How to Answer Questions About Family at Interview

Have you ever come across personal questions at a job interview? If you’ve answered “yes”, you are certainly not alone. A lot of candidates often struggle to find a proper answer when it comes to their family and personal life. It’s not surprising since such questions often infringe upon your privacy and may well undermine your career achievements if your answer is not carefully thought over. The questions may vary, covering topics like gender, marital or family status, relationships, kids or dependent persons.

 

Despite being illegal in most countries, personal questions are still considered an integral part of job interviews by some employees. Let’s try to figure out what intentions lie behind personal questions at job interviews and what you can do to be fully prepared for them.

What lies behind personal questions?

Personal or family-related questions are often meant to learn more about the candidate. The problem is that many employers abuse this opportunity in order to discriminate against the applicant based on his or her family or personal life. For instance, many employers refrain from hiring young women in their twenties, since they may soon ask for a parental leave.

However, there are more reasons behind those questions. If the question arises in the middle of an interview, it may be used to catch you unalert. This way an employer may try to understand if you are adaptable to handle unusual situations and problems appearing during work. Thus, if you start hesitating or stumble over words, an interviewer might infer that you are not that good at crisis management or worse – that you are not flexible enough.

Another possible reason for the question is to see if you have people dependent on you. Candidates who do, seem more preferred for the employer since they will be more committed to the job and are unlikely to look for a change of working conditions very frequently. Moreover, during salary negotiations, such employees will be at a disadvantage as they need the job in the first place.

How to prepare for family-related questions?      

The thing is it’s not advisable to refuse to answer personal questions completely, since it may result in a failed interview. Meanwhile, if you write down a list of questions that may be asked during the interview and try to find the most appropriate way to answer them, you won’t be caught off guard.

So as not to be completely unprepared, there are a number of tips to consider before answering questions about your family or personal life.

 

1. Make an answer emphasize your strengths

Say that you are always committed to your job regardless of what happens in your personal life. Highlight that you always keep personal and professional aspects of your life separate so that they don’t impact one another. Add a bit of extra insight into your way of living. Say that you’ve always been able to organize your day carefully. You can even mention writing daily schedule as your advantage. This will show the employer that you are a level-headed person that can manage both aspects of your life successfully. If the employer asks about kids or marital status, you can respond with an answer highlighting your professional achievements at the previous position, regardless of your family life.

2. Ask about the purpose of the question

Say that you have never been asked such a question and that you're wondering why the matter is important for the employer. This way, you will learn more about what matters to the company and what the overall working environment looks like. Because I doubt that you will want to work in the conditions, where professional qualifications are secondary to the personal lives of the employees.

3. Don't answer the question straightaway

If you feel that the question is inappropriate, don't answer it from the very beginning, since it may give an employer an unreasonable insight into your personal life. Too much information about your personal life always puts you at a disadvantage. Moreover, your potential boss can then use it to discriminate you or to restrict your future promotion opportunities.

4. Keep calm

Even though the question about your personal life is inappropriate at least, you have to brace yourself so as not to fire up. You don't have to disclose all your cards, but do it a diplomatic way. Often enough, such personal or family-related questions are asked to assess your ability to act in stressful or unexpected situations. Thus, an aggressive response may tell the employer that you're emotionally unstable and won’t be able to stay cool in the emergency. Instead, if you don't want to answer the question, state your position friendly but firmly.

5. Use the question to your good

Actually, you can turn things over and find out more about your potential employer’s policies by observing the reaction to your answer whatever it is. If the interviewers pay too much attention to the subject, you may conclude that the company is overly obsessed with its employees’ personal life, which clearly is a bad signal. At the same time, if the employer adds that the company has certain guidelines by which no discrimination is allowed, you will see that there's nothing to worry about.

In any case, you’ll know that by the time you are hired, so you will be able to make a sounder decision, whether the company is the right one for you.

Summing Up

Personal questions are something every candidate tries to avoid. However, very often, they’re a common part of an interview that you cannot just skip. If you come across a personal or family-related question during it, there’s nothing to be afraid of if you have spent some time on preparation prior to the interview.

To stay confident in the event of an unwanted question, be sure to write down thought-over answers before the interview.  Moreover, keep calm and polite so as not to seem ill-bred.

Using the tips above, you can find the most appropriate way to respond to personal questions and even use them to emphasize your professional qualities and personality traits.

