Interviewing the HR professionals
It was my team’s pleasure to reach out to the two reputed companies in Lahore to interview their HR professionals. Our team comprised four members; Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Bilal, Ayesha Sadiqa, Alvia Asif and Maqbool Alam. I would love to share my experience with those esteemed professionals. The questions we asked were based on being real and equip in the journey towards an interview for a job etc.

The first company that we went to was Mott MacDonald Pakistan. The company was established in 1986 and is famous for its house schemes and constructions. Mott MacDonald is also well known for its land and water resource projects. We met Dr. Shabih ul Hassan Zaidi Sb. He is a Spatial Planning Expert
at Mott MacDonald Lahore branch. He remained chairman and Dean of City and Regional Planning at UET Lahore. He has a wide experience in the field of engineering and management to Federal Public Service Commission. The questions that we asked are mentioned below.
Q. What do you understand by the term “being equipped” with special reference to a candidate for a job interview?

Shabih ul Hassan Zaidi Saab: Being equipped means to make it sure that you have every technical skill required for the job requirement. In special reference to MMPak, it is AutoCAD and GIS where you need to be proficient at. In addition, we also look for the candidates who own special skills in Sketching, Technical report and proposal, and sheet work etc. These are the pre-requisites to apply to our company. In other sense, it can be said that being equipped means to possess all these skills.
Q. So we understood the importance of technical skills. But, do you consider the importance of soft skills? How would you value soft skills?
SHZ Saab: No doubt, a person who is incapable to face is the interviewer will be rebuffed. He/she is judges at his/her spirit level. Those who are not confident are unquestionably repudiated. With soft skills, we regard body language, confidence and the way you speak. So, soft skills are not overlooked.
Q. How do you measure the authenticity of a candidate while interviewing him/her? And how you treat those who are not authentic in their words?
SHZ Saab: Well, look, the interviewers are always experts. They have experience of years in this regard. They come across different minds and personalities where they encounter different questions and answers. This enhances their habit as how to judge a candidate. Similarly, they also have a psychologist sitting with them, like in FPSC. So, a candidate who is not real is easily found out. That candidate is rejected because a company cannot hire a liar. That person cannot be faithful to the company.

Q. Do you find any difference between the recruitment processes of the government and private institutions?
Yes, there is pretty much difference between the criteria of both institutions. Like, government institutions will be likely to hire you on the basis of written test such as NTS where it becomes easy for them to select candidates. While private institutions mostly concentrate on your interviewing and soft skills. They ordinarily favor candidates holding immeasurable communication skills.
Q. Any suggestions that you want to provide for the students of engineering?
Yes, enjoy whatever you do, especially your study. This time will not again knock on your doors. Utilize the time as productively as it is possible. I have seen, people who strive in their student life touch new and amazing heights in life. So, enjoy your study do not waste your time.
The second company that we visited on the same date was the High noon Pharmacy. This company is a leading pharmaceutical company that has established an innovative R & D structures. This consequently, advances the creativity and facilitates the development of innovative products. So we came across this company to interview their professional, Ma’am Maria Nazeer. Our purpose to interview her was to explore the interview skills. We had an amazing experience of interviewing her.
Q. How do you conceive the words being equipped with reference to the candidates for job and internship interviews?
Madam Maria Nazeer: Your first impression if the last impression. You need to show through CV and cover letter that how much you are equipped. Like, your CV should tell the person you are. While during the interview we identify candidates based on their accent and way of speaking. Either they belong to the English medium or Urdu medium becomes known there. So, it is all that they portray in front of us. These are the signs that we identify and mark their level of being equipped.
Q. What is “being real” according to you? How do you perceive if someone if real or not?
Madam MN: It is the authenticity that you demonstrate through your documents. Documents such as your CV, certificates and other related materials are the best tools to distinguish you as a fake person or real. So, usually, recruiters in our company scrutinize the documents and ask relevant questions. This subsequently confirms one’s quality as being real and fake.
We had a great experience with both of the interviews and I hope everyone acquires a lesson from this activity. Best of luck!
Regarda:Muhammad Irfan