A sureshot way to crack that interview…

So, you have that sardonic smile on your face and an expression that says, “Ahan! Here comes another one of those articles that promise interview success. Dream on, kiddo!”

 

But really, there are numerous ways in which you can stride into the interview room, brimming with confidence and ready to take on whatever bouncers the panel throws your way. Yes, some indicators of your potential such as past academic record, work experience, and past achievements cannot be changed in retrospect. But, if you play your cards right, you can still cover the chinks in your armour and present a positive image. Nestle seems to feel that an interview is all about the 5C’s:

• Confidence – It is said that, “Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.” So yes, you can be asked more than you know, in greater depth than you ever anticipated. But, a courteous admission of your not knowing the answer is better than trying to lead the interviewer astray. Be poised and calm and just say, “I’m not aware of the answer.”
• Courage – In case you are asked a question that is not rote-based, and needs some level of critical thinking, don’t hesitate to think out of the box. Be creative and original, and defend your ideas strongly. (Of course, the catch is to not appear stubborn and closed to ideas.)
• Composure – There are interviewers who could try to psyche you out with tough questions, or just by taking an aggressive and attacking stance to interviewing. Don’t let them get under your skin. Maintain a slight smile, and have positive body language. Don’t appear defensive or too protective of your ideas.
• Competence – Your CV got you this far. But, how does one know how far you will go in the future? How does one judge your potential with a fair degree of accuracy in just 15 minutes? Make sure that you use your opportunities well. Be descriptive when asked to answer behavioural questions like ‘strengths and weaknesses’, ‘biggest successes/failures’, and ‘describing yourself’.
• Conscience – This is certainly important. ALWAYS take the moral high ground, and show that you have a clear sense of what is right and what is wrong. You might be cross-questioned a lot on this, but be prepared to field any questions with appropriate rationale.

The best part about these 5C’s is that they are not only useful in landing you your first success, by clearing your interview but also in taking you further and further along the road to success in your career. Executives at Nestle are taught the importance of 5C early on in their careers, and vouch for the success of the principles of the model.

 

Hopefully, you’ll find it useful too. All the best!

What can I ask in an interview?

“So, do you have any questions for us?”

 

Are these the words you most dread when you appear for an interview? Is this when you stutter and stammer and your mind completely refuses to function? Do you think of this question like the proverbial sword of Damocles hanging over your head, threatening to drop any moment?

 

If the answer to any or all of these questions is ‘Yes,’ then it is time to act and seize initiative. The aforementioned question is typically one’s strongest chance to bag that offer. Miss out on this opportunity, and you may find yourself back on the drawing board, strategising for the next interview.

 

Depending on how you play your cards, a good question could demonstrate your zeal for the position, your levels of competence necessary, your confidence, or simply your charisma or appeal. There are certain rules that ought to be kept in mind while framing these questions:

1. Ask an open-ended question. A closed-ended question can act as a complete conversation stopper.

2. KISS!! (Not the interviewer, silly!) Keep it short and simple. It works. Believe us.

3. Think before you ask. Don’t be in such a hurry to steal your 15 seconds of fame that you botch the question. It’s ok to take a few seconds before you ask anything.

4. Don’t ask overly complicated questions. For example, an interviewer may not be clear on what the company’s strategy to deal with underwater stock options issued to employees during the recession in the market is.

5. Ask questions that are non-obvious. For example, asking for the locations or key businesses is a waste, because that is information, which you should have researched well in the first place.

 

Of course, there is no restriction to the type or number of questions that you can ask. But, it is suggested that you steer clear of questions that seek details of compensation, relocation policies, or convey any of your constraints or limitations. Remember, the question is provided to you to be able to convey your position of strength, not to expose weaknesses.

 

In addition, the research that you should have done before walking into the room ought to include:

a) Full name of company and the history behind it

b) Where is it headquartered? What are its various locations?

c) Core business or businesses (for a group)

d) Revenue/sales figures (You don’t have to act nerdy and mug up stuff. Just knowing the basics helps.)

e) Global rank and number of employees

f) Name of the CEO

g) Chief products and their respective competitors

h) Recent challenges faced by the company

 

Based on that, some questions that we suggest you could ask are:

1. I’d like to know what a typical work day for you at XYZ is like. (The question conveys your interest in the position, is comfortable for the interviewer to answer, is something that you would not find by googling, and puts the interviewer on comfortable ground. People love talking about themselves.)

2. What convinced you to work for this company? (This question can help you in selling the company to yourself, depending on the response you get. In addition, if you have read up on the culture and values of the organization, and spoken about your value system earlier in the interview, it leads the interviewer’s subconscious mind to make the connect.)

3. What was the rationale behind the company’s decision to diversify into a particular business or location? (This shows that you read up about the company, and that you are genuinely interested.)

4. What does the company do to keep abreast of changes in knowledge management? (This question could be domain-specific i.e. Marketing/Finance/HR/Operations etc. It also conveys your interest in the role.)

5. Could you please explain the career path for me in the organization? (This question should only be asked if the information has not been made available to you earlier. It shows your ambition and drive to excel, apart from helping you find out if the organization actually has anything good to offer you.)

 

In case you need some specific questions for specific situations in your interview, do leave a comment or email us.

 

Till then, good luck with those interviews!