Interview Essentials

You’ve sent out dozens of resumes. You’ve been through several pre-interview screenings over the phone. Now you’ve finally received a request for an in-person interview and your anxiety is through the roof. Will they like you? Will you get the job? Is it a good job? Should you wait for a better job? When all these questions are swirling through your mind, it’s easy to lose focus and head out unprepared. Instead, take a deep breath and spend some time gathering these essentials to bring with you.

1. Bring a fabulous outfit – On your person, of course. Wear formals.It is nearly impossible to overdress for an interview. While a ball gown or coat and tails would be pushing it, you’d certainly make an impression. Dressing well shows you respect the time of the interviewer, the potential position, and yourself. Don’t wear lounge pants, pajama bottoms, sweats, jeans, inappropriate message t-shirts or smelly athletic shoes.
2. Bring directions and contact information– Even if you’re gifted with an infallible sense of direction (as most males tend to believe they are), take the time to map out a route to the interview location. Use Google Maps or GPS on your phone. Even better, make a trial run in person to scope out the traffic and parking situations.
3. Bring identification – You shouldn’t be driving or wandering the city without it. You may actually need your driver’s license if the building is secured or you’re asked to fill out the company’s employment application.
4. Bring a notebook and pen – If you need to write down notes about next steps, you don’t want to have to ask your interviewer for a pen and paper. Don’t bring a large bag or full backpack. You want to look organized and not like you lug everything you own around with you.
5. Bring your notes – It’s not uncommon to be nervous before an interview, so write down important details you may otherwise forget such as the interviewer’s name and title. You should also bring questions to ask about the position and the company during the interview. Don’t bring questions about salary or benefits until you’ve actually received a job offer.
6. Bring copies of your resume – Bring at least two. It can be helpful to have one to refer to yourself and another to give to the interviewer if he or she does not have the one you originally submitted.
7. Bring work samples – If you’re applying for a position in a creative field, such as graphic design, you may want to show the interviewer your portfolio if time allows. If you’d rather not haul around hard copies of your work, consider a digital portfolio stored on your iPad or netbook.
8. Bring your references –It’s common practice to include names, relationships and contact information of three people who can provide a reference regarding your professional skills and three who can provide a reference as to your personal integrity. Don’t bring unqualified references. These include people who do not know you intend to use them as a reference.
9. Bring a winning attitude – Times are tough and everyone knows it. If you’ve been unemployed for awhile, don’t let that affect the attitude you present during the interview. Be cheerful and enthusiastic. Don’t bring negativity, complaints about the economy or your previous employers.
Be confident! If you’re progressing to an in-person interview, the company is very interested in you as a potential employee. Arm yourself with these essentials and you’re more than halfway there.
10.Questions-Think of a few questions you'd like to ask the hiring manager about the position and write them down so you'll remember to ask them. "How much does this position pay?" should not be on the list. Wait until the hiring manager brings it up
11. Folder/briefcase-There are a lot of things to remember, so be sure to keep them all in the same place. Putting all the papers listed above in one folder or briefcase will ensure that you won't leave anything out by accident. Plus, you'll look organized during the interview.
12. Breath mints or gum-Trust us on this one; it's just a good idea. Just be sure to get rid of it before your interview starts (swallowing it or throwing it away are the only acceptable options here).

Math Q&A

Interview Math Problems and solutions

1. Mrs. Rodger got a weekly raise of $145. If she gets paid every other week, write an integer describing how the raise will affect her paycheck.

Solution:

Let the 1st paycheck be x (integer).

Mrs. Rodger got a weekly raise of $ 145.

So after completing the 1st week she will get $ (x+145).

Similarly after completing the 2nd week she will get $ (x + 145) + $ 145.

= $ (x + 145 + 145)

= $ (x + 290)

So in this way end of every week her salary will increase by $ 145.

2. The value of x + x(xx) when x = 2 is:

(a) 10, (b) 16, (c) 18, (d) 36, (e) 64

Solution:

x + x(xx)

Put the value of x = 2 in the above expression we get,

2 + 2(22)

= 2 + 2(2 × 2)

= 2 + 2(4)

= 2 + 8

= 10

Answer: (a)

3. Mr. Jones sold two pipes at $1.20 each. Based on the cost, his profit one was 20% and his loss on the other was 20%. On the sale of the pipes, he:

(a) broke even, (b) lost 4 cents, (c) gained 4 cents, (d) lost 10 cents, (e) gained 10 cents

Solution:

20 % profit on $ 1.20

= $ 20/100 × 1.20

= $ 0.20 × 1.20

= $ 0.24

Similarly, 20 % loss on $ 1.20

= $ 20/100 × 1.20

= $ 0.20 × 1.20

= $ 0.24

Therefore, in one pipe his profit is $ 0.24 and in the other pipe his loss is $ 0.24.

Since both profit and loss amount is same so, it’s broke even.

Answer: (a)

4. The distance light travels in one year is approximately 5,870,000,000,000 miles. The distance light travels in 100 years is:

(a) 587 × 108 miles, (b) 587 × 1010 miles, (c) 587 × 10-10 miles, (d) 587 × 1012 miles, (e) 587 × 10-12 miles

Solution:

The distance of the light travels in 100 years is:

5,870,000,000,000 × 100 miles.

= 587,000,000,000,000 miles.

= 587 × 1012 miles.

Answer: (d)

5. A man has $ 10,000 to invest. He invests $ 4000 at 5 % and $ 3500 at 4 %. In order to have a yearly income of $ 500, he must invest the remainder at:

(a) 6 % , (b) 6.1 %, (c) 6.2 %, (d) 6.3 %, (e) 6.4 %

Solution:

Income from $ 4000 at 5 % in one year = $ 4000 of 5 %.

= $ 4000 × 5/100.

= $ 4000 × 0.05.

= $ 200.

Income from $ 3500 at 4 % in one year = $ 3500 of 4 %.

= $ 3500 × 4/100.

= $ 3500 × 0.04.

= $ 140.

Total income from 4000 at 5 % and 3500 at 4 % = $ 200 + $ 140 = $ 340.

