Interview tips and tricks
Now that my "brief job journey" has ended for the moment, I feel as if a huge load has been taken off my back.
It has been a long journey; coupled with increasing self-inflicted pressure, and guilt that my parents and relatives are telling me to take it easy. But I know I am lucky, because I know quite a few people who haven’t found their dream job yet.
I am no expert, but my experiences have certainly taught me a few things.
1. Know what you want and know it well.
This means knowing the job specs very, very well and market yourself according to the job requirements. My failure to do so initially cost me dearly.
I have sent out so many resumes, that I have lost count. But I do know my very first resume sent out for a permanent job was for JP Morgan. The first one sent out by snail mail was Morgan Stanley. Notice the “big names” here. I sent them out as early as late March, weeks before my exams. That was how kiasu I was. At this juncture, I admit, I was attracted by the “big name” companies here, which isn’t a good thing. Because big-name companies have much more stringent criteria. And your lack of preparation would only be even more obvious if their HR personnel manage to “grill” you inside out.
Then as desperation started to creep in, I started applying for many different companies, as long as the job requirements were for fresh graduates, with a degree in business or any specialization.
This isn’t a good thing to do. Because I didn’t know exactly what I wanted. And it really pays to do research on the company when you get called up for an interview, or at the very least, be very clear of the job specs. Once, I had an interview with AIA as a management intern in backroom operations. I still can’t recall the exact title. When I got called up, I no longer could remember what the job was about because I sent the resume out eons ago. This is total disaster because it seems the standard practice among HR professionals is to ask the interviewee what they know about the requirements of the job. And of course, I was totally clueless about that AIA position. Not surprisingly, I flunked that interview. I knew it when they didn’t call within the 2 weeks they promised. And ever typical of the inefficiency of the HR dept, they sent the rejection letter to me nearly a month after the interview! Ouch!
2. Think out good answers to standard interview questions.
It really makes a lot of sense for your first interview to be a job that you aren’t very interested in. Because there are high chances that you might not do as well, due to lack of actual practice. The first interview would serve as a very good training ground for you to pick out the standard interview questions.
I am no guru in interview techniques but my brief brush with interviews has enabled me to pick out the following standard questions that should fit most interview contexts and come withboring acceptable answers.
a) Tell me more about yourself.
This is the time to market yourself as an outstanding individual who can contribute to the organization. Recalling the 1st point on knowing the job requirements very well, market yourself according to them. For example, if the job requires you to have good communication skills, provide evidence on areas where you have shown good communication skills. Such evidence should be from all areas possible, from work experiences, hall activities to school. This will reflect how all rounded you are.
The most important thing is to choose selective information that will show the interviewer your capabilities. Don’t go rattling off that your hobbies include shopping, eating and sleeping if they add zero value to you as a unique individual. Worse, it might just degrade you in the eyes of the interviewer! Sometimes, it helps to ‘keng’ a little. If your life is really so plain; you are only a passive member in CCAs, your grades are average etc, try to boost up seemingly minute interests. For example, if you enjoy playing soccer, say that sports helps to train your sense of endurance and determination and enhance your team dynamics. As a result, you like working in teams. This is not wrong at all; only exaggerated.
b) What made you apply for this position?
Mention that the job specs interest you, no matter how mundane they may be. Anyway, there must be some area of the job that interested you to apply for it, so mention it! It would be good to say that this job provides you with ample opportunity to learn. I got this advice from my aunt; we got to be really, really humble here and if possible, “suck up” to the organization.
And, NEVER EVER say this job is a very good stepping stone for my personal career path. This may sound obvious but I was silly enough to have committed this stupid mistake. Because this only means to the interviewers that this job is only a temporary thing, something for you to “test the waters”, and you will switch jobs once you find something better.
c) Where do you see yourself in five (some other time frame) years time?
Show your ambition here. Something like being able to achieve a significant degree of career advancement. This indicates your capabilities. You can talk about possibility of further studies, but it would be wise to mention that it would be on a part time basis and related to the position you are applying for, so that “you can contribute much more to the well being of the organization.” Shudder! I’ve got goose bumps already! Again, this is pretty obvious. Interviewers like to see commitment from their candidates.
d) You are a fresh graduate, with not much experience to speak of. How do you think you are able to contribute to our company?
