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INTERVIEWS – Phod Do !

January 24, 2012 by Akash Gautam | 40 Comments

Shaadi ho naa ho ; Interview hoga hi ! Honi ko kaun taal saktaa hai

INTERVIEWS – Phod Do ! | Akash Gautam's Blog http://www.akashgautam.com/blog/2012/01/24/interviews-phod-do/

1 of 18 2/25/2012 2:38 PM

and 2) which if prepared well about; can help you crack every interview that you sit for.

Life is moving really fast. I recommend you to ‘SUBSCRIBE’ to free email alerts from my blog; so that you

do not miss on anything important for you – in your busy schedules (Look to the Top Right hand side of the

Blog to SUBSCRIBE). I am always looking at newer & fresher ways to serve you.

This is a long post. Read it v patiently. This is ALL – you need. Read it THRICE and go & crack it !

Copyright © 2012, Akash Gautam. All Rights Reserved

MAKE SURE YOU PREPARE THE FIRST QUESTION WELL:-

90% of the times the first question will be “Introduce Yourself” or “Tell me something about yourself”?.

There is a reason for this. Whatever might happen; the candidate will end up saying something in the answer

to this question. When he says that ‘whatever something’ ; he will feel 1) comfortably arrived & 2) belonging

to that situation and 3) a sense of adequacy shall have happened. This means that you will become

comfortable after speaking those first few lines. This is what the interviewer wants. He wants to meet the

comfortable you. Your best would not show up; unless you are comfortable. He wishes to meet the best in

you. The reason – why 90% of the times; this becomes the first question.

This question is your best (could be the last) chance to sell yourself. It is like your free hit in a cricket match-

you will not get out; however – you get a chance to score any many runs of your volition.

How do you best prepare for this Question?

Three Things:-

1) Understand that an ‘Interview’ is a sales process. You are your salesman. Ask yourself – ‘How do you sell

anything?’. You sell something – by talking about its positives.

Make a small table – the way I ask you to, next. This is the most valid exercise that you can do; while you

prepare for any interview.

Areas that I am very good at ; I can

comfortably talk at length about

Areas that I would not want to discuss in my

interview

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

In your busy schedules - Do NOT miss anything from me. Enter your email address to get updates:


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level of any point on the LHS. This gives them the dexterity in answering the questions on that particular

point. )

You need to think very deep about your areas on the LHS. They should be the areas where you are a James

Bond. I mean, those areas / aspects of your life – where in, if you are quizzed upon – you will be able to

happily talk about. The areas on the LHS could be anything. Anything means anything. It could be your

career aspirations, plans, a subject in your graduation, your hobbies, your role model, your home town etc.

Code / magic mantra:-

An interviewer ( in any interview) is checking you on your commitment levels in life.

By commitment, I am not meaning the Sunny Deol kind of commitment (where he fought against the entire

Pakistan to get his family back in the movie Gaddar). I mean, have you remained committed to the choices

you have made for your own self in life? Have you remained committed to the things that you choose to

happily do / pursue? Because, if you have not remained committed here – how will you remain committed to

something that may not be of your liking e.g. the work areas in your job that you are applying to or the

subjects in the B-School ; which you may not like.

Most questions of the Interview which students construe to be questions of GK or academics are actually not.

They happen to be questions from the areas that you claim that you are good at / have remained associated

with. Understand that:- 95% of the knowledge based questions in any interview will be from the areas on

your LHS and the remaining 5% would be such ; that the interviewer is just seeing – ‘how you react to

something that you are not expected to know?’.

So, your entire intention in the answer to ‘Tell me something about yourself’ should be to divert the attention

to the LHS. You do not talk about the negatives. However, if the interviewer somehow asks you about your

negative areas (RHS)– you accept them & do not deny them. Further, you creatively / intelligently shift the

attention of the interviewer from the negatives to the positives.

e.g. if you are a B.Com. student & Accounts as a subject is not on your LHS. But Micro-economics is on

your LHS. If you are asked a question from Accounts – you very humbly say this – “Sir, I am very sorry, I do

not know the answer to this question. Actually in my graduation; my interest area happened to be

Economics and not accounts. Even in Economics- I was particularly interested in Micro-economics”.

Now what happens next is that the interviewer is likely to ask you the next set of questions from Micro-

Economics (to check you on your commitment). These questions; if you answer right – you will be able to

prove your commitment. And this is the code.

