4 Simple Steps To Prepare For an Interview Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather

information. The employer wants to know if you, the applicant, have the skills, knowledge, self-confidence, and motivation necessary for the job. At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume. He or she also wants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organization's current employees and philosophy. Similarly, you will want to evaluate the position and the organization, and determine if they will fit into your career plans. The interview is a two-way exchange of information. It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselves. The employer is selling the organization to you, and you are marketing your skills, knowledge, and personality to the employer. Interview Preparation Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview. If you haven't done your homework, it is going to be obvious. Spend time researching and thinking about yourself, the occupation, the organization, and questions you might ask at the end of the interview. Step 1: Know Yourself The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that you will know what you have to offer an employer. It is very important to develop a complete inventory of skills, experience, and personal attributes that you can use to market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process. In developing this inventory, it is easiest to start with experience. Once you have a detailed list of activities that you have done (past jobs, extra-curricular involvements, volunteer work, school projects, etc.), it is fairly easy to identify your skills. Simply go through the list, and for each item ask yourself "What could I have learned by doing this?" "What skills did I develop?" "What issues/circumstances have I learned to deal with?" Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic. Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job. For a laboratory assistant, technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures, slide preparation, and scientific report writing. For an outreach worker, technical skills might include counseling skills, case management skills, or program design and evaluation skills. Generic skills are those which are transferable to many work settings. Following is a list of the ten most marketable skills. You will notice that they are all generic. Analytical/Problem Solving Flexibility/Versatility Interpersonal Oral/Written Communication Organization/Planning Time Management Motivation Leadership Self-Starter/Initiative Team Player Often when people think of skills, they tend to think of those they have developed in the workplace. However, skills are developed in a variety of settings. If you have ever researched and written a paper for a course, you probably have written communication skills. Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of a team player and leader. Don't overlook any abilities you may have When doing the research on yourself, identifying your experience and skills is important, but it is not all that you need to know. Consider the answers to other questions such as: How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position? What are my strong points and weak points? What are my short term and long term goals? What can I offer this particular employer? What kind of environment do I like? (i.e. How do I like to be supervised? Do I like a fast pace?) What do I like doing? Apart from my skills and experience, what can I bring to this job? Step 2: Know the Occupation

The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation. This is necessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the experience and skills required for that occupation, you must first know what those requirements and duties are. With this information uncovered, you can then match the skills you have (using the complete skills/experience inventory you have just prepared) with the skills you know people in that occupational field need. The resulting "shortlist" will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interview. It is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position, or those similar. There are several ways to find out about an occupation: Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human Resources/Personnel) or check with Student Employment Services. If you are responding to an advertisement, this may also supply some details. The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations. Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupation. If you belong to a professional association related to the occupation, use its resources. These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars. It is also a good way to meet people working in the field. Conduct information interviews with people working in the field. Read articles about people in the occupation, and articles written by people in the occupation. Sources include newspapers, magazines and the internet. Find out what the future trends are in the area. Is technology changing the job? Step 3: Know the Organization The more you know about an organization, the better prepared you will be to discuss how you can meet its needs. Some of the characteristics that you should know about an organization are: Where is it located? How big is it? What are its products and who does it serve? How is the organization structured? What is its history? Have there been any recent changes, new developments? There are a number of ways in which you can access this information. Most medium- to large-sized organizations publish information about themselves. You can access them in number of ways: On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by searching by industry and company name Finally, you can visit or phone the organization and request some information on their products, services or areas of research If the organization is fairly small, or fairly new, there may not be much information published. In this case, it will be necessary to do an information interview. Contact someone within the organization, introduce yourself, explain that you are considering moving into the field, and ask if it would be possible to meet with him/her to inquire about the company/organization and about what exactly the position would involve. Step 4: Prepare Questions Having completed your background research, you are now ready to prepare questions to ask the interviewer(s). Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily available in company literature. Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate your genuine interest in the position. Be careful how many questions you ask, however, as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run. Pick your questions with care - this is your chance to gather information, so ask about what you really want to know. Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you may have discovered. This is one of the most effective ways to compare different employers, so for issues of particular importance to you (for example, whether they support staff upgrading), you should ask the same questions of each employer. Some sample questions are: What are the most significant factors affecting your business today? How have changes in technology most affected your business today? How has your business/industry been affected by the recession? How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years?