Author's Bio:

Richard Nolan is a writer and a private tutor, sharing his experience in spheres of  writing, blogging, entrepreneurship and psychology. Richard writes for numerous blogs and gives useful tips for bloggers and students. Currently, Richard works as a general blog editor for ProWritersCenter. Follow him on Twitter

Some Basic Interview Questions for Freshers

First job interview fares quite high in the professional lives of a fresh college graduate. It is a stepping stone for them into practical life. Mostly, they are quite apprehensive about the questions they’ll be asked by the interviewer and have no clue what kind of answers are best to give that may impress the employers and showcase their knowledge and acumen in their related field.

Most of the time the questions are of quite basic nature and they are asked from the fresher no matter which field they belong to. These basic enquiries are more related to the personality of the interviewee rather than the field he’s applying for. Here, in this blog post we are going to discuss some of these basic questions that can be asked and the most appropriate ways to tackle them.

1.     TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF?

This is the most likely asked question and is asked to start the conversation basically. It is to generally know about whom you are regardless of which field you belong to. Employers try to assess your personality and your self-assurance through this basic question. You can start by telling them about your education, some information about your family, professions of your father and mother, number of siblings you have and your hobbies to start with. This kind of information provides an insight about interviewee’s personal life to the employers.

2.     WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS FIELD?

This question is directed toward the fresher’s to gauge their enthusiasm for the field they are applying for. Now, most of the students who steps into professional life know what they want and what their calling is. But let’s be honest not everyone is that sure about the direction he wants to follow professionally. So, this question may be a little troublesome for them. But even if you lack passion for the job you should have an answer to this question. You can always prepare a good answer by knowing the basics of the field. At least, to the employers your passion should be evident in your answer. 

3.     WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK HERE?

This is a trick question and you have to tread very carefully as this could prove to be very dangerous grounds. Mostly employers want to know whether you just randomly picked the company or just applied because there was an opening. Your answer should never be afore mentioned reasons. You shouldn’t start praising the company relentlessly either as it would look too vulgar and would be considered an attempt at buttering up your way into the company. Rather, your response should be addressing general aspiration of yours. You could tell them things like the companies you were willing to work for should have same values as yours, etc. This could generalize your response without sounding too contrived.

4.     WHAT ARE YOUR KEY STRENGTHS?

This is another basic question asked quite a lot from the fresher’s. The employers are looking for the best candidate for the said position and through this question; they are assessing your standing in the job market. So it is quite imperative that your answer encompass your key strengths comprehensively. This question should be answered with great care as this could prove, make or break point in your virgin job interview. You should know your strength inside out. You can talk about your positive nature or can relate to any project in your college life in which you had input, showcased you as a team member. Depending upon the interview, you can change them. Just point out your strength without sounding boastful or arrogant.

5.     WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS/AMBITIONS?

Never leap too far ahead into future as far as your goals are concerned while answering this particular question. Always state your short term goals. If you actually have any plan, state it with reasons. If not, then keep your answer generic. You can state your answer in line with professional growth with the company with long term ambitions of getting a responsible position to make significant contribution to the growth of both yourself and the company. Whatever answer you choose it should be delivered with conviction. This will impress the employers about your passion and you have a better shot at getting the job.

These are some of the questions that are mostly asked by the employers and fresher’s can respond to them in a better way if they follow these guidelines and be positive in their attitude.

AUTHOR’S BIO: Harold Brookes is a motivational speaker and Masters in Psychology. He regularly contributes valuable articles for Pay for Essay Writing and is quite passionate about social work. He is an ardent music lover.

How to get Successfully Interview

Preparation - first step

•       Research the company before the interview to learn as much as possible.

•       Train yourself by asking a friend or family member to ask you typical interview questions and respond to them as best you can.

•       Prepare answers to possible questions and look at yourself in a mirror when you answer in order to examine your body language.

•       Know the name of the person who will ask you questions.

•       Write a few questions.

•       Bring a copy of your CV, letters from people who can recommend you, or relevant certificates, as well as a white paper and a pen.

•       Arrive a few minutes in advance. Prepare your journey so as not to get out of breath and stressed.

During the interview - testing

•       Greet the employer or the person running the interview with good humor and politeness, shaking hands with him.

•       Do not sit until the person sits down or invites you to do so.