Imagine, if you are able to keep your Interview maximum towards the areas on the LHS, by laying them

smartly to the interviewer in the question –‘Tell me something about yourself’. Imagine, if it happens like this.

Would you not have ensured that you are proving your commitment? Yes!! You would. Also, imagine – if you



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then get the freedom to ask you anything from anywhere. Imagine- if from RHS – scary situation naa?

Next, what do you include in the answer to “Introduce yourself?”.

Answer:- You simply pack your LHS in a very humble and intelligent manner.


TIP:- Do not give dead biographical details. Ask yourself this question – ‘Can i let these small points add

some extra value about self?’

e.g.

Sir, I come from a joint family. I understand thus, that adaptability is the biggest skill set in today’s

world.

Sir, coming from a defence background- i have become more adjusting to people & places because,

my schooling happened from a lot of places.

Sir, my name is Arti – arising out of my name is my interest in religious scriptures. Sir, I have read the

commentary on Bhagwad Geeta twice.(If Bhagwad Geeta is on your LHS – you’ve very smartly

diverted the interviewer there).

Sir, I belong to Dharamshala in Himachal. It is famous for 1) being the exile capital of His Holliness,

The Dalai Lama and 2) It is the second most rainiest place in India because of a geographical reason.

Now here – you are saying two things – 1) Ask me about Dalai Lama or China –Tibet problem and 2) I am

good at Geography.

Sir, my name is Prashant. Quite like my name – I am calm & composed. But very unlike my name – I

am determined.

Sir, my name is Akash but my friends fondly call me Beckham , because of my intense interest in

European Soccer.

So, you can let the smallest of the points add value to your profile answer by speaking them smartly.

Two important points worth re-iterating:-

1) Make humble submissions. Speak with a lot of humility.

2) End the answer on a positively provocative note. This would increase the probability of the next

question to come from; where/ how you are ending the answer.

SHOW; DO NOT TELL:-

Most of the times; candidates commit damage to their ease of success in an interview by just telling and not

showing. E.g. :-

- My biggest strength is that I am a Team Player

- My weakness is that at times, I am short tempered.

- My role model is my father

- My hobby is reading & music



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Now, for heaven’s sake – do not say it like this. You will allow the interviewer to

open a Pandora’s box if you only tell and do not show. Let me elaborate :-

e.g. if you say e.g. my hobby is reading ;you are giving him a chance to ask you from my genre of reading. It

will be embarrassing if you tell him later that you like reading a particular thing only. Why not tell him

upfront?

e.g. if you do not give an example of a situation , when and where you acted as a team player ; the

interviewer’s next question will be that only. So, show – do not tell.

e.g. If you say ‘my role model is my father’; the interviewer’s next question will be ‘WHY?’. So, show at the

first place only , before he gets irritated and asks you the same thing.


Understand – that in an interview – you need to look sharp ; not cute.

HOBBIES/ INTERESTS:-

You have to understand – why is the interviewer interested to know my Hobbies / Interests?

Answer :- To ask you questions out of the same.

Reason:- If you cannot answer questions out of your choicest hobby / interest; it seriously puts a question

mark on your commitment levels in life and would for sure jeopardise your candidature.

So, what do you do ?

If you have a hobby – get deep into it and learn the aspects about it , which are likely to come to the mind of

a normal guy’. Make sure – you are well read about the contemporary relevance / application of what is your

hobby. E.g. if your hobby is say- ‘Stock Markets’; you should be in a position to talk about the present

situations etc.

What if you do not have a Hobby?



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from / at the right places.

e.g. a hobby like *knowing about the tallest buildings in the world or * bonsai cultivation or * India’s missile

program or * Cooking Italian food — all it would take you is 5/6 readings of those 10/15 pages of print outs

which you should take after very smartly googling google. (Refer to the article : How to Google Google at my

website : www.akashgautam.com)

Why this Job/ MBA ?:-

Critical Mistakes here:- Making that Job/ seat in a B-School look like the most important thing in the world

for you.

Understand here that the B-School / Job applied to is not the end, but a means to an end. Let me illustrate

with an example:-

Suppose you are to travel from New Delhi to Mumbai via a Rajdhani Express and you have a confirmed seat.

If for reasons as Delhi traffic , you miss your train; would you not go to Mumbai now? Yes, you would. You

will take another train / a flight or do something ; but would ensure that you reach Mumbai. Your

commitment is to Mumbai and not to Rajdhani.

