හිතවත් පාඨකයිනි, කාරුණික ආරාධනයයි !!!! .....Preparing for the interview........

ශ්‍රි ලංකාවේ සෑම වසරකම අ.පො.ස- සා.පෙ / උ.පෙ විභාගවලින් අසමත් වන අපගෙ ආදර සහොදර, සහොදරියන් සඳහා සුදුසු රෑකියාවක් සොයාගෑනිම සඳහා නිසිලෙස සම්මුක පරික්ෂනයට මුහුණ දිමත්, තම අයදුම්පත සකසා ගෑනිමටත් අවශය මගපෙන්විම සහා පෑහෑදිලිකිරිම් මා විසින් පහත සඳහන් ආකාරයෙන් "ඉංග්‍රිසි බසින්" දක්වා ඈත.

එයද "අන්තර්ජාලයෙන්" උපුටා සකසනලදි. හුදෙක් එය සමාජ සත්කාරය සඳහාමය.

මෙම මගපෙන්විම "සිංහල බසින්" දෑක්විය හෑකිනම් එයද වඩාත් ප්‍රයොජනවිය හෑක. ඔබ අතරින් හෑකි කෙනෙක් මෙය "සිංහල බසට" පරිවර්ථනය කිරිමට හෑකිවෙනම්  එය අපගෙ ආදර සහොදර, සහොදරියන් හට ඉතා ප්‍රයොජන විය හෑකිය. අත හිත ඈති කෙනෙක් වෙතොත් කරුණාකර සහයොගය දක්වන්න.

එය ඔබගෙ බ්ලොග් වලද ප්‍රචාරය කල හෑක. ස්තුතියි.

Preparing for the interview ?

Always come prepared !     

Here are a few tips on ensuring that you have a successful one !

• Come a little before the appointed time (about 5 to 10 minutes in advance).
• Just before entering the office use breath mints to freshen your breath. If you are chewing gum on the way, get rid of it before you enter the interview venue.
• Look the interviewers in the eye and hold a firm handshake.
• Dress to impress but be sure you are comfortable in your clothes. This will boost your confidence as you will look and feel great.
• Test on your outfit in advance. Have them ready the night before the interview so you avoid missing anything in a rush.

20 interview tips

·         1.   10 seconds to sell or say so long.

Unless your resume catches the interviewer's eye in 10 seconds it's over, you're done. So the big question is how do I catch the interviewer's eye? Here comes the best advice on how to get a job interview you'll ever get. Cater your resume to the job description! I can't stress this point enough. It's imperative that you cater your resume to each position you apply for. And I mean taking each line on the job description and writing a line on your resume to reflect your experience with regard to that line.

Yes, it takes more time than sending the same resume to 100's of jobs, but you're far better off applying to a fraction of those jobs with a resume specifically written for each job. Put yourself in the interviewer's shoes. Their job is to hire the most qualified candidate. They've been given a set of qualifications to look for: aka the job description, and that's exactly what they're after, so give it to them!

·         2. Be on time.

There is no excuse for it, none! You don't want a pissed off person interviewing you. Leave extra early, do whatever it takes. Blaming it on traffic or anything else doesn't matter (even if it's true).

·         3. Cell phone off.

Obvious but easily forgotten, at least it was with 2 of the people interviewed. Double and triple check to make sure your cell phone ringer is turned off.

·         4. Know the company, and why you want to work there.

Google the company you're interviewing for. Learn as much as you can about the company's mission, objectives, goals, and future plans. If you're asked why you want to work for the company, you best answer something better then, "I like the company's location", which was said.

·         5. Bring resumes.

Your interviewer(s) will likely have a copy of your resume but bring spares. It shows you're prepared and serious about getting the job.

·         6. Bring a notepad. ( According to your Vacancy)

Very few people bring a notepad with them to a job interview. It's a very subtle thing that makes you stand out. Take notes when appropriate.

·         7. Dress in a clean conservative manner.

Make sure you go into a job interview having showered and wearing clean clothes. If you like wearing cologne or perfume, don't wear any on the day of the interview. What's subtle smelling to you may be overwhelming to your interviewer.

·         8. Profiles to private.

If you don't think interviewers Google you or look you up on Facebook or MySpace, you're crazy. Hiring managers I've talked to all do this, as one put it, "to weed out people who wouldn't be a good fit in the company's culture." Don't give them ammo to not like you, set your profiles to private.

·         9. Don't make jokes.

Too many people think they are funny when in reality they're not. A job interview isn't the place to test your material. Be friendly and outgoing, save the jokes.

·         10. Don't babble.

When answering a question, answer the question. Don't start out answering a question and then veer off to talk about something else. Make sure your answer directly reflects the question being asked.

·         11. Don't badmouth a boss.

Bad mouthing a previous boss in a job interview is a huge negative. They may have been the worst boss in the world but expressing that in a job interview is a huge mistake.

·         12. Don't flirt with the interviewer.

Common sense but needs to be stated.

·         13. Don't play with your face/hair.

Interviews can be a nervous experience but rubbing your chin, twirling your hair, or anything else along those lines makes you look like you're lying or lacking confidence, both not good.

·         14. Less is more.

Sometimes certain details of your life are better left unsaid.

·         15. Have good eye contact.

Staring at the floor, ceiling, or wall when speaking or listening makes you appear disinterested. Again, simple and obvious but happens way more then you'd think.

·         16. Have goals.

Maybe you don't have any idea where you want to be in a few years professionally but figure out something to say. If you don't and you're asked, you appear un-ambitious, which leads an interviewer to think you'd be a lazy employee.

·         17. Have accomplishments.

Be prepared to talk about something that you're proud of accomplishing, whether professionally or personally (or a failure and what you learned from it).