•       Show yourself enthusiastic and interested, and pay attention to what the person says.

•       Do not smoke or chew gum.

•       Be calm, confident and confident and do not forget to smile!

•       Answer questions honestly and briefly.

•       Dress in a clean and neat way.

•       Be prepared to talk about your skills and interests, to the extent that they are related to the requirements of the position.

•       Emphasize your qualities and your possibilities.

•       Think about it before answering it - it's okay to take the time to organize your thoughts before giving an answer.

•       It is important to observe the look and body language of the person conducting the interview to determine whether she understands your answer, whether she wants you to continue speaking, or whether she wants you to stop.

•       Be prepared to talk about your strengths and weaknesses.

•       Talk clearly and distinctly - if you tend to be nervous, talk fast and breathless, breathe deeply and slow down.

•       Ask appropriate questions that have not already been answered and be brief.

•       Thank the person for the time spent with you.

After the interview - the last effort

•       After the interview, if the employer promised to call you before a certain date and did not, call him or her.

•       Send a letter to the employer to thank him for the interview.

•       If you are not hired, try to see if you could meet the employer to discuss the positive and negative aspects of your interview.

Lessons from the interview ...

At the very end, take time to reflect on what happened. Did you succeed? Are there ways you can improve? Use the following list to evaluate yourself:

•       I was well prepared - I knew enough about the post and the company.

•       I showed how much my skills and experience fit the job.

•       I have spoken neither too much nor too little.

•       I was relaxed and confident.

•       I arrived on time.

•       I was dressed appropriately.

•       I looked at the employer in the eye.

•       I stood straight, with my hands on my knees.

•       I handed in my letters of recommendation.

•       I was enthusiastic.

•       I shook the person's hand at the beginning and at the end of the interview.

•       I arranged to call back a few days later.

If you are the chosen candidate ...

Here are some tips for your first day of work:

•       Arrive on time.

•       Dress appropriately, depending on the type of work.

•       Do not smoke in the workplace before checking if this is allowed.

•       Learn about dinner times and where to go; Do not exceed the allowed time.

•       Ask questions and make sure you understand what is expected of you.

•       Ask who your supervisor is.

•       Ask who you should call if you can not come to work.

•       Do not forget to give your social insurance number to your employer. He can not pay you without this number.

•       Ask what are your hours of work and what is the sick leave policy.

•       Listen carefully.

•       Ask where you can put your lunch and personal belongings.

If your application has not been accepted ...

Do not be discouraged if you are not hired. That does not mean you're bad. It is not easy to be the right person at the right time: it takes practice, preparation and also luck. Take this as an opportunity to learn. Check your list to see what went right and what you need to improve. Each interview allows you to learn a little more. Do not forget that it is by doing things that you are perfect.

Text was written by Carol Clifford, the Head of StudyScanner Writing Service (https://studyscanner.com/)  

Things not to say in an interview

 
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It is not easy to give a job interview especially when you are desperate for the job. It is also not easy to keep your mind focused on the questions of the interviewer because you know you are not getting judged only on your knowledge, your dressing, body language and confidence is also getting judged. In such intense environment, it is difficult to keep calm and composed that is why many applicants unintentionally say some things which are not acceptable in the job interview and cost them their jobs.

If you are going to give an interview and want to know what lines you cannot afford to say in the interview, then read the next lines and make your mind not to say it in an interview.

Tell me about your business:

You went into their office to get interviewed not to take interview so never ask anything about their business except the things that would affect your job. For example, if you are going to give an interview in an academic writing company and you start writing about their services like assignment service UK and essay writing, the interviewer would give you the answer of this but will take it as a negative thing. Every interviewer expects from the applicant to do some research before stepping into the interview room about the company and its services or product.

My last company was worst:

The moment you say something bad about your last employer, the interviewer will start making assumptions about you. Regardless of showing your skills and knowledge of the work, the interviewer also wants to see the level of commitment with the company. They like to hear about the stories of your romance with your work instead of doing badmouth for the former employer. If the interviewer asks about your last job, keep your tone in between neutral and positive and only state what positive you have got from there and what you are expecting now from this company.

It is written on my CV:

When the interviewer asks something from, reply it verbally instead of asking them to refer from CV for that question. The interviewer knows that the answer to the question that he asked is in the resume. However, he wants to know more than the written word. Another reason for asking it from you could be your interpersonal skills. The interviewer may want to test your communication skills that are why he is asking this question from you.

