Dressing for Job Interview

To get ahead and stay ahead in any career, pay attention to your workplace image as it is a powerful communicator.  The nonverbal messages your image sends can work in your behalf, or they can work against you.  Your clothing is a primary component of your image and is a potent communicator. Your apparel can signal that you are a leader with winning potential, or it can scream that you’re a loser.  If your clothing is waving the loser flag, you have to work extra hard to command respect and inspire trust.

That’s why it’s always important to dress professionally for a job interview, even if the work environment is casual. Remember, you are marketing a product — yourself — to a potential employer, and the first thing the employer sees when greeting you is your attire; thus, you must make every effort to have the proper dress for the type of job you are seeking.

Here are some common pointers to dress for any type of work situation:

First and foremost, no matter what you wear, your clothes should be neat and clean.

Keep your shoes in good condition. Polish your shoes.

Nails should be clean and neat and of reasonable length.

Dress for the job you want. If you aspire to be a manager, dress like managers in your company do.

Familiarize yourself with the universal dress code. Find out what current employees wear on the job.

Before you even think about going on an interview, make sure you have appropriate interview attire and everything fits correctly.

Get your clothes ready the night before, so you don’t have to spend time getting them ready on the day of the interview.

If your clothes are dry clean only, take them to the cleaners after an interview, so they are ready for next time.

Bring a breath mint and use it before you enter the building

Dressing for a Job Interview – Men

Go in a suit and tie to any company that’s part of a more formal industry, such as banking or law Choose a basic black, dark gray or dark navy suit, a matching tie and black leather lace-up shoes

Avoid too much cologne or aftershave that may overpower the interviewer

Dress in casual attire for a company that you know doesn’t expect suits. Pressed khakis or slacks, a clean, ironed button-down shirt, a belt and a leather loafer serve well. Match the belt to the color of your shoes. Choose black if your outfit consists of dark grey, navy, brown or black. Opt for dark brown if you’ll be wearing tans, muted pastels or medium toned colors Polish or clean your shoes the night before your interview. Scuff marks on your shoes reveal a lack of forethought and attention to detail.

Keep interview accessories professional. Take a briefcase or nice leather- or vinyl-bound portfolio to carry references or other pertinent documents. Leave tattered manila folders or college logo folders at home.

Dressing for a Job Interview – Tips for Women .

Consider the job’s location. and dress accordingly at a corporate office, wear a conservative business suit. A pantsuit with a sweater or blouse is appropriate for an informal office.

Limit your jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets) No jewelry is better than cheap jewelry.

Have a Professional hairstyle with Light make-up and perfume.

Avoid miniskirts, tight sweaters, sloppy overalls and sandals with straps.

Check your outfit for holes, tears, stains, scuffs or wrinkles.

Choose between closed-toe shoes, pumps and loafers. If you are wearing a skirt, nylons are a must.

Group Discussion Interview Tips

Group discussion definition: Group discussion is a methodology used by an organization to measure whether the candidate has certain personality traits and/or skills that it requirements in its members. In the Group discussion Method the group of candidates is given a topic, given a few minutes to think about the same, and then asked to discuss the it among themselves for 15-20 minutes.

Purpose of the GD : Main purpose of the GD is observing the candidates skills. Like

• Leadership skills
• Ability of Reasoning
• Communication skills
• Initiative skills
• Flexibility
• Ability to work in a team 
• Creativeness        
• Ability to think on fast
• Knowledge and ideas regarding a given subject

How To Analyze The Topic : Once interviewer given the topic we analyze topic with in 2or 3 minutes and write main points in your paper. It is very useful information of Group discussion. These are

• We know what is main Aim of the Topic
• Advantages $ dis Advantages of the topic
• Main causes of the Topic
• Economical issues of the Topic
• Political issues of The Topic
• Social issues of The Topic
• Legal issues of The Topic
• Technological of The Topic
• Conclusion of The Topic

 Types of GD:

Generally Group discussions is two types

• Topic-based  GD: Topic-Based GD  can be classified into 3 types

1. Factual Topics 
2. Controversial Topics  
3. Abstract Topics 

 Factual Topics: Factual Topics are Socio-economic topics; it means current Topics which an      ordinary person is aware of in his day-to-day life. . A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a ability to prove that he is aware of and receptive to his environment. 
E.g. The Politics in India, Education in India, State of the aged in the nation. 

Controversial Topics: - Controversial topics are the ones that are challenging in nature. They are meant to generate controversy. Normally in GDs given this type of Topics for observing the noise level, tempers flying, is to see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by maintenance his temper in check, by judiciously and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional.

E.g.: Women reservations, reservations should be banned; Death sentence is Correct or Not 
 
Abstract Topics: -  
Abstract topics means theoretical topics .Abstract about intangible things. These topics test your lateral thinking and creativity.

E.g. A is an alphabet; the sky is Blue, The number 9

• Case-based GD: - 
  Another difference is the use of a case instead of a topic. The case study is to imitate a real-life situation. Information about the situation will be given to you and you would be asked as a group to resolve the situation. . In the case study there are no inaccurate answers or perfect solutions. The objective in the case study is to get you to think about the situation from various angles. 