Remaining income amount in order to have a yearly income of $ 500 = $ 500 - $ 340.

= $ 160.

Total invested amount = $ 4000 + $ 3500 = $7500.

Remaining invest amount = $ 10000 - $ 7500 = $ 2500.

We know that, Interest = Principal × Rate × Time

Interest = $ 160,

Principal = $ 2500,

Rate = r [we need to find the value of r],

Time = 1 year.

160 = 2500 × r × 1.

160 = 2500r

160/2500 = 2500r/2500 [divide both sides by 2500]

0.064 = r

r = 0.064

Change it to a percent by moving the decimal to the right two places r = 6.4 %

Therefore, he invested the remaining amount $ 2500 at 6.4 % in order to get $ 500 income every year.

Answer: (e)

6. Jones covered a distance of 50 miles on his first trip. On a later trip he traveled 300 miles while going three times as fast. His new time compared with the old time was:

(a) three times as much, (b) twice as much, (c) the same, (d) half as much, (e) a third as much

Solution:

Let speed of the 1st trip x miles / hr. and speed of the 2nd trip 3x / hr.

We know that

Speed = Distance/Time.

Or, Time = Distance/Speed.

So, times taken to covered a distance of 50 miles on his first trip = 50/x hr.

And times taken to covered a distance of 300 miles on his later trip = 300/3x hr.

= 100/x hr.

So we can clearly see that his new time compared with the old time was: twice as much.

Answer: (b)

7. If (0.2)x = 2 and log 2 = 0.3010, then the value of x to the nearest tenth is:

(a) -10.0, (b) -0.5, (c) -0.4, (d) -0.2, (e) 10.0

Solution:

(0.2)x = 2.

Taking log on both sides

log (0.2)x = log 2.

x log (0.2) = 0.3010, [since log 2 = 0.3010].

x log (2/10) = 0.3010.

x [log 2 - log 10] = 0.3010.

x [log 2 - 1] = 0.3010,[since log 10=1].

x [0.3010 -1] = 0.3010, [since log 2 = 0.3010].

x[-0.699] = 0.3010.

x = 0.3010/-0.699.

x = -0.4306….

x = -0.4 (nearest tenth)

Answer: (c)

8. If 102y = 25, then 10-y equals:

(a) -1/5, (b) 1/625, (c) 1/50, (d) 1/25, (e) 1/5

Solution:

102y = 25

(10y)2 = 52

10y = 5

1/10y = 1/5

10-y = 1/5

Answer: (e)

9. The fraction (5x-11)/(2x2 + x - 6) was obtained by adding the two fractions A/(x + 2) and B/(2x - 3). The values of A and B must be, respectively:

(a) 5x, -11, (b) -11, 5x, (c) -1, 3, (d) 3, -1, (e) 5, -11

Solution:

 (5x-11)/(2x2 + x-6)  = [A(2x-3) +B(x+2)]/(x+2)(2x-3)
5x - 11 = A(2x2-3) +B(x+2)
5x-11 = (2A +B)x + (-3A + 2B)
5 = 2A + B ...(i)
-11 = -3A + 2B ...(ii)
A = 3
B = -1

Partial Fraction

Save

Answer: (d)

10. The sum of three numbers is 98. The ratio of the first to the second is 2/3, and the ratio of the second to the third is 5/8. The second number is:

(a) 15, (b) 20, (c) 30, (d) 32, (e) 33

Solution:

Let the three numbers be x, y and z.

Sum of the numbers is 98.

x + y + z = 98………………(i)

The ratio of the first to the second is 2/3.

x/y = 2/3.

x = 2/3 × y.

x = 2y/3.

The ratio of the second to the third is 5/8.

y/z = 5/8.

z/y = 8/5.

z = 8/5 × y.

z = 8y/5.

Put the value of x = 2y/3 and z = 8y/5 in (i).

2y/3 + y + 8y/5 = 98

49y/15 = 98.

49y = 98 × 15.

49y = 1470.

y = 1470/49.

y = 30 .

Therefore, the second number is 30.

Answer: (c)
Part 1

Question – 1- Let A = {a, b, c} and the relation R be defined on A as follows:
R = {(a, a), (b, c), (a, b)}.
Then, write minimum number of ordered pairs to be added in R to make R reflexive and transitive.

Solution:
In order to make R reflexive, (b, b) and (c, c) will be added to R.
And in order to make R transitive, (a, c) will be added to R.
Therefore, The minimum number of order pair to be added to R will be (b, b), (c, c) and (a, c) - Answer

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Question – 2 – Let D be the domain of real valued function f defined by then, write D.

Solution:
Here given D is the domain of
Therefore,

Therefore, D = [– 5, 5] - Answer

Question - 3 – be defined by respectively. Then find g o f.

Solution:

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Question 4 – be the function defined by

Solution:

Question – 5 – If A = {a, b, c, d} and the function f = {(a, b), (b, d), (c, a), (d, c)}, write f ^{– 1}

Solution:
Given, f = {(a, b), (b, d), (c, a), (d, c)}
Therefore, f ^{– 1} ={(b, a), (d, b), (c, a), (c, d)} Answer

Question – 6 – If is defined by

Solution:
Given,

Question – 7 – Is g = {(1, 1), (2, 3, (3, 5), (4, 7)} a function? If g is described by g(x) = αx + β, then what value should be assigned to α and β?

Solution:
Given, g = {(1, 1), (2, 3, (3, 5), (4, 7)}
Therefore, each of the element of domain will be have unique image.
Consequently, g is a function.


Now, after substituting the value of α in equation (i), we get

Question – 16 – If A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, define relations on A which have properties of being

(a) Reflexive, transitive but not symmetric

Solution:

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(b) Symmetric but neither reflexive nor transitive

Solution:

(c) Reflexive, symmetric and transitive.

Solution:

Question: 17 – Let R be relation defined on the set of natural number N as follows: Find the domain and range of the relation R. Also, verify whether R is reflexive, symmetric and transitive.

Solution:

Thus, R is neither reflexive, nor symmetric and nor transitive.

