Dated July 20, 2005
"Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer. How did you handle the situation and what happened?"
SUNIL SRIVASTAVA
Hyderabad
"While working as a sales executive for __________ __________, I was given an account that had been mishandled by our company in the past. When this customer came in to place a large, new order, she was angry, expressing dissatisfaction with our past service and asked us to guarantee superior work at least this time around."
"I wanted to maintain this customer relationship, but also to not promise service we could not deliver and compound the problem. I expressed regret to her over the past service problems and told her I would review her order in detail with my supervisor and get back to her within 24 hours."
"I scheduled a meeting with my supervisor and we reviewed her order, identifying potential pitfalls, resulting in our adjusting the services we could provide. I then returned the customer's call, negotiated a new contract, and faxed it to her. While the customer was a little disappointed that we could not provide everything she wanted, she appreciated my being honest about what we could do. In the end both parties were happy." Don't be frustrated if the interviewer interrupts you to ask probing questions that will enhance his or her understanding of your work style. This gives you an opportunity to clarify your response.
Recently, an interviewer asked me, "Have you ever felt burned out on job? What did you do about it?"
Please explain how I should answer such question.
SAMEER
Bangalore
You experience a burnout when you get bored of the monotony of a non-creative job. Here, the interviewer is trying to figure out if you are disciplined enough to avoid burnout and how you cope with stress. Interviewers want to be sure you will not over stress yourself and run from the job in one year. "I avoid burnout by understanding my limits and by asking for new assignments so that I can keep myself motivated and challenged."
I have completed my graduation and want to take up a job at the earliest. Please give me some tips to prepare for job interviews?
BALARAMAN
Coimbatore
Preparing for job interviews is probably the most important aspect of getting employed. Do this right and you will breeze through it; go unprepared and you will fail miserably. Preparing for a job interview means getting your mind right and feeling confident. Remember, you are the best person for the job, and you just have to show them that. Firstly, do some research on the company and its products; know who their customers are and what the company's objective is. Once you have this information, then make a list of what skills or knowledge you have that would be valuable to them. You cannot sell yourself to them if you don't know what exactly you are selling.
Next thing to take note of is your physical appearance. You have to dress right for job interviews; don't wear anything too flashy. Neat and clean clothes are more important than fashionable ones. The aim is to look professional without overdoing it. If you are not comfortable with a shirt and tie, it is advisable not to wear one, unless the job requires you to dress that way. It is important that you feel comfortable; the last thing you want is to be worried about your appearance during the interview. It will only make you nervous and you will quickly lose confidence.
Plan properly what you need to take with you. A copy of your CV, originals (and copies) of your qualification papers, copies of references, samples of your work (if applicable) and anything else that they may want to scrutinise. Again, make sure everything is well organised and neatly presented. Don't take a pile of paperwork that you have to sift through for ten minutes to find something, it will give an impression that you are disorganised.
SANDHYA KRISHNAN
Chennai
Corporate recruiters are not purposefully ignoring you or your repeated attempts to submit your résumé for employment consideration.
Strange as it may seem, employers are not looking for the most highly qualified candidates or those with high credentials. They are looking for a candidate who fits in best. The fact that you are in the interview phase signifies that you meet the hiring criteria. The employer will select the candidate who fits in best from those interviewed. Do not feel that you have to sell yourself. That strategy takes you back to your credentials. Candidates who are enthusiastic, sincere and tactful, and who can demonstrate how they fit in, will be most effective.
The FAQ column deals with career concerns addressed to the C&K Management Ltd. P.O. Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Opportunities
