1. So, tell me a little about yourself.

I'd be very surprised if you haven't been asked this one at every interview. It's probably the most asked question because it sets the stage for the interview and it gets you talking. Be careful not to give the interviewer your life story here. You don't need to explain everything from birth to present day. Relevant facts about education, your career and your current life situation are fine. 2. Why are you looking (or why did you leave you last job)? This should be a straightforward question to answer, but it can trip you up. Presumably you are looking for a new job (or any job) because you want to advance your career and get a position that allows you to grow as a person and an employee. It's not a good idea to mention money here, it can make you sound mercenary. And if you are in the unfortunate situation of having been downsized, stay positive and be as brief as possible about it. If you were fired, you'll need a good explanation. But once again, stay positive. 3. Tell me what you know about this company. Do your homework before you go to any interview. Whether it's being the VP of marketing or the mailroom clerk, you should know about the company or business you're going to work for. Has this company been in the news lately? Who are the people in the company you should know about? Do the background work, it will make you stand out as someone who comes prepared, and is genuinely interested in the company and the job. 4. Why do you want to work at X Company? This should be directly related to the last question. Any research you've done on the company should have led you to the conclusion that you'd want to work there. After all, you're at the interview, right? Put some thought into this answer before you have your interview, mention your career goals and highlight forward-thinking goals and career plans. 5. What relevant experience do you have? Hopefully if you're applying for this position you have bags of related experience, and if that's the case you should mention it all. But if you're switching careers or trying something a little different, your experience may initially not look like it's matching up. That's when you need a little honest creativity to match the experiences required with the ones you have. People skills are people skills after all, you just need to show how customer service skills can apply to internal management positions, and so on.

6. If your previous co-workers were here, what would they say about you? Ok, this is not the time for full disclosure. If some people from your past are going to say you're a boring A-hole, you don't need to bring that up. Stay positive, always, and maybe have a few specific quotes in mind. "They'd say I was a hard worker" or even better "John Doe has always said I was the most reliable, creative problem-solver he'd ever met." 7. Have you done anything to further your experience? This could include anything from night classes to hobbies and sports. If it's related, it's worth mentioning. Obviously anything to do with further education is great, but maybe you're spending time on a home improvement project to work on skills such as selfsufficiency, time management and motivation. 8. Where else have you applied? This is a good way to hint that you're in demand, without sounding like you're whoring yourself all over town. So, be honest and mention a few other companies but don't go into detail. The fact that you're seriously looking and keeping your options open is what the interviewer is driving at. 9. How are you when you're working under pressure? Once again, there are a few ways to answer this but they should all be positive. You may work well under pressure, you may thrive under pressure, and you may actually PREFER working under pressure. If you say you crumble like aged blue cheese, this is not going to help you get your foot in the door. 10. What motivates you to do a good job? The answer to this one is not money, even if it is. You should be motivated by life's noble pursuits. You want recognition for a job well done. You want to become better at your job. You want to help others or be a leader in your field. 11. What's your greatest strength? This is your chance to shine. You're being asked to explain why you are a great employee, so don't hold back and stay do stay positive. You could be someone who thrives under pressure, a great motivator, an amazing problem solver or someone with extraordinary attention to detail. If your greatest strength, however, is to drink anyone

under the table or get a top score on Mario Kart, keep it to yourself. The interviewer is looking for work-related strengths. 12. What's your biggest weakness? If you're completely honest, you may be kicking yourself in the butt. If you say you don't have one, you're obviously lying. This is a horrible question and one that politicians have become masters at answering. They say things like "I'm perhaps too committed to my work and don't spend enough time with my family." Oh, there's a fireable offense. I've even heard "I think I'm too good at my job, it can often make people jealous." Please, let's keep our feet on the ground. If you're asked this question, give a small, workrelated flaw that you're working hard to improve. Example: "I've been told I occasionally focus on details and miss the bigger picture, so I've been spending time laying out the complete project every day to see my overall progress." 13. Let's talk about salary. What are you looking for? Run for cover! This is one tricky game to play in an interview. Even if you know the salary range for the job, if you answer first you're already showing all your cards. You want as much as possible, the employer wants you for as little as you're willing to take. Before you apply, take a look at salary.com for a good idea of what someone with your specific experience should be paid. You may want to say, "well, that's something I've thought long and hard about and I think someone with my experience should get between X & Y." Or, you could be sly and say, "right now, I'm more interested in talking more about what the position can offer my career." That could at least buy you a little time to scope out the situation. But if you do have a specific figure in mind and you are confident that you can get it, I'd say go for it. I have on many occasions, and every time I got very close to that figure (both below and sometimes above). 14. Are you good at working in a team? Unless you have the I.Q. of a houseplant, you'll always answer YES to this one. It's the only answer. How can anyone function inside an organization if they are a loner? You may want to mention what part you like to play in a team though; it's a great chance to explain that you're a natural leader. 15. Tell me a suggestion you have made that was implemented. It's important here to focus on the word "implemented." There's nothing wrong with having a thousand great ideas, but if the only place they live is on your notepad what's the point? Better still, you need a good ending. If your previous company took your