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Question – 18 – Given A {2, 3, 4}, B = {2, 5, 6, 7}. Construct an example of each of the following:

(a) an injective mapping from A to B

Solution:
But this is an injective mapping.

(b) a mapping from A to B which is not injective

Solution:
Here it is clear that it is not an injective mapping.

(c) a mapping from B to A

Solution:
Here it is clear that every first component is from B and second component is from A, thus h is a mapping from B to A.

Question – 19: Give an example

(i) Which is one-one but not onto

Solution:
Let A be the set of all 100 students in a school in a particular class say ninth. be the mapping defined by
Here it is clear that f is one-one because no two students of the same class can have the same roll number.
Let roll number of student start from 1 and ends on 100.
This implies that 101 in N is not the roll number of any of the student of the class, so that 101 is not an image of any element of A under f.
Therefore, f is not onto.

(ii) Which is not one-one but onto

Solution:
This is onto but not one-one.

(iii) Which is neither one-one nor onto

Solution:

Question: 22 – Each of the following defines a relation on N:

Determine which of the above relations are reflexive, symmetric and transitive.

Solution:
Hence, the given relation is only transitive.

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Hence, the given relation is only transitive.
Therefore, R is not reflexive.
Therefore, R is symmetric.
Therefore, R is not transitive.
Thus, R is only symmetric.
Therefore, R is reflexive.
Therefore, it is clear that R is symmetric.
Therefore, R is transitive.
Therefore, R is not reflexive.
Therefore, R is not symmetric.
Since, there is no element which begins with
Therefore, R is a transitive.

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Question: 23 – Let A = {1, 2, 3, ………, 9} and R be the relation in A x A defined by (a, b) R (c, b) if a + d = b + c for (a, b), (c, d) in A × A. Prove that R is an equivalence relation and also obtain the equivalent class [(2, 5)].

Solution:
Therefore, R is reflexive.
Let (a, b) R (c, d)
Therefore, R is symmetric.
Let (a, b) R (c, d) and (c, d) R (e, f)
Therefore, R is transitive.
Thus, R is reflexive, symmetric and transitive.
Therefore, R is an equivalence relation.
Equivalence class containing {(2, 5)} is {(1, 4), (2, 5), (3, 6), (4, 7), (5, 8), (6, 9)}.

Question: 24 Using the definition, prove that the function is invertible if and only if f is both one-one and onto.

Solution:
By the definition of an invertible function:
A function is defined to be and invertible function, if there exists a function
The function g is called the inverse of f and is denoted by f ^{– 1}.
has to one-one and onto.
Therefore, f(x) should be both one-one and onto.

Question: 25 - Functions are defined respectively, by find:

(i) fog

Solution:

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(ii) gof

Solution:

(iii) fof

Solution:

(iv) gog

Solution:

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Question: 26 – Let * be the binary operation defined on Q. Find which of the following binary operations are commutative.

Solution:

Question: 27 – Let * be binary operation defined on R by Then the operation is:

(i) Commutative but not associative

(ii) associative but not commutative

(iii) neither commutative nor associative

(iv) both commutative and associative.

Answer: (i) is commutative but not associative.
Explanation:
Therefore, * is commutative.
Now, from equation (i) and (ii) it is clear that

Here it is neither one-one nor onto.

SDLC

Software Development Life Cycle, SDLC for short, is a well-defined, structured sequence of stages in software engineering to develop the intended software product.

SDLC Activities

SDLC provides a series of steps to be followed to design and develop a software product efficiently. SDLC framework includes the following steps:

Communication

This is the first step where the user initiates the request for a desired software product. He contacts the service provider and tries to negotiate the terms. He submits his request to the service providing organization in writing.

Requirement Gathering

This step onwards the software development team works to carry on the project. The team holds discussions with various stakeholders from problem domain and tries to bring out as much information as possible on their requirements. The requirements are contemplated and segregated into user requirements, system requirements and functional requirements. The requirements are collected using a number of practices as given -

• studying the existing or obsolete system and software,
• conducting interviews of users and developers,
• referring to the database or
• collecting answers from the questionnaires.

Feasibility Study

After requirement gathering, the team comes up with a rough plan of software process. At this step the team analyzes if a software can be made to fulfill all requirements of the user and if there is any possibility of software being no more useful. It is found out, if the project is financially, practically and technologically feasible for the organization to take up. There are many algorithms available, which help the developers to conclude the feasibility of a software project.

System Analysis

At this step the developers decide a roadmap of their plan and try to bring up the best software model suitable for the project. System analysis includes Understanding of software product limitations, learning system related problems or changes to be done in existing systems beforehand, identifying and addressing the impact of project on organization and personnel etc. The project team analyzes the scope of the project and plans the schedule and resources accordingly.

Software Design

Next step is to bring down whole knowledge of requirements and analysis on the desk and design the software product. The inputs from users and information gathered in requirement gathering phase are the inputs of this step. The output of this step comes in the form of two designs; logical design and physical design. Engineers produce meta-data and data dictionaries, logical diagrams, data-flow diagrams and in some cases pseudo codes.

Coding

This step is also known as programming phase. The implementation of software design starts in terms of writing program code in the suitable programming language and developing error-free executable programs efficiently.

Testing

An estimate says that 50% of whole software development process should be tested. Errors may ruin the software from critical level to its own removal. Software testing is done while coding by the developers and thorough testing is conducted by testing experts at various levels of code such as module testing, program testing, product testing, in-house testing and testing the product at user’s end. Early discovery of errors and their remedy is the key to reliable software.

Integration

Software may need to be integrated with the libraries, databases and other program(s). This stage of SDLC is involved in the integration of software with outer world entities.

Implementation

This means installing the software on user machines. At times, software needs post-installation configurations at user end. Software is tested for portability and adaptability and integration related issues are solved during implementation.

Operation and Maintenance

This phase confirms the software operation in terms of more efficiency and less errors. If required, the users are trained on, or aided with the documentation on how to operate the software and how to keep the software operational. The software is maintained timely by updating the code according to the changes taking place in user end environment or technology. This phase may face challenges from hidden bugs and real-world unidentified problems.