Reiterate your answers in the “Tell me more about yourself” section. Things like good communication skills, team dynamics, ability to work well under pressure… and of course, willingness and capability to learn! After all, that’s what students are best at – learning!
e) Your major is in Finance (or your own major). Why didn’t you apply to work in the banks?
This applies especially if the job scope of the position you applied for is not exactly what you studied in school. Talk about the skills that can be transferable regardless of your major. I mentioned taking up finance has trained me to be meticulous and adopt a systematic approach to my work. It has also honed my patience too. You can crap a little about the university education system as well… like how NUS provides a very “broad based education and it has cultivated my interest in areas outside of finance.”
f) What do you think are your weaknesses?
I figured that instead of listing your weaknesses in a negative manner like “I am not very firm and tend to be too soft”, it might be better to say something like “I think I can still show greater firmness when dealing with unreasonable demands from people.” Lastly, mention how you intend to curb this weakness by providing solutions. At least it shows your interviewer that you recognize your own weaknesses and are willing to change it.
The list of questions is not exhaustive, by the way, but these questions are more or less “universal”, especially the first two questions. As the interview draws to an end and the interviewer asks if you have any questions for him/her, don’t ask about the salary/perks of the job/other benefits!! That should be avoided at the very first meeting. I usually ask these questions at the final interview. Typical questions I would ask include:
- What is a possible career path for me in this company?
- How is the organization structured? This is relevant, especially if the company has very diverse business units. But ask this question only if the information is not found in the website.
- How many rounds of interviews would there be?
- (How long I would need to wait before I know I am shortlisted for the next round)
3. Rehearse your interview script the night before.
Now that you have thought out answers to interview questions, it would be good to rehearse the interview. You rehearse your presentations a dozen times the night before; some even memorize their “speech”, so why not your interview?
It has been a long journey; coupled with increasing self-inflicted pressure, and guilt that my parents and relatives are telling me to take it easy. But I know I am lucky, because I know quite a few people who haven’t found their dream job yet.
I am no expert, but my experiences have certainly taught me a few things.
1. Know what you want and know it well.
This means knowing the job specs very, very well and market yourself according to the job requirements. My failure to do so initially cost me dearly.
I have sent out so many resumes, that I have lost count. But I do know my very first resume sent out for a permanent job was for JP Morgan. The first one sent out by snail mail was Morgan Stanley. Notice the “big names” here. I sent them out as early as late March, weeks before my exams. That was how kiasu I was. At this juncture, I admit, I was attracted by the “big name” companies here, which isn’t a good thing. Because big-name companies have much more stringent criteria. And your lack of preparation would only be even more obvious if their HR personnel manage to “grill” you inside out.
Then as desperation started to creep in, I started applying for many different companies, as long as the job requirements were for fresh graduates, with a degree in business or any specialization.
This isn’t a good thing to do. Because I didn’t know exactly what I wanted. And it really pays to do research on the company when you get called up for an interview, or at the very least, be very clear of the job specs. Once, I had an interview with AIA as a management intern in backroom operations. I still can’t recall the exact title. When I got called up, I no longer could remember what the job was about because I sent the resume out eons ago. This is total disaster because it seems the standard practice among HR professionals is to ask the interviewee what they know about the requirements of the job. And of course, I was totally clueless about that AIA position. Not surprisingly, I flunked that interview. I knew it when they didn’t call within the 2 weeks they promised. And ever typical of the inefficiency of the HR dept, they sent the rejection letter to me nearly a month after the interview! Ouch!
2. Think out good answers to standard interview questions.
It really makes a lot of sense for your first interview to be a job that you aren’t very interested in. Because there are high chances that you might not do as well, due to lack of actual practice. The first interview would serve as a very good training ground for you to pick out the standard interview questions.
I am no guru in interview techniques but my brief brush with interviews has enabled me to pick out the following standard questions that should fit most interview contexts and come with
a) Tell me more about yourself.
This is the time to market yourself as an outstanding individual who can contribute to the organization. Recalling the 1st point on knowing the job requirements very well, market yourself according to them. For example, if the job requires you to have good communication skills, provide evidence on areas where you have shown good communication skills. Such evidence should be from all areas possible, from work experiences, hall activities to school. This will reflect how all rounded you are.