advice and ended up going bankrupt, that's not such a great example either. Be prepared with a story about an idea of yours that was taken from idea to implementation, and considered successful. 16. Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with? Of course, you have a list as long as your arm. But you can't say that, it shows you as being negative and difficult to work with. The best way to answer this one is to think for a while and then say something like "I've always got on just fine with my co-workers actually." 17. Is there anyone you just could not work with? No. Well, unless you're talking about murderers, racists, rapists, thieves or other dastardly characters, you can work with anyone. Otherwise you could be flagged as someone who's picky and difficult if you say, "I can't work with anyone who's a Bronco's fan. Sorry." 18. Tell me about any issues you've had with a previous boss. Arrgh! If you fall for this one you shouldn't be hired anyway. The interviewer is testing you to see if you'll speak badly about your previous supervisor. Simply answer this question with extreme tact, diplomacy and if necessary, a big fat loss of memory. In short, you've never had any issues. 19. Would you rather work for money or job satisfaction? It's not a very fair question is it? We'd all love to get paid a Trump-like salary doing a job we love but that's rare indeed. It's fine to say money is important, but remember that NOTHING is more important to you than the job. Otherwise, you're just someone looking for a bigger paycheck. 20. Would you rather be liked or feared? I have been asked this a lot, in various incarnations. The first time I just drew a blank and said, "I don't know." That went over badly, but it was right at the start of my career when I had little to no experience. Since then I've realized that my genuine answer is "Neither, I'd rather be respected." You don't want to be feared because fear is no way to motivate a team. You may got the job done but at what cost? Similarly, if you're everyone's best friend you'll find it difficult to make tough decisions or hit deadlines. But

when you're respected, you don't have to be a complete bastard or a lame duck to get the job done. 21. Are you willing to put the interests of X Company ahead of your own? Again, another nasty question. If you say yes, you're a corporate whore who doesn't care about family. If you say no, you're disloyal to the company. I'm afraid that you'll probably have to say yes to this one though, because you're trying to be the perfect employee at this point, and perfect employees don't cut out early for Jimmy's baseball game. 22. So, explain why I should hire you. As I'm sure you know, "because I'm great" or "I really need a job" are not good answers here. This is a time to give the employer a laundry list of your greatest talents that just so happen to match the job description. It's also good to avoid taking potshots at other potential candidates here. Focus on yourself and your talents, not other people's flaws. 23. Finally, do you have any questions to ask me? I'll finish the way I started, with one of the most common questions asked in interviews. This directly relates to the research you've done on the company and also gives you a chance to show how eager and prepared you are. You'll probably want to ask about benefits if they haven't been covered already. A good generic one is "how soon could I start, if I were offered the job of course." You may also ask what you'd be working on. Specifically, in the role you're applying for and how that affects the rest of the company. Always have questions ready, greeting this one with a blank stare is a rotten way to finish your interview. Good luck and happy job hunting.

1) Tell me something about yourself? I am a person with strong interpersonal skills and have the ability to get along well with people. I enjoy challenges and looking for creative solutions to problems. OR Besides the details given in my resume, I believe in character values, vision and action. I am quick in learning from mistakes. I am confident that the various tests that you have conducted will corroborate my competencies aptitude and right attitude for the job. 2) What do you seek from a job? I would like a job which gives me a chance to apply all that I have learned in college as well as one which enables me to grow as a professional. I would like a role which enables me to make a difference. OR Great learning opportunities, challenging roles, rational career progression, good job satisfaction and opportunities to use my strength organization that gives me the opportunity to serve the organization and the society. 3) How would you present your strengths ? Always remember DO NOT SIMPLY STATE YOUR STRENGTHS. YOU DO HAVE SOME STRENGTHS AND TRY TO CONVERT YOUR STRENGTHS INTO BENEFITS. IN SHORT TRY TO ADVERTIZE YOURSELF BY CONVERTING YOUR FEATURES INTO STRENGTHS. You can answer in two ways : a) I am a hard worker and because of this ability I can work for additional hours to accomplish my tasks.

I am commitment oriented and hence I always enjoy the trust and confidence of my team mates which enables me to perform my duties very easily. I am adaptable, so I can handle any type of people and situations and also bring out the best from them in spite of conflicting situations or opinions. I am a quick learner, so I can any subject quickly and analyze my job and add value to it as well as I can identify the problem and solve them faster and better. b) My strength is that I have very strong values and ethics and a very good eye for detail. I believe in strong relationships and have a very supportive family and very good friends. 4) Do you have any weakness? Always remember Try to specify your weakness as your strength and also highlight it as a benefit. Theres a saying
Quote:

However small the thorn maybe it has the ability to pierce.