Disposition

As time elapses, the software may decline on the performance front. It may go completely obsolete or may need intense upgradation. Hence a pressing need to eliminate a major portion of the system arises. This phase includes archiving data and required software components, closing down the system, planning disposition activity and terminating system at appropriate end-of-system time.

Do's and don't s

What to do:

• dress smartly, look bright and attentive, and speak clearly and confidently. First impressions really do count - studies show that employers make a decision about whether to hire you within the first seven minutes on average
• find out where the venue is beforehand, how to get there and how long it takes
• get your outfit ready the night before
• find out what kind of interview it will be so you can prepare
• examine the person specification and your CV/application form, and think about what type of questions they will ask you
• prepare answers for the main questions - for example, why do you want the job, what are your strengths and weaknesses, what are the main tasks in this job?
• make about three or four points in each answer
• quote real examples of when you've used certain skills - just saying you've got a skill isn't enough
• take your time when answering the questions: make sure you understand the question and take your time if you need to think
• sell yourself: no one else is going to! Be positive about yourself and your experiences
• prepare some questions to ask at the end of the interview - use it as an opportunity to find out more about the role and the company. (Don't ask about money or perks just yet!)
• when discussing salary, know your market worth and start by quoting a little higher than this
• get feedback on your performance, whether you were successful or not
• turn off your mobile phone: treat the interviewers with respect and give them your undivided attention
• keep your answers focused on what you can do for the employer, not what they can do for you

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What not to do:

• don't be late
• don't swear or use slang words
• don't slouch in your seat or do anything that makes you look uninterested
• don't smoke
• don't lie: the interviewer may see through you. Even if you get the job, your employer can dismiss you if they find out that you have not been honest
• don't let your nerves show too much; a few nerves are normal but extreme nerves will affect your performance. Use breathing techniques and try to remember that it's not a life and death situation - there are plenty of jobs out there!
• don't be arrogant and assume you've got the job. Nothing turns off employers more than someone who is disrespectful and over-confident
• don't discuss controversial topics such as religion, politics and gender relations
• don't read from notes or your CV — you should be familiar enough with your own history to be able to talk about it unprompted
• don't criticise former employers or colleagues. Interviewers may mark you down as a troublemaker and a gossip
• don't argue with the interviewer, no matter what. Remember to keep things positive!

These rules apply for most jobs. However, employers in some industries can use more relaxed and informal interviewing techniques. In some creative fields (design and media for example) it may be expected that you turn up for the interview in casual clothes, as that is the dress code in the office. However, smart casual is better than very casual. If you're in any doubt, do some research on typical interview techniques in your line of work.
Above all, preparation is the key to performing well in interviews. Research the role and organisation, and prepare evidence and examples of your skills and competencies.

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Q & A

HR interview questions and answer

Why do you want to join this industry?

This industry is booming in our country. In past few years it has grown upto approximately 8 folds besides handsome packages, industry also appreciate the performer, and I am a person looking for better prospects and higher opportunities.

Why you left your last job? 

Previously where I was working the project was upon completion

and new project was to begin. I was looking out for a better opportunity and felt it was the right time to take up a new challenge and work to the best of my abilities and get payed for it.

Why should I appoint you?
I am confident, hardworking, punctual, honest, dedicated and target oriented person. I like to work with my team under any pressure and any circumstances as per the urgency of the company. I don't mind to do others's work and I don't mind working late hours. I am sure that I have all the major attributes the role requires, combined with determination and positive approach, and I ensure you that I'd be a very good choice. I have

What if I reject you?
Success and failure are both two sides of same coin important part of our life. If I get rejected today I will take it in a positive way but I would like to know where I lack and what are my mistakes so that I can improve myself and get ready for the next interview.

What are your positive qualities? 
I am confident, hardworking, punctual, honest, dedicated and target oriented person. My technical skills match your job requirements well.

What are your negative qualities?

According to me I don't have any negative qualities but if I come to know I will rectify my level best.

 What if other company is paying you more than us?

Money is not the main criteria, not a big issue for me. I am here in this industry not for the job but to build my career. I like to serve my company to the best of my abilities and see company grow  and build my career. I am not that kind of person who can switch from one job to another just for the sake of money. I am dedicated to my company where I work.

What is your salary expectation?

Money is not the criteria not a big issue for me. As per my performance, as per the post you have decided and as per the paying capacity of the company salary is negotiable.

Where do you see after 5 years?

Today If I get selected, I assure you that after 5 years I will be at a higher position in your company.I would like to see myself as a successful person in a reputed organization in the management department. I would like to learn the various trends in the industry and use it as a resource to achieve long term success.

Which is more important to you, the job itself or your salary?

Salary is something which is necessary to feed my stomach and I would consider doing a job which will please my heart. so in a way both of them are very important currently in my life.

When you can join us?

As soon as you are asking me to join, you are the best judge.

Give your personal introduction.

Good morning everybody!

I am Archana

I am 40 yrs old

I stay at Vishrantwadi

We are 5 members in my family including me.

My father is retired, My mother is into business, my sister is working in MNC, my brother is studying.

I have done MBA from NIBM, B Tech in engineering Physics from

IIT.

 My hobbies are Netsurfing, blogging, chatting on whatsapp, Craft.

I have worked in companies like Satyam, Cybage.

For the time being this is all about me. Thankyou.

  If you could change or improve anything about your previous company, what would it be?

The department I worked for had a wonderful Employee management system in place, the only thing I was not happy was with the food facility being provided in my previous organization. I would like to change the vendor and also introduce the concept of rotating shifts, rotating holidays and team awards.

