New simple ethics in the way of crackling interviews useful at all general-purpose levels. Am talking about how to deal with the most general questions so simple - yet hard and confusing to answer.
Lets begin:
1.Tell me about yourself
Ans : Generally this will be your first question. Usually they expect you to say about yourself at least for 3-5 mins depending upon your position and company. Tell about your academic qualifications. Don't give redundant answers. You can even tell about your extra curricular achievements and sports. Always start with a pleasant smile. This is your first question and do remember all the remaining questions will be based on what you are going to answer to this question.
Coming to the questions like tell about your family or father -
Eg: When you say your father is a farmer and you studied in a reputed college it will definitely makes an impact which tells about your capabilities and hard work. Even you can spoof him saying like that. Take at least 3-4 mins to finish this question. Change your accent a bit, be smiling and positive. It always pays. Always remember to start with something catchy and interesting. Try to deviate the interviewer to the place where we are strong and can talk something on that.
2.What are your hobbies?
Ans: Be careful. If you say something like paper reading, you are at stake. Don’t prone yourself to any kind of tougher questions. Say something different which will show your uniqueness. Say you are good at making clay toys. This shows your creativity. Say you are good at cooking. Avoid saying philately or numismatics etc. Its old and it stinks! Instead say interior designing, or you can organize things, or you take initiative or conduct developmental programs something like that.
Be unique. Above average and ordinary. But you should be able to say something or the other on what you have said. As you sow, so you reap.
If anyone asks me I may probably say Origami or Cubism or I may even say making kites. Its all in the way how you put it.
3.What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Ans: Be smart. You can say hella lotta things here.
Strengths : smart working, adaptability, intelligent, confidence, leadership, initiative, getting things done, creative, believes in change, realistic, organized, believes in attitude, takes responsibility, dedication, hardworking, innovative, communication skills, optimistic, adaptability, flexible, sense of humor, elegance, commitment etc...!
Weakness: Talking about the weaknesses is a very tuf thing.
Anyway we can talk about being sentimental, gullible, home sickness, talkative, phobias etc. Its better to tell that you are sentimental or say you used to be talkative or gullible but working on it. Don’t tell where you involve risk like telling that you are not punctual or lazy or sleep a lot etc .
If you want to be very smart say that you don't have any weakness. Tell that thinking like that is your weakness. Just kidding... remember we are not answering for any beauty pageants.
Basically when you are talking about weakness, one should always remember that the weakness what ever you tell should be more like strength in disguise.
4.Where do you want to see yourself after 5,10,20 years?
Ans: 5 years: Smile. Say that you will be in a good position. Smart working. Then he can ask you what you mean by smart work. Now its your turn to trip on him. Say smart work is an organized and planned kind of hard work where one don't have to feel the tense or stress in handling it. Here you are leading the interviewer from the question he asked. This is what one requires. Lead him.
After 10 : You will be in a very good position would have got married , a kid ( just say 1 kid so that you can talk about population and all that crap) leading a joyful life with your wife and your kid. When you say this - the joy should be seen on your face.
Body language counts.
20 years: Say probably you will be owning a company, which is one of your dreams. Here he may ask, about your other dreams. Then its a self trap for him. Say to start an orphanage or to start homage for old and look after it especially in India. If he asks you why India, then say you are a great patriot etc. May be you like to retire soon and take up social work still more. Keep your interaction bit humorous and cool, but not ridiculous.
5.Why do you want to join our company?
Ans: Careful - never praise that company nor degrade others. Attack this question with flair of art. Say that its your dream to get into that kinda work offered by that company. Tell you are capable of giving more than what you are giving in your previous company or your latent potential is not much tapped. Else you can talk about the pay package where you deserve more than what you are getting ''by hand''. Be indirectly direct.
6.Why should I select you?
Ans: Be honest. Even when you lie do it honestly!!!
Bring your strengths here. Say what you can do to that company. Prove that with your smartness its not a big deal for you to get any job elsewhere. But if he is not going to select you, make him feel that he will be on the losing side. Don't be proud. Show your confidence not your proudness. Sometimes you have to take charge. They might be testing your counter reactions. Keep this in mind.
7.If I don't select what will be your reaction?
Ans: No big deal. Make him better not ask this question. Say that you will feel but not sad. Say you are very optimistic and will be thinking that something better is awaiting you ahead and you will be looking for that. When you know you are gonna lose - ''do it with style'' is the key mantra at these kinda moments especially.
- Why didn't you go for Masters/ Ph.D?
Ans: Say you like to do your Masters/Ph.D in your corresponding field. But tell that you always feel its advisable to do after gaining some work experience in the concerned field. Else say that you are not interested in doing a Masters/ Ph.D. Say you don't want to study still. Self-content and frank. The interviewer is not going to eat you. These are just casual questions not to be taken serious.
9.Will you sign a bond for 2, 3 years?
Ans: “Think” is the answer for this. Unless you are sure that you want to go for - do it.
If it is for 1-1.5, you can say YES. But 2-3, you better say NO. In these situations the interviewer should get what you are saying but don't say it directly. Say that you have to talk with your friends or your family and have to work accordingly...!
10:One general point :
When a question is asked in an interview don't give complete answer.
Let me give you one example inorder to make you understand the catch point:
In my early fresher days I attended an interview.The interview went like this.
Q - What is a GRAPH ?
My Ans - Graph is a relation is of the form <V, E>.
After saying this I stopped, and was waiting for my next question
to which am aware of, what its going to be including the answer.
Immediate Q - What do you mean by V and E ?
My Ans - V means Vertices and E means Edges.
Next Q - Was to explain Vertices and Edges ?
My Ans - Vertices can be defined as nodes in the space where Edges denote the magnitude or the distance between any two nodes.
Exp :
I could have said Graph is a relation of the form <V,E> where V means Vertices the nodal points in space and E means Edges the magnitude between any two nodes.
BUT the catch point is -
1)I made the interviewer ask me three questions instead of one.
2)I made him feel that I answered all the three.
3)More time is lapsed in between.
4)I was on the leading side than getting led by him.
Always make him ask you questions to which you know the answer.
Whatever you do or tell make it sure that you can justify that.
That will make the difference.
