How to dazzle HR during Interview (Tips before, during and after interview):

Few weeks from now we’ll be marching down the aisle and accept our diplomas. We’ll be starting to live the real things. We all want to become successful in the fields we choose and the ways we start to pave for our future. Yes, it would be a winding road and tough fight but we must keep our feet to the ground and do the best we can. And for now, we have to ready ourselves for the real fight outside school. Here are some tips that we’ll help you for your future careers.

As a Human Resource student, this is must remember before, on and after interview:

·         Work on your handshake: Don‘t offer up a flimsy or sweaty hand. Instead, when you meet with prospective employers or interviews, offer a firm handshake, with one or two pumps from the elbow to the hand, and smile. It‘s a good way to illustrate your confidence and start the interview off on the right note.

·         Get serious: If you take a casual approach to the initial interview with a company, especially with a screening interviewer from the Human Resources Department, you may be sealing your fate. Job seekers should treat every interview as if it‘s their one and only chance to sell themselves to the recruiter.

·         Get the practice: If you find yourself being offered an interview for a job you are not really interested in, go on the interview anyway; you can make contacts for future job opportunities and get valuable interview practice.

·         Be enthusiastic: Bring a positive attitude to your interview. Most interviewers won‘t even give a second thought to someone who has a negative presence or seems like they almost need to be talked into the job. “You‘re selling yourself, and part of you is the positive approach you‘ll bring to the office every morning,” says Alison Richardson, a recruiter for several New York financial firms. “That smile and friendly demeanor go a long way.”

·         Ask questions: When interviewing for a new position, it‘s essential to have a handful of questions to ask your potential employer. Some questions could include: What do you consider to be the ideal background for the position? What are some of the significant challenges? What‘s the most important thing I can do to help within the first month of my employment? Do you have any concerns that I need to clear up in order to be the top candidate? What are the next steps?

·         Tell a story: Your interviewer wants to know about your skills and experiences, but he or she also wants to know about you. Don‘t fire off routine answers to questions. Instead, work your answers into stories or anecdotes about yourself. People remember the people who are interesting. Prove your value by tailoring stories that address the main concern an interviewer may have because this question is in his mind: What can you do for us?

·         Show restraint: During an interview, what you don‘t say may be as important as what you do say. As a rule, don‘t talk about money or benefits, especially during the first interview. You should already know if you fit the parameters. Don‘t badmouth about any of your past employers. Organizations don‘t hire complainers. Don‘t mention outside career aspirations or part-time jobs. Employers are looking for people who want to be part of their organization for the next decade and beyond.

JP Morgan Philippines says:

So your application has been successful and you have been invited for an interview. Congratulations! Remember that every interview is a two-way process: it is an opportunity for us to get to know more about you and your achievements, and it is an excellent chance for you to find out more about the firm and our culture. We're not trying to catch you out and are mainly interested in learning more about the 'real you'. Make the most of the experience by ensuring you are fully prepared.

Before the interview:

• Look at our website and learn as much as you can about J.P. Morgan, our business areas and our culture. If you know people who work in investment banking, particularly within the business area you're interviewing with, don't be afraid to contact them and ask them questions.
• Read the financial press regularly and be prepared to discuss topical issues.
• Know yourself – think about why a career in financial services and the business area to which you have applied is of interest to you.
• Most of our interviews are competency based, so think about aligning your key skills with relevant examples. If you have not had much interview experience, attending practice sessions at your university careers service can be beneficial. Remember – however prepared you are, you will still need to show that you can think on your feet on the day. Key skills and competencies that we look for within each business area are highlighted in the Internship and Graduate Opportunities sections.

