Commandments for every Personal Interview

Even after months of preparation, some candidates do not perform well inside the interview room. The trick is to follow a few commandments mentioned below & practice them during mock interview sessions diligently. You are sure to crack the personal interview.

1. Whenever the interviewer asks any questions, listen carefully. Do not interrupt him midway. Ask for a clarification if the question is not clear. Wait a second or two before you answer. And don’t dive into the answer!

2. Speak clearly. Don’t speak very slowly. Be loud enough so that the interviewers don’t have to strain their ears.

3. Brevity is the hallmark of a good communicator. An over-talkative or verbose person is disliked and misjudged instantly, so keep it short.

4. If you don’t know an answer, be honest. The interviewer will respect your integrity and honesty. Never exaggerate.

5. Never boast about your achievements. Don’t be overconfident — it is often misinterpreted by interviewers for arrogance.

6. Don’t get into an argument with the interviewer on any topic. Restrain yourself, please!

7. Remember your manners. Project an air of humility and be polite.

8. Project enthusiasm. The interviewer usually pays more attention if you display enthusiasm in whatever you say.

9. Maintain a cheerful disposition throughout the interview, because a pleasant countenance holds the interviewers’ interest.

10. Maintain perfect eye contact with all panel members; make sure you address them all. This shows your self-confidence and honesty.

11. Avoid using slang. It may not be understood and will certainly not be appreciated.

12. Avoid frequent use of words and phrases like, ‘I mean’; ‘You know’; ‘I know’; ‘Well’; ‘As such’; ‘Fine’; ‘Basically’, etc.

13. When questions are asked in English, reply in English only. Do not use Hindi or any other languages. Avoid using Hindi words like matlab, ki, maine, etc.

14. Feel free to ask questions if necessary. It is quite in order and much appreciated by interviewers.

15. Last but not the least, be natural. Many interviewees adopt a stance that is not their natural self. Interviewers find it amusing when a candidate launches into a new accent that s/he cannot sustain consistently through the interview or adopts a mannerism that is inconsistent with their own personality. It is best to talk naturally. You come across as genuine.

Personal Interview

In a Personal Interview, the questions generally revolve around behaviors, skills and attitudes of the student. The selector aims to gain an insight into the personality of the student by assessing the student in the following areas

* The Strengths and weaknesses of the student
* Aim and objective behind management education
* Stress and Time Management skills
* Past performances and experiences as indicator to future behavior
* Honesty and integrity
* Personality conflicts, if any

Some of the common questions that a candidate faces in an interview

* Why do you wish to choose a career in management?
* Discuss the vocations or professions other than management, which you have considered.
* Give a candid evaluation of yourself discussing those characteristics you feel are your strengths and weaknesses.
* Describe your three most substantial accomplishments and explain why you view them as such.
* Describe a situation or a job in which you felt had some responsibility and tell us what you learned from that experience.
* What did you get out of your academic and extra curricular life at college?
* Describe your vocation and hobbies.
* How do you visualize yourself, five years hence?

Personal Interview Tips

As the name suggests…….this article will equip you with a few general tips ‘n’ tricks on handling Personal Interviews. Also, it will provide with a basic idea of - “How can Interview in IIM be like?”


What to Expect in an IIM Personal Interview?

The focus of a B-school interview can range from specific questions about your job to broad discussions on life. Approach the interview as a conversation to be enjoyed, not as a question-and-answer ordeal. It may be about your hobbies - your recent cross-country trip. This doesn’t mean that the interviewers are not serious. It just means that you’re being sized up as a person and a future professional in all your dimensions.

Try to be your witty, charming, natural self. Do not try to put on. The interviewers will be able to see your masks through. Students, faculty, admissions personnel and alumni conduct interviews. Don’t dismiss students as the lightweights. It is important to have a good idea of “What you consider to be your greatest strength, why and what are some examples that show this”, before you go into an interview. Although the interviewer will most likely ask some pointed questions, you may also encounter something as broad as “So, tell me about yourself.” These open ended questions are usually the ones that help you lead the interview.

Either way, you should have in mind what you want to convey about who you are before you go into any interview. Lack of preparation is a common complaint among interviewers, and if you are prepared, you will stand out among your competitors.

First steps on how to approach an interview…

1. Do your homework:

Have well thought answers for questions such as “What are your strengths? Why are you right for that particular business school? Why is that particular program right for you?”

