Preparation of Job Interview

Shahzaib B89
Aug 31, 2018 · 4 min read

Job interview is the first step for entering into a professional life. For a successful interview we have to meet some recruiters to get some know how about the interview preparation. So HR managers play a very important role in every person’s life who is pursuing a job and want to start a professional career. HR managers and recruiters are the most important persons who can decide our professional career. So it is very important to understand the psychology of HR managers or recruiters, to know what they actually want from the candidates that can attract them, for which they are looking for.

During an Amal Fellowship we are also learning “how to win the situation when going for an interview?” And “how to impress the recruiters?” For that purpose, we went to meet the two senior recruiters for offering advice from them about how to prepare for a job interview? To know about the interview equipment’s and to ask the queries we had in our minds about the job interviews as well. So we met,

1) Dr. Saleem Akhtar Microbiologist, 28 year experience (Ayub agriculture research institute, Faisalabad)

2) Dr. Imran Habib Biotechnologist, 6 year experience (Agricultural Biotechnology research institute)

3) Dr. Kashif Assistant Professor, 15 year experience (Assistant professor PBG in UAF)

4) Dr. Humera Razzaq Lecturer, 4 year experience (Lecturer PBG in UAF)

We asked them different questions regarding interview preparation. We asked them If a person had no considerable experience but really passionate to do work with the company, then will his passion be enough to get a job or not? He replied,“Definitely, If his interview went so well then surely his passion will pay him off”. We also asked them that some HR managers also ask from interviewees that, “Why we hire you?”. They answered that, Before going for an interview always do research about the company because in such questions that research can help you a lot, answer it by relating your field with their company.

We then asked them “how important it is to be yourself in an interview?”. They answered that it is very important and key factor to be genuine and be real during an interview because if you pretend and tell lie then they can easily judge you and it will also create trouble for you. They advised us again and again that candidate should always have positive relationship with the recruiter. Dr. Saleem give another very important information that there are two types of interviews,

1) Private Sector Interviews (these interviews are goal oriented and achievement oriented)

2) Government Sector Interviews (these interviews are skill oriented. They will ask about your interests, skills, e.t.c)

“Maintain a positive relationship with hiring managers by asking specific questions rather than giving orders”. ( Dale Carnegie)

Now, here are some takeaways:-

> Your performance on the day of interview is most important. If you got highest CGPA and you don’t have good performance and positive attitude on that day then you will not get a job.

> You should have professional dressing when going for an interview. Like dress pent, shirt with tie, and waistcoat with shalwar qameez. Girls should do decent and professional dressing.

> You should be serious with your life and career. HR can easily judge that you are serious or not with your future.

> Always give positive answer of every question.

> Always come into the room with the permission of recruiter and ask to sit. Do handshake with the recruiter and handshake with all if there is panel of 1 to 2 people.

> You should must have grip on your own subject or your own field; this is very important thing because they can ask more questions relevant to your field. You should be an expert in your field.

> You should also have information about the burning issues like climate changes, global warming, e.t.c.

> You should also know about the current affairs and political political affairs of your country.

> You should give to the point answers.

> Answer confidently, if you don’t know the answer then simply say “sorry I don’t know”.

> You should never use such words in your answers, “ I think, may be, I guess, e.t.c”. You should be confident on your own answer.

> Eye contact is also very important during an interview; if you fail in making eye contact then your chance of getting selected is very low.

> Introduce yourself first by telling your name, your qualification, your university name, your city name, your interests, e.t.c.

> You should never tell your weaknesses to an interviewer.

> In panel you should focus on that person who asks the question from you.

> Always adjust your seat before sitting.

> Experience is considered if you have prove in the form of certificate.

> Do not put your hand, mobile and wallet on the table.

> You should keep the direction of your answers towards your area of interest.

> If you have any publication or thesis then you should have to read it thoroughly because there is 80% chance that HR will ask the question from your publication.

> Sometimes, they ask basic questions related to stats like define degree of mean, how many qillas are in 1 square?, e.t.c. These questions are very basic or general but it is also possible that sometime you don’t know the answer. So be prepared for such questions as well.

> You should have information about the meaning of your name, about your city, village, background and history of institute, e.t.c.

> They may ask that why you chose this major?. So you should be prepared for its answer.

> One another important thing is that you must have complete documents with you, documents like original CNIC, degrees, certificates, domicile, and CV.

> Crossing arms give negative impression, so avoid this gesture during an interview.

> Before leaving you should take permission from the recruiter to leave and then say, “Thank you” and “Allah Hafiz”.

> Close the door gently.

We will implement these advice by keeping these advice in mind and practice them in our mock interviews.