Assuming that you are selected, what will be your strategy for next 60 days? If I am selected for this position, I’ll use my initial 60 days in understanding my role carefully in terms of the contribution to the business and increasing the overall profitability. I’ll sit with my line manager and other juniors to understand what has already been done and what its impact has been. From there on, I’ll formulate my strategy to growth in close conjunction with managers and see that it is properly implemented.
How would you improve upon our product/ company? Since I’d be coming from an altogether new environment, I am bound to possess a new perspective towards everything here including the company, product, customers, environment, strategy etc. This will enable me to  constructively question things which anyone else here might not do. This will help in improving the things and making the product & company better. Having worked closely with product development team I understand how the research for product development is carried out and how is customer requirement analysed; I’d be able to provide a value addition there too.
Don’t you think, you are overqualified for this position? You might feel that I possess more degrees than you require for this position. But, I believe that I grow everyday when I talk to my staff, customers and superiors. So, basically the learning process continues through out the life – I don’t think I am over qualified.
Have you ever had a problem with your peer? Can you give us an example? Yes, it happened once. I was quite friendly with a colleague of mine from the other department. While talking to him during the lunch hour, I casually told him about the new marketing strategy that the marketing team was thinking about. He mentioned it to his boss and that caused a lot of confusion between the two departments. This taught me a lesson that you must not discuss any departmental strategies with anyone from other department unless you have been authorised by your boss.
I see, there’s some gap in your work history. Why? Yes, I was feeling exhausted after years of non-stop work. So, I decided to take a break and spend some time with my family on a rejuvenating vacation. I am happy to have returned fully recharged.
Can you tell us something about your previous boss? All my bosses possessed some skills worth learning. I have always tried to learn something new from them including my previous boss.
Is there anything that you do not like about your last or current job? I was quite enthusiastic while joining my last job. Towards the end, the number of challenges and opportunity to grow further started diminishing. A challenge loving and growth oriented person like me doesn’t enjoy this.
Have there been instances, when your decision was challenged by your colleague or manager? Yes, there have been many such instances. I like people who challenge my decisions rather than following me blindly. This keeps me ensured that I am surrounded by thinking brains rather than just a set of dumb followers. When someone challenges your decisions, you are bound to rethink over it and the chances of reaching the best option are brighter.
If you are allowed to change one thing about your last job, what would it be? I have been working at a senior level since last many years. These roles have always needed me to make real time decisions. Sometimes the facts, figures and other information in real time cases are not complete & still we have to make a decision. In such cases, there exists a probability of making inaccurate decisions. Knowing this, I usually run down my old decisions to see the outcome. It makes sure that I don’t repeat a mistake ever again in future. While carrying out one such exercise, I realised that the product promotion strategy that I recommended would have been different, if I had had the complete data and figures but there was no way to get them in real time.
How long can you commit to work with us? I like new challenges and a chance to grow. As long I keeping getting these, I don’t think I’ll need to switch over. I’d like to believe that this relationship lasts for many years. However, I haven’t set a time limit as such.
You seem to be drawing a good salary. Will you be OK in taking a salary cut? I believe that at one point of time in career salary becomes secondary and self actualisation become more important. While taking up any new job, it will be my priority to ensure that the work culture, chances to contribute and grow are sufficient along with the money I am paid. I also believe that any good company who cares about its employees ensures that they are paid well.
What is your expected salary? I believe that an ideal remuneration for any position recognizes the ability, rewards the performance and provides the employee an opportunity to indulge in his hobbies and passions. I am sure that this company also takes care of these.
Would you like to ask us anything? I would like to know about the career growth I can expect being with this company. I am quite an ambitious person and this information will be helpful.
Tell us something about yourself. This is the first question, you can expect during any interview you face. This usually is a question to start the communication and set the ball rolling for the interview. You can answer this question by providing some information about your work experience, technologies you have worked upon, educational qualifications. If you are a fresh graduate, you can provide some information about your family also. The trick is to put the full stop at the right place to provoke the next question you want. For e.g. “Recently I developed a website using Drupal. It was quite an interesting but challenging job which I enjoyed.”
Why do you consider yourself a suitable candidate for this position? The answer to this question lies in the preparation you did before the interview. It is extremely important that you research the requirements of the position well and match them with your skills. For e.g. if the position requires an Asp.net developer with good knowledge of health care domain, tell the interviewer about your technical skills and your domain knowledge. Fresh graduates can talk about their technical skills, ability to learn and grasp things quickly.
Why do you want to leave your present job or company? You may want to leave your present job for any reason but make sure that you do not talk bad about your manager, company or job. It reflects your complaining attitude. Provide a sincere reason for e.g. “I think, I have grown up with my last employer as much as I could. I want to grow further and I believe that is possible with a new employer.”
You have stayed in your current job for quite a long time, why? There are many people who do not change their jobs for years and when they go out looking for a new employer, this is one of the most important questions they are asked. Some people might look upon staying with the same employer for long as “lack of ambition”. A good answer to this question can be something like, “Yes, you are right. I stayed with my last employer for almost 5 years but I was continuously growing in the company, doing new things, handling bigger challenges. So, I was quite happy working with them for these many years.” You can then talk about how you grew with your last employer.
What do you know about us? Research the company and its business a bit before appearing for the interview. Also, find out a bit about the technologies they work upon. You don’t need to know everything inside out but having a fair idea about the company makes you appear interested in the position, to be taken seriously. For e.g. I see that your company does a lot of projects based on OpenSource platforms like Joomla, Drupal, Magento which is quite interesting as I have a similar kind of experience.
What do you do to improve your knowledge? The field of IT is very revolutionary. It is extremely important to keep yourself abreast with the new technological developments and this needs you to take some time out of your work schedule so that you can keep sharpening your saw. To answer this question, you can tell the recruiter about the forums which you keep visiting, blogs which you keep reading. It will be an advantage if you are a member of some local user group.
Can you perform under pressure? Most of the times, the job of software development is that of working under pressure. Sometimes, it will be the pressure of delivering on time while it can be that of a bug that has sprung all of a sudden in your code. So, expect pressure in everything you do. It is important to maintain your performance and develop strategies to deliver under pressure. You can then go ahead an talk about your way of dealing with pressure and performing under it.