What future direction do you see the company taking? Where is the greatest demand for your services or product? Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company? Which department feels it the most? How do you differ from your competitors? How much responsibility will I be given in this position? What do you like about working with this organization? Can you tell me more about the training program? Have any new product lines been introduced recently? How much travel is normally expected? What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance? Will I work independently or as part of a team? How did you advance to your position? What are the career paths available in this organization? When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position? It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to demonstrate interest on your part. Exercise judgment when asking questions to an employer. When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile, one would not ask the question "What is the history of your company and how was your company started?" You can find the answer to this question in the company's annual report or articles in magazines/newspapers. However, small- and medium-sized companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may be difficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry. This question is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer. Basics of Interviews Review your resume, and make sure that you can explain everything on it. Arrive at the interview ten minutes early to give yourself an opportunity to collect your thoughts and relax. Be aware that many employers will have their receptionists record the time you came in. If you rush in at the last minute, an employer may have serious concerns about your ability to arrive on time for a normal day at work. Get a good night's sleep before your interview. You will think more effectively in the interview if you are rested. Also, yawning will not impress anyone. Eat something before the interview. If you are worried about your stomach growling, you will not be able to concentrate on the questions. Dress appropriately for the position that you are applying to. Try to dress like the people who work there would dress if they were representing their organization at some function. If you are unsure about what to wear. Make sure that you are clean, neat, and well-groomed. Interviewers do notice your appearance, and first impressions are critical in an interview situation. Take a copy of your resume, transcript, references and perhaps a portfolio or work samples with you. Also take a pen and paper, as you may want to record some important information. Common Mistakes You Should Avoid Oversell Trying too hard to impress; bragging; acting aggressively. Undersell Failing to emphasize the fact that you have related skills; discussing experience using negative qualifiers (i.e. "I have a little experience..."). Body Language It is easy to create a negative impression without even realizing that you are doing it. Are you staring at your feet, or talking to the interviewer's shoulder? Be aware of what your actions say about you. Lack of Honesty The slightest stretching of the truth may result in you being screened out. Negative Attitude The interview is not an opportunity for you to complain about your current supervisor or co-workers (or even about 'little' things, such as the weather). Lack of Preparation You have to know about the organization and the occupation. If you don't, it will

appear as though you are not interested in the position. Lack of Enthusiasm If you are not excited about the work at the interview, the employer will not assume that your attitude will improve when hired. Six Common Interview Mistakes AVOID SIX COMMON INTERVIEW MISTAKES Tip # 1: Don't discuss pay too early As the manager of a software store for 10 years, I can honestly say that questions about pay in the first interview from anyone other than a temporary applicant always bothered me a little. Temp jobs aside, if you are not really out there just for the money, asking this question right out of the gate is going to make any other questions you ask sound conniving and insincere. Unless the subject comes up, don't wade into the issue of the pay in the first interview. You can talk about it after you impress the employer enough for a second interview. Tip # 2: Talk tech to techies only Feel free to discuss what you know, but remember: If you are talking to a nontechnical manager or human resources representative, you are not going to impress them with talk about life in the trenches. My previous supervisor was totally unimpressed with anything to do with technology. A sure way to put the man to sleep was to begin any story that had to do with computers. When I interviewed for a previous position, the department manager actually had a technically savvy person participate in the interview to ask and respond to questions she would not understand. When I saw this tactic being used, I knew it was not a time to try to impress with a lot of techno babble. Answer questions about your work history briefly and keep the tech comments to a minimum until you know the history of the company and the people involved in the hiring process. If you have questions about the technology in use at the site, keep your questions specific and relevant to the position for which you are applying. Tip # 3: Keep your philosophy to yourself If you hate Bill Gates, Windows XP, and the whole Office Suite, keep it to yourself. Ranting about your tech philosophy can ruin your chances at the position. I once interviewed a young man for a retail sales position in a software store. When I asked about his opinion of the then-new Windows 98, the applicant ranted about "the revolution of UNIX" and loosening the grip of Microsoft on the PC market. I am not exaggerating; the man sounded like he was ready to sign on to a paramilitary group. I almost didn't have the heart to tell him my company was a Value Added Reseller for Microsoft. Chances are you will work with many people who need your help with one of the Microsoft products, so you don't want to blast the tools you will likely be using and supporting. If you are asked about how you feel about a product, be honest, but don't preach. The interviewer probably just wants to see how you respond to such questions. Tip # 4: Don't climb the advancement ladder in the interview If you are joining the ranks of a new company, the last thing the interviewer wants to hear is, "How fast can I get out of this job?" Do not ask about opportunities for advancement until the second or third interview. If you are joining a company just to advance into another position, silence is golden. Keep it to yourself unless the interviewer asks or unless it is somehow already known that you'll be advancing quickly. Remember that what you say now can come back to haunt you later. You don't want to brag to someone who might be under your wing after a promotion. Further, you never know what may happen if you actually get the job. Learn to accept and adapt and, above all, be happy you have a job. Due to downsizing, a former coworker of mine did not move into the network administration position she wanted and was expecting to get. The bitterness fostered by her broken expectations eventually caused her to resign. In the tight job market of the time-similar to the one now-and with her lack of certified qualifications, she ended up seeking work at a local restaurant. Tip # 5: Avoid the dreaded electronic interruption

