your reaction if somebody finds your error?

In the list of interview questions and answers this question is one to the favorite question asked by the HRs.

Possible Intention:

• To know if you are honest and open.
• To know if you take responsibility for what you have done.
• To know if you are ready to accept your mistakes or hist shrug it off.

Insights:

• You need to give confidence to the interviewer that you accept the mistake you did and ready to do whatever to correct it.
• To err is human. Nobody would be upset if you make mistakes. But disowning it is bad.

Example Answer:

If I am genuinely unaware that i have erred, i will apologize and will be ready to do whatever required to fix it. If it involves apologizing to the level of client, obviously, I will feel bad; but I will do it. I would use this incident to improve to myself and ensure that nothing of this sort would happen again.

In my project, it happened that some of the bugs which I put in the defect management software were rejected by developers. After discussion I could find that my interpretation if the requirements stated in the Software Requirements Specification (SRS) had some problem. This gave me an opportunity to sit with the developer and understand the business domain better. These helped me gain a sound understanding of the domain.

Anti Pattern:

• ' This has never happened with me and I would take care that it would not happen with me ever' is crafted answer very difficult to believe to be true.
• Do not just say that you would apologize and fix it. Important point is that you will learn from it.

Interviewer's Interpretation;

• Making an error is human nature and you learn from mistakes. Accepting your mistakes shows you are honest and willing to improve.
• Shows politeness and willing to learn.
• it also shows leader attitude of accepting your own mistakes and being responsible for the consequences rather than passing the buck to process, system or others.

What additional knowledge other than academic knowledge have you learned?

This is one of the most anticipate question in the list of questions asked in interviews. This question has following:

Possible Intention:

• To know if you are aware and care about other aspects like soft skills required for a job.
• To know if you take initiative and learn something additional other than what is mandatory or easily available.

Insights:

• People always like somebody who takes initiative and has a positive outlook and is keen to learn.
• While responding, substantiate what you learn with examples.
• This is an opportunity for you to push forward any of your achievements in extracurricular activities, sports. social work etc. Demonstrate your strength.
• Small and simple things like time planning during exam preparation, discipline for project, punctuality etc are good enough.

Example Answer:

Other than academics I acquired and implemented many skills like time management, planning activities for project, and working as team member. I was reserved initially; however i have become more outspoken now and do not hesitate to make new friends. While presenting a technical paper, learned how to put a new concept or knowledge concisely. I have also participated in sports competitions for which regular preparation, practice and discipline is important.

Anti Pattern:

• Never say that you did not learn anything extra excepts academics. This can not be true; you may not be aware of it.
• Do not use big words like management, interpersonal skills, etc. That may sound like a rehearsed answer and not spontaneous or true.
• A list of things you learned without any evidence or example would fail to create the desire impact.

Interviewer's Interpretation:

• You are open to learning only from academics but from the environment.
• You are good observer.

Preparation for Interview

Preparation for Interview/Performance

Now that you have cleared the hurdle of initial filters like aptitude test, group discussion etc. You have received a call for interview. Lets us see how you prepare for this big day.

Research The Company:

Visit company website to know more on company's clients and business. Read and note down important points like clients, their location(countries), business domain, and technologies.

Practice Interview:

Go through the common question/answer asked in interview. Frame your own answer based on your experience and expertise. Use example answer as guidelines. It is even better if you can practice a mock interview session with your friend.

Enough Rest:

Make sure that you sleep sufficient time in the night before the interview. You would be fresh and energetic in appearance, acting in your advantage.

Dressing For Interview:

Your first appearance would make a long lasting impact and would be decisive in the final selection. Make sure you appear clean, neat and polished.

Employment Portfolio:

Do remember to carry your Employment Portfolio, your own pen.

Reaching The Interview:

Make sure that you arrive at least 15 minutes early at the interview place. Observe the place, make yourself comfortable, take deep breadth and sit. Accept the greeting with a smile and polite manner.

During The Interview:

Many candidates believe that in HR round, the interviewer judges only confidence and communication skills. This is too simple to be true. Way of presentation is as important as correctness of information.

         The interviewer is trying to find out how close you are in terms of attitude, behavior and communication for the superman(best fit job) he is looking for. Lesser the gap, higher the chances of selection.

Give attention the following points while responding the questions.

• Ensure consistency in your responses.
• Responses should be mapped to your published resume.
• Know essential details by heart. e.g. Month and Year of passing various examination.
• Maintain eye contact.
• Avoid repetitive use of words like- important, basically, typically, normally etc.

Selection Process In Recruitments.

Selection Process

As a candidate seeking a job, the selection process may appear like a race of hurdles where you are to beat other candidates to get job. The selection typically has following stages. The exact numbers and nature of the stages would vary based on the policies of recruiting companies.

Short Listing of Profiles:

It is done to filter out the most suitable candidates since application received by any organization. Often, selection criterion is the candidates with a first class academic record (Graduation, 12th, 10th class). Many candidates are filtered out here. If you have an excellent academic record, you need not to worry about this round.

Written Test (Aptitude, English, Technical):

There are various type of aptitude tests - Verbal, Logical, Numerical and so on. These aptitude tests are designed on the basis of skill requirement of a particular job. For example, quantitative and verbal (English) aptitude are predominant tests for IT jobs. Some times the test papers also contains very basic technical questions about information technology and programming.

Group Discussion:

This round judges your ability to think logically and with the clarity and express your opinion and ideas in front of group. This round may be prove to be difficult for candidates who are a little reserved and shy and can not express their ideas. Excellent communication skill, presentation skill and clarity of thoughts will get you across this hurdle in the race. This is a stage that may not be conducted by every recruiting company.

Technical Interview:

Technology or subject matter knowledge is tested here. The questions asked are related to core discipline you have studied and on your work experience. When you are a fresher, questions are asked to judge your technical understanding and the work you have done so far related to it.

HR Interview:

This is final round. Here, your personality traits, and your behavior is observed. The purpose is to find how well you will adapt to the work environment and company's culture. Interviewer tries to seek answer to questions like Are you fit for the profile you will be assigned to? Will you be able to support the team members and work happily in the environment? Will you cause trouble due to your behavior and attitude? Will you stay for a long time?

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