Job Interviews - Types, Preparation Tips and Guidance

In this article you learn the different stages of the job interview process and the purpose of each. You also learn the "codes of behavior" for different interview settings and situations. Interviews progress through different stages much as dates do, and each has codes of behavior. On a first date, the two parties are less familiar with each other, and each is polite and perhaps particularly reserved. The date might conclude with a peck on the cheek and a promise of a future phone call. The second date might be more relaxed. The couple might enjoy quiet time at home rather than going out on the town, and each person may feel less reserved as familiarity with the other increases. And so it progresses, as each continues to learn about the other and forms opinions about shared values and interests. Job interviews are a slightly different version of the same process. While love and lifelong togetherness aren't being considered, the process still involves two parties assessing each other for a long-term commitment. Each is forming an opinion of the other; values, interests, talents, and personality are being explored. And the interviewprocess progresses through levels of familiarity just like the dating game. The Three Levels of Interviews The interview process generally progresses through three levels interviews: 1. The Screening Interview The first interview is the screening interview. Its purpose is to weed out applicants who do not meet the basic skill requirements for a position. You are especially likely to encounter a screening interview if you respond to an ad in the newspaper. The screening interview may be skipped if there is a mutual connection or some prior interaction between the job applicant and the company doing the hiring. In this case, the company already knows you have the basic qualifications for the job, so it doesn't need to screen your skills base. If you encounter a screening interview, fine-tune your performance by paying attention to these tips: 1. The purpose of the screening interview is to screen you out. Be careful not to reveal any negatives. 2. The screening interview focuses on your basic skill levels, rather than your personality characteristics. Be positive and confident about your ability to do the job. 3. The screening interview often takes place over the telephone. Be prepared! Keep the materials you may need close to the phone. 4. Screen interviews are often conducted by the human resources department. Write down the name of the interviewer. If the interview takes place in person, write a thank-you note. 5. Tell the screener you are interested in the job, if you are. Show your enthusiasm. 6. Don't forget to ask about the next step in the interview process. 2. The Hiring Interview The next interview level takes place after the screening interviews have reduced the number of job candidates. If the hiring company put an employment ad in the paper, these numbers may have been reduced from about 400 respondents to maybe 6 to 8 job candidates (depending upon the number of jobs to be filled and the level of the position). The purpose of the hiring interview is to ensure that the candidate is a right fit for the company and for the position being filled. The focus is no longer on screening you out, but on screening you in. Here are some tips on keeping yourself in the running: 1. The hiring interview is usually conducted by the manager with whom you would be working. Now is the time to let your personality shine! 2. Recognize that if you have made it this far, you are probably one of the chosen few candidates. Tell the interviewer more than just the information on your resume. 3. The focus of the hiring interview is on your unique skills, experience, management style, and so on. The company is already convinced that you have the knowledge to do the job now show how well your personality, motivation, and skills fit with the company's needs. 4. A thank-you note is absolutely vital. Check spelling and grammar. (See Lesson 16 for sample thank-you notes.) 3. The Confirmation Interview The confirmation interview takes place after you have been identified as the leading candidate by the department or manlier for whom you would work. This interview is conducted by the boss's boss. Essentially, the big boss is giving his or her -tamp of approval on a decision that has already been made. Follow these guidelines to survive this level of interview: 1. Unless the big boss starts to ask specific skill-related questions, there is no need to try to prove your qualifications for the job. He or she is not in this to disprove your credibility; he or she simply wants to get a good feeling about you. 2. Spend time building rapport. The big boss is more concerned with your motivated abilities such as atti¬tude and good judgment. If the two of you have similar interests, let the conversation go there. 3. Express enthusiasm and interest in the position. Key in on the needs of the firm and your ideas and strategies regarding those needs. In this article you learned the three progressive levels of the job interview and how to handle each level of interview with finesse.

Applying for job-Sample Resume

You wonder when you listen that applying for a job is an art. When you apply for a job by sending a good resume and curriculum vitae you must present in such a way that the employer should believe that you are the one perfect for that job. U can use the below resume by changing respective fields.
Many people and unemployed will be applying for many jobs and they feel disappointed when their resume/Curriculum vitae gets rejected.
Writing a resume and presenting your skills is an art and it should be written in a proper way in order to impress the excecutives of the company.
It should be written in such a way that they should choose you among others even if they are well qualified than you. For this presentation is very important.
You should write resume such a way that they reflect your skills at each and every line of it. You should present your self that though you are not well qualified or not well experienced,you should show that you have good comminication skills, soft skills and leadership qualities. These are the most worthy things that every company will be expecting from their employee.
You should not write resume in such a way that you are begging for the job. The skills presented by you should be commanding. You should please them to such an extent that they should hire
you even by giving a huge payout.

I had enclosed a sample resume with curriculum vitae below that mostly suits for IT jobs. You can just replace the contents present in braces " ( ) " with respective words and you can write your own resume.
You can replace the names with your names, institute name, company name for which you are applying for. Note that it is very much recommended to add your image link and mail id so that the employer can
understand that you have good computer skills. All the best for your job.

Sample Resume:

Please accept my enthusiastic application for (The post you are applying) - (The field your profession belongs to).I would love the opportunity to work as a (Human Resource member) for
(The company you are applying for).
As soon as I got to know the description of the position and the required skills, I knew I was a well-efficient candidate for the job.

You specify that you are looking for someone with strong intention in working in (The respective field you are applying for).

I can fulfill your requirement.I can be both academically successful,innovative ,flexible and resourceful.