Here, Mumbai is symbolic of what you are planning to do after your MBA. It also represents what aspect of

your long term career plan – that particular job is falling in. Rajdhani is just the MBA / that Job. So, it doesn’t

matter how you reach your destination; your destination is more important than the medium to reach that.

I would recommend you to take a print out of the course curriculum of the B-School that you are applying to.

Juxtapose this against your interests and long term career plans. This would make you sound savvy and

cogent. If you are applying for a job – try and remember the exact KRA –Key responsibility areas of the Job

and use them to demonstrate the career pyramid (if an MBA happens).

Some pointer here; which could come to help:-

Hobby e.g. Stock Market..

Management was a subject in Graduation – Interest- Extension of Knowledge….

Good Fund manager- Managed events / funds / People….

Fathers business

India is growing; want to be a part of it…

Read some Autobiography

Entrepreneurship

I do not wish to be prescriptive here; but you need to choose for yourself – what shall be the most pertinent

reason for you to do an MBA / take up this job. This should be something – 1) which you should be logically

be able to defend out & 2) also show / prove your commitment about.



6 of 18 2/25/2012 2:38 PM

STRENGTH & WEAKNESS

A question as this; gets asked for two reasons:-

1) Can you introspect your own-self? Because if you cannot introspect self – how will you critique the

balance sheets or norms in the organisation – you will be working for.

2) The interviewer is looking at character points ; on which the B-School / organisation can build upon. Again

here – the big mistake would be – ‘telling & not showing’.

I am meaning – that be ready with instances & examples.

Strength is that aspect of your personality; which other things remaining equal- has helped you achieve more

than the other people around. Conversely, weakness is that aspect of your personality; which other things

remaining equal- has reduced your achievements more than the other people around.

All of us have many a strength & weakness. Think about it.

Also the strengths & weaknesses; they keep on changing / evolving / morphing – as we grow in life e.g. for a

girl in a girls school – feeling shy while talking to the opposite gender could have been a weakness; which just

went away – when she joined college.

The biggest mistake that people do here is – when they sugar coat strength as a weakness e.g. ‘Sir, at times- I

am so hard working that, i loose focus’. I am sure – you are laughing now. But people do it. Please

understand that a weakness is a weakness and should be presented as a weakness. All of us have weaknesses.

‘To err is human’. No particular weakness will disqualify you; unless it appears as blatantly outlandish.

However, a suggestion:- ‘When you talk about a particular weakness- add a qualifier to it –e.g. ‘I realise this

to be something which is hindering my performance & I am doing this…this…this… to become better about

it’. This shall keep care.

Final words of wisdom:-

Please have a good impression about yourself …

Take time to answer questions. Do not jump on questions which you were expecting / know the answer

to.

Avoid School boy Syndrome : Every Q needs to be answered

In Career Goals : Do not talk about Designation & Salary

Alternative Career Goal : Be a little hesitant to talk ; but then talk firmly

Speak Loudly

Darna Mana hai….

Lastly; even if you get rejected at a few interviews – Just Chill! A favorite shayar wrote:-



7 of 18 2/25/2012 2:38 PM

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gire aur gir kar sambhalte rahe,

hawao ne bahut koshish ki,

magar chirag aandhiyo mein bhi jalte rahe.

God is gracious! In the last 12 years; I got a chance to do one of my favorite events – ‘How to crack every

Interview that you sit for’; at some of India’s top Colleges e.g. IITs, IIITs, NITs, St Stephens etc. You can

INVITE me to your College at a FEST / otherwise by dropping an email at [email protected] . I will

ensure that you ‘ROAR’; in your confidence.

If you liked reading the above post :- SHARE it with your friends by either pressing the SHARE button

below (FB) or by TWEETING it. SHARING is CARING for your friends.


Categories: Careers & Training | Tags: B-school interviews, Communication, How to crack an interview, How

to prepare for interview, IIM interviews, Interview Training, Interview tricks, Job interviews, MBA

interviews, Tips and tricks | Permalink

Author: Akash Gautam

Chief Motivator & Trainer at www.akashgautam.com. You could derive more out of FB by benefiting from

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8 of 18 2/25/2012 2:38 PM

Showing 28 comments

Great article sir.

I have to face few interviews in coming days at some rajdhanis(you know what i mean) to get a

confirmed seat. Earlier i was worried about what will i do if i don't make it to the rajdhanis.

But after reading this blog, i realized that destiny is more much important the rajdhanis.

