BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

By Our Special Correspondent

A day before the interview

· Select the dress you are going to wear and make sure that it is clean, well ironed and without any missing buttons. Make sure that your outfit suits the post for which you are being interviewed.

· Ensure that your shoes are well polished and that you have a matching pair of socks.

· If you wear a turban, make sure that it is clean, matches your outfit and neatly tied.

· Collect all your certificates, mark-sheets and other relevant papers and file them in chronological order in a neat folder.

· Go through your bio-data, mark-sheets and certificates and mentally prepare yourself to answer questions on your bio-data.

· Brush up your general knowledge, and collect important facts on current events, especially those about your own state.

· Ensure that you have a pocket comb and your wrist watch is showing the correct time.

· Take out your interview-call letter and put it on the top of your folder containing your mark-sheets and certificates. Note the time of interview once again to make sure that you are not late for the interview.

· Hear the late night news bulletin and take note of any important news items.

On the day of the interview

· Read the morning newspapers and note important headlines.

· If there is time, try to hear the latest news bulletin.

· Get ready a little before time so that you have sufficient time available for collecting your folder and other things to avoid a last-minute panic.

· Try to reach the venue of the interview at least half-an-hour early. While starting from your house, keep a margin for unforeseen traffic jams or any other factor that may delay you.

· While you are waiting to be called in talk to other candidates and discuss with them important current affairs and news items of the day.

During the interview

· Make sure that you are courteous throughout. Remember to say “Please”, “Thank you”, etc. as often as you can.

· Be comfortable and relaxed. You have no reason to suffer from an inferiority complex. You want to be selected and the interviewers before you have the task of finding a suitable candidate. Therefore, you must meet as equals.

· If confronted with an odd or confusing question, don’t become nervous. Instead, try to answer with clarity and confidence.

· Be attentive and alert throughout the interview.

· Speak in a clear voice and make sure each word is audible to the interviewers.

· Be a good listener so that you know what is being asked. If you are unable to understand any question, request the members to repeat it saying, “I beg your pardon.” Don’t start your answer until you have understood what is being asked.

· Give well-thought out and balanced answers but be prompt so that the interviewers are able to ask as many questions as they like. You have to help them make a proper judgment. You can do that only by giving your best.

· Be relaxed throughout, without showing any sign of anxiety. Try to give the impression of being an “ambitious young man willing to take on any challenge.”

· Look at all the members one by one while addressing your answers and do not concentrate all the time on the chairman or any particular member of the bord.

· When you are replying to a question asked by any particular member, look at him directly and address your answer to him.

· Maintain a pleasant expression throughout. You should not look ill at ease, anxious or bored.

· If you are discussing a serious problem, you should adopt a serious expression. You cannot continue to smile when a grave or tragic situation is being discussed.

· If the chairman or any member appreciates your discussion or the point you have made, take the opportunity to immediately thank him for the compliment.

After the interview

· Keep sitting. Get up only when the chairman asks you to do so.

· Thank the chairman and the members of the board while getting up.

· After the interview, if the chairman extends his hand, shake hands with him confidently and thank him while holding his hand firmly. Don’t take a feeble grip as it shows that you have an inferiority complex and lack self-confidence. A firm grip, on the other hand, indicates you have confidence.

· Put your chair in its proper place with grace and confidence.

Some don’ts

Here are some things which must be avoided. Many of these points have been discussed in detail in earlier chapters but to help you to recapitulate them; they are being repeated briefly in the form of a checklist.

On the day of the interview

· Don’t study late in the night before the interview. A full night’s sleep is a must before the interview to remain fit and fresh during the course of the day.

· Don’t eat an exceptionally heavy breakfast on the day of your interview as it might make you feel uncomfortable or heavy.

During the interview

· Don’t forget to close the door after you have entered the interview hall.

· Don’t forget to ask permission before coming in. Ask “May I come in, please”.

· Don’t forget timely salutation when you have reached near the table of the chairman. Greet them according to the time.

· Don’t sit down on your own. Wait for the chairman’s instructions to take a seat.

· Don’t start of on your own. Let the chairman initiate the proceeding.

· Don’t speak too fast. Let every word you speak be clear and audible to all the members.

· Don’t make artificial or excessive gesticulation. Try to be as normal and relaxed as possible.

· Don’t be emotional on any particular point just to win the favour of the interview board.

· Don’t interrupt the others. Let the chairman or the member complete his question. Only after he has finished speaking, in case you have not followed, you may request him to repeat.

· Don’t enter into any arguments with the chairman or any member of the board.

· Don’t try to avoid questions. If consecutively two or more members have put their questions, reply to each one in the same order.

· Don’t give evasive or confusing answers. If you are not sure of something be frank and politely say, “Sir, I am not aware of such a thing” or “Sir, I am sorry I do not know”.

· Don’t fiddle around with your buttons, your hair or anything else as it shows your nervousness.

· Don’t change your stand. Be consistent in the line of argument you have chosen. Do not give self-contradictory or conflicting answers.

· Don’t readily agree with everything the interviewer says if you have valid arguments to support your point of view. In case of disagreement be polite and say, “I beg to differ, sir because…” and try to convince him of your own point of view.

· Don’t try to gain the favour of the chairman or any of the members by giving a biased opinion which you think might please him. This will not show your maturity or integrity.

· Don’t enter into any political controversy. Never try to gain the favour of the interviewers by speaking against or in favour of any particular community.

· Don’t give up. While arguing a point, don’t give up until the topic is changed y the interviewer.

· Don’t miss the opportunity to compliment the interviewer.

After the interview

· Don’t extend your hand for a handshake with the chairman. Let him offer his hand first if he wants to.

· While leaving the room, don’t turn back to look at the members. Don’t forget your manner of leaving the hall is being observed by the interview board.

· Don’t forget to close the door after you.