Tell us some of your strengths. Again, it is important to study the requirements of the position before you appear for the interview. List out your strengths and offer the ones that this role demands. For e.g. If you are appearing for the position of a Tech Lead – VB.net, talk about your VB.net skills, any extra knowledge which you have about coding with VB.net in comparison to other candidates, your team management skills etc.
Tell us some of your weaknesses. You have to be careful while answering this question. Do not offer a weakness which will directly affect your selection but at the same time saying that you do not have any weakness will not be right too. Every human being has weaknesses, so it is perfectly OK for you to have some too. The best way to answer this question will be to turn one of your strengths as a weakness and say that others accuse you of having this weakness but you think it is important to work in this manner. For e.g.: “My colleagues accuse me of paying to much attention to syntax but I believe it is important when you are writing the code to avoid spending too much time on finding and fixing the bugs later on.” Another way to answer this question is to offer a totally un-related weakness for e.g. “I have been staying alone for so many years now but I still can’t cook independently.”
Are you comfortable working in a team? The whole work of software development or IT is a team work. So, the only answer to this question can be: “Yes, I am comfortable working in a team.” If you have any problems in working as a team, it is important to work on them and develop yourself as a team player.
How do you rate your communication skills? Again, IT is about dealing with people within and out of the company. So, it is important to have good communication skills. By good communication skills we mean, ability to understand and explain in a common language. So, if you believe that your communication skills are weaker, you need to work on them. Anything less than average or good is not acceptable here.
You do not have all the experience we need for this position? It is not possible for a candidate to have all the experience an employer requires. Even if you match yourself up to the expectations on technical front, there will be some difference in the work environment. And, it is absolutely fine. The best way to deal with this question is to analyse the requirements of the position well and match your skills as close to them as possible. If something is still left untouched, offer your quick grasping power and ability to learn quickly as a solution & back it up with an example from the past.
How would you compensate for the lack of experience you have for this position? As we discussed in the last question, your ability to understand and pick up new things quickly should be able to compensate for the lack of work experience you have.
If you were hiring for this position, what qualities would you look for in a potential candidate? Closely understand the qualities and skills a person holding the position would need and match them with the qualities you have. If you believe that you are missing a big quality required for the position under discussion, say that, “I understand that this is an important quality required in the person holding this position but given a chance, I will inculcate it in me.” Back it up with a confident body language.
Do you know anyone who works for us? Offer some one’s name if they really know you well and can offer a positive feedback about you.
What is your style of management? In today’s scenario, everything needs customization, so here also, one size can’t fit all i.e. one management style won’t work in all situations. So, offer “situational” as your style of management.
Have you ever fired anyone? How would you go about firing a person, if required? The basic purpose of asking this question is to check your EQ and see if you have the guts to make tough decisions. If you have fired anyone in the past, discuss your experience and approach. If you have never done so in the past, discuss the approach you would take to make and implement such a decision. Keep the focus of your answer on the fact that you would try to do your best to ensure that your team performs to its best but if a particular member is not able to perform even after you taking all the steps to help him, you would make the tough decision to ensure that the project doesn’t suffer.
What irritates you about co-workers? The purpose of this question is to see how well you can fit into a team. Basically, you should not have a problem with a person, although you can have a problem with the style of working. So, to answer this question you can simply say, “I understand that IT is about team work, so we can’t afford to problems with co-workers but if someone is not serious about their work or does a low quality work affecting the whole project, I definitely do not like it”
Is there any particular kind of person you can not work with? For the reason given in the above questions, the answer to this question should be a “No”. This is basically a different way of putting up the last question.
What qualities would you look for in your senior? You can mention some generic qualities like intelligence, good sense of humour, dedicated to his team etc., which all the managers think that they have in abundance.
What motivates you at work? To answer this question, you can mention things like – new challenges, good environment which all employers think that they offer.
Will you be happy to work in night shifts or over the weekends? You need to answer this question taking into consideration what is suitable for you. Say that you can work in the night shifts, only if you can really do it.
Have you ever committed a mistake at work? To err is human. So, it is perfectly OK if you committed a mistake at work but before answering the question analyse the magnitude of mistake you did and the effect it had on the company. What is more important is – what did you do to rectify the mistake and make sure that you don’t do it again? So, mention the mistake you committed and keep the focus of the answer on the steps you took to rectify it.
What position would you prefer while working on a project? This question is for you to answer based on the skills and qualities you have. If you have the capability to handle different positions, discuss that also in the interview.
What are the most important things for you as a manager? The two things which should be most important for a manager to succeed in his role are: a.) His team should be happy and keep performing b.) The project he is working on with his team is successfully finished with minimum problems.
Will you be happy to re-locate, if required? Again, a question for you to answer based on your position. If you are anticipating this question in the interview, it is better to discuss this with your family also before you go to face the interview.
What kind of a salary are you looking for? Try to put the ball back in interviewer’s court by asking him about the salary they offer for a position like this. Most of the big companies will have a fixed remuneration for each level. However, if this is negotiable, you will have more negotiation power if you have some work experience. So, know your lower limit (amount below which you can’t go) and also know the maximum salary in the industry for the position then put forward a figure which is not very exact. It is better to mention a range. For e.g. if you are expecting something around 55 K, say that you expect something in mid fifties. Don’t keep the range to broad otherwise you will be offered something towards the lower end. If you are a fresher, most of the times you will have to accept the company’s offering for the position. However, if you find it too less, you can definitely discuss that during the interview.
Do you have any questions for us? This is usually the last question you can expect during an interview. It is extremely important to have some intelligent questions to ask the interviewer otherwise you may just sound dull and un-interested. Research the company a bit and discuss if they have been in news recently. You can also discuss about the growth prospects for you within the company etc.
Discuss the most stressful situation you came across in your previous job. Here you should discuss a stressful situation that you were able to overcome and keep a positive tone, do not say you never came across a stressful situation. Typical answers can be: - Our team’s targets were increased three fold and initially everyone was overwhelmed by the number, but we discussed it with our manager and he was co-operative and understood the situation. But he wanted us to give it a try and was ready to reduce the targets to a more realistic number. - You can also talk about a very demanding project where you worked for long hours/2 shifts and had to sacrifice on family time, but once the project was done you got recognition for the hard work and you were over the stress.