During the interview:

• You have exactly five seconds to make a great first impression, so dress for the part. Usually, this means professional, formal business attire. 
• Allow plenty of time to travel to your interview and plan your route the evening before. Arriving too early or late is an unfortunate way to start your interview.
• Watch your body language – posture, hand shake, eye contact, and smile.
• Make sure you mobile phone is switched off.
• Structure your thoughts, have confidence and be honest. Think about each question carefully before responding and answer as best you can.
• Be yourself and don't be too nervous; your interviewer is only human. Demonstrate your interest by having some questions for us. This is your chance to learn more about our business and culture.
• Answer the question asked rather than the one that you have practiced. Never give 'parrot fashion' answers.
• Be prepared to discuss topical business issues.

For undergraduate and MBA candidates, here are some additional tips from our recruiters and employees who just went through the process:

• The way you interact with interviewers gives them an indication as to how you might behave with clients. 
• Stay friendly and professional. If there are two interviewers, be sure and include both in your conversation with equal eye contact, even if one dominates the proceedings.
• If you're asked for your opinions, be prepared to state them tactfully and support the thought process you put into them.
• Phrase your answers using the Problem-Actions-Results (PAR) approach wherever possible to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. State a problem you encountered at work or school, the actions you took to solve it and the beneficial outcome – quantified, if possible. 
• Follow up after the interview. Ask for a business card and send a timely thank-you email. 
• Demonstrate your interest by having some questions for us. "What distinguishes a great Analyst/Associate from a good Analyst/Associate?" is a good way to elicit information that can be invaluable in your next interview. Interviewers may interpret a lack of questions as a lack of genuine interest.

For PhD candidates, the following provides some guidance on the interview process:

• Be ready to articulate why you want to work in investment banking, and more specifically, for J.P. Morgan. What do you bring to the mix? If you've done your homework, you should have a pretty convincing answer. 
• Most of our interviews are based on competency, so be prepared to think on your feet.
• Be ready for questions about your experience solving problems and leading teams. 
• Stay cool, and think before you answer; keep your answers concise and make sure you're answering the question asked. Remember, this is no worse than your dissertation defense. 
• Ask a career advisor or friend to conduct a mock interview with you to help you prepare for your visit. 
• Be prepared to discuss topical issues relating to your field. Have opinions without being opinionated. 
• Demonstrate your interest by having some questions for us.

BusinessCoach Inc. says:

As a jobseeker, a job interview would probably be a nerve-racking situation for you. You may be stressed out, but still you have to compose yourself and show your confidence when presenting yourself for a job interview.

The main objective of a job interview is to advertise yourself. You have to “sell” yourself effectively to your potential employer within the 15 – 30 minutes most interviews last and convince them that you are the best person for the position.

Interviewers know how to elicit information to identify the candidate who will match their needs. They are skilled in assessing how an applicant thinks, and are well experienced in evaluating an individual’s personality. They have a ways of knowing if a jobseeker is lying, and are adept in cross-examining an applicant.

A typical job interview is usually a face-to-face interview with your potential employer (or their representative). It may also be an interview series, or a panel interview.

The best strategy for a winning job interview is to have a clear picture of how you would like to project yourself during your interview. Here are tips for a successful job interview:
 

Do research on the company. Know the products or services offered, as well as the culture of the corporation. Make the interviewer feel that you are very interested in the job. Find out too, the characteristics of the employees they hire, if you can talk to one of them.

• Bring extra copies of your resume. You never know, but you might be interviewed by more than one person.

• Have a ball pen on hand. Other companies have their own application forms, which you have to fill up. Besides, you might be asked to sign some papers. You may also bring a notepad, just in case you have to take down notes.

• Dress your best for the interview. In other businesses, this is not important. However, it would be best to present yourself appropriately during this time. If uncertain, err on the side of conservatism. Avoid clothes in bright colors. Put on limited jewellery, and use perfume sparingly. For ladies, avoid wearing short and tight skirts that you could hardly sit down in. For men, hair should be short and neatly combed.

• Arrive early. Come to the office 15 to 20 minutes ahead of time, but aim to be in the vicinity of the building an hour beforehand, to allow for unusual traffic or a flat tire.

