Campus
interviews
By Rajan
How to clear interviews?

Preface
I had recently been to a few Engineering Colleges for
Campus recruitment. A feature which disturbed me was
that some of this brilliant engineers used to fumble when it
came to appearing for a face to face interview. They used
to perform very well in the written test but fared poorly in
the interviews. I was surprised that these techies who
could solve the most complex problems were unable to
decipher the solution for a simple face to face interview.
They used to be nervous, got blank and forgot the answers
during the discussions.
Looking at their dilemma I thought of a sharing a few tips
which could be useful to them as well as other Graduate /
MBA students.

Grooming for the interview
It is important that you are well groomed physically for the
interview.
It gives you a pleasant appearance, increases your confidence
as well as creates a favorable first impression on the
interviewing panel.

Body Language
Be energetic & enthusiastic.
It conveys the message that the candidate is willing to take
up the assignment in right earnest.

Smile
It immediately sends positive vibes to the interviewer.
This is one of the most simple but effective action.
A smile relaxes both the interviewee & interviewer. It
may also unknowingly sober down a harsh interviewer.

Don’t be in a hurry, take your time
Most of the times the candidate is in a hurry to answer
the question. Instead he should wait for a moment,
reflect on the question & then answer. The chances are
that it would be a better reply.
Focus on your breathing for 2 minutes before the
interview. Take a deep breath before entering the
cabin. Gather your thoughts.
Relax

Honesty is the best policy
Be honest & truthful. Don’t try to beat around the bush.
Give honest answers.
It is better to admit that you do not know the answer or
have the necessary information rather than giving a
false reply.
Keep in mind that the interviewers are well experienced
& can see through any information which is false.

Wrong answers
In case you give wrong answer or are unable to answer a
question, don’t be too perturbed. You are not supposed
to know all the answers.
Stay calm & be ready for the next question.
Many a times one right answer can clinch the post for
you.

Preparation
Generally the areas on which the questions will be asked revolve around the
following three areas:-
Curriculum vitae (CV/ Bio data)
Prepare it in an impressive manner. Take guidance from others & draft it in a logical
& sequential manner.
Area of specialization/ Domain area - Subject knowledge
This is obviously your sweet spot. But don’t be over confident. Prepare thoroughly
on this aspect. The way you answer to questions in your area of specialization will
have a high weightage.
Prospective employer / company
A candidate is supposed to know few details about the recruiting company.
Nowadays ample information is available on the internet. It would be prudent for
the candidate to gather information about the company.

Prepare answers for a few common questions:-
Tell me about yourself, your family etc.
What are your Strengths & Weaknesses?
What are your achievements & failures?
Explain your project.
What do you know about our company? Why would you
like to join it?
Preparation

Fear
It’s quite natural to feel fearful in the first few minutes. The
candidate has to consciously overcome it as the interview
progresses.
Be aware & conscious of the situation by being in the present
moment.
Normally the candidate is asked an open ended question like ‘Tell
me about yourself’. The candidate should utilize that opportunity
to stabilize himself & for overcoming the fear.

Communication in English
Good communication in English is very important.
Many students from vernacular medium are unable to express
themselves & hence loose out to other candidates in spite of being
intelligent then them.
Some companies may consider the candidates who are not fluent
or are weak in English communication but are technically strong if
the role is purely technical & requires less interaction with
people.
But most companies would prefer to have a candidate with good
English communication capabilities.

A student shared with me how she improved her English
conversation skills. She did it by reading a lot of English novels
aloud in her room.
Few suggestions – Read Times of India or any other English
newspaper (it helps you to be well informed also), watch
English cartoons, news etc.
Join an English speaking course if required.
Communication –
Experience of a student

Questions
It’s important to ask questions.
Ask about the post, the company, job profile etc rather
than just asking about the salary.
It shows that you are interested in the job & also have
done some preparation.

Role play
One of the best ways to overcome the jitters is to do a role play.
Ask your friend to be the interviewer & ask you as many tough
questions as possible. It can give you some taste of practical
experience.

A story………
Finally I would like to share a true story about my friend Atul.
He went for an interview. The interviewer had a very strong & over bearing
personality. Atul was almost selected for the post.
The Manager asked the final question in a dominant way, “When can you join? “.
Atul said, “In 30 days.”
The Manager said nonchalantly, “We cannot wait for that much time. So what do
you have to say?”
Atul answered coolly without getting flustered, “Then you may lose a good
candidate.”
The Manager was taken aback by his response but was also impressed. Atul was
selected.
Moral of the story
Candidates should not be too worried about getting the job. They should know
that when they are good enough to be Engineers / MBA’s then they are good
enough to get a good job. They should not plead for a job nor should they be
defensive. It reflects in their body language.

One more story….
A student came for an interview. He had a smile on his
face & was composed during the interview. I asked him
the reason for his confidence & composure. He said that
he meditated regularly.
Yes, meditation can influence the actions of a human
being. Regular meditation can do wonders to your life &
not only the interview.

For a free lecture at the campus contact:
gaonkarrajan@yahoo.co.in
The views expressed here are the authors own & in no way
reflect the views of the company he is working . The author is
fully responsible for the content & views expressed by him.
Many of the pictures have been taken from the internet. My appreciation & thanks to all the
websites.

“Always remember that your desires are first fulfilled in consciousness, and then they come forth in the outer
world clothed with materiality – so the secret is to be thankful while your good is still invisible!”-
John Randolph Price