Dated 29th Dec 2004
What should be the attitude of candidates while attending interviews?
Avinash Kartik
Visakhapatnam
It's not simply what you say that brings you success in an interview; it is your manner and presence that counts more than your words.
You need to be confident, energetic and enthusiastic. It is good to have a casual attitude but you should not go overboard thinking that the offer is going to knock at your doors. However, an enthusiastic person who demonstrates that he/she wants to shine in the profession will do a lot to convince an employer that he or she is worth the investment. A candidate who can 'engage' the interviewer has a good chance of getting the job offer."
While grades and subjects studied are important, there is not much a candidate can do at the interview stage to change them.
Attitude is always the best seller. An applicant with a positive attitude will be rated higher than others. In general, the résumé gets the candidate to the interview and briefs the employer that he is capable of carrying out the job. After the interview, employers do not base their decision only on the candidates' qualifications, but on their suitability to the position and department.
I don't think I have accomplished much in college or in my first job to write home about. What should my answer be if the interviewer asks: "What are your biggest accomplishments?
Neha Agarwal
Gwalior
This is your opportunity to "brag" about yourself and what you've accomplished. Lots of people find this hard to do but it may be your only chance to sell yourself. The key is to show how your accomplishments will benefit the employer.
The answer to this should be job-related. Of course, modesty should again be applied, hinting that your best work is yet to come. Don't be hesitant or vague when answering this question. Show that you have a clear idea of your achievements to date.
A big accomplishment doesn't need to be overly impressive, but should rather highlight your competency. Efficiently managing a small team of diverse people, or ably dealing with shortage of resources is an accomplishment that can be meaningful, but claiming your bit part in a huge project sounds fanciful and isn't likely to leave a favourable impression.
What's the best way to answer a question concerning job switch. Kindly give me instructions to successfully tackle this question.
Raj Sanghvi
New Delhi
If presently employed, you can say, "Because the company I am applying for a job is known nationwide and I would like to be associated with such a company to enrich my career. This is a common interview question, so calls for preparation of a good answer. Additionally, if you decide to leave your current employer, it is also wise to have consensus on the reasons for your leaving.
Use your research to put forth several points about the company that you feel will be a great match (for the company) and suit your particular skills and experiences. Emphasise the fact that this opportunity to work for them is 'just what you have been looking for' because... and then go into several ways you can add value to the organisation.
Remember, when asked why you left/want to leave, do not downgrade in any way your prior/current employer. Present yourself as a vital, enthusiastic employee that can offer experience to their organisation...for many years to come. If appropriate, point out that you are not just 'looking around' but are sincerely interested in working for this particular company and that you are not a 'job-hopper' but are interested in a long-term career move.
I have just joined an organisation and wish to build a rewarding career. My question is, how to set goals and attain them?
Prasoona
Hyderabad
State your goal as a positive proclamation. By expressing your goals positively you can execute the technique well. Be precise: Set a precise goal, putting in date and time so that you can measure achievement. If you do this, you will know exactly when you have achieved the goal, and can enjoy complete satisfaction on achieving it.
Set priorities: When you have several goals, give each a priority. This helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed by too many goals, and helps you direct your attention to the most important ones.
Write down: Writing down goals crystallises them and gives them more force.
Keep operational goals small: Keep the low-level goals you are working towards small and achievable. If a goal is too large, then it can seem that you are not making progress towards it. Keeping goals small and incremental gives more opportunities for reward. Derive today's goals from larger ones.
Set performance goals, not outcome goals: You should take care to set goals over which you have as much control as possible. There is nothing more dispiriting than failing to achieve a personal goal for reasons beyond your control.
These could be bad business environment, poor judgment, bad weather, injury, or just plain bad luck. If you base your goals on personal performance, then you can keep control over the achievement of your goals and draw satisfaction from them.
Set realistic goals: It is important to set goals that you can achieve. All sorts of people (parents, media, society, etc.) can set unrealistic goals for you.
They will often do this out of ignorance of your own desires and ambitions.
Alternatively, you may be inexperienced in setting very high goals. You might not appreciate either the obstacles in the way, or quite understand the skills you must master to achieve a particular level of performance.
Do not set goals too low: Just as it is important not to set goals unrealistically high, do not set them too low either. People tend to do this if they are afraid of failure or are lazy!
You should set goals in such a manner that they are slightly out of your immediate grasp, but not so far away that there is no hope of achieving them. No one will put serious effort into achieving a goal that they believe is unrealistic. However, remember your belief that a goal is unrealistic may be incorrect. If this could be the case, you can change this belief by using imagery effectively.
The FAQ column deals with career concerns addressed to The C&K Management LTD. PO Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com
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