·         18. Have passion.

Be able to express why you want to work in that field/industry and what you do to further your knowledge (books, blogs you read). The more intelligent or informed you are the more impressive you'll look.

·         19. Ask Questions.

At the end of the job interview make sure you have some questions to ask. If the interviewer doesn't offer you a chance, ask to ask. Again, it reinforces your strong interest in the job.

·         20. Send a thank you note.

It's easy to send an email but take the extra effort to mail your interviewer a hand written thank you note. It reinforces your interest in the job. It doesn't need to be long, just make it sincere.

There you have it. The best job interview tips you'll ever get. Stick to them and you'll be on your way to getting hired!

Common  Interview Questions 

Try to go through these questions and think of the best way to answer them:

1. So can you tell me a little about yourself ? How would you describe your personality ?

2. Tell me about the course you studied in college ?

3. Have you ever used a .....(for example, a photocopy machine) ? Explain.

4. What are your computer skills like?  Which programs have you used?

5. Why are you applying for this position ?

6. How do you deal with customers?

7. What do you think are the most important qualities for this job?

8. What are your greatest accomplishments? 

9. What is your greatest strength?

10. What is the toughest problem you've had to deal with and how did you overcome it?

11. Are you prepared to work overtime?

 
12. Why are you the best person for this job?

13. How do you take direction and criticism? 

14. What are your career objectives?

15. You have very little experience in this field. How will you deal with this?

 

Prepare  for the Top 10 challenging Interview Questions

 

1. What Are Your Weaknesses?

This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: "I am always working on improving my communication skills to be a more effective presenter. I recently joined Toastmasters, which I find very helpful."

2. Why Should We Hire You?

Summarize your experiences: "With five years' experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I'm confident I would be a great addition to your team."

3. Why Do You Want to Work Here?

The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you've given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. For example, "I've selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices."

4. What Are Your Goals?

Sometimes it's best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For example, "My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. I hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility."

5. Why Did You Leave (Or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job?

If you're unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: "I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me."

If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: "After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience."

6. When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?

The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. "I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me."

7. What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't?

What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: "I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly."

8. What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?

It's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: "My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor."

9. What Salary Are You Seeking?

It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: "I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?"

10. If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?

Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer "a bunny," you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer "a lion," you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?

Dressing for an Interview

Make a great first impression!

Whatever the position, remember that you must dress to impress. Wearing a suit or business attire is the best way to dress for any interview. Remember you can wear anything you want after you have landed the job but not when you are still just applying for it!

Dressing Tips for Men

Wear dark business suits, coordinated tie and shirt. Polish your shoes! A briefcase or portfolio would also help you nail that 'serious businessman' look which is the norm for interviews. Make sure your hair looks neatly groomed. No flashy jewellery or piercings! In most cases, the boring, conservative look works.

Dressing Tips for Women

Wear a coordinated business suit with dark colours. If you are wearing a skirt, be sure they are long enough so that they don't make you feel uncomfortable when you sit. Usually something a few inches below the knees especially in this culture, the longer skirts would be preferable. If you are wearing jewellery, tone them down to conservative and not flambouyant (for example, do not wear dangling earrings). Sensible closed shoes (not sandals or peep-toes) with about 1.5 - 2 inches heels are advisable. Keep you hair in place and be sure to be well-groomed with light make-up only.

The Perfect CV.

Still need more CV ideas? 

Be sure to remember these things when preparing your Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV): 

1. Write your CV using clean, easy to read fonts. Use headings, text size and font styles effectively. 

2. Include your personal details and contact numbers, email and mailing address.

3. Check and double-check your resume for errors. Grammatical and spelling errors give the wrong impression that you did not prepare your CV well, or warn the employer that your work is sloppy and you are not efficient.

Your Questions ?

What can you ask?

An interview is a two-way thing. Future employers try to gauge your personality, capabilities and way of thinking using questions they have formulated to ask you, as well as with those that you will ask them.

You may ask:

1. What's a typical work day/week here?

2. How many people work in this department?

3. What are the top priorities of the person who accepts this job?

4. How will my performance be measured? By whom? How often?

5. Does the organization support ongoing training and education for employees to stay current in their fields?

6. Could you tell me about the way the job has been performed in the past? And, what improvements you'd like to see happen?

7. When I responded to your question regarding my past experience handling stress, you commented that you have your share of that here. Could you tell me more about the stress level here?

8. I am very interested in pursuing this job, or possibly other job openings within your company. What is the next step in the hiring process?

9. I read on the company / organization / agency website that employees have recently done presentations at XX conference. Is that a typical opportunity in the job for which I am interviewing? Are there specific professional organizations employees have been encouraged to join?

10. How much guidance or assistance is made available to individuals in developing career goals?

You cannot ask too many questions as that would also appear that you didn't bother to read about the company or learn about the job description of the position you are applying for. Most of your questions will probably be answered during the interview process so try to pace the questions and answers coming from both ends, yours and your future employers.

Do not ask questions that you can answer by browsing through the company's website so be sure to visit the website before your go for your interview.

Never ask about the salary and benefits unless this topic was initiated by the interviewers.

Practical Advice.

The Power of Positive Thinking

Own the job even when you are just on your initial interview. This will show in your manner and questions and will tell employers that you are serious and willing to be part of their organisation.

Come Prepared

Read about the company you are joining. Find out who are the top management. Know the background of the company. This way, you can ask pertinent questions about it during the interview and it will show that you have done your homework.

Follow-Up

Be sure to send a thank you letter or email to the interviewer(s) and also ask for feedback about your interview. You may not get the job but you can start to network with the people and perhaps they will consider you for a better position that what you have originally applied for.

Ranjan De Mel