Cellular phone and pager etiquette might seem a trivial thing to those that are hooked up, but you can kiss any job opportunity goodbye if you interrupt an interview to take a telephone call, especially if the human resources representative has a low tolerance for personal digital devices. Only if you are exchanging information by invitation should you reveal the fact that you carry a PDA. If you wear it on a belt loop or somewhere that is exposed, lose it, along with any other electrical device hooks and loops, and store them in pocket, purse, or briefcase. If you can't spare the time away from the rest of the world to do an interview, why are you applying for the job? I have conducted training classes with people who, when asked to turn off their phones and pagers during class, place their devices in silent mode. When giving a lecture to a class or holding a discussion, watching a person being silently buzzed is terribly distracting and also aggravating. If you think getting rid of electronic communications devices isn't important, just ask any human resources rep who has had a person answer a cellular phone during a job interview. Then ask if the person got the job. Tip # 6: Remember to say thank you Beyond thanking your interviewers for their time as you leave, it's vital that you follow up in written form. If the competition for a position is tight, a follow-up thank you note can mean a lot. If the manager is slow to hire, the arrival of a thank-you note can serve as a reminder about the candidate who's awaiting the manager's next move. Just after you've completed the interview, take note of anything specific you discussed and make a point of referencing it in your thank you letter. Even a nice greeting card is better than nothing. It may seem like a small detail, but the experts will tell you that this tried-and-true tactic really makes an impact. A coworker of mine, who successfully worked as a job coach, used to keep a stack of generic notes in her desk. When a participant in her program applied for a job somewhere, she would give the person one of these notes to have them drop in the mail on the way home. How Do I Dress For An Interview? Here It Is! Let's say you are going for an interview tomorrow. You have prepared yourself well for the occasion anticipating the questions and getting ready the answers - but have you given a thought to what you will wear? If you have not peeked into your wardrobe yet, it's time to take a real hard look now. Your application's fate depends not just on how well you answer the interview questions, but also on how well you project yourself physically. The first impression your interviewer makes about you is based on the way you look, and you know what they say about first impressions. According to Joe Hodowanes, J.M. Wanes and Associates career strategy advisor, "The way a person dresses is the single biggest non-verbal communication you make about yourself." The right dressing is a measure of the seriousness that you place on the position, as a person normally spends time on his looks if he considers an event important enough. "Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job, a poor dress sense may exclude you from further consideration," warns Gerry Ditching, managing partner of Filgifts.com. Besides, given two equally good applicants, the company may choose to hire the person who is dressed more professionally. Here are some tips to give you a head start. Men Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks. White is still the safest and the best color for shirts. The color is also appropriate for our tropical weather. Also acceptable: pale shades such as beige, blue, and other pastels. Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves. Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an interview or any business purpose. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your executive image. Ties: Ties can be optional. But if you do wear one, choose a conservative pattern. Solids, small polka dots, diagonal stripes, small repeating shapes, subtle plaids and paisleys are all acceptable. Belts: Belts should match your shoes. Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look more professional.

Socks: Black socks are the best, followed by blue or gray, depending on your attire. Never wear white socks! Check your sock length, too--no skin should show when you sit down or cross your legs. Shoes: Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them, because tassel loafers are very casual. Other suitable colors are brown, cordovan and navy. Hair: Keep neat, short and preferably parted on the side. And shave off all those facial hair. Jewellery: Wear no or little jewellery. The watch and wedding ring are the only acceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire. Thin gold or leather-strapped watches look professional but not digital watches. Also, avoid political or religious insignias, necklaces or bracelets. Accessories: As much as possible, use leather folders to hold copies of your resume. Ensure you carry a smart pen which is dark and smooth to write. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Review your resume, and make sure that you can explain everything on it. Arrive at the interview ten minutes early to give yourself an opportunity to collect your thoughts and relax. Be aware that many employers will have their receptionists record the time you came in. If you rush in at the last minute, an employer may have serious concerns about your ability to arrive on time for a normal day at work.

Get a good night's sleep before your interview. You will think more effectively in the interview if you are rested. Also, yawning will not impress anyone. Eat something before the interview. If you are worried about your stomach growling, you will not be able to concentrate on the questions.

Dress appropriately for the position that you are applying to. Try to dress like the people who work there would dress if they were representing their organization at some function. If you are unsure about what to wear.

Make sure that you are clean, neat, and well-groomed. Interviewers do notice your appearance, and first impressions are critical in an interview situation.

Take a copy of your resume, transcript, references and perhaps a portfolio or work samples with you. Also take a pen and paper, as you may want to record some important information. Etiquettes of Attending An Interview Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table!! Hone your interview etiquette................ Churn the right mix of deportment, attitude and dressing skills for a great job talk ! Never make the big mistake of treating an interview lightly. It's not an impromptu thing where you depend on your improvisation skills. An interview requires careful thought and planning before you take it. Keeping in mind some basic attitudes and presentation techniques will help you sail through it with panache. So if you thought that going for an interview just meant pulling your best suit out of the wardrobe and updating your resume, please think again. You are forgetting the other essentials: body language, basic etiquette and attitude. Remember that you are actually selling an entire package and the packaging, in this case, is as relevant as the product inside. Ultimately you are presenting yourself as a valuable professional to a new job environment. And you can't do that without minding the basic interview etiquette to get you ahead of the rest of the pack. An interview is the sum total of many parts. It's not just what you say but how you say it that matters equally. So it's good to brush up on more than just your training skills when you do go in for an interview.

