Personal Interview Tips

Face-to-face interviews are where decisions are made! It may seem obvious, but dress professionally and come prepared. Bring several copies of your resume, writing utensils, notebook, references, questions, breath mints, a comb, etc. & anything that will make you feel comfortable and prepared.

During the employment interview, the interviewer meets with the candidate to evaluate their skills, capabilities, and level of experience. When sitting in the hot seat, keep in mind that while there are no standard responses, your replies should be clear and relevant.

To answer questions appropriately, remember these guidelines:

• Listen carefully. If you feel the question is unclear, ask politely for clarification.
• Pause before answering to consider all facts that may substantiate your response.
• Always offer positive information.
• Get directly to the point. Ask if the listener would like you to go into great detail before you do.
• Discuss only the facts needed to respond to the question.
• Do not open yourself to areas of questioning that could pose difficulties for you.
• Be truthful, but do not offer unsolicited information.
• Focus and re-focus attention on your successes.

Personal interviews are an important part of selection process at various jobs as well as for admissions to professional institutes. There are many personal interview tips that can help you in getting your dream job or admission to a reputed college or university. At a job interview, the interviewer meets with the candidate to assess their capabilities, skills and level of experience. During the personal interview at educational Institutes, candidates are evaluated on the basis on their confidence level, ability to act under pressure and their understanding of the subject that they are applying for. Here is a list of personal interview tips that will be helpful to you. 

Some More Tips for Personal Interviews 

Personal Interview tips equip candidates to be better prepared to face any kind of probable questions from the interviewer. These interview tips are also aimed at instilling confidence in the candidates, which is a vital ingredient for success at job interviews and admission interviews.

Dress code for personal interviews: Since any personal interview, whether it is for a job or admission to an institute is a formal affair, it is advisable that the candidates be well dressed, preferably in formals. A well dressed candidate automatically exudes an air of confidence that speaks well of his/her personality. Avoid bright colored or striking prints while choosing your attire for personal interviews. 

Personal Interview Etiquettes: There are several etiquettes that must be followed when facing the interviewer. Knock before entering the interviewer’s cabin and ask for permission to enter. Generally one must wait to be asked to sit instead of going straight ahead and sitting. If you are carrying a bag, it should be kept on the floor beside your chair. Sit comfortably but with your back straight and hands on your lap. Too much hand movement to explain a point is not advisable.

Always listen carefully before answering so that you do not falter for words. Do not speak more than it is required and always pause in between if the interviewer wants to make a point

Personal Interview Questions

Facing personal interview questions can be quite a tough affair for most candidates seeking admissions to colleges and other professional institutes. It is only through thorough preparation that one can be confidant to face any type of question that may be asked either at a job interview or an admission interview. There are many sample personal interview questions that can help in overcoming the fear of facing questions at interviews. On this page we have attempted to list the probable questions asked at personal interviews for admission to educational institutes and for getting selected for a job. 

Generally it the admissions to most business management schools where personal interview plays a vital role in the selection process. 

There are some standard personal interview questions asked by top B-Schools like XLRI, the various IIMs, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) and others. Samples of personal interview questions asked at B-Schools include the following:

1.       "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" “Why do you want to enroll for a particular program and why do you think it is right for you?" 

2.      "Why did you choose this particular business school?" 

3.      "Which other institutes have you got calls from?" 

4.      "What is Sensex?" 

5.      Tell us about your family 

6.      "What are the differences between Mobile and land phones (PSTN) Technology?" 

7.      Discuss the features of budget

Personal Interview Questions for Jobs 

The questions asked at job interviews are quite different for what is asked during college admissions. Here are some sample questions for job interviews at leading organizations (not just hotels).

1.       "What interests you about this job opportunity?" 

2.      "What personal characteristics do you feel you have that would be an asset to the company?" 

3.      "What are the activities you undertake regularly to update yourself on the best practices in industry you have applied in?" 

4.      Tell us something about yourself?