How to answer questions?

By Our Special Correspondent

1. Don’t give monosyllabic answers

Avoid giving monosyllabic answers such as ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Always try to suitably expand your replies, while remaining brief and concise. For example, if your are asked: “what is your hobby?” to say “Reading biographies” is too brief. The proper way to answer is: “Sir, I read biographies of eminent personalities of the world.”

Another example: “Which subjects do you like most?” Don’t give a one-word answer: “Chemistry”. Instead, say: “Sir, Chemistry has always fascinated me because as a subject I found it very interesting and also for a chemist there are ample job opportunities in industries.”

However, you should not give unnecessarily long answers either. Sometimes, a well-weighted short answer is also acceptable. For example, Subhash Chandra Bose, when asked to describe British rule in India, said “Divide and rule”, and this got him the first position in the I.C.S. examination.

2. Always support your answers

When asked to give your opinion on something, always support it by giving reasons for your agreement or disagreement. For example, to a question like: “What do you think about this year’s Central Budget?” you have to support your answer by adding the reasons why it is good or bad. You should, therefore, say: “Sir, this year’s budget is very good as it is liberal for trade and it is going to help the country’s industrial economy.”

3. Try to emphasize your point of view

While expressing your point of view often adds phrases like: “Sir I hope you will agree” or “Sir I beg to differ because…” Don’t just say “No, I don’t agree.” Try to emphasize your point of view and convince the interviewer to accept your argument.

4. Avoid flattery

To gain the favor of the board members, do not give in and agree with whatever they say if you have strong arguments to support your point of view. If you have valid arguments, well supported by examples and logical reasons, maintain your point of view. Carry on the discussions adding phrases like ‘Sir, you may be right, but I have a point…” let the board members shift to another question and leave the argument.

5. Always say ‘yes’ for experience

Always say ‘yes’ to questions relating to your experience even if you don’t have the relevant experience. Extract points from your experience in life to enable you to say ‘yes’ everyone has some experience of managing something. If you have applied for a management job but you do not have the experience 9being a fresh graduate), don’t say ‘no’ straight away. For example, suppose you are being interviewed for the first job, and the interviewer knows this fact but still asks “Do you have any administrative experience?” Say ‘yes’ and expand your answer by adding something. You may say, “Sir, in my college days I had been in charges of the hostel mess funds. “Or, you may say: “Sir, in my college, I have conducted several educational tours where I had to manage everything, right from arranging rail reservations, seeking various permissions, managing the funds and taking care of several little details to ensure that the tour was successful.”

If you are already working in a place where you are not independently looking after the administrative function, you may say, “Sir, I assist my superior in day-to-day administrative work. “Or” Sir, when my boss is away I get the opportunity to look after the administrative work independently.”