ATTIRE How you dress for an interview is perhaps as relevant as the way you lay out your resume. Says Nina Kochar of Upgrade Management Services, an organization which coaches' executives in the basic rules of corporate etiquette: "A person who is sloppy in appearance shows a sloppy personality, so you have to be decently dressed." Of course, decently dressed does not necessarily mean being dressed to the gills. In most cases, this would mean you would wear long sleeved shirts and a pair of formal trousers. In fact, Nina Kochar does not recommend suits, especially for younger people. "A lot of young people do not have the money to invest in suits, consequently, they wear ill-fitting or borrowed suits and that looks even worse. A tie, shirt and pant should do the trick for most junior level positions." Most HR experts would also tell you to mind the accessories like ties, belts and shoes. To be sure, badly matched shoes and ties can have a jarring effect on an interviewer. Similarly, please avoid heavy Jewellery or personal accessories as they would look incongruous on you. ENTRANCE AND INTRODUCTION Even though most of us are primed for the basic grilling that we would face during the interview, we seldom pay attention to the way we enter an interview room or how we introduce ourselves. Says Subhashish Mitra, deputy manager, Essar Cellphones: "A lot of people do not think it important to knock properly while entering the interview room. They assume that as an interview is taking place, the panel will be expecting them. To my mind this is a very major faux pas which really jars." In fact, the best way to enter an interview is to knock, ask for permission to enter and then wait for a while before you actually sit down. Few interviewees know this but the interview panel needs a little quiet time to discuss the previous candidate before they get around to the next one. So your silence till you actually get seated would be very valuable. Try and keep a bag with you for all your papers and certificates; make sure this bag is an unobtrusive as possible. ATTITUDE AND RESPONSE This is a grey area for most interview candidates. While dressing up and resume writing are skills you can Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table handle with a little practice, cultivating the right attitude as an interviewee requires a lot of patience and reading between the lines. The usual complaint of most interviewers is that few interviewees are able to stri perhaps the best thing you can do for getting your answer right. Most interviewers like to give a lead to the candidate in the way they ask the question, so it's entirely up to you to note facial expressions and the tone of the words. Do you show your certificates immediately to the interview panel? Not till you are asked actually. You might already have sent in your resume, so you shouldn't try and offload all your achievements and skills onto the panel till a turn in the interview leads to such a situation. Try and take cues from the tonal variations, facial expressions and thrust of questions from the interview panel. That in itself will give you a clue as to where this interview is heading. TEN THINGS THAT AN INTERVIEWER LOOKS IN YOU! 1. Family Background 2. Education 3. Experience 4. Stability 5. Initiative 6. General Ability 7. Interpersonal Skills 8. Confidence 9. Aptitude 10. Pleasant Looks How one wished that an interview were a simple meeting of minds and hearts. Just one casual meeting where an employee's future gets sealed. Unfortunately, it's not something as pre-ordained as you would like it to be; it's a pre-meditated exercise which fetches you dividends only if your homework is done right.

Ways of Answering Questions At an Interview You and specially a fresher can never predict every question that you will encounter, so approach the interview with an inventory of important points. Make a list of the points about yourself that you want the interviewer to know. For example, if you were to apply for a job as a Sales Representative, you might want to list the products you have sold before, types of customers (by industry, age, etc.), languages spoken, personal experience in that industry and related knowledge (perhaps from your academic program). Consider each question an opportunity to provide some of this information. Don't assume anything.You will be evaluated on your answers. Therefore, every fresher needs to ensure you incorporate the relevant information from your resume in your answers. Pause a couple of seconds before you respond to each question, even if you know exactly what you want to say. Take this time to quickly plan your answer, this helps to avoid misunderstandings and produces much more concise answers. If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification. This is expected and is preferable to providing an unsuitable answer. If you need time to collect your thoughts - take it. When people are nervous they tend either to "draw a blank" or to babble. It is better to think for a few moments and make sure that your answer is doing you justice and that there is a point to what you are saying. Always expand. Never answer a question with a "yes" or "no." The interview is an opportunity for you to sell yourself. Don't be afraid to 'blow your own horn.' As long as you can back up what you are saying with examples which demonstrate that what you are saying is true, you are not bragging. Third party observations can also be mentioned. For example, "My last employer told me that, I was promoted because of how I handled conflicts with clients." Be very positive. Don't complain about anything - from your former employer to the weather - and don't apologize for experience that you don't have. Just sell what you do have and let the employer decide if you have what he/she is looking for. Also, avoid negative words. For example, you would not say "I have a little experience...," you would say "I have experience......" Don't be afraid to repeat important points. In fact, it is a good idea to do this. Common Mistakes You Should Avoid There are many different types of interviews designed to serve different purposes or situations. Regardless of the type of interview, most will incorporate the following stages: establishing rapport, exchanging information, and closing the interview. Pay attention to the job titles of the interviewer(s). This can help you decide how much technical detail to provide in your responses. Establishing Rapport This is a very important part of the interview because while establishing rapport, first impressions are made, and the tone of the interview is set. Some people suggest that the decision to hire is greatly influenced by the first five minutes of the interview. A good interviewer will introduce him/herself, and take the lead. Follow his or her lead - if they are chatty, be chatty; if they are formal then you too be formal. Some employers use what seems to be casual conversation to get to know you on a more personal level this may be crucial to a hiring decision! Tips: Smile and maintain eye contact. This is one way of communicating confidence, even if you don't feel it. If the interviewer offers his or her hand, shake it firmly. If they don't, it is appropriate to offer yours. Wait until the interviewer sits or offers you a seat before sitting down. If the interviewer is making small talk, participate. Keep your answers short and positive.