I am perfect:

Don’t be a kid and do not use such cliché dialogues. You are now dealing with the professionals who are hired to take interviews of the people. Instead of saying this childish line, try to come out of some professional word that can fulfil the purpose of asking the question about your weakness requirement.

How much vacation time do I get?

You are called to get hired not to find your comfort. The interviewer is expecting from you to show your skills and knowledge regarding work. Not to ask the questions which can build an image that you have a non-serious attitude towards work.

Author Bio:

Mark Austin is a Master in Educational Sciences from Bradford University and providing assignment assistance to the students who are in need.

8 Body Language Tips To Shine Out As A Candidate For a Job Interview!

Martha Graham once quoted: “The Body Never Lies."

As true as it sounds, our body sometimes say more than our words. For hiring managers, the body language servesas an important clue to learn about the temperament of a candidate. Therefore, it is important that you stay wary of your body languageright from the moment you enter the interview room.

Here are some of the tips that would help you stay in control of your body while you are being interviewed:

1.      Greet Like A Gentleman

First things first.

When you enter the interview room, you will be expected to greet the interviewers. Considering that it is your first attempt to create the impression on the interviewer, you need to do it with warmth.You need to have a firm handshake while seeing in eyes of the interviewers. Keep a smile on your face to show that you are self-assured andconfident.

2.     Sit Properly

During an interview, the most crucial part is when you sit on the chair. It is when you sit that the interviewers begin to form some opinion about you. So if you sit with both your shoulders leaned forward while your head is tilted downwards, it shows you as a lazy and lethargic.

To create the right impression, you need to sit like an army man by keeping your back erectwhile keeping your headupright.

3.      Maintain A Firm Eye Contact

A firm eye contact suggests that you are self-confident and composed. Therefore, it is important to maintain eye contact with the interviewers through the interview. This sends the message that you are poised and confident as an individual.

4.      Be Wary Of Hand Gestures

Your hand gestures suggestdifferent meanings at different times. So you need to be particular about how you use thehand gestures when you are talking with the interviewers. Avoid pointing your fingers to the interviewers as it implies intimidation or warning. Similarly, you should keep away from using your hands to suggest anything that is considered a taboo.

5.      Nod Your Head

A nod ensures that you are attentive and alert. When you nod your head while responding to the questions of the interviewers, it adds weight to the conversation and makes a strong impact on the interviewers.Therefore, it is important to nod your head to keep yourself engaged with the conversation.

6.      Avoid Fidgeting During Interview

Fidgeting not only distracts the interviewers but it also irritates them after a time. This is why fidgeting is one of the biggest turn-offs for any interviewer.So if you are a restless person who cannot stay still for more than a second, you need to quit this habit before leaving for the interview.

7.      Use The Right Facial Expressions

Your facial expressionsgive hints about your state of mind. Avoid giving blank looks to the interviewer and rather keep giving smiles in between the conversation. Make sure that your facial expressions appropriate for the type of topic you are discussing with the interviewers.

8.     Stylize Your Walk

Your walk says something about your personality. The moment you enter the room, you send a signal to the interviewer with your style of walking. A firm walk towards the interview is what makes you come across as a confident person.

The aforementioned are some of the body language tips you can use to make the right impact in the interview room. Hope you’ll find them helpful for your next interview.

Author Bio

Scarlett Erin is an HR Manager at Assignment Star. She has been serving in this profession since 2010. As a blogger, she is interested in writing articles on education and career topics. She also provides expert help to students by offering assignment service UK. On the weekend, she gives online consultation services to professional workers and fresh graduates. 

Dos and Don’ts of a Job Interview

Job interview is one of the most important parts of your professional life. Many people are so scared of interviews that they consider it as a nightmare and that’s the reason they make so many mistakes while giving an interview for the job. Always keep in mind that you can never ever run away from interviews, you will have to face the HR people and professionals and scare them with your talent and skills to get a job. And Write my Dissertation also writes that, Interview is the step of the ladder that cannot be skipped at all and to reach your goal and get a successful profession interviews are must.

On the other hand there are some people who are over confident. Being confident is good but being over confident is not really a good idea. Many people lose their chance of getting hired in good firms because of the inappropriate attitude which sometimes do not match the professional environment.