I have acquired skills that can prove valuable as (Human resource team member).
My encounter with (The company or Institute where you have got some experience) has helped me gain experience in (The work you had done in that organisation/describe each work briefly) and I know I will be able to apply these abilities as (Human resource member) of (The company you are applying for).

I am therefore confident that my experience, skills, academic record and resourcefulness are just the qualities you are looking for .
I have enclosed my curriculum vitae below
-------------------
Curriculum Vitae
ABOUT ME
Name: XXXXXXXXXX
Father name: XXXXXXXXX
Age & DOB: XX years, DD-MM-YYYY
PHOTO: (Image URL)
Sex: Male/Female
Marital Status: Single/Married
Nationality: Indian
Hobbies: Any things in which you are interested,sports and other things you do for time pass.
EDUCATION:
Degree college name(Year of pass)
Percentage scored: XX%

Intermediate college name(Year of pass)
Percentage scored: XX%

School where you studied(Year of pass)
Percentage scored: 93%


TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE:

Languages: Programming languages or any related technical background
Platforms: Computer/Embedded systems/Mechanics

Key Skills

EXPERT IN ENGLISH, TYPING ,ONLINE MARKETING, BASIC PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES with good communication skills , soft skills and leadership qualities.(you need to show your best qualities here)


Permanent Address :

Full name,
Hno XX-XX-XX,
floor,
Any land mark,
Place,
constituency,
City-Pin Code


--------------------

I would love the chance to speak further with you about my opportunities with (The company you are applying for).

Thank you so much for your valuble time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Full name,
Ph : XXXXXXXXXX,
XXXXXXXX@gmail.com

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BPO/Call Center Interview Question and Answers

1.Tell me some thing about your self?

This is first and foremost asked question in many of the interviews.
There are many reasons to ask this question few of them are

To make the interviewee comfortable

Just to kick start the interview process

To know the interviewee in a nutshell

There is no hard and fast rule to answer this question. Answer to this question should not be too short or too long. Points to be covered are
Full Name or First and last name:

Age

Experience

Education

Strengths

Weakness

Hobbies

Family details

Note:

Correct: My name is …………… (My name is Rahul Nandamuri)
Or
I am ……………. (Example: I am Rahul Nandamuri)
Incorrect: My self is Rahul Nandamuri

Correct : I am 21 years old
Or
I am 21.

Correct:
I am presently working as customer care officer.

Strengths:

Strengths totally depend on the person.

Mention two or three strengths , the mention strengths which are useful to the organization.

Weakness:

Do not say I do not have any weakness, No body is perfect in this world is an accepted fact.

Mention weakness and say you are working on it. In few weeks or months you will overcome the weakness.


Note: Family details should be preferably given in the last.

2. What are your hobbies?

Hobbies are totally depends on the individual.
If the interviewee says his/her hobby is reading books, next question would be what is the last book you have read. What are the books you have read in the recent past, who is the author of the book, who is favorite author etc questions will be followed.

Note: Avoid saying I read weekly's like swathi, Andhra jyothi etc.

Mention books which enhance your knowledge level.

3.What are your salary expectations?

As per the company norms/ or as per the industry norms.

20 to 30% is generally accepted hike that can be expected.

Avoid giving a particular figure like 2.5 pa or 3.0 pa.

Do not's in the interview:
1. Never lie in the interview
2. Never urgue with the interviewer
3. Do not bluff
4. Do not bad mouth your previous employer
5. Do not go late to the interview
6. Do not urgue ,pick a quarrel with receptionist ,security etc

To be continued...

BPO/Call Center Job Interview Model/Rounds Rounds in BPO will be different from company to company. Number of rounds varies from 3 to 8. First Round: JUST A MINUTE (JAM) session: In this round a topic is given and asked to speak about the topic for a minute. Topics will be something like 1.My favorite color. 2.My College days. 3.Your Role model. 4.My Memorable moment. 5.My Unforgettable moment. 6.My best telephonic conversation 7.Recently watched Movie Second Round: Voice and Accent Round:: This test is primarily conducted to know whether the interviewee has Mother Tongue Influence (MTI) or not. People whose mother tongue is not English will pronounce English words differently compared to native English speakers. Interviewee is asked to read a passage aloud. Where MTI, rate of speed, grammar, pronunciation is checked Words like the following are asked to read aloud. 1.Jose 2.Massachusetts 3.Chicago 4.Mississippi Some English tapes are played; interviewee is checked whether he/she understands the language, this test is similar to TOEFL. Third Round:: HR Interview Question: 1. Tell me something about yourself? 2. Are you willing to work in rotation shifts? 3. Are you willing to work in night shift? 4. What do you know about call center/BPO? 5. Are you under any medication? 6. Where do you see yourself after 5 years from now? 7. Are you a team player? If yes why do you think so? 8. Did do attend any interview in the recent past? 9. What is your dream job? 10. Why should I hire you? 11. What is your expected salary? 12. Are you willing to sign a bond? 13. Are your ready to submit your original documents? 14. Why did you leave your last job? 15. What is your bitter experience with your previous employer? 16. Are are willing to relocate? 17. Are you willing to work in the graveyard shift? 18. Tell me something about you family? 19. Tell me the story of the last movie you have seen? 20. What is MTI (Mother Tongue Influence)? 21. How do you handle an irate customer? 22. What is typing speed? 23. Do you know any software? 24. What are your strengths? 25. What are your weaknesses? 26. What do you know about this organization? 27. Do you want to ask any me any questions? In the next article I would suggest answers to the above questions.