Exchange of Information This is the bulk of the interview. It is your opportunity to let the interviewer know what you have to offer, and your chance to learn more about the organization. Tips: When you answer a question, look the interviewer in the eye. Be aware of the interviewer's reactions. If he or she looks confused, ask if you can clarify anything. Be aware of what your body is saying. Avoid closed postures. Sit upright, but not stiffly. Try to find a comfortable position as that will make you feel more relaxed. Control your nervous habits. Don't swing your foot, talk with your hands (to an extreme), or fiddle with jewelers, buttons, pens, etc. Show that you are interested in the job by asking questions. Try not to appear bored or anxious. Don't look at your watch. Closing the Interview When the interviewer is done gathering the information that is needed, he or she will ask if you have anything to add, or if you have any questions. This is your opportunity to mentally review your inventory of skills and make sure that you have communicated everything that you wanted to. If any of your questions have not been addressed during the course of the interview, now is the time to ask them. Tips: Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration. Ask when you can expect to hear from him/her. If it is not known when a decision will be reached, ask if you can phone in a week's time to inquire about the progress. If the interviewer offers his/her hand, shake it firmly. Otherwise, it is fine to offer yours first. If not already discussed, you can offer to leave a sample of your work, or portfolio if you have one. Top Questions Asked by HRs Here are some important answers asked by HRs !!!! 1. Can you tell me about yourself? Brief them about yourself; you may always tell them that I am down-to-earth, sweet, smart, creative, industrious, and thorough. 2. How has your education prepared you for your career? Besides my academics, I have gained a lot from my course. I have done different projects, reports, presentation etc. I have exposed myself to seminars, workshops, internships etc. which has added to my knowledge. Work Experience: Through internships, I have gained self-esteem, confidence, and problem-solving skills. I also refined my technical writing and learned to prepare professional documents for clients. Academics: By working on multiple projects for different student organizations while keeping up my grades, I have built time management and efficiency skills. Additionally, I've developed leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities.Life Experience: In general, life has taught me determination and the importance of maintaining my ethical standards. 3. Describe the ideal job. I would like to work in a fun, warm environment with individuals working independently towards team goals

or individual goals. Most important to me is the work environment with mentors who can train and help me grow with their knowledge and experience. 4. What do you plan to be doing in five years' time? Taking the PE exam and serving in supervisory/leadership roles both at work and inprofessional/community organization(s). 5. What contributions could you make in this organization that would help you to stand out from other applicants? In previous internships, my industriousness and ability to teach myself have been valuable assets to the company. My self-teaching abilities will minimize overhead costs, and my industriousness at targeting needs without prompting will set me apart from others. 6. What sort of criteria are you using to decide the organization you will work for? Most importantly, I am looking for a company that values quality, ethics, and teamwork. I would like to work for a company that hires overachievers. 8. What made you choose your major? My academic interests are broad, so I sought civil engineering to achieve a great balance of mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, and writing. 9. Have your university and major met your expectations? The College of Engineering at MSU has exceeded my expectations by providing group activities,career resources, individual attention, and professors with genuine interest in teaching.My major has met my expectations by about 90%. I would have enjoyed more choices inenvironmental courses, and would have preferred more calculus-based learning. 10. What made you choose this college? I chose this college for the following reasons: my budget limited me to in-state schools, I wasseeking an area with dog-friendly apartments, the MSU web site impressed me, I saw activestudent groups, and the people were very friendly. 11. List 2-3 of your greatest achievements since you've been in college and why? Receivingthe SWE Outstanding Member Award and College of Engineering Student Service Award I got involved with student activities to overcome my debilitating shyness. Receiving these awardssignified that I had accomplished a transition from dragging myself to participate to feelingenergized by it. Receiving the SWE Web Site Award Without training in web design, I competed against not only the other student sections, butprofessional sections around the nation. Despite competing with more HTML-experienced people, Ibrought this award to my section. After getting so much from SWE, I was able to give somethingback.Earning the highest grade in an organic chemistry class of ~200 peopleI worked very hard for this grade and loved the subject, so it was a great feeling to see that the hardwork paid off. 12. Which subjects have you enjoyed studying the most and why? I have enjoyed hydrology, fluids, solid & hazardous waste management, water and wastewater treatment, and oceanography because I love water and environmental topics.Calculus and linear algebra excite me because I love logic.I enjoyed the writing and analysis in economic history.Business law thrilled me because I have a strong interest in legal matters. 13. Which subjects did you dislike and why? Introductory soil elicited little interest in me, most likely because the professor was inexperienced,the book was ineffective, and I had little spare time that semester to look into other resources. 14. Do you have plans to continue your education? Yes, but not immediately. I plan to continue part time with either an MBA or an environmentalengineering masters, depending on which will be more beneficial to my work. 15. How would a professor who knows you well describe you? One who does not know youwell? A professor who knows me well would likely describe my personal qualities: sweet, down-to-earth,smart, hard-working, and conscientious.As specific examples of those who did not know me well, my soils professor and soils teachingassistant each considered me smart and respectful, and both thought that I must have enjoyed theclass a lot, due to my performance. 16. Given the chance, how would you alter your education? Knowing now what I like the most, I would have used my electives for extra math and psychologyclasses, since I tend to be well-rounded enough that a variety of classes are unnecessary; mypersonal reading is diverse enough. I have found that mathematics and psychology are helpful to allcareer and life paths.