It shows organization and forethought if you know some specifics about the program to which you are applying and can explain why those features fit well with your career goals. For example, if you are applying to the Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI), through some simple research you will discover that they are strong in Human Resource Development. Perhaps, you have worked with a recruitment company or have been a trainer in an institute. Relate these in the interview.

2. Don’t Waste Time:

Don’t waste time discussing things that are already indicated on your application. You can elaborate if the topic illustrates something about your character and preparedness for the b-school experience, but do not be redundant.

Remember that the first impression you create is very important. When asked to say “something about yourself”, most candidates just blurt out their schooling, college, marks and qualifications. All this is already there in the application. Why tell the interviewer something he/she already knows. Ideally, you would want to use this opportunity to show how you are different from the thousands of other applicants, not to blend in to the crowd.

A final word on approaching this question. After you have said what you have to say - don’t venture any further. Don’t drone. You just might say something foolish. Sometimes interviewers don’t interrupt in order to give the candidate the impression that he has not spoken enough. This is just a stress/error inducing tactic. Don’t fall for it. If the pause gets too awkward for your liking, just add something like, “Is there something specific that you would like to know about me” .

Personal Interview Tips

As the name suggests…….this article will equip you with a few general tips ‘n’ tricks on handling Personal Interviews. Also, it will provide with a basic idea of - “How can Interview in IIM be like?”


What to Expect in an IIM Personal Interview?

The focus of a B-school interview can range from specific questions about your job to broad discussions on life. Approach the interview as a conversation to be enjoyed, not as a question-and-answer ordeal. It may be about your hobbies - your recent cross-country trip. This doesn’t mean that the interviewers are not serious. It just means that you’re being sized up as a person and a future professional in all your dimensions.

Try to be your witty, charming, natural self. Do not try to put on. The interviewers will be able to see your masks through. Students, faculty, admissions personnel and alumni conduct interviews. Don’t dismiss students as the lightweights. It is important to have a good idea of “What you consider to be your greatest strength, why and what are some examples that show this”, before you go into an interview. Although the interviewer will most likely ask some pointed questions, you may also encounter something as broad as “So, tell me about yourself.” These open ended questions are usually the ones that help you lead the interview.

Either way, you should have in mind what you want to convey about who you are before you go into any interview. Lack of preparation is a common complaint among interviewers, and if you are prepared, you will stand out among your competitors.

First steps on how to approach an interview…

1. Do your homework:

Have well thought answers for questions such as “What are your strengths? Why are you right for that particular business school? Why is that particular program right for you?”

It shows organization and forethought if you know some specifics about the program to which you are applying and can explain why those features fit well with your career goals. For example, if you are applying to the Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI), through some simple research you will discover that they are strong in Human Resource Development. Perhaps, you have worked with a recruitment company or have been a trainer in an institute. Relate these in the interview.

2. Don’t Waste Time:

Don’t waste time discussing things that are already indicated on your application. You can elaborate if the topic illustrates something about your character and preparedness for the b-school experience, but do not be redundant.

Remember that the first impression you create is very important. When asked to say “something about yourself”, most candidates just blurt out their schooling, college, marks and qualifications. All this is already there in the application. Why tell the interviewer something he/she already knows. Ideally, you would want to use this opportunity to show how you are different from the thousands of other applicants, not to blend in to the crowd.

A final word on approaching this question. After you have said what you have to say - don’t venture any further. Don’t drone. You just might say something foolish. Sometimes interviewers don’t interrupt in order to give the candidate the impression that he has not spoken enough. This is just a stress/error inducing tactic. Don’t fall for it. If the pause gets too awkward for your liking, just add something like, “Is there something specific that you would like to know about me” .

Personal Interview

In a Personal Interview, the questions generally revolve around behaviors, skills and attitudes of the student. The selector aims to gain an insight into the personality of the student by assessing the student in the following areas

* The Strengths and weaknesses of the student
* Aim and objective behind management education
* Stress and Time Management skills
* Past performances and experiences as indicator to future behavior
* Honesty and integrity
* Personality conflicts, if any

Some of the common questions that a candidate faces in an interview

* Why do you wish to choose a career in management?
* Discuss the vocations or professions other than management, which you have considered.
* Give a candid evaluation of yourself discussing those characteristics you feel are your strengths and weaknesses.
* Describe your three most substantial accomplishments and explain why you view them as such.
* Describe a situation or a job in which you felt had some responsibility and tell us what you learned from that experience.
* What did you get out of your academic and extra curricular life at college?
* Describe your vocation and hobbies.
* How do you visualize yourself, five years hence?