For how long do you expect to stay with our organization? You should ensure that you give an impression that you will pay back more than what you take from the company: - You can say I will stay here as far as I see an opportunity for growth, as I am looking for a stability in work place - If they stress on number of years say 3-4 years, and more if I can explore new challenges/growth opportunities
Why should we hire you? - Here you should discuss the profile you have applied for and your strengths/experience with which you can add value to the job - Discuss your achievements at your previous job, and say that I have developed my skills to suit my current profile, but I want to develop myself futher and face new challenges, and for that I need to change my job. - I will always be willing to change roles share responsibilities to suit company requirements
Discuss your strengths Discuss strengths that show your professional expertise, some of the answers could be: - Multi tasking: Say I have been working on mulitple project and I am required to keep tabs on each project and co-ordinate with a lot of teams, and I am able to do it efficiently. - Problem Solving: You can say that in my current job role I have spent a good time to know how to solve problems. My team members see me as a go-to person to solve issues. - Communication - Team player - Quick learner Support each point with examples
Discuss your weaknesses and how do you plan to overcome it Discuss weaknesses in positive light always discuss how you plan to overcome it, some of the answers could be: - I am always willing to take up additional responsibilities, but I end up being over worked so now I am realistic about what I can do, so that I do work to the required standards - If you lack certain technical skill, which is not crucial for the job you can state that and say you are planning to take up a training course/certification to get over it - If you do not wish to discuss your weakness, you can say, I cannot compete with Rajnikant :P
What is your idea of an ideal company? Do not go over board and ask for , it might give an impression that you are too demanding, some of the answers could be: - An ideal company provides maximum opportunities for growth of employees. - They provide comfortable and flexible work environment, so that employees can perform at their best and work towards company’s benefit. - A company that encourages learning - A company that encourages open culture
Why are you leaving your previous job? Do not go around defaming your company, it will give a bad impression about you. Give reasons such as: - Professional Growth - New challenges - Change in profile - Planning to relocate (if applicable) - With time I found my job was becoming monotonous and I didn’t want this to have any impact on the job I was doing for my employer - I am not actively looking for a job change but, I saw this opening and it looked interesting.
Tell us something about your achievements at your previous job. - Talk about your professional acheivements, if you were recognised as a high performer or you got good feedback from your manager - You can also discuss you annual ratings - Discuss your promotions/appraisals
Tell us what do you know about our company. - Browse through the company website and make sure you know what the company does and make sure you do so in short - Discuss the positives aspects of the company, the interviewer should feel that you have done your home work
Why do you want to work for us? -Start by discussing the profile you have applied for and go on to say that the organization would provide an opportunity to enhance your knowledge and help you to grow professionally -Discuss how you would be of use to the organization and how you plan to develop your professional competencies
Are you willing to relocate/travel? - Always say yes if you need the job - You can ask whether they will compensate for relocation costs
Are you a good team player? Companies look for team players as well as those who are self starters and can work independently, so you need to be versatile: -You should show that you enjoy working in a team. Say that you are open to suggestions from team members and seniors. -It is always good to work in a team as one can get the support of other members and in times of crisis everyone can work together to achieve the goal.
Can you work independently? - Yes, I can work independently without supervision or support from a team - Do not emphasize on working independently as that will be seen as an inability to work with others.
Do you have any questions for us? Always have a question ready to answer this one: - You can ask whether the company allows for lateral and vertical role changes - You can also ask whether the company encourages learning and development of employees - Ask whether the company has plans for expansion - You can also discuss your role in detail
Are you willing to work for long hours, if the project demands that from you? - Discuss situations when you must have done so to fulfill project requirements in the past
What is your current CTC and what are your expectations? - Be honest about your CTC, as you will have to produce you salary slip as a proof of employment - Be realistic when you state your expected CTC, you can ask for a 30-40% hike - If you are underpaid at your current company you can look for the standard salary paid for the experience you have and ask for that amount
Are you planning to go for further studies? Be transparent in your answer. - If you are pursuing further studies, say so. Tell them why you want to go for that course - If you are taking up a distance education course or a part time course, they should know, as you will need to take leaves when you appear for exams
Discuss your five characteristics. List down points that will help you professionally: - Independent - Responsible - Hard working - Multi tasker - Prompt - Add your characteristcs
Tell us something about your hobbies. Answer it with honesty, as they can go deeper into this discussion. You can include: - Browsing the internet - Blogging, - Listening to music, - Chatting with friends, - Reading newspapers, - Reading books, - Shopping, - Watching movies….
What is more important to you money or success? This is tricky question, as money and success both are important and you cannot outweigh the importance of one over the other. Personally you might prefer money over success or success over money, but it is better to be neutral when answering this question in an interview: You can say, that money and success both are important for you, but if you have to choose you would choose success. The reason being, if one is successful money often follows and you need not focus on money over success.. What is Recruitment ? - Recruitment is the process of identifying, screening and hiring the most suitable candidate for a job vacancy. - The candidate might be hired internally or from external sources - The process must be performed in timely and cost effective manner - It can also be termed as a process linking the employers and the employees Explain the purpose and importance of recruitment. The purpose of recruitment is to: - Attract the maximum number of candidates to the organization and encourage them to apply - Create strong database and select the best candidate for the position - Ascertain the current and future manpower requirements of the organization - Make the hiring exercise a cost effective one Importance of recruitment is: - To identify the potential candidates within the organization for future man power requirements - To identify the outside candidates and hire them to meet the man power requirements - To establish various sources of candidates - To help in increasing the success of hiring process Explain recruitment process. The recruitment process tries to get the best manpower for the organization. It can be considered as the first strategic step towards the success of an organization. The process consists of following major steps: - Identifying the vacancy - Preparing the job specifications and description of the potential candidate - Advertising the requirement - Receiving and managing the applications - Short listing the candidates - Arranging the interviews - Conducting the interviews and deciding on the candidate What are the various internal and external sources of recruitment? There can be two kinds of sources of recruitment for organizations - Internal and External. Internal recruitment - It means getting the candidate from within the organization to fulfil a vacancy. Internal recruitment can be done by: - Transfer - transferring an employee from