Here you will get to know about all the dos and don’ts of a job interview so the over confident slot will get an idea as well as the scared ones who has a fear of interviews. Let’s start with the dos of a job interview:

·       Body language and gestures should be appropriate: your body language plays an important role in an interview. You should prepare yourself about this and practice it before walking in to an interview. Your posture should be straight and you should not look tired, make sure you sit in an appropriate manner don’t cross your legs and hands keep then straight. Use your hands while talking this makes you look confident and interactive.

·       Facial expressions should be pleasant: your facial expressions say everything. If you are nervous and scared your facial expressions will tell that. Make sure you keep an eye contact throughout it’s true that it gets uncomfortable if it’s a long one then you can look at their eyebrows instead to make yourself comfortable.

·       You should be confident: you have to prove yourself that you are confident enough to work with them. No matter if you are giving wrong answers but if you are confidently answering them and trying to justify them this will work perfectly.

·       Do prepare yourself: practice a lot for the interview. We all know some basic questions prepare yourself, plan everything what to say when and how. The first few seconds of an interview are very important. “Tell me about yourself” should be prepared perfectly and answered confidently.

·       Do show them your interest in the industry: let them know how much passionate you are about your career and this industry and show your interest in the work and the company, this will leave a good impression.

·       Do a research about the company: you must know everything about the company so that you don’t end up saying wrong things because you should know where you want to work and why.

·       Do ask questions: ask as many questions as possible but relevant ones. Ask about their team, their work their logo, website whatever but do ask to show your interest. Try to be interactive throughout the interview as this is the plus point.

These were the things that you should adapt for a job interview and making yourself mentally prepared for these will make your interview easy and fun. Now let’s talk about the don’ts of a job interview:

·       Don’t say bad things about your previous boss or the company: no matter how bad your relation was with your ex boss or the company never says bad things about your boss or the company. You have to be diplomatic and play smart.

·       Don’t ever lie in an interview: do not lie AT ALL! If you don’t know the answer tell them you don’t know the answer instead of telling a lie. Lies leave a very bad impression. You can always give a wrong answer confidently but telling a lie should not be an option at all.

·       Don’t show them that you are needy: don’t let the company know that you are dying to get this job, they should not know that you are needy and need this job even if you are. You should be confident enough to impress them and show them that you have other opportunities too but you will be glad if you will join this particular company.

·       Don’t ask about leaves: asking about the number of leaves you will get annually will leave a very bad impression, don’t ask this question ever as you will get to know this soon once you will join. Asking this question will make a negative image of yours in their minds.

·       Don’t try to be funny if you don’t have a good sense of humor: Over confidence of the candidate makes the interviewer think that your attitude is not appropriate for professional life or you can mess things up with your attitude. Be funny where there is a need keep your common sense and sense of humor along.

·       Don’t ask them the job description: never ask the interviewer that what this job is about? What will be my responsibilities? This is something you should know before applying that what post and position you are applying for. However, you can definitely ask which clients you will work on.

·       Don’t over dress: make sure your dressing is appropriate for an interview. Don’t over dress. Wear a nice formal dress. Make sure your hair and beard is neat and trimmed and yes do wear some good perfume. For girls do not wear jeans and do not wear lots of makeup. Very light make up should be worn so that you get a natural look also make sure you wear appropriate accessories.

Following these dos and don’ts will provide you Dissertation help you a lot in your interview and you will definitely get the job you just have to practice and prepare yourself. Good luck!

Blunders to avoid at an interview

When a person is looking for a job, sending a job letter along with a resume or CV to the firms is the first step. But if one does not get an interview call, then the situation gets disappointing. One may want to try again and on getting an interview call, must ensure not to make certain blunders that would spoil your image in front of the employer. Following are a few interview blunders that a candidate usually makes while being interviewed. Make sure to avoid these at any cost.

Not being prepared

If you are not aware of the background information of the company you are going to be interviewed, then you would not stand a chance of making through to the shortlisted candidates. You must go through the history of the company, its mission statement and other details on the website of that company. You may even print it out so that you may read it again right before the interview and would have a refreshed memory. Even the company’s LinkedIn and Facebook pages can be checked out too, if the need be.