Thanks again Sir

*Correction in last line : important than rajdhanis

sir am yet to read, but I alrdy know its too good :) \m/

aapka agyakari fan cum shishya

-Mayur

its awesome sir..............



9 of 18 2/25/2012 2:38 PM

I am an engg. graduate. Like others, I was also selected in multiple Software Companies but kicked

out during training from one of them. Now I am in a BPO and trying hard to get into a good MBA

college. I am so frustrated about everything happened that I am not able to concentrate on my

preparations. I think my problem is not unique and so many people faced it. I am very unclear about

my goals and very upset. Little help will be appreciated. Thank you very much for the above post.

hi rohit.. Its a very general thing you are going through. I will suggest you to first take a deep

breath, go to some place where you can talk to urself and can understnd yourself. Ask yourself,

close your eyes and just think 5 years down the line of your life what you want yourself to be.

Then start the first step. Its hard to take the first step. Trust me as you proceed the journey will

be easy.

fab sir...awsome...

awesome sir ! ..ab toh phod hi denge .... thank you sir ... :)

:'-D

mazaa aa gaya!!

As usual, an amazing post, a fabulous read!!


10 of 18 2/25/2012 2:38 PM

years of my life!

Thank a lot sir !!

:)

HI sir ,

First of all thanks for giving such a fabulous interview tips.

I am also in search of job so i hope it will be helpful to me.

Thanks.

sirkya baat hai... this is AWESOME!!!

awesome sir ji...

The problem with people who think they are good motivational speakers is that they have a very

short-sighted approach to things. Writing on topics like these is sure-shot way of gaining popularity

since this is one area in which people struggle. My doubts on you being one of this breed were

confirmed when I read the line in which you talked about 'making' a hobby if you don't have one. In

other words, you are asking people to be fake so that they become interesting.

Hi Mahima



11 of 18 2/25/2012 2:38 PM

clearly ; perceptive communication !!

I was answering the Q 'What if you don't have a hobby at all' . Saying 'I do not have any hobby'

might look very LOST in an interview. It is definitely better to create a hobby based on your

interest and master it further. 'FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT' is what I have always believed

in. And if you make it as an integral part of your personality (even 50%) - I guess the work is

done. All good things start with a start.

This might actually give you a reason to go ahead and have a hobby in life. All things/events in

life happen for a reason. And an interview is a good chance to change yourself and be someone

you want to be.

Best Wishes

Akash

Akash, we seem to be following different schools of thought here. I have always

believed in 100% honesty in interviews and being yourself. A lot of times, we fake it

just to crack the interviews but actually do not realize that the questions are there for a

reason. If we are not suited for the role (job/MBA) for which the interview is being

conducted, then we might not make it if we be ourselves. And that's better than having

the role and then realizing that we are not made for it. Anyways, I think we will have a

healthy debate around this. Lets see if our paths cross some day.

As for anonymous, its really not difficult to see why you need motivational speakers.

My bet is that if you also believe that faking is the best way to fly through an interview,

you will need motivational speakers all through your life. I am not saying that I am a

good speaker, but I do know a thing or two about cracking interviews.

Best,

Mahima

Mahima



12 of 18 2/25/2012 2:38 PM

Name is quite an oxymoron since, i don't see u appreciating any good thing in life. Seems like u

have seen many 'people who think they are good motivational speakers' in life and u actually

couldn't meet one who really is a good speaker.

As far as BREED is concerned; u look like someone who is from the 'Know-it-all' breed. Why

don't u write a post on 'how to ace interviews' where there is no recommendation of FAKING. I

promise we will not take it as 'SURE SHOT WAY of gaining popularity. Rather, we will

consider u to be someone who is actually a good motivational speaker.

Till then - please save your analysis skills, read what is being said properly and then comment.

It is better to inspire your believers than to waste energy on describing your critics'

Hi,

Great tips sir

Thanks

thanks for this blog. this may help me.

all the above things u had shared will surely help !!!!!!!!!

Thank you very much sir for your very important blog on INTERVIEW TIPS.... thnk u....



13 of 18 2/25/2012 2:38 PM

Nice Intense Work Sir...!!

Would definately help...Looking for more tips from you...!!

As usual... great post Akash. :)))

Appreciable work sir..Keep it up!

thnk u sir very much......its like a booster........it will be very helpful to me ..

fab as usual...thanku soo much sir for giving us fodu wali tips..

again an awesome article...hw u r always motivated n full of energy while writing such article...........

absolutetly r8...........


14 of 18 2/25/2012 2:38 PM

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