17. Which part-time job did you enjoy the most and why? Working for PM Environmental was most enjoyable to me, since I felt like I was significantlycontributing to the company, and I enjoyed learning on my own. 18. Interests: Some of my interests include dogs, hiking, snow-shoeing, water sports, writing, reading (especiallyCharles Dickens' novels), skiing, drawing, crafts, and computers. 19. What are your strengths? My strongest strength is the ability to teach myself difficult material, regardless of the subject (withthe exception of theater and drawing blood from dogs, which I have no talent for). Additionally, Ihave always excelled verbally and look forward to writing opportunities. 20. What are your weaknesses? I tend to try to do too many things, leaving little time for myself. I have worked on balancing myself for the last several months. I am also working on improving my public speaking skills. 21. What sort of serious problems have you experienced, and how have you handled them? My apartment building burned down at the end of January during one of my semesters at MSU.Before the fire got too bad, I was able to rescue my pets and the neighbor's dog, as well as mytextbooks and backpack, but I lost most of my mementos and possessions. While the firemen werepreparing their hoses, I drove to school (with the animals in the car) to meet my lab partners, whowere waiting for me. I explained the situation, emailed my professors, and rushed back to theapartment.Fortunately, I had renter's insurance. I missed about a week of school to deal with the insurancematters and find a new place to live. In order to salvage my grades and sanity, I dropped a courseand honored my existing student group and research commitments. Staying active socially andkeeping myself well-rounded were the best healing tools for me. Within a few weeks, I was caughtup and had recovered reasonably from the loss of sentimental items. 22. Do you or have you in the past experimented with illegal drugs? No. My only addictions are caffeine and sugar. 23. Would you be willing to take a drug test? Of course 24. Do you drink alcohol socially? No, but I enjoy Shirley Temples quite a bit. 25. If you had your whole life to live over, what would you do differently and why? I was always good in math, but I wish that I would have focused on math more. I feel that mathematics can lead one anywhere, and is the basis of most disciplines.On a personal level, I would have ensured that, despite pre-teen angst and insecurity, I would have been nice to everyone, even on especially bad days. 26. Which is more important to you, your salary or your job? Salary is important, but I couldn't stay with a job that brought me misery when I could support myself doing something else; hence, my job is more important. 27. What have you found to be the biggest source of motivation in your life? Taking advantage of my strengths so that they are not wasted. Since nobody is lucky enough to be strong in every area, I think it is important to make good use of one's strengths. 28. What sorts of things cause you stress, and how do you deal with them? Lack of organization throws me off. To deal with this, I come up with some kind of system to organize things, even if it is only in my head, in the case when chaos is desirable. 29. What is your definition of success? Being a good person by improving the quality of the lives of others, whether it be through work,doing sweet things, improving the environment/community, taking care of one's family, etc.Superficially, I tend to measure success by level of education and abilities within one's career;however, I try to remind myself of the things that are more important. 30. What qualities should a successful supervisor possess in regard to job requirements andthose who report to him/her? A successful supervisor should be able to tactfully give criticism, guide, motivate, encourage andfoster a positive work environment. 31. How would you develop team spirit among the people that you supervise? My experience in student groups has taught me that people work best when their friends(teammates) are counting on them to do well; therefore, I believe that bonding motivates people. I would also foster team pride by promoting our team's assets.

32. Do you like to work independently or as a team? I like to work independently towards a team goal. 33. What kind of work environment do you like the best? I enjoy working with friendly co-workers who can share a laugh while working hard and overachieving. 34. How would you resolve conflicts with employees, coworkers, and supervisors? If possible, I would refresh my memory on what I've learned about conflict communication, and thenI would discuss things, honestly and tactfully. I am a big fan of kind sincerity and honesty, as well as humility (when appropriate). 35. In what ways have you learned from your mistakes? Upon getting myself overwhelmed with involvement in too many projects, I changed my approach.When possible, I now start with less than I can handle and add more only as time allows, and in small increments. 36. In what areas do you need to improve your skills? I would like to improve my public speaking skills. Top Tips Interview Skills Great interviews arise from careful groundwork. You can ace your next interview if you: Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the state from which great basketball players or Olympic skaters operate. You'll need to quiet the negative self-chatter in your head through meditation or visualization prior to sitting down in the meeting. You'll focus on the present moment and will be less apt to experience lapses in concentration, nervousness, self-doubt and self-condemnation. 1. Act spontaneous, but be well prepared. Be your authentic self, professional yet real. Engage in true conversation with your interviewer, resting on the preparation you did prior to coming to the meeting. Conduct several trial runs with another person simulating the interview before it actually occurs. It's the same as anticipating the questions you'll be asked on a final exam. 2. Set goals for the interview. It is your job to leave the meeting feeling secure that the interviewer knows as much as he or she possibly can about your skills, abilities, experience and achievements. If you sense there are misconceptions, clear them up before leaving. If the interviewer doesn't get around to asking you important questions, pose them yourself (diplomatically) and answer them. Don't leave the meeting without getting your own questions answered so that you have a clear idea of what you would be getting yourself into. If possible, try to get further interviews, especially with other key players. 3. Know the question behind the question. Ultimately, every question boils down to, "Why should we hire you?" Be sure you answer that completely. If there is a question about your meeting deadlines, consider whether the interviewer is probing delicately about your personal life, careful not to ask you whether your family responsibilities will interfere with your work. Find away to address fears if you sense they are present. 4. Follow up with an effective "thank you" letter. Don't write this letter lightly. It is another opportunity to market yourself. Find some areas discussed in the meeting and expand upon them in your letter. Writing a letter after a meeting is a very minimum. Standing out among the other candidates will occur if you thoughtfully consider this follow up letter as an additional interview in which you get to do all the talking. Propose useful ideas that demonstrate your added value to the team. 5. Consider the interviewer's agenda. Much is on the shoulders of the interviewer. He or she has the responsibility of hiring the right candidate. Your ability to do the job will need to be justified. "Are there additional pluses here?" "Will this person fit the culture of this organization?" These as well as other questions will be heavily on the interviewer's mind. Find ways to demonstrate your qualities above and beyond just doing the job. 6. Expect to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." This is a pet question of prepared and even unprepared interviewers. Everything you include should answer the question, "Why should we hire you?" Carefully prepare your answer to include examples of achievements from your work life that closely match the elements of the job before you. Obviously, you'll want to know as much about the job description as you can before you respond to the question. 7. Watch those nonverbal clues. Experts estimate that words express only 30% to 35% of what people actually communicate; facial expressions and body movements and actions convey the rest. Make and keep eye contact. Walk and sit with a confident air. Lean toward an interviewer to show interest and