“Most important points to be remembered for good GD”:

1. Body language
2. Thinking a few minutes before starting of a GD about the Topic.
3. Don’t feel  no one is better than you
4. Don ’t express your personal emotions in GD
5. BE  strong  about of your point
6. Speak confidently and slowly
7. Should not be emotional  towards the person who are participating in the GD
8. Our points should not the against the  towards government or organization
9. Points should be like a message or information
10. Try to promote the person who are not participating in the GDG confidently

 Rules of GD:

GD Do’s:

• Should maintain proper body language like not Shaking of legs$ hands, Playing with pens$ external objects.
• Don’t use the word “I am telling”.
• Use “As per my Knowledge” is better.
• Your body language says a lot about you – your gestures and mannerisms are more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say.

Don’ts For a GD: 
1. Don’t be still 
2. Don’t be too AGGRESSIVE either 
3. Avoid one to one discussions 
4. Don’t hurry 
5. Avoid national Language 
6. Don’t interrupt unexpectedly – to calm down say 
“you are right…………..but I Think ………..”

Current GD Topics

•  
  • A Unipolar World spells failure for underdeveloped countries like India
  • Is Globalization Really compulsory?
  • Love marriage/Arranged marriage?
  • Effect of Western Culture ON India Youth
  • Suggestions to Information and distribution Ministry to improve it’s services
  • Influence of online social networks on our Youth
  • Effects of Internet
  • Hard working or smart working???
  • As a management student, what could be done to control sub prime crisis?
  • One billion People and only one Olympic medal
  • Cricket telecast is a waste of time

Interview Tips  and Questions for Teachers

The quality of any educational institute depends on the availability of good teachers or professors. A good teacher shows the right path to the students.

You should have good interest for teaching any thing to the students. When you attend the interview for the teacher’s jobs you need to follow all the interview tips. In any Job interview you may face the question “Tell me about yourself”. You need to give answer to this question with careful about your previous experience, your achievements, your leadership skills etc.

You may get the questions like why you choose teaching, what impact you to come in this field and you need to be prepared with small topic to teach in the class, if principal needs. Principal might ask you to teach some thing about any topic you like. In some schools principal may ask you to prepare and teach a sample lesson during your interview. When you teach the class ask some questions to the students. You need to follow all the tips for interview before going to teach jobs. You need to know some information about the school. You can get the all information on the internet.

You should have a variety of teaching interview questions ready. So that you can be ready to answer for any question they ask. Don’t be upset in any interview, if you don’t know the answer. Read all the interview tips for teacher before going any interview. Try practicing a mock teaching interview with your friends or colleagues.

You need to follow all these Interview tips and common Interview  questions asked for the teacher jobs. They are

1) What is your name?

2) Tell me about your self?

3) What are your strengths? They may ask about your weakness also.

4) If you get irritate with the students in the class. How do you handle classroom

discipline?

5) Do you have any questions to ask me?

Ask them if you have any doubts about the school or else about the salary.

6) What are your favorite books?

7) How long you would like to work with us?

How can you know that a person is a good listener?

9) If student does not meet a deadline, how do you handle with him?

10) What subjects have you thought before?

11) He may ask you the questions to see you have leadership ability or not.

12) He will ask some of your projects you have done to see your team work.

13) Can you able to create the ideal school?

14) Can you answer with patience to all the students in the class?

15) What is the average class size you have taught?

16) Do your teachers participate in extra curricular activities?

Article by Kranthi Seo Consultant

Interview Tips for Freshers

Interview tips for freshers are suggestions to the Job seekers who are going to attend for an interview for the first time or as freshers. You need to be more confidence when you attend any interview. One of the main things you need to do before going to interview is doing research of the company. You need to follow all the interview tips for freshers while going to interview. You should be punctual and reach to the interview on time. And the first impression you make on a interviewer is the most important one. It is very important to dress professionally for any job interview. You should always talk eye to eye with the interviewers. Things to avoid before interviewer are you should be very confidence for all the answers you have given, you should not argue with him. Be careful when you speak with interviewer. Pay attention to pronunciation and grammar. Speak anything with confidence. Give all the answers with examples, it will give good impression.

You should be careful with body language, sit up straightly towards interviewer to show your interest. And you should expose all your skills that can be benefit the employer. This is the best way to sell your self by showcasing your achievements.

Some Common Interview Questions and answers for freshers are:

1) Tell me about yourself?

This is the most commonly asked question in all the interviews. You need to be prepared this answer in short statement. You need to tell your name, place you born, highest education, achievements you got in College or University, your hobbies, your strengths and weakness.

2) What do you know about this Organization?

I already told you that you need to do research about the company on the internet. You need to have basic knowledge about the company like there achievements, growth in the market and when they started the company.

3) Are you a Team Player?

Be sure to tell with examples. Tell about the project you have done in final year project and how you participated and supported to the team members.

And how willingly you have taken the responsibilities and share the workload.

4) If we hired you, how long we may expect you to work with us?

You should be very careful while answering this question. You can answer like as long as we both feel good and it all depends on mutual understating.

5) What are your strengths?

You can answer this question in a positive way. You can tell about leadership skills, your professional experience, fast learner etc.

6) He may ask you like, why we need to take you for this Job?

Tell him all your skills and how they are been used to the company.

7) Can you able to work under pressure?

You can say about your final year project. Give all examples which you got in your project.

It is very important to follow all the Interview tips for the freshers before going to interview. Finally when you complete the interview, you should make sure that you thank the interviewer for taking the time with you.

Article by Kranthi Seo Consultant