• Be courteous. Greet the persons you meet, or offer a smile. From the receptionist to the secretary, show everybody that you are nice and friendly. They might influence your interviewer into hiring you.

• Wait to be seated. Say “thank you” when offered a seat. When already seated, do not slouch, nor fidget. Never place anything on the table of the interviewer. Remain as calm as possible.

• Let the interviewer start the conversation. If the interview has not started yet, keep quiet, sit straight, and maintain eye contact.

• Be honest. Do not lie about anything. If hired, and your employer discovers an inconsistency in your application, you might just be terminated.

• Listen well. If some questions are unclear, courteously ask for clarification. Pause before answering the questions, so you will have time to organize your thoughts and think of the best answers.

• Be direct to the point. Discuss only the important details needed to answer the question. Also, avoid interrupting the interviewer. Even if you are impatient to answer, let the interviewer finish the question.

• Focus on positive ideas. Offer answers featuring your strengths or skills. Do not give too many personal details. Never criticize your previous employers.

• Answer questions loud and clear. Do not mumble. Relax, and show that you are confident.

• Do not take cell phone calls while being interviewed. This is not only inappropriate, but will also irritate your interviewer.

• Leave on a positive note. Thank the interviewer for her / his time. Ask also when it would be best to follow-up on your application.

• Send a thank you letter to the interviewer. Keep the letter short, and reiterate your interest in the position, as well as your assurance that you meet the criteria for the position.

You only have a limited time to convince your interviewer that you are the most competent candidate for the position, so you must come well prepared. Know the most frequently asked questions during interviews, and be ready to answer them (see MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS below).

After the interview, it is most certain that the interviewer will ask if you have questions before she / he concludes the interview. Most applicants would politely say “none”. This is not recommended. Having no questions sends the message that you are not serious about the job.

Always prepare questions to ask after the interview. However, do not ask questions about wages and benefits, unless those issues are raised by the interviewer. Prepare sensible questions, such as the following, to make a good impression:

•     What would you expect me to accomplish in this job?

·         What will be the greatest challenge in the position?

·         What tasks have the highest priority?

·         How will my leadership skills and performance be measured?

During the job interview, the interviewer gets the chance to evaluate your expertise, knowledge, and skills. Always keep in mind that the best way to answer the questions is to be as direct and honest as you can. Gathering your thoughts prior to answering is not only helpful but also wise. Stay calm, and have fun! Your prospective employer would want to add positive, energetic, and confident employees to their roster

McDonald’s Philippines ask the following question’s during interviews:

What can you tell us about McDonald’s?

·         They are the largest fast food chain restaurant in the world.

·         They sell hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken, French Fries, breakfast items, soft drinks, shakes and desserts and has recently has offered healthy options such as fruit, salads, and wraps.

Why do you want to work at McDonald’s?

·         McDonald’s is a huge corporation and I see lots of opportunities to learn and grow. I read on the McDonald’s website more than 50% of McDonald’s franchise owners started off behind the counter and so did 75% of restaurant managers.

·         If going to school state it is a great way to pay for school and that you schedule is flexible and can work the lunch time rush.

Why should I hire you?

·         I enjoy working with customers therefore I would present a positive image (think about it when I go order food at McDonald’s I can see the entire staff so the image you present is very important. Make sure you hair is short and if you have any facial hair get rid of it.)

Can you work weekends/nights?

·         It is in your best interest to be as flexible as possible so it will be your best interest to say yes.

Whatever you do, don‘t mention the need for an immediate vacation. First of all, you‘re making an assumption that the recruiter wants to hire you. Second, you‘re essentially removing yourself from the list of potential candidates. A job candidate we once interviewed was quick to announce that she needed time off immediately for a two-week honeymoon. We hadn‘t even offered her the job. Needless to say, we didn‘t. Certainly, there are scenarios in which you‘ll need to discuss pending scheduling conflicts, but the interview isn‘t one of them.