enthusiasm. Speak with a well-modulated voice that supports appropriate excitement for the opportunity before you. 8. Be smart about money questions. Don't fall into the trap of telling the interviewer your financial expectations. You may be asking for too little or too much money and in each case ruin your chances of being offered the job. Instead, ask what salary range the job falls in. Attempt to postpone a money discussion until you have a better understanding of the scope of responsibilities of the job. 9. Don't hang out your dirty laundry. Be careful not to bare your soul and tell tales that are inappropriate or beyond the scope of the interview. State your previous experience in the most positive terms. Even if you disagreed with a former employer, express your enthusiasm for earlier situations as much as you can. Whenever you speak negatively about another person or situation in which you were directly involved, you run the risk (early in the relationship) of appearing like a troubled person who may have difficulty working with others. Type of Questions Interviewers use five different types of questions - directive, non-directive, hypothetical, behavior descriptive, and stress. Being aware of the different types can help you in the preparation stage as you build your skills inventory. It may also help you focus in on exactly what is being asked and what the employer is looking for in specific questions. Directive Questions The interviewer determines the focus of your answer. The information that the interviewer wants is very clear. If you have completed the research on yourself, this type of question should be easy to answer. Example: "What skills do you have that relate to this position?" "I have very good communication and interpersonal skills that I have refined through several summer and part-time jobs working with the public. In addition, I am fluent in both English and French." Non-Directive Questions You determine the focus of your answer. The interviewer asks a general question and does not ask for specific information. The most common non-directive question is "Tell me about yourself." When answering the question, keep in mind that the employer is interested in knowing how your background and personality qualify you for the job. In your answer, you should cover four areas: your education, related experience, skills and abilities, and personal attributes. As you talk about these areas, relate them to the job you are seeking. Decide what your response will be before starting to speak, this helps to keep responses concise. Example: " Tell me about yourself." "I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, and have recently completed the course in Volunteer Management through the Volunteer Center of Winnipeg. These have given me a strong background in many of the principles of human behavior and the recruitment, training, and supervision of volunteers. I have experience in working with young adults in a helping capacity, both through my position as a Peer Advisor at the University of Manitoba, and as a camp counselor at a camp for behaviorally troubled adolescents. Both of these positions involved individual counseling, facilitating discussion groups, and teaching young people about health issues - all of which relate directly to the services which I would be training volunteers to provide within your organization. In addition, I thoroughly enjoy working with young people, and can establish rapport with them easily." Hypothetical or Scenario Questions When asking a hypothetical question, the interviewer describes a situation, which you may encounter in the position and asks how you would react in a similar situation. This is a good way to test problem-solving abilities. When answering this type of question, try applying a simple problem solving model to it gather information, evaluate the information, priories the information, seek advice, weigh the alternatives, make a decision, communicate the decision, monitor the results and modify if necessary.

Example: "Suppose you are working your first day in our laboratory, and a fire at a nearby work station breaks out. What would you do?" "Before I start working in any laboratory, I always locate the emergency equipment, such as eye washes, fire blankets and alarms. I would also review the safety protocols. So in this situation, I would be aware of these. As soon as I noticed the fire, I would shut down my experiment and if the fire is significant, I would pull the firm alarm and help to evacuate the lab. In the case of very small flame, I would ask the staff member at the station what I could do to help, Which would vary with the type of substances involved. Behavior Descriptive or Behavioral Questions This type of question is becoming increasingly popular in interview situations. It asks what you did in a particular situation rather than what you would do. Situations chosen usually follow the job description fairly closely. Some employers feel that examples of past performance will help them to predict future performance in similar situations. There is no right or wrong answer to this type of question, but keep in mind that you should relate the answer to the position. If you are interviewing for a research position, talk about a research project you completed. Example: "Give me an example of a work situation in which you were proud of your performance." "While working as a sales representative for XYZ Company for the summer, I called on Prospective clients and persuaded them of the ecological and economic benefits of Recycling. I also followed up on clients to ensure that they were satisfied with the service They received. This involved both telephone and in-person contacts. I increased sales 34% over the same period in the previous year." When preparing for this type of questioning, it is crucial that you review the skills and qualities that the position would require and identify specific examples from your past which demonstrated those traits. Stress Questions Some questions will surprise you and possibly make you feel uncomfortable during an interview. For Example:" Which do you prefer, fruits or vegetables?" There are many reasons why an interviewer might ask such questions. They may want to see how you react in difficult situations, or they may simply be trying to test your sense of humor. Such questions may directly challenge an opinion that you have just stated or say something negative about you or a reference. Sometimes they ask seemingly irrelevant questions such as, "If you were an animal, what type of animal would you be?" The best way to deal with this type of question is to recognize what is happening. The interviewer is trying to elicit a reaction from you. Stay calm, and do not become defensive. If humour comes naturally to you, you might try using it in your response, but it is important to respond to the question. What you say is not nearly as important as maintaining your composure. Example: "Which do you like better, Lions or Tigers?" "Oh, lions definitely. They appear so majestic and are very sociable. To be honest, I think that seeing The Lion King four times has probably contributed to this!" Is Internship Important For a Fresher What is Internship? An internship is a method of on-the-job training. Internships may be paid or unpaid. It is more understood as a temporary position. It is generally referred to exchange of service and knowledge between student and an organization. Generally internships are taken up by students pursuing their graduation or by freshers who have completed their academics. There is no bar as to who can take up an internship. Importance of Internship Experience for a fresher