Inappropriate dressing

For a managerial position in a company, one must wear a formal suit, and while going for a summer job, neat and casual attire would be sufficient. In case, you cannot decide what to wear, go to the company and look at the employees’ attire to have an idea.

Not making a connection

While being interviewed, make sure to connect positively with the interviewer. For this, shake hands with enthusiasm, engage the person while maintaining an eye contact and in turn, exude confidence. Before even answering a question, the interviewer would know that you will be the perfect choice for that job.

Answering cell phones or being too casual

Never answer a cell phone when it rings during an interview. Keep it on silent instead. Also, never bring in coffee or food to the interview room. Only you, your job application, resume and your list of references are sufficient enough.

Talking a lot

Do not tell your whole life story in reply to a question; make your answers brief, yet succinct so as to make the interviewer interested.

Not talking enough

It is difficult to talk to someone who gives a one or two word answer to every question that is asked. Try to be responsive and completely answer the questions to the best of your ability.

Giving unclear facts

Before an interview starts, you might be also requested to fill out a job application form. Make sure that you know the necessary details that would be needed to complete the application, such as the dates of earlier employment, dates of graduation as well as the employer’s contact information in the past you worked for.

Not giving the right answer

Some candidates are so much panicked or excited during an interview that they do not carefully listen to the question and answer whatever they think the interviewer was going to question them about. Make sure to gather your thoughts before responding to a question always.

Criticizing ex-employers

Even if you hated your last job, the boss as well as your colleagues, never makes the blunder of expressing it to the person interviewing you. Companies do not hire such people who badmouth a company during an interview, make sure to keep that in mind.

Not following up

Even if you think that you aced the interview or did not do good, you must follow up by writing a thank you note, stating your eagerness in getting the position in that company.

Even if your interview didn’t go well, do not take it to heart as everyone must have blown an interview once or even twice in their life. If such is the same case with you, consider it as an experience and prepare for the opportunities to come!

Author Bio:

Indiana Daniel is the creator of this blog entry. Indiana functions as a clinician at the college situated on the fringe of Australia. She is exceptionally enthused about posting online journals and visitor posts for the site cheap essay. For more subtle elements take after here at Twitter–Facebook

How to Dress Flawlessly For That Important Job Interview

You only have one chance to leave a good first impression; with people you spend time with there are chances to change that. However, when it comes to a job interview, you only have one shot, so you should do your best and avoid any mistakes, because even the smallest thing can contribute to your potential employers choosing someone else over you.

Suits

Depending on what you look and feel good while wearing, you may choose to wear a skirt suit or a pant suit, but as far as the colour is concerned, don’t experiment too much: gray, navy or black is probably the safest bet so go for that. There will be time to experiment once you get the job, but at the interview better not to take any chances, especially if it is a conservative company.

Classic never dies

Whenever in doubt – opt for a classic outfit that never goes old. Black pants and a white shirt may sound too dull to you, but there is nothing simpler and better than that. In addition, you can choose whether you want your pants to be shorter and tighter, or longer and wide-legged, not to mention thousands of different variations of white shirts. Put on red lipstick, and wear heels or flats, whatever makes you feel more comfortable.

Professional and responsible vibe

The impression you are striving for is exactly that: professional and responsible, so it might be wise if you don’t chose something too dressy. A simple white shirt and a black sweater over it, combined with dark grey pants and nice shoes will send the right message out. Tie your hair in a high ponytail, put on some red lipstick and you will be ready to go.

Add some color to it

Black, white, and grey may be the safest choices for a job interview, but adding a bit colour here and there is not such a bad idea. For example, you can combine a beige pencil skirt with a polka dot shirt, and wear a pink sweater on top of that. Pink statement necklace may or may not be too much, as you see fitting, but a nice tote bag and some pointy toe flats do look professional but not too serious at the same time.

Don’t hide your femininity

This doesn’t mean that you should show up wearing a way to revealing dress, but a subtle emphasis of your curves is not a bad idea. Wear a form-fitting black dress with a delicate gold necklace and a wrist watch, and combine it with a brighter colour of your bag and shoes, such as nude, beige, or even brown.

Bossy is not always bad

Dressing for a job you want is always a good choice, so if you show up dressed like a successful businesswoman, you will surely be noticed. Simple black pumps, black pants and a well fitted blazer go well with a shirt with a subtle pattern and a long necklace. Make sure your hair is nice and shiny, but if you didn’t have time to style it, simply tie it in a ponytail and decorate it with a nice little bow.