The most important thing is to choose selective information that will show the interviewer your capabilities. Don’t go rattling off that your hobbies include shopping, eating and sleeping if they add zero value to you as a unique individual. Worse, it might just degrade you in the eyes of the interviewer! Sometimes, it helps to ‘keng’ a little. If your life is really so plain; you are only a passive member in CCAs, your grades are average etc, try to boost up seemingly minute interests. For example, if you enjoy playing soccer, say that sports helps to train your sense of endurance and determination and enhance your team dynamics. As a result, you like working in teams. This is not wrong at all; only exaggerated.
b) What made you apply for this position?
Mention that the job specs interest you, no matter how mundane they may be. Anyway, there must be some area of the job that interested you to apply for it, so mention it! It would be good to say that this job provides you with ample opportunity to learn. I got this advice from my aunt; we got to be really, really humble here and if possible, “suck up” to the organization.
And, NEVER EVER say this job is a very good stepping stone for my personal career path. This may sound obvious but I was silly enough to have committed this stupid mistake. Because this only means to the interviewers that this job is only a temporary thing, something for you to “test the waters”, and you will switch jobs once you find something better.
c) Where do you see yourself in five (some other time frame) years time?
Show your ambition here. Something like being able to achieve a significant degree of career advancement. This indicates your capabilities. You can talk about possibility of further studies, but it would be wise to mention that it would be on a part time basis and related to the position you are applying for, so that “you can contribute much more to the well being of the organization.” Shudder! I’ve got goose bumps already! Again, this is pretty obvious. Interviewers like to see commitment from their candidates.
d) You are a fresh graduate, with not much experience to speak of. How do you think you are able to contribute to our company?
Reiterate your answers in the “Tell me more about yourself” section. Things like good communication skills, team dynamics, ability to work well under pressure… and of course, willingness and capability to learn! After all, that’s what students are best at – learning!
e) Your major is in Finance (or your own major). Why didn’t you apply to work in the banks?
This applies especially if the job scope of the position you applied for is not exactly what you studied in school. Talk about the skills that can be transferable regardless of your major. I mentioned taking up finance has trained me to be meticulous and adopt a systematic approach to my work. It has also honed my patience too. You can crap a little about the university education system as well… like how NUS provides a very “broad based education and it has cultivated my interest in areas outside of finance.”
f) What do you think are your weaknesses?
I figured that instead of listing your weaknesses in a negative manner like “I am not very firm and tend to be too soft”, it might be better to say something like “I think I can still show greater firmness when dealing with unreasonable demands from people.” Lastly, mention how you intend to curb this weakness by providing solutions. At least it shows your interviewer that you recognize your own weaknesses and are willing to change it.
The list of questions is not exhaustive, by the way, but these questions are more or less “universal”, especially the first two questions. As the interview draws to an end and the interviewer asks if you have any questions for him/her, don’t ask about the salary/perks of the job/other benefits!! That should be avoided at the very first meeting. I usually ask these questions at the final interview. Typical questions I would ask include:
- What is a possible career path for me in this company?
- How is the organization structured? This is relevant, especially if the company has very diverse business units. But ask this question only if the information is not found in the website.
- How many rounds of interviews would there be?
- (How long I would need to wait before I know I am shortlisted for the next round)
3. Rehearse your interview script the night before.
Now that you have thought out answers to interview questions, it would be good to rehearse the interview. You rehearse your presentations a dozen times the night before; some even memorize their “speech”, so why not your interview?
This step really helped me a lot. In the beginning, the most I did to prepare for an interview was to read up on the company through its website, that was all. I didn’t believe in this step because I thought all interviews were unique; there was no way I could predict the questions asked. And true enough, when the interview started, I got stumped on some questions. They weren’t difficult questions. In fact, they were standard questions. So it really does help if you “play out” the interview in your mind beforehand.
4. Show your confidence. Stay calm.
This is easier said than done. It is so hard to keep calm especially if the interviewer looks very stern and starts bombarding you with cheem questions and frowns if you don’t provide the standard answers.
But as a kind friend advised me, one should go for an interview with an attitude that the company is interested in his capabilities and it would be the company’s loss, not his, if he doesn’t get selected. Does that sound better? Besides, being called up for an interview indicates that you have been successful in the first round of the job application.
There are other pointers like “look straight into the eyes of the interviewer”, “look sincere”, “prepare your attire, right down to the underwear the night before” but they are obvious right??
By the way, I am still waiting for StanChart to give me a call. Hurry up can!! I don’t have a lot of patience you know…
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