As a fresher, doing an internship is always an added advantage. It definitely adds to your resume and you gain hands on experience. Doing an internship also helps you understand if this particular job is of your interest and you would want to build your career in it. Get Closer - to your entry level job Its always recommended to do an internship as soon as you are out of college & are in search of your first job. Doing an internship gives you a feel of working in the professional environment and helps you explore the corporate culture. You get an understanding of how a process is followed and how different departments coordinate. Saves your time As we all know the job market is on an average scale, grabbing an opportunity to do an internship program is an added advantage. You can always showcase the same on the resume. Once you are out of college you may get your first job probably after a month, 6 months or a year. To avoid this gap, doing an internship is always a smart thing to do. This is turn helps you to avoid gaps after you are out of your college. Grab the opportunity While doing an internship do not expect anything more from the organization than a good experience. As a fresher you should hunger for gaining experience than anything else. All you need to work towards is gaining the maximum experience and an acknowledgement from the company that you have completed your internship. Buckle up Get Set for the Job Market! Right out of college..hunting for the first job can be frightening. Many questions may be a part of your night mare. How do I know which companies are hiring? What jobs to apply for? Which company should I choose? Should I look for a good company or look for a good salary? How do I get noticed? Where do I start from? Here are answers to some question you may have in your mind!! How do I begin? You need to understand that, with no previous work experience to show the kind of employee you can be, it is important to involve at various levels to show the commitment and dedication to your selected career path. The first important and intelligent thing to do would be to create an excellent professional resume. The resume should show the best out of you and the interviewer should spend only 30seconds to know about you. It is always a good idea to get your professional resume done by resume experts. Get your resume done by professional resume experts. How Do I Get Noticed? We can do so many things to get started, apart from preparing a new resume; you should get active on the social networking sites & registering on all the job websites. Its not a bad idea to invest in being premium members on any job websites as it may fetch you more opportunities and you may gain more ideas about the job market. What kind of job are you looking for? It is very important for you to know the job you are looking for or what you want to do professionally. The best way is to prepare a list of things you are good at. This can be done by digging into your experiences while you were studying. Experience could refer to your projects, internships, workshops, on the job training, summer jobs, seminars etc. Make a study and identify positions that are best suited for your skills sets & are of your interest. How to build a strong network? Strong network refers to people who could guide you to get a job. Getting a professional resume, registering on job portals is not the only way to find a job. Building a network of people who can guide you to find a job would be a good idea. Spread the word without hesitating because ultimately you are looking for a job. Approach your seniors or mentors who are already working, parents friends, batch mates who are already placed, neighborhood (thats if you know they are working in a company which is of your interest too). Discuss your interests with them and take advice as to how to get closer to your goal of getting a job in your preferred area of work. How do I market myself? Here we refer to marketing yourself online i.e. building your online network. Since you have stepped out of college, it is more important for you to work towards building a professional network than building your

social network. The first step is to get familiar with LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter. Here you can connect with companies and people that could bring you closer to find new job opportunities. To learn about the companies & the available roles follow these companies on LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter. Networking is about connecting, engaging, sharing ideas & building relationships. It is important to identify and connect with people with similar interest and explore more about what they do. Once people identify that they are of the same grounds of interests as you, they may start sharing information and engaging with you on a regular basis. One more important thing that we cannot ignore is your profile description. It is important to ensure that your profile description is written to the best; as many employers today consider profiles after reading the same. Hence spend quality time in building an excellent profile description about yourself. Another important thing to note pay close attention to what your profile says about you. Employers today give a lot of weightage to social media profiles to shortlist candidates. Get active on LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter now! How to polish my interview skills? Getting set to attend interview is one important part of getting yourself a job. Learn about the company: Every interviewer would want you to know about their company. Its always good to browse the website of the company and learn more about the company before you get to the interview desk. Know your role: It is an advantage if you could know an in-depth knowledge of the role. This could help you prepare better in terms of role related questions. Mock: Doing a mock interview probably with an experienced person would be a good idea. It could be your senior, your sibling, your friend etc. Take feedback: Ensure you take feedback of your body language, confidence, eye contact, volume etc. Try working on improving them if required. It is important for you to know and understand that, we cannot get a job if we do only one of the above. They all go hand in hand and it is important for you to get your professional resume by experts, build your network, build your online network, prepare before you get to an interview (either written test or a face to face interview)