So never highlight your weakness unless specifically asked. Answer: One of my weaknesses as I perceive it would be occasional compromise on time for quality and perfection. 5) Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? I see myself as a _______ in your esteemed organization where by with all my enhanced learning and skill, I shall be able to make up a valuable and meaningful contribution to your

organization. 6) Tell us an incident where you had a problem with your team-mate. How did you handle it? Once I had a problem with my team-mate in college who was my partner in my field work assignment. We had a disagreement on how to present our project report. I explained my point of view to her and asked her for her view point. Ive found that when conflict occurs, its because of a failure to see both sides of the situation. At that point we found a compromise could be reached by incorporating both our ideas. 7) Is there anything else that we should know about you that would impact our decision? I am a continuous learner and try to keep myself abreast of all developments in the field of IT. Also since I do not quit in the face of toughest challenges, I am certain that I would be able to achieve the targets that I set for myself and beyond. 8) How do you deal with criticism? You cant please everyone, so just please yourself. You are your best critic. Some people are just not going to like you. Accept it. 9) Did you have any failures in your life? I failed to score a good percentage in my intermediate. I worked hard for it but scored less than what I expected. 10) What have you learnt from your failures? From my failures I have learnt to analyze myself and find out my shortcomings. Those shortcomings are the areas of future improvement for me and I have undertaken seriously to improve

myself on those relevant areas. One more thing I learned is never to give up, never to feel rejected.
Quote:

Accepting a failure is a mans great trait.

11) If after sometime you start disliking the job? What would you do? Well, if such situation then my first priority would be to look within myself and try to find out any shortcomings or lack of skills and techniques. If such things happen then I would try to improve and rectify myself. Still if I dont get an answer then I will speak to my seniors and colleagues to learn my mistakes so that I become more user friendly to my organization. 12) What are your salary expectations? Never bargain for your 1st job. Its a cardinal rule. Sir, before answering to your question I would like to ask you with your kind permission what salary you provide to new entrants in your organization at this level. 13) Can you give three reasons why would you like to join our company? Three reasons why I would like to join your company are: a) Since your company provides a strong core competency, very strong value systems and best practices so I believe I have a strong vision of viewing me as a project leader in your company. b) Your company has one of the fastest growth rates and turnover in the industry and that would mean a faster growth rate for me as a professional.

c) The practices of your company are more employee and customer oriented. 14) Do you have any questions to ask us? Never ask Salary, perks, leave, place of posting, etc. regarded questions. Try to ask more about the company to show how early you can make a contribution to your organization like Sir, with your kind permission I would like to know more about induction and developmental programs? OR Sir, I would like to have my feedback, so that I can analyze and improve my strengths and rectify my shortcomings. 15) How do you think our company determines success in an employee? Well, I think your company measures success in an employee in three parameters a) Competence i.e how well one is able to perform his job with the least possible supervision. b) Co-operation or Interpersonal skills i.e how well the employees adapt or adjust themselves with a wide variety of situations. c) Integrity of characters well a man with the above mentioned factors but lacks character is incomplete and unsuccessful. 16) Why from ECE to IT domain? Sir, since I am a student of ECE, as u know that ECE/CSE/IT are sister branches and all are interrelated and secondly I think it will be of my best if I utilize my sharp analytical skills in a software industry so I basically do not have any problem to SWITCH

from ECE to IT. And I believe flexibility must be there within us to progress in life. 17) If you were an animal/ a can of soup/ some other random object which one would you prefer and why? I would be a can of soup one that has a variety of flavors, bubbling with enthusiasm. I would associate my determined attitude with the cans tough exterior. I would believe that whatever the label on the can, the content are always a surprise. OR I would like to be the mind of the CEO I would then know exactly how complex issues are so thoughtfully analyzed, how prioritizing happens and how accurate decisions which affect numerous stakeholders are made. I would know how almost intuitively, they know what the next big things are and their risk taking abilities. 18) Suppose I tell you I dont like your face, then why should I select you? Even if you do not like my face, you definitely would agree that I have other qualities that appealed you, for which you are now interviewing me. Theres a saying
Quote:

A mans face is not indicative of his abilities. A book is not judged by its cover but it is judged by its contents.

19) Suppose you find yourself in a deserted island. What three things you will need to survive? Food, Water and Hope (that one day I will definitely come out from this island).

20) How mobile are you? I am absolutely mobile. Well I can go to any part of the country or even abroad if situation permits. 21) How do you think you conducted or performed during this interview? I think I have conducted myself in the best possible manner by satisfying your queries through my specific answers which I feel were logical, systematic and to the point. Through my answer my true worth as a dynamic and competent professional has come out fair and square and I am happy with my performance which would ensure my selection in this esteemed organization. 22) Can you work under pressure? If yes, how please explain? Sir, I can handle pressure of work. Let me explain how. Whenever there is pressure of work, we need to tackle it from the mental and physical stand-point. Mental stand-point would mean being in a state of relaxation and composure so that I do not feel stressed out during the course of my work and from physical stand-point; I always prioritize my job in their exact order of merit and importance so that I can dispose them off quickly and effectively. For more answers and details, visit : http://uttambpt.blogspot.com