When it comes to job interviews, there are some general rules and guidelines you should keep in mind when choosing your perfect outfit. It is important to leave a good impression, but it is also important to feel good while wearing your chosen clothes, sweating  in too tight pants will only make you more nervous, so try to relax and choose wisely.

5 MBA Interview Mistakes to Avoid

 

Earlier, everyone who applied for the MBA selection process got the chance to sit for interview. The majority of business schools demanded or highly recommended interviewing the entire applicant crowd. With time, this system has entirely changed.

In the present MBA admission world, a candidate reaches the interview process only after successfully completing the Aptitude Test and Group Discussion rounds.  The business schools then select the students for interview round among those who clear all the rounds prior to it. So, if you find yourself invited for the interview round, it definitely means that your chance of being selected in the reputed MBA Colleges is very high.

Image source

Interviews are the final take or leave step in an MBA selection process. It is the only chance to show yourself and show the board that you belong there. Done right, you get a chance to change your life.

There are a number of sure shot no-no’s for all interviews, irrespective for what you want to be selected in. For those lucky enough to be called for an MBA admission interview, the risks are excessively high to make mistakes that might damage the chances of being selected. Here are the five most important mistakes to dodge.

1.      Being late:

This is the last mortal blow. Make sure you reach the interview location well before the appointment time. This gives you time to relax, ensure that you are looking good, and gives time the feeling of being rushed and distracted.

However, it is understandable that emergencies happen, if you are coming to the interview through air or highway, timing is mostly out of your control. So, ensure that you have the necessary contact information of the interviewer saved in your phone, so that you can access it easily in case something happens.

If you have a genuine reason for the delay and have called them, its’ all right. But, if you are running late, by even ten minutes and not inform them, you should maybe consider some other Masters school.

2.      Not being dressed well:

Another rookie mistakes that candidates do is not wear formal. Within the first five seconds of entering the room, you will be accessed based on what you are wearing. Irrespective of what you have heard, wear strict formal.

Make sure you carry accessories that complement your dress. Do not go overboard and become too flashy.

And when in doubt of what to wear, go conservative!

            

3.      Not maintaining enough eye contact:

The admission board of the top MBA schools, interview thousands of applicants. Eye contact becomes an important criterion for shortlisting among them. When the candidate is not able to maintain eye contact, it is inferred as a sign of lack of confidence or the indication that the candidate is trying to hide something.

           

Maintain eye contact gives the impression that you are involved in the conversation and that you pay attention to the questions as much as you think about the answers. The MBA programs around the world aim at pruning the future business leaders and being one, you need to demonstrate confidence, communicate, and construct trust in a team.

A simple eye contact in an interview goes a long way in displaying your necessary leadership skills.

4.      Not being prepared for the common questions:

Trying to wheel the conversation in some other direction:

Do not fall for the temptation to go off track and avoid answering questions. Doing this can leave an extremely negative impression and you might appear to not paying attention, and trying to drive the interview.

After answering a question if you think there is some short AND related point that you might want to add, ask the interviewer if it is OK to add something else there.

Not being prepared with the basic answers:

You will come across in all the top MBA universities some common questions. Some of them are - Why MBA? Why this college? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What is your preferred stream and why? What are your accomplishments as a leader?

Be prepared with the standard answers to these questions. But make sure, the answers you make shows who you are and what are your capabilities.

5.      Not asking questions:

In rare cases you will not get the time to ask questions. However, in 99 percent cases, you will be asked to ask questions by the interviewer. Irrespective of what you do, avoid sitting there and saying that you have no questions or worse ask the ones that you know the answer of.

Have minimum five, concrete thorough questions prepared. Ensure that the questions echoes your wide-range research on the MBA School and the parts you most interested in. your questions may include areas like internships, curriculum, students and faculty interaction.

It has been written and discussed repeatedly, and the time has proved it right—just be yourself. And please note that the first impressions in case of interviews are lasting and very impactful. It is your only and best chance to make the admissions committee know why you are the right choice. Done correctly, it can increase the chances of being selected and ultimately a successful life.

 Tripti Rai writes on the behalf of shiksha.com, she advises students on right career choices, exam advices, educational institutions etc. Along with education, she also likes to talk about real estate whenever she gets a chance.