one location/ department to other. - Promotion - Taking the employee higher up in the hierarchy - Ex-employees - These could be the retired or retrenched employees - Demotion - Lowering the position of an employee in the hierarchy for various reasons External recruitment - It means getting the absolutely new candidate to the company. The sources of these employees could be many: - Job notifications in the print/ online media - College campuses - Placement agents - Unsolicited applicants - Employee referral program - Employment exchange - Labour contractors Explain the internal and external factors affecting recruitment. There can be various internal and external factors which affect the recruitment process. Internal factors - The factors which are under the control of organization are called internal factors. These could be - i.) Recruitment policy of the organization ii.) Human Resource Planning iii.) Expansion plans iv.) Cost of recruitment External factors - These are the factors which are not under the control of the organization. These could be - i.) Availability of talent ii.) Brand image of the organization iii.) Politico-social environment iv.) Legal conditions v.) Economic condition of the market vi.) Recruitment policy of the competitors What should be the focus of recruitment policy of a company? A good recruitment policy helps the organization in developing an effective recruitment process. It can be termed as the first step in developing an efficient recruitment process. A recruitment policy defines the recruitment objectives and clearly defines the framework to work within. A good recruitment policy should focus on: - Being unbiased towards all candidates - Recruiting the best talent - Helping the employees identify their potential - Promoting transparent, merit based selection - Developing cost effective recruitment process - Appointing an authority for final decision - Being socially, politically, legally and economically friendly List some factors that affect the recruitment policy of a company. Various factors which can affect the recruitment policy of a company are: - Its objectives - Policies of the competitors - Government laws - Social and economic - Political environment - Cost of recruitment - Time available - Preferred recruitment sources What are the main components of a recruitment policy? The main components of a recruitment policy are: - Terms of recruitment - Sources of recruitment - Using the services of placement agents - Payment terms and conditions for placement agents - Recruitment of contractual employees - Obtaining requirements from departments - Selection process - Employment terms and conditions What are the advantages of outsourcing the recruitment services? Many organizations outsource their recruitment services to the placement agencies. The main advantages of doing so are as follows: - It allows the organizations to focus on core and strategic activities - It leads to optimal use of resources and time - It provides access to the expertise of the placement agents - Reduction in recruitment cost Explain Poaching/ Raiding. Poaching in recruitment means hiring the employee of a competitor who is working in the same capacity as desired by you. This is a major challenge faced by the HR managers as it causes the leakage of talent from an organization and effects its productivity. The employee is usually hired by offering him better salary and perks. List the e-recruitment techniques. What are the advantages of e-recruitment? E-recruitment means using internet for the recruitment services. Three main techniques used in e-recruitment are: - Advertising on job portals - Building a recruitment section on company's website. - Screening the database of candidates on job portals The advantages of e-recruitment are: - Lower cost of advertising the job openings - Helps in saving time - Large pool of candidates to choose from - Day in - day out access to the database - Screening the database brings in only relevant candidates - Paper less process - more organised Differentiate between recruitment and selection. - Recruitment aims at searching for the talent and promoting the candidates to apply for the position while selection is the process of screening the candidates to fill a position with the most suitable candidate. - Recruitment process get a pool of candidates for the selection process to work and choose the best one. - Recruitment encourages more and more people to apply while selection eliminates unsuitable candidates to zero down on the best one. - There is no contractual agreement between the employee and the employer in the recruitment process while after the selection a contract is agreed upon by the employee and the employer. What is recruitment management system? What are its features and benefits? - Recruitment management system is a tool for effective management of recruitment process. It helps in quick, reliable, accurate and unbiased processing of various applications. - The system helps in efficient management of system by automatically maintaining the database of candidates. - It works as a good interface between various parties involved in the whole process - It helps in better communication. How would you maximize your ROI on recruitment? Recruitment is a time and money consuming activity. In order to maximize the ROI through recruitment activities, a company should keep following things in mind: - Clearly define the achievements you expect from the recruitment process. Establishing the clear goals doesn't leave a place for confusion in the system. - Develop effective ways to measure critical results. - Precise estimation of time and cost of recruitment. - Ensure that the people working in the recruitment process are well trained. - Estimate the tangible and intangible benefits that have come from the recruitment exercise. Explain the process of recruitment through placement agents. The process of recruitment through placement agents consists of following steps: - Brief the consultant about the profile and the candidate - Placement consultant shortlist some candidates and sends the CVs - Company's representative shortlists the CVs sent by consultants - Interview is scheduled by the agent - Interview conducted by the company's representative - If the candidate is selected, he is given an offer after the negotiation else the consultant sends another candidate What qualities would you look for in consultants before getting them on board for your recruitment activities? If a company decides to outsource its recruitment activities, it looks for a consultant to do this job. Following are the important qualities, a company should look for in the consultant before hiring them - - Experience and expertise in the sector - Resources they possess - Achievements in the last projects - Flexibility and adaptability - Result orientation What are the elements of an effective recruitment strategy? The purpose of a recruitment strategy is to hire the best talent a company desires in a timely and cost effective manner. Following are the main elements of an effective recruitment strategy: - Identifying the jobs - Type of candidates required depending on their - performance, experience, domain knowledge. - Sources to tab - job portals, campuses, competitor's employees, employee referral - Assigned recruiters - Process to evaluate and hire candidates What challenges have you faced as a recruiter? Major challenges a recruiter faces are: - Lack of candidates in some particular domain - Changing trends of the market - Lack of self motivation - Lack of agility in the process - Lack of job prioritization - Lack of proper job analysis If you are required to recruit expats, what qualities will you try to judge during the interview? When there is a shortage of skills and talents at a particular geographical location, the company tries to hire people from other geographical locations. These people are called expats. Sometimes the companies require only expats for certain positions - depending on their recruitment strategy. While hiring expats it is important to judge following qualities in them: - Professional qualifications and expertise - Adaptability and Flexibility - Cultural sensitivity - Family conditions - Open mindedness - Any past international work experience - Level of self-motivation What do you understand by "Equal Employment Opportunity"? Equal employment opportunity means an equal and fair treatment for all people. There is no discrimination among the employees or candidates on the basis of: race, age, sex, marital status, disability, sexuality, pregnancy etc. Equal employment Opportunities help in overall development of both the society as well as the organization. They help the organizations in creating a good image for